COURSE OBJECTIVES

Pharmacognosy course provides the basic information regarding taxonomy of crude drugs, major official references, sources and identification techniques, crude drugs production, evaluation and processing. Medicinal uses and choice of extraction method of natural drugs are discussed. In addition, the course discusses quality control of herbal and other naturally occurring drugs. Course contains the use of most commonly applied and recognized alternative and complementary medicines (CAM), their principles, efficacies and possible side effects which are necessary for modern pharmacy practice and patient counselling. Medicinal uses of plants from most potent families and their medical worth is discussed.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO)

CLO: 1. Describe pharmacognosy, crude drugs, plants and animal as medicinal source and information about their use.
CLO: 2. Illustrate biological source of crude drugs, their collection, evaluation, classification, processing and medicinal uses
CLO: 3. Evaluate the crude drugs through various quality control methods to confirm their purity.

COURSE CONTENTS

  1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION:
    • Historical development and scope of Pharmacognosy. Terminology used in Pharmacognosy. An introduction of traditional systems (Unani, Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic systems of medicine) with special reference to medicinal plants. Introduction to herbal pharmacopoeia and modern concepts about Pharmacognosy.
  2. CRUDE DRUGS:
    • Preparation of crude drugs for commercial market. Chemical and Therapeutic classification of crude drugs (Official & Un-official drugs). Methods of Cultivation, Drying, Storage, Preservation and Packing.
  3. THE STUDY OF THE CRUDE DRUGS BELONGING TO VARIOUS FAMILIES OF MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE
    4. S.No. Families Crude Drugs
    1. Ranunculaceae Aconitum, Larkspur, Pulsatilla, Hydrastis
    2. Papaveraceae Papaver somniferum, Sanguinaria, Canadensis
    3. Leguminosae Acacia, Glycyrrhiza, Senna, Cassia, Tamarind
    4. Umbelliferae Fennel, Carum, Coriander, Conium, Asafoetida
    5. Apocynaceae Rauwolfia, Catharanthus
    6. Asclepiadaceae Gymnemasylvestre, Calotropis gigantea
    7. Compositae Artemisia, Silybummarianum, Echinaceae, Arctiumlappa
    8. Solanaceae Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, Stramonium, Capsicum
    9. Scrophulariaceae Digitalis, Verbascum (Mullien).
    10. Labiatae Peppermint, Thyme, Spearmint, Salvia, Ocimum
    11. Liliaceae Garlic, Colchicum, Aloe
    12. Zingiberaceae Ginger, Curcuma
  4. EVALUATION AND ADULTRATION OF CRUDE DRUGS
    • Evaluation of crude drugs i.e., Organoleptic, Microscopic, Physical, Chemical and Biological. Deterioration and Adulteration of crude drugs. Types of adulteration, inferiority, spoilage, admixture, sophistication and substitution of crude drugs