Ateneo - UPO

The Course is composed of one section (5 CFU) of Pharmacognosy and one (1 CFU) of Phytotherapy. It aims to give to the student the scientific basis for a full knowledge and understanding of the main natural drugs, as well as the principal phytotherapic compounds. During the Course, the student will acquire skills on how to apply this scientific knowledge and develop independent judgment, communication skills, and ability to learn.
The Course is organized as follows: i) a first small-section of general Pharmacognosy, concerning the study of bioactive compounds derived from natural products found in plants and animals, the main methods for their preparation, preservation, recognition, quality assessment, purity and activity; ii) a second small-section of systematic Pharmacognosy, concerning the study of some natural drugs.
The section of Phytotherapy focuses on the general aspects of this discipline, as well as on the therapeutic properties of some medicinal plants.

Mazzanti G, Dell'Agli M, Izzo AA. Farmacognosia e fitoterapia Piccin
R.D. Howland, M. J. Mycek LE BASI DELLA FARMACOLOGIA, Ed. Zanichelli
Trease, W.C. Evans, Farmacognosia, Ed. Piccin
Dewick P.M., Chimica, Biosintesi e bioattività delle sostanze naturali, Ed. Piccin
E. Ragazzi, Farmacognosia minerale, Ed. CEDAM
Fabio Firenzuoli, Fitoterapia, Ed. Masson

The course aims to acquisition of knowledge about the main plants used for the therapy of some diseases, the main involved compounds, and their mechanism of action. To achieve this goal a section (5 CFU) of Pharmacognosy, dealing with the basis of natural drug action as well as the specific properties of several natural compounds, and a section (1 CFU) of Phytotherapy, dealing with the general as well as the specific characteristics of some medicinal plants, will be considered.

We strongly suggest to have attended to Biology, Biochemistry, Physiology, and Pathology courses before studying this Course

Lectures will be given throughout the October-January, and they will be performed in presence or remotely as needed. The students will be constantly stimulated to participate to the lesson with questions and comments in order to ensure the achievement of the goals. Seminars on specific scientific topics could be organized.

The Professor will receive the students for specific questions every day by appointment. Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities

Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The students will be evaluated by a written test composed by open questions, question with short answers and multiple-choice questions. If necessary, the student may be asked to take an oral exam to complete the assessment. The questions will be organized to allow students the achievement of goals

PHARMACOGNOSY (5 CFU) • General principles: drugs in Pharmacognosy. Biogenesis of the main pharmacologically active compounds: synthetic pathways. • Genetic and environmental factors affecting the contents of biologically active compounds. • Cell cultures as methods for studying the main biosynthetic pathways and the sources of biologically active compounds. • Preparation, preservation, recognition, quality determination, purity, and activity of drugs. • Vegetable drugs used in the pathology of: f• Central and peripheral nervous system: cognitive impairment (Ginkgo, Salvia), central stimulants (methylxanthines), anxiety and insomnia (valerian, Kava, lavender, Lemon balm, Chamomile and Passionflower), depression (St. John's wort, saffron) • Cardio-vascular system: cardiotonics (digoxin), atherosclerosis (ginkgo, pomegranate, hibiscus, cumin, flax, berberine,), hypertension (garlic, hawthorn), chronic venous insufficiency (horse chestnut, Centella, Sweet clover, Red vine, Rusco, Pine sea, Witch Hazel, Bilberry) • Metabolism: hyperlipidemias (fermented red rice, garlic, artichoke, bergamot, fenugreek), hyperglycemia (Galega, gymnema, cinnamon, onion), overweight and obesity (ephedra, bitter orange, sea oak, garcinia). • Pain and inflammation: (cannabis, poppy, devil's claw, feverfew, turmeric, chilli, arnica, brobelain) • Respiratory system: cold flu (pelargonium, meadowsweet, adrographis, eucalyptus,) cough (marshmallow, thyme, plantain, primrose, ivy) • Gastrointestinal system: oral cavity (aloe, malaleuca, propolis), eupeptic (gentian, wormwood, ginger, chilli), carminative (fennel, cumin, mint), demulcent (licorice, aloe), constipation (mass-forming, osmotic, anthraquinone, emollients), diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (psyllium, peppermint oil), chronic inflammatory diseases (boswellia), antispasmodics (atropine) • Hepato-biliary system: hepatoprotectors (milk thistle, fillanthus), choleretics and cholagogues (artichoke, boldo, dandelion) • uro-genital system: water retention, infections (cranberry, bearberry), benign prostatic hypertrophy (Serenoa Repens, nettle, pumpkin, weasel), urinary tract antiseptics (arbutin) • Skin: inflammation (aloe, chamomile, calendula, oats, evening primrose oil), lesions (arnica, centella) • Galattogus (milk thistle, galega) • Adaptogens and immunomodulators: adaptogens (ginseng, eleutherococcus, rhodiola, schisandra, uncaria, malpighia), immunomostimulants (echinacea, astragalus, eleutherococcus, ginseng, uncaria), immunosuppressants • Antitumor activity (win, badger) cytisine PHYTOTHERAPY (1 CFU) • The herbal medicines in human therapy: a. Phytotherapy, general principles, historical outlines b. The chemical compounds of herbal medicines: heterosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, essential oils, tannins, carbohydrates c. The variability of biological active compounds d. The vegetable compounds in therapy and the phytotherapics e. Principles of Galenic • Adverse drug reactions against phytotherapics: The essential oils , the embryotoxicity The acute toxicity The allergic reactions and the photosensitisation Drug interactions Pharmacovigilance • Clinical Phytotherapy: pediatric, geriatric, and pregnancy uses of phytotherapics • Examples of phytoterapics used in the most common pathologies of the following systems: a. nervous b. respiratory c. cardiovascular d. gastro-enteric e. metabolic f. urogenital g. reumatic h. cutaneous

In order to acquire the minimum level of learning, the students must have enough: 1) knowledge of the main preparations that can be used in therapy, the main aspects related to the quality and safety of the preparations, the main plant extracts / active ingredients used in therapy and the respective mechanisms of action; 2) competence to be able to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired to the therapy of various pathologies; 3) ability to present the concepts studied correctly and with the right terminology. For the acquisition of the advanced level, the student must be able to: 1) know how to explain exhaustively the use of the preparations including adverse effects and contraindications; 2) understand and correctly present the bases underlying the interaction of the preparations and the possibility or not of complementary use; 3) knowing how to indicate the correct preparation to use given a pathology and associated complications