Introduction to Pharmacology

Pharmacology Overview

• Pharmacology is derived from Greek terms Pharmakon (drugs) and logos (science).
• It studies the effects of drugs on living systems.

Historical Developments in Pharmacology

• PEN PSAO (2700 BC): An important herbal materia medica from China.
• Kahun Papyrus (2000 BC): The oldest Egyptian document detailing veterinary medicines and women's uterine diseases.
• Ebers Papyrus (1550 BC): Another Egyptian text covering numerous diseases and containing 829 prescriptions, including castor oil and opium.
• Hippocrates (460-375 BC): Greek physician known as the "father of Medicine", recognized diseases as abnormal bodily reactions and utilized metallic salts in treatments.
• Theophrastus (380-287 BC): Philosopher known as the father of pharmacognosy; classified medicinal plants based on their medicinal properties.
• Dioscorides (AD 57): Authored one of the first materia medica covering around 500 plants and remedies.
• Claudius Galen (AD 129-200): First to develop a theoretical framework for pharmacology.
• Paracelsus (1493-1541): Swiss scholar who introduced chemical treatments for diseases, often regarded as the "grandfather of pharmacology".
• Valerius Cordus (1514-1544): Compiled the first pharmacopoeia detailing drug preparation techniques.

Modern Pharmacology

• Transition to modern pharmacology began with animal experimentation and active ingredient isolation from plants.
• Francois Magendie (1783-1855): First pharmacologist who laid the groundwork for modern pharmacology through experiments on physiological processes and drug actions.
• Rudolph Buchheim (1820-1879): Established the first pharmacological institute at the University of Dorpat, contributing significantly to the field.
• Frederich Sertürner (1805): Isolated morphine, the first pure drug.
• Claude Bernard (1813-1878): Recognized as the father of experimental medicine; identified the action site of curare (arrow poison).
• Oswald Schmiedeberg (1838-1921): Dubbed the "Father of Pharmacology", he established pharmacology as an independent discipline and taught at the University of Strasbourg.
• John Jacob Abel (1857-1938): Founded the first pharmacology department in the USA at the University of Michigan in 1893; co-founded the "Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics" in 1909.
• L. Mayer Jones (1912-2002): Regarded as the father of modern veterinary pharmacology; authored the first book on veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics in 1954.