INTRODUCTION OF PHARMACOGNOSY | SCOPE OF PHARMACOGNOSY | B PHARM SECOND YEAR 4TH SEMESTER NOTES

 

S.Y B. PHARM / SEMESTER IV

PHARMACOGNOSY & PHYTOCHEMISTRY – I

1.    b pharm 4th sem notes

UNIT – 1: INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOGNOSY

(A) DEFINITION, HISTORY, SCOPE AND DEVELOPMENT OF PHARMACOGNOSY

INTRODUCTION OF PHARMACOGNOSY: Pharmacognosy is derived from two Greek words, Pharmakon & Gignosco / Gnosis

• Pharmakon – means ‘drug’.

• Gignosco / Gnosis – means to acquire knowledge of something

 In brief, Pharmacognosy means ‘To acquire knowledge of drugs’

Pharmacognosy is the science of drugs of biological origin (plant, animal, mineral) The word pharmacognosy was coined in 1815 by a German Scientist SEYDLER has been derived from two Greek words , Pharmacon -- ‘ a drug, gignosco – ‘ acquire the knowledge of

DEFINITION OF PHARMACOGNOSY: “Pharmacognosy may be defined as scientific and systematic study of structural, physical, chemical, and biological characters of crude drugs along with history, method of cultivation, collection and preparation for market”

DEFINITION OF CRUDE DRUGS: Crude drugs are the drugs, which are obtained from natural sources like plant, animals, minerals & they are used as such as they occur in nature without any processing except, drying & size reduction.

SCOPE OF PHARMACOGNOSY & PHYTOCHEMISTRY: Pharmacognosy has played an important role in the development of various departments of the science. Pharmacognosy gives a sound knowledge of the vegetable drugs under botany and animal drugs under zoology. It also includes the knowledge of plant taxonomy, plant breeding, plant pathology and plant genetics is helpful in the development of cultivation technology for medicinal and aromatic plants. 

 Now a day’s phytochemistry (Plant chemistry) has undergone a significant improvement. Phytochemistry includes a variety of substances that are accumulated and synthesized by plants.

  Pharmacognosy has broad scope in the field of pharmacy, Pharmaceutical industries and Therapeutics. Some of the basic scope of pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry are listed below…..

       1.     CULTIVATION AND COLLECTION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS: The most important scope of pharmacognosy includes the thorough knowledge on the history, cultivation, collection, standardization, transfer & storage of drugs and economic substances affecting the health of man & animals.

E.g. clove, cinchona , cinnamon, senna, opium, etc.

  2. EXTRACTION, ISOLATION, PURIFICATION & ANALYSIS OF PHYTOCHEMICAL: Extraction, isolation, purification and characterization of phytochemicals from natural sources are important for advancement of medicine system. The knowledge of chemotaxonomy, biogenetic pathways for formation of medicinally active primary and secondary metabolites, plant tissue culture and other related fields is essential for complete understanding of Pharmacognosy. One should have the basic knowledge of biochemistry and chemical engineering is essential for development of collection, processing and storage technology of crude drugs.

E.g. Strong acting substances such as glycosides from digitalis leaves, Alkaloids from the plants of Belladonna, Hyocyamus, Rauwlofia Morphine and other alkaloids from the plant opium were isolated and clinical uses studied.

       3.    SYNTHESIS OF NEW DRUGS: Pharmacognosy is important branch of pharmacy which is playing key role in new drug discovery and development by using natural products. Pharmacognosy has given many leads for new drug discovery and development. It is an important link between modern medicine systems (allopathy) and traditional system of medicine.

E.g. Morphine, Cocaine, Atropine.

   4. DRUGS OF DIRECT THERAPEUTIC USES: Among the natural constituents which even now cannot be replaced are important groups of antibiotics, steroids, ergot alkaloids, vincristine, vinblastine etc.

     5.   THE DRUG – DRUG & DRUG – FOOD INTERACTIONS: The drug – drug & drug – food interactions are studied in pharmacognosy, which help us avoid the untoward effects of severe interactions and hence help in obtaining the optimal therapeutics outcome.

     6.    It is an important link between modern medicine systems (allopathy) and traditional system of medicine. It is part medicinal system which is affordable as well as accessible to common man. As part of integrative system of medicine, pharmacognosy can help to increase effectiveness of modern medicine system.

   7. It is acting as bridge between pharmacology, medicinal chemistry and pharmacotherapeutics and also pharmaceutics. It also bridges pharmaceutics with other pharmacy subjects.

      8.  Pharmacognosy is the base for development of novel medicines. Most of the compounds obtained from natural product serve as prototype or base for development of new drug which are more active and less toxic. • By means of pharmacognosy, natural products can be dispensed, formulated and manufactured in dosage forms acceptable to modern system of medicine. 

   9. PREPARATIONS OF HERBAL FORMULATIONS: Preparations Of Herbal Formulations like Churna, Asava, Arishtas, Leha, Bhasma etc.

      10.          In other way the complete knowledge of pharmacognosy helps in industries as research tools and new drug delivery systems. It is helpful in all the departments of pharmaceuticals that can improve the healthcare facilities across the world.