Ateneo - UPO

the
Subjects of Medicinal Plant’s first part are anatomy, biology, physiology and characterization of superior plants and definition of their secondary metabolites. Systematic characterization of fungi, lichens and ferns.
the
Subjects of Medicinal Plant’s second part are:
- botanical description and characterization of main pharmacological relevant gimnosper and angiosperm plants,
- the knowledge of their use in traditional medicine,
- the knowledge of their drugs,
- their drug’s active principles,
- therapeutic and toxicological effects of drug’s active principles and their phamaceutical applications

Biologia e Botanica Farmaceutica - Senatore (Piccin)
Chimica e Farmacologia delle Piante Medicinali - Perdetti (Studio Edizioni)
Manuale di botanica farmaceutica –Maugini (Piccin

The students attending this course learn the fundamentals of general botany and the nomenclature needed for medicinal plants morphological description and classification. Moreover, students will learn the secondary metabolites produced by plants and their tissue/organ accumulation sites, the preparation procedures and the therapeutic properties of drugs.
Moreover students must possess knowledge of principal medicinal plants. They have to demonstrate to have knowledge of their botanical description, classification, use in traditional medicine, drugs, active principles of explained plants, of their biological targets, their pharmacological/toxicological effects and pharmacological and nutraceutical applications. Finally, students must demonstrate to have developed a correct language ability and to use appropriate terminology.

It is recommended to have passed the examination of Plant Biology

Lectures with practical demonstration of botanical samples and computer support: projection of powerpoint slides. Slides will be at students disposition.
product sheets containing the botanical composition of products will be viewed and the student will be guided to identify the function

Lectures. Skills simulations: suggesting the correct natural product

Oral exam with open questions in order to achieve the knowledge and skills corresponding to the minimum level of sufficiency, the student is asked to demonstrate:
(knowledge)
• to know the anatomy of higher plants and the terminology necessary to describe it
• to know the concept of drugs and the preparation processes
• to know the main secondary metabolites and their physiological functions
• to know the aspects that influence the quality and safety of a drug
• to know the main plants and the respective drugs used in traditional medicine

(skills)
• understand how the therapeutic activity depends on the drug and its preparation conditions
• knowing how to identify the parameters to be checked to ensure drug safety
• knowing how to identify the plant responsible for a therapeutic activity
Transversal skills
• knowing how to identify, describe the drug and the mechanism of action responsible for a therapeutic activity
• critically evaluate the drug manufacturing process
• identify the correct drug to use based on the problem presented

to achieve an advanced level, the student must be able to combine the knowledge acquired to identify plants that may have a therapeutic activity by describing their active metabolites and different mechanisms of action and autonomously plan the composition of a phytotherapic,
know given a list of plants for what the preparation containing them can be used, the metabolites involved and how it works
to know about possible interactions or adverse effects
to posses an adequate language

Historical overview
Biological and Physiological part:
- Plant cell
- Plant tissues
- plant organs
- Modified epidermal cells
- Secretory structures
- Reproductive organs

Anatomical part
- Root
- Stem
- Leafs
- Flowers
- Fruits and seeds

Factors that influences the production of plant secondary metabolites

Plant active principles
Alkaloids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, steroids, volatile oils, mucilages, bitter compounds, and iridoids

Drugs
- Harvesting of drugs
- Preparation of herbal medicines

Systemic botany
- Fungi
- Algae
- Lichens

The following list of plant will be explained in:
- botanical description and characterization,
- their use in traditional medicine,
- their drugs,
- their drug’s active principles,
- therapeutic and toxicological effects of drug’s active principles and their phamaceutical applications
Pinaceae Pinus silvestris, Juniperus communis
Taxus baccata
ANGIOSPERME
Dicotiledoni
Salicaceae Populous alba, Salix alba
Cannabaceaea Cannabis sativa, Humulus lupulus
Euphorbiaceae Ricinus communis
Lauraceae Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Ranuncolacee Hydrastis canadensis
Papaveracee Papaver somniferum
Brassicacee brassica oleracea
Rosacee Crataegus oxyacantha e C. monogyna,
Cesalpiniaceae Cassia acutifolia, C. angustifolia, Ceratonia siliqua
Fabaceae Glycyrrhiza glabra, galega officinalis, Glycine soja, Arachis hypogea, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba
Myrtaceae Eugenia caryophyllata, Passiflora incarnata
Hypericum perforatum
Malvaceae Malva silvestris, Althaea officinalis,Tilia cordata, T.platyphyllos, Theobroma cacao
Linum usitatissimum
Rutaceae Citrus aurantium var. amara, Citrus bergamia, Citrus nobilis, Citrus sinensis
Aesculus hippocastanum
Rhamnaceae Rhamnus frangula, Rhamnus purshiana
Apiacee Pimpinella anisum, Foeniculum vulgare, Centella asiatica
Panax ginseng
Ericaceae Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Vaccinium myrtillus
Solanacee Atropa belladonna, Datura stramonium, Hyoscyamus niger, Capsicum frutescens
Digitalis purpurea)
Lamiacee (Labiate)Mentha piperita, lavandula spica, Thymus vulgaris, Melissa officinalis, Rosmarinus officinalis
Acanthaceae Harpagophytum procumbens
Serenoa repens
Gentiana lutea
Apocynaceae Rauwolfia serpentina, Catharanthus roseus
Rubiaceae Cinchona calisaya, Coffea arabica, Cinchona ledgeriana, Cephaelis ipecacuanha
Valeriana officinalis
Asteracee Matricaria chamomilla, Anthemis nobilis, Cynara scolymus, Silybum marianum, artemisia absinthium, Helichrysum italicum, Echinacea purpurea, Arnica montana
Monocotiledoni
Alliaceae Allium sativum,
Colchicum autumnale,
Aloe sp. pl.
Zingiberaceae Zingiber officinalis, Curcuma longa
Ananas comosus Garcinia cambogia, Gymnetia sylvestre, Astragalus glycyphyllos L. Malpighia glabra, Uncaria tumentosa, sambucus, Fucus vesiculosus, Combretum micranthum, Taraxacum officinale, Rosa canina, Vitis vinifera, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Ruscus aculeatus

Studendts will have skills required in pharmacy as the knowledge of medicinal plants used in the preparation of main commercialized botanicals. Moreover, students have to demonstrate the know-how in the independent formulation of phytoterapeutic remedies, understand applications, side effects and toxicology or interaction of botanical drugs and will be able to select and guide in the choice of most appropriate botanicals. It is required an appropriate language.