INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOGNOSY

1. 1
LECTURE
INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOGNOSY

2. • The word “Pharmacognosy” is derived from two Greek
words “Pharmakon” (drug) and “Gignosco” (knowledge).
• Pharmacognosy deals with natural products used as
drugs for the production and discovery of drugs.
• Therefore, Pharmacognosy is defined as the study of
starting materials and substances intended for
therapeutics, and of biological origin (i.e, obtained from
plants, animals or by fermentation from microorganisms.

3. • In Pharmacognosy, the study of a plant requires
its identification, describe its morphology and
anatomy ( transverse section and longitudinal
sections.)
• Know its origin and production methods.
• Determine its chemical composition and the
factors that may affect it.
• Know the structure, physicochemical properties
and pharmacological activity of the active
principles.

4. • Identify the variables which objectively reflect quality and develop
the methods to control it.
• Be familiar with the problems linked to the optimal utilization of
plants and plant products: indications, contraindications, side
effects and drug interactions.
• In short, Pharmacognosy is an applied science that deals with the
biologic, biochemical and economic features of natural drugs and
their constituents.
• Pharmacognosy is an important link between ayurvedic and
allopathic system of medicines. It provides a system where the
active principles of crude drugs derived from natural origin could
be dispensed, formulated and manufactured in dosage forms
acceptable to allopathic system of medicine.

5. Historical development
• Oldest information about plants used as drugs originates
from the Sumerians and Akkadians (ancient civilizations of
Southwest Asia) in 3rd millenium BC.
• Ebers Papyrus (1550 BC) – the oldest preserved medical
document originated from Egypt.
• Many authors of ancient times described the use of plants
and animals as drugs eg: Hippocrates (~460-377 BC) “The
Father of Medicine”.

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