Introduction to Pharmacognosy: History, Sources, and Scope

Introduction to Pharmacognosy: History, Sources, and Scope

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  Introduction to Pharmacognosy: History, Sources& Scope PAWAN KUMAR SAHU LECTURER AT RUDAULI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
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  Definition of Pharmacognosy Thescientific study of crude drugs obtained from natural sources (plants, animals, and minerals) and their active chemical constituents. Origin of Term: Coined in 1815 by C. A. Seydler in his doctoral thesis titled "Analecta Pharmacognostica". P A W A N K U M A R S A H U L E C T U R E R A T R U D A U L I C O L L E G E O F P H A R M A C Y
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  Etymology: Derived fromtwo Greek words: a drug Pharmakon to acquire knowledge of Gignosco P A W A N K U M A R S A H U L E C T U R E R A T R U D A U L I C O L L E G E O F P H A R M A C Y
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  Six Basic Origins/Sourcesof Drugs Examples Description Source Senna leaf, Cinchona bark, Nux-vomica seed, Rauwolfia root, Saffron, Clove bud. Entire plant or plant parts. Classified into Organized (cellular/direct parts) and Unorganized (non-cellular/extracts, resins, juices). Plant Source Wool, Silk, Honey, Shark liver oil, Cantharides, Thyroid organ/extracts, Insulin. Entire animals, organs, extracts, or secretions. Animal Source Asbestos, Chalk, Kaolin, Bentonite. Natural ores/minerals collected via mining and purified for medicinal use. Mineral Source Agar-agar, Holotoxin A, Manoalide, Ciguatoxin, Ara-C. Bioactive compounds extracted from marine life (sponges, tunicates, corals). Marine Source Bacillus subtilis (Bacitracin), Streptomyces venezuelae (Chloramphenicol), Streptomyces griseus (Streptomycin). Natural products used as drugs, supplements, or pharmaceutical excipients. Microorganisms Humulin (human insulin), Human Growth Hormone. Using genetically engineered bacteria/organisms (Recombinant DNA technology) to produce therapeutics. Biotechnology P A W A N K U M A R S A H U L E C T U R E R A T R U D A U L I C O L L E G E O F P H A R M A C Y
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  Classification of PharmacognosyField Medical Ethnobotany: The study of traditional plant uses by indigenous people for medicinal purposes. Phytotherapy: The study of using medicinal plant extracts to treat health conditions and diseases. Ethnopharmacology: The scientific evaluation of the pharmacological properties of traditional medicinal substances. Phytochemistry: The chemical analysis of plant components, including isolation and identification of new active drug candidates. Zoo Pharmacognosy: The study of how wild animals self-medicate by selecting specific plants, soils, or insects to treat or prevent illness. Marine Pharmacognosy: The study of chemical compounds and medicinal agents derived from marine organisms. P A W A N K U M A R S A H U L E C T U R E R A T R U D A U L I C O L L E G E O F P H A R M A C Y
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  History of Pharmacognosy AyurvedicTexts: Charaka Samhita (grouped 500 herbs into 50 sets of 10) and Sushrutha Samhita (arranged 760 herbs into 7 classes). Pen-t'sao (c. 3000 B.C.): Oldest known Chinese herbal written by Emperor Shen Nung, detailing 365 drugs (one for each day of the year). Papyrus Ebers (1600 B.C.): Ancient Egyptian medical text containing over 800 formulas and 700 crude drugs. P A W A N K U M A R S A H U L E C T U R E R A T R U D A U L I C O L L E G E O F P H A R M A C Y
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  Key Contributors &Historical Milestones Major Contribution Period / Year Scientist / Scholar Known as the "Father of Medicine"; studied human anatomy and physiology. 460–360 B.C. Hippocrates Philosopher who systematically studied the animal kingdom. 384–322 B.C. Aristotle Known for pioneer studies on the plant kingdom. 370–287 B.C. Theophrastus Known as the "Father of Pharmacognosy"; wrote De Materia Medica compiling medicinal plant uses. 40–80 A.D. Dioscorides Compiled a 37-volume encyclopedia titled Naturalis Historia. 25–70 A.D. Pliny the Elder Early pharmacist/physician who formulated complex plant-based remedies (Galenical Pharmacy). 131–200 A.D. Galen Emphasized alcohol extraction methods for plant actives. 1645–1715 Nicolas Lémery Introduced the modern binomial naming system for plants and animals. 1753 Carl Linnaeus Described the therapeutic use of Digitalis (foxglove) leaves for heart ailments. 1785 William Withering Coined the word Pharmacognosy. 1815 C. A. Seydler Developed modern plant taxonomy and classification systems. 1817–1884 Bentham & Hooker Published foundational observations on plant genetics and hybridization. 1865 Gregor Mendel P A W A N K U M A R S A H U L E C T U R E R A T R U D A U L I C O L L E G E O F P H A R M A C Y
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  Key Pure CompoundIsolations Morphine: First alkaloid isolated from opium by Friedrich Sertürner (1806). Narcotine: Isolated from opium by Derosne (1803). Strychnine: Isolated from Ignatius beans / Nux vomica seeds by Pelletier (1817). Other Alkaloids Isolated: Emetine (1817), Brucine (1819), Piperine (1819), Quinine & Colchicine (1820), Nicotine (1828), Cocaine (1860), Ouabain (1877), Pilocarpine (1875), Ephedrine (1887), Podophyllotoxin (1891). Classic Atlases Published: Berg's Anatomical Atlas of Crude Drugs (1865) and Greenish & Collin's Anatomical Atlas of Powdered Vegetable Drugs (1904). P A W A N K U M A R S A H U L E C T U R E R A T R U D A U L I C O L L E G E O F P H A R M A C Y
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  Present Status andScope of Pharmacognosy Broad Applications: Extends beyond clinical therapeutics into the food, spice, cosmetic, and forensic science industries. Interdisciplinary Integration: Has evolved from basic morphology/taxonomy into advanced phytochemistry, biotechnology, genetics, and molecular pharmacology. Drug Discovery & Research: Serves as a vital screening tool to isolate purified active lead molecules from unexplored natural resources. Herbal Standardization: Establishes official pharmacopoeial monographs, purity standards, and assays to verify raw drug quality and authenticity. Bridge Discipline: Connects traditional herbal systems (Ayurveda) with modern allopathic medicine, converting crude plants into standardized dosage forms. P A W A N K U M A R S A H U L E C T U R E R A T R U D A U L I C O L L E G E O F P H A R M A C Y
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  THANK YOU P A WA N K U M A R S A H U L E C T U R E R A T R U D A U L I C O L L E G E O F P H A R M A C Y