Introduction to Pharmacognosy

Study Notes

Pharmacognosy is a branch of bioscience, studying drugs from plants, animals, and minerals.
It defines drugs obtained from natural origins.
Pharmacognosy is derived from the Greek words: pharmkon (drug) and gignosko (to acquire knowledge).

Medical Ethnobotany: Studies traditional plant use in medicine.
Ethnopharmacology: Examines traditional medicinal substances' pharmacological properties.
Phytotherapy: Studies the medicinal use of plant extracts.
Phytochemistry: Identifies plant-derived chemicals and new drugs.
Zoopharmacognosy: Explores how animals self-medicate using plants and other natural substances.
Pharmacognosy-Biotechnology: Uses biotechnology to create new bioactive molecules from plants.
Herbal Interactions: Studies how herbs interact with other drugs and the body.
Marine Pharmacognosy: Investigates chemicals from marine organisms.

Hippocrates (460-370 BC): Considered the "Father of Medicine."
Aristotle (384-322 BC): Studied the animal kingdom.
Theophrastus (370-287 BC): Studied plants.
Galen (131-200 AD): Described various methods for preparing plant and animal drugs for medicine.
Galenical Pharmacy was a branch of medicine concerned with the preparation and extraction of medicines from plants and animals.

Natural drugs are economically and safer than synthetic drugs.
Active constituents from natural sources have fueled advancements in this field..
Structure determination and pharmacological screening are available tools.
Developments in chemistry, biochemistry, and pharmacology support further advancements in pharmacognosy.

20th Century: Important plant-derived medicines discovered, microorganisms emerged as a significant source.
21st Century: Chemistry and genetics applied to improve plant and herb varieties.
Pharmacognosy: Expanded its scope in isolating, extracting, and developing new chemicals from medicinal plants, leading to specific disciplines in science.
It provides an alternative system of medicine with plants as a source of medicinal elements or compounds.

The provided text outlines a course material for Pharmacy students, providing specific chapter topics and page numbers within the curriculum; the website information given (FDSPharmacy) leads to education resources for students.