Podcast Beta
Questions and Answers
What is Pharmacognosy?
The knowledge of drugs that provides scientific description of drugs of natural origin used in medicine.
Which of the following are types of drugs?
What are primary metabolites?
Substances essential for life such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, nucleic acids, and vitamins.
Secondary metabolites are found in all organisms.
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following factors influence the production of secondary metabolites?
Signup and view all the answers
Fresh plant materials are used in ________ medicine.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of natural products in modern medicine?
Signup and view all the answers
The precursor of phenolic compounds is ________ acid.
Signup and view all the answers
Name one class of compounds that are nitrogen containing.
Signup and view all the answers
What are terpenoids known for?
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following types of plant constituents with their characteristics:
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
- Pharmacognosy focuses on natural drugs and their scientific description.
- Drugs can be derived from natural sources (plants, animals, minerals) or synthesized in labs.
- Phytochemistry studies phytochemicals, particularly secondary metabolites in plants.
- Secondary metabolites serve protective functions for plants and have healing properties for humans.
Metabolites
- Primary metabolites are essential for life and include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, nucleic acids, and vitamins.
- Secondary metabolites are unique to specific organisms and have pharmacological activity.
Factors Influencing Secondary Metabolite Production
- Gene composition (heredity) can lead to qualitative and quantitative changes.
- Developmental stage (ontogeny) affects the quantity of metabolites produced.
- Environmental changes also result in quantitative variations.
Forms of Plant Products
- Fresh plant materials are utilized in traditional medicine and flavor industries.
- Dried plant materials are used in flavoring, spices, and medicinal drugs.
- Acellular products include gums, resins, balsams, and essential oils.
- Galenical preparations comprise plant extracts or tinctures for direct use.
- Standardized extracts have known concentrations of active ingredients.
- Pure compounds are preferred for pharmaceutical formulations due to established quality, safety, and efficacy.
Role of Natural Products in Modern Medicine
- Natural products provide drugs that are challenging to produce synthetically, like opium and antibiotics.
- Semisynthetic compounds enhance drug effectiveness or reduce toxicity through modification, such as morphine analogues.
- Natural products serve as templates for developing synthetic analogues, e.g., procaine as a local anesthetic.
- Starting materials can lead to more potent drugs via chemical modification or biotransformation, exemplified by Baccatin III and Stigmasterol.
Classification of Plant Constituents
- Classification is based on biosynthetic origin, solubility, presence of key functional groups, physicochemical properties, and pharmacological activities.
Key Functional Groups
- Phenolic Compounds: Include flavonoids and tannins; have hydrophilic properties and at least one aromatic ring.
- Terpenoids: Include volatile oils and carotenoids; are lipophilic and classified by isoprene units (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, etc.).
- Nitrogen-Containing Compounds: Include amino acids and alkaloids; basic compounds that respond positively to ninhydrin or Dragendorff's reagents.
- Organic Acids and Lipids: Include simple organic acids and fatty acids; derived from acetate with varying solubility.
- Water-Soluble Carbohydrates: Comprise mono- and oligosaccharides and glycosides.
- Macromolecules: High molecular weight compounds such as nucleic acids, proteins, and polysaccharides.
Nomenclature of Plant Constituents
- Trivial names often derive from the discoverer’s name or the plant's common name, such as Pelletierine and vincristine from Vinca.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Explore the fascinating world of phytochemistry in this quiz based on the PGC 504 course. Gain insights into the classification of drugs from natural and synthetic origins, focusing on plant-derived phytochemicals and their significance in medicine. Test your knowledge on secondary metabolites and their protective roles.
