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, choice of extraction method of natural drugs and quality control of naturally occurring drugs are discussed. Course contains the knowledge regarding of most commonly available drugs of animal origin, biologics, allergens, toxins and fibers used in medical procedures. Also pesticides, enzymes, growth regulators and other material of natural origin with medicinal worth are discussed.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO)

CLO: 1. Describe crude drugs of animal origin, biologics, pesticides, surgical fibers and information about their use.
CLO: 2. Explain growth regulators, allergens, toxins and their mechanism of action.
CLO: 3. Discuss enzymes of plant and animal origin and their uses.

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COURSE CONTENTS

  1. DRUGS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN:
    • General introduction and discussion about honey, gelatin, shellac, musk, civet, ambergris, cod liver oil, cantharides and spermaceti.
  2. BIOLOGICS:
    • Sources, structure, preparation, description and uses of vaccines, toxins, antitoxins, venoms, antivenoms, antiserums.
  3. SURGICAL DRESSINGS:
    • Classification of fibers as vegetable, animals and synthetic fibers. Evaluation of fibers in surgical dressings, BPC standards for dressings and sutures. Discussion on cotton, wool, cellulose, rayon, catgut and nylon.
  4. PESTICIDES
    • Introduction, methods and control of pests with special reference to pyrethrum, tobacco, and other natural pesticides.
  5. GROWTH REGULATORS:
    • General account with special reference to plant hormones; Auxins, Gibberellins, Abscisic acid and Cytokinins.
  6. POISONOUS PLANTS INCLUDING ALLERGENS AND ALLERGENIC PREPARATIONS:
    • General introduction, case history, skin test, treatment of allergy, inhalant, ingestant, injectant, contactant, infectant and infestant allergens. Mechanism of allergy.
  7. ENZYMES:
    • Enzymes obtained from plant source. (Phytoenzymes). Papain, Bromelain and Malt Extract. Enzymes obtained from Animal source. Rennin, pepsin, Pancreatin and Pancrealipase.