Module A - Ethnopharmacology and Fundamentals of Phytochemistry

Recommended Prerequisites

The recommended prerequisites include what is taught in the 1 st cycle courses in the area of  Pharmacy, Medicine, Biology, Agricultural Sciences, Bioanalytical, Chemical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry and other related courses.

Teaching Methods

Lectures with a strong component of dialogue and application in practical cases, essentially using the audiovisual media ("data show") and a field trip.

Learning Outcomes

With this course we intend to achieve the skills and the following objectives:
- Recognize the importance of natural products in drug discovery.

- Check knowledge about medicinal plants and their bioactive metabolites, namely, chemotaxonomy,  ethnopharmacology,  phytochemical characterization and structure/activity relationships.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

The importance of medicinal plants as a therapeutic resource. Criteria and methods of selection of raw materials: ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology and chemotaxonomy. 

Principles of Ethnopharmacology, examples of therapeutic success.

Chemistry of natural products: metabolites of therapeutic interest, belonging to the group of carbohydrates, lipids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids. Emphasis on the following aspects: biosynthesis, structural characterization, pharmacological activity and mechanisms of action, main natural sources and therapeutic applications.

Head Lecturer(s)

Lígia Maria Ribeiro Pires Salgueiro da Silva Couto

Assessment Methods

Assessement
The evaluation of this curricular unit includes some mini tests and other continuous evaluation according to that defined by the teaching team.: 100.0%

Bibliography

- Proença da Cunha, A. et al. Farmacognosia e Fitoquímica. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisboa, 2010

- Simões CMO et al. Farmacognosia – da planta ao medicamento, 5ª ed., Editora da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 2003.

- Tavares AC. et al. Plantas aromáticas e medicinais – Escola Médica do Jardim Botânico da Universidade de Coimbra, Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra, 2009

 

Several scientific articles on medicinal plants and bioactive metabolites