Unit - 1: Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy: (a) Definition, history, present status, scope and development of pharmacognosy. (b) Sources of drugs: Plants, animals, microbial, marine, mineral and plant tissue culture. (c) Historical milestones in drug discovery: Morphine, quinine, aspirin, warfarin, penicillin, cephalosporin, taxol and artemisinin. (d) Introduction to different herbal / traditional pharmacopoeias: Indian Pharmacopoeia, British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, United States Pharmacopeia – Herbal Medicines and Dietary Supplements, Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Unani Pharmacopoeia of India and American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. (e) Official and non-official; codified and non-codified drugs. Classification of crude drugs: alphabetical, morphological, taxonomical, chemical, pharmacological and chemotaxonomic classification along with their merits and limitations.
Unit - 2: Cultivation, Collection, Processing and Storage of Drugs of Natural Origin: Methods of plant cultivation and Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (WHO / GAP / GCP guidelines) for medicinal plants. Factors influencing cultivation, collection and storage of medicinal plants. Plant hormones and their applications in cultivation of medicinal plants. Application of polyploidy, mutation and hybridization concepts with reference to secondary metabolites. Ex-situ and in-situ conservation and strategies for value addition of medicinal plants. Role of eco-pharmacognosy in sustainable conservation of endangered medicinal plants such as kutki and chirata.
Unit - 3: Quality Control of Drugs of Natural Origin (WHO Guidelines): Adulteration of drugs of natural origin. Evaluation of drugs using organoleptic, microscopic (qualitative and quantitative), physical, chemical and biological methods. Physicochemical parameters: extractive values, moisture content, foreign organic matter, ash values, bitterness value, foaming index, haemolytic potential, swelling index, viscosity, optical rotation, refractive index, acid value and saponification value. DNA barcoding.
Unit - 4: Introduction to Metabolites of Plant Origin: Definition and general properties of plant metabolites. Primary and secondary metabolites such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, volatile oils and resins. Traditional Systems of Medicine Basic principles of treatment of diseases in different systems of medicine including AYUSH and TCM. Types of dosage forms in AYUSH medicines. Role of pharmacognosy in allopathy and traditional systems of medicine such as AYUSH and TCM.
Unit - 5: Phyto-therapeutic Agents: Biological source, major constituents and uses of the following classes of drugs:
Adaptogens and Immunomodulators: Ashwagandha, Tulsi, Amla
1. Hepatoprotectives: Milk thistle, Kutki
2. Cardiovascular drugs: Garlic, Arjuna
3. Antidiabetics: Gymnema, Fenugreek
4. Anti-inflammatory and analgesics: Turmeric, Boswellia
5. CNS drugs: Brahmi
6. Antimicrobial and antivirals: Giloy, Neem, Andrographis
7. Gastrointestinal drugs: Psyllium
8. Dermatological agents: Aloe
9. Drugs used in women’s health: Chasteberry, Shatavari
10. Respiratory drugs: Vasaka.
