3 PHARMACOGNOSY

PHARMACOGNOSY – THEORY

 

Course Code: ER20-13T                                                         75 Hours (3 Hours/week)

 

Scope: This course is designed to impart knowledge on the medicinal uses of various drugs of natural origin. Also, the course emphasizes the fundamental concepts in the evaluation of crude drugs, alternative systems of medicine, nutraceuticals, and herbal cosmetics.

Course Objectives: This course will discuss the following aspects of drug substances derived from natural resources.

  1. Occurrence,      distribution,     isolation,     identification     tests      of     common phytoconstituents
  2. Therapeutic activity and pharmaceutical applications of various natural drug substances and phytoconstituents
  3. Biological source, chemical constituents of selected crude drugs and their therapeutic efficacy in common diseases and ailments
  4. Basic concepts in quality control of crude drugs and various system of medicines
  5. Applications of herbs in health foods and cosmetics

Course Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to

  1. Identify the important/common crude drugs of natural origin
  2. Describe the uses of herbs in nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals
  3. Discuss the principles of alternative system of medicines
  4. Describe the importance of quality control of drugs of natural origin

Chapter

Topic

Hours

1

Definition, history, present status and scope of

Pharmacognosy

2

2

Classification of drugs:

  • Alphabetical
  • Taxonomical
  • Morphological
  • Pharmacological
  • Chemical
  • Chemo-taxonomical

4

3

Quality control of crude drugs:

  • Different methods of adulteration of crude drugs
  • Evaluation of crude drugs

6

 

 

4

Brief outline of occurrence, distribution, isolation, identification tests, therapeutic activity and pharmaceutical applications of alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, volatile oils,

tannins and resins.

6

5

Biological source, chemical constituents and therapeutic

efficacy of the following categories of crude drugs.

30

Laxatives

Aloe, Castor oil, Ispaghula, Senna

Cardiotonic

Digitalis, Arjuna

Carminatives and

G.I. regulators

Coriander, Fennel, Cardamom,

Ginger, Clove, Black Pepper, Asafoetida, Nutmeg, Cinnamon

Astringents

Myrobalan, Black Catechu, Pale

Catechu

Drugs acting on nervous system

Hyoscyamus, Belladonna,

Ephedra, Opium, Tea leaves, Coffee seeds, Coca

Anti-hypertensive

Rauwolfia

Anti-tussive

Vasaka, Tolu Balsam

Anti-rheumatics

Colchicum seed

Anti-tumour

Vinca, Podophyllum

Antidiabetics

Pterocarpus, Gymnema

Diuretics

Gokhru, Punarnava

Anti-dysenteric

Ipecacuanha

Antiseptics and

disinfectants

Benzoin, Myrrh, Neem, Turmeric

Antimalarials

Cinchona, Artemisia

Oxytocic

Ergot

Vitamins

Cod liver oil, Shark liver oil

Enzymes

Papaya, Diastase, Pancreatin,

Yeast

Pharmaceutical Aids

Kaolin, Lanolin, Beeswax, Acacia,

Tragacanth, Sodium alginate, Agar, Guar gum, Gelatine

Miscellaneous

Squill, Galls, Ashwagandha, Tulsi,

Guggul

6

Plant fibres used as surgical dressings: Cotton, silk, wool and regenerated fibres

Sutures – Surgical Catgut and Ligatures

3

7
  • Basic principles involved in the traditional systems of medicine like: Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy

 

  • Method of preparation of Ayurvedic formulations like:

Arista, Asava, Gutika, Taila, Churna, Lehya and Bhasma

8

 

 

8

Role of medicinal and aromatic plants in national economy

and their export potential

2

9

Herbs as health food:

Brief introduction and therapeutic applications of: Nutraceuticals, Antioxidants, Pro-biotics, Pre-biotics, Dietary fibres, Omega-3-fatty acids, Spirulina, Carotenoids, Soya

and Garlic

4

10

Introduction to herbal formulations

4

11

Herbal cosmetics:

Sources, chemical constituents, commercial preparations, therapeutic and cosmetic uses of: Aloe vera gel, Almond oil, Lavender oil, Olive oil, Rosemary oil, Sandal Wood oil

4

12

Phytochemical investigation of drugs

2

 

 

PHARMACOGNOSY – PRACTICAL

 

Course Code: ER20-13P                                                         75 Hours (3 Hours/week)

Scope: This course is designed to train the students in physical identification, morphological characterization, physical and chemical characterization, and evaluation of commonly used herbal drugs.

Course Objectives: This course will provide hands-on experiences to the students in

  1. Identification of the crude drugs based on their morphological characteristics
  2. Various characteristic anatomical characteristics of the herbal drugs studied through transverse section
  3. Physical and chemical tests to evaluate the crude drugs

Course Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to

  1. Identify the given crude drugs based on the morphological characteristics
  2. Take a transverse section of the given crude drugs
  3. Describe the anatomical characteristics of the given crude drug under microscopical conditions
  4. Carry out the physical and chemical tests to evaluate the given crude drugs

Practicals

 

  1. Morphological Identification of the following drugs:

Ispaghula, Senna, Coriander, Fennel, Cardamom, Ginger, Nutmeg, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Clove,    Ephedra, Rauwolfia, Gokhru, Punarnava, Cinchona, Agar.

  1. Gross anatomical studies (Transverse Section) of the following drugs: Ajwain, Datura, Cinnamon, Cinchona, Coriander, Ashwagandha, Liquorice, Clove, Curcuma, Nux vomica, Vasaka

3.Physical and chemical tests for evaluation of any FIVE of the following drugs:

Asafoetida, Benzoin, Pale catechu, Black catechu, Castor oil, Acacia, Tragacanth, Agar, Guar gum, Gelatine.

Assignments

The students shall be asked to submit the written assignments on the following topics (One assignment per student per sessional period. i.e., a minimum of THREE assignments per student)

  1. Market preparations of various dosage forms of Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathic (Classical and Proprietary), indications, and their labelling requirements
  2. Market preparations of various herbal formulations and herbal cosmetics, indications, and their labelling requirements
  3. Herb-Drug interactions documented in the literature and their clinical significances

Field Visit

The students shall be taken in groups to a medicinal garden to witness and understand the nature of various medicinal plants discussed in theory and practical courses. Additionally, they shall be taken in groups to the pharmacies of traditional systems of medicines to understand the availability of various dosage forms and their labelling requirements. Individual reports from each student on their learning experience from the field visit shall be submitted.