The aim of the course is to provide knowledge about routes of administration, metabolism, distribution, and elimination of synthetic and plant-derived drugs as well as the basic concepts of their therapeutic and adverse effects. In the part of the course related to pharmacognosy, attention will be devoted to the description of the most important medicinal plants and to preparation of drugs of natural origin. In particular, this part of the course will provide knowledge on the production of plant extracts, their chemical composition and biological activity of individual compounds. Their pharmacological and nutraceutical use in pharmacy, industry and research will be discussed.

PHARMACOLOGY: general principles: drug, medicine and poison.
Pharmacokinetics: Physicochemical factors in transfer of drugs across membranes. Drug absorption, bioavailability, and routes of administration. Distribution of drugs. Biotransformation of drugs. Excretion of drugs. Clinical pharmacokinetics.
Pharmacodynamics: Mechanisms of drug action. Drug receptors. Receptors for physiological regulatory molecules. Quantitation of drug-receptor interactions. Dose-effect relationship.
PHARMACOGNOSY: Definition and aim of pharmacognosy. Definition and classification of plant drugs. Factors affecting the activity of plant drugs: natural, endogenous, exogenous and preparation-dependent. Plant drugs: preservation, analysis, identification, quality control, distinctive characters, endogenous active substances, therapeutic strategies, toxic effects.
Natural products and herbal drugs used in pharmacy and medicine
Carbohydrates: (monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, polysaccharides from (algae, gum, mucilages).
lipids: (oils, fatty acids, cere).
Phenilpropanes: (cumarines, lignans, flavonoids, tannins)
Glycosides: (anthraquinones, cyanogenic, saponins, alcoholic, phenolic
Alkaloids: (phenylalkylamines, isoquinolines, indoles, quinolines, piridines, piperidines, tropanes, purines). Anticancer drugs derived from plants.

The student must have successfully passed the following exams: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany with elements of Phytochemistry.

Learning outcomes will be: a)  basic knowledge about drug metabolism (administration, clearance, therapeutics, adverse effects); b) identification, structure and reactivity of biologically active substances, including  therapeutic and  toxic effects of the most important plant and animal drugs.

At the end of the course, students should have acquired basic knowledge for the correct use of synthetic drugs as well as drugs derived form medicinal plants.

Knowledge and understanding. At the end of the course, the student will have the skills to understand of the concepts of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and the notions relating to the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of synthetic or natural drugs.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding. At the end of the course, the student must be able to understand how the therapeutic response of drugs is conditioned by their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics characteristics

Judgment. At the end of the course, the student must be able to analyse and then predict therapeutic alternatives based on the pharmacokinetics pharmacodynamics parameters of the different drugs (natural or synthetic).

Communication skills. At the end of the course, the student must demonstrate that he/she is able to expose the notions referred in section knowledge and understanding through a scientific and critical lexicon.

Learning skills. At the end of the course, the student must demonstrate that he is able to independently know and learn the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of synthetic and natural drugs that modulate the different pharmacological responses. Furthermore, will be able to build up his scientific knowledge in a critical way, using not only the study material provided by the professor but also dedicating himself to in-depth studies.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Frontal lessons (MS Power Point).

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises) and specific communications from the lecturer can be found, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Frontal lessons (MS Power Point).

Innovative teaching methods

Flipped classroom. Some lessons will involve the distribution of pdf of scientific articles in english that students will have to
read before the lesson.

Attendance

Knowledge regarding biological subjects (biochemistry and physiology).

Class attendance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended on a regular basis to encourage both classroom interaction and the acquisition of knowledge and skills.

Course books

H.P. Rang, M.M. Dale, J.M. Ritter, R.J. Flower, G. Henderson. "Farmacologia". 8th Edition
F. Clementi, G. Fumagalli, "Farmacologia Generale e Molecolare". 4th Edition.
F. Capasso. "Farmacognosia" 2th Edition. SPRINGER, 2012.

Assessment

The course is examined through oral examination with questions to evaluate the students' knowledge about the mechanisms of basic principles of pharmacology and pharmacognosy;  address the issues related to potential interactions between of synthetic drugs as well as drugs derived form medicinal plants, dietary supplements and food. The final mark (out of 30) will be based on the skill of the students to answer properly to the questions.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Frontal lessons (MS Power Point).

Attendance

Knowledge regarding biological subjects (biochemistry and physiology).

Course books

H.P. Rang, M.M. Dale, J.M. Ritter, R.J. Flower, G. Henderson. "Farmacologia". 8th Edition
F. Clementi, G. Fumagalli, "Farmacologia Generale e Molecolare". 4th Edition.
F. Capasso. "Farmacognosia" 2th Edition. SPRINGER, 2012.

It is highly recommended to previously to have or passed the exam of General Physiology.