The aim of the course is to give the knowledges about the structure of plants and about the characteristics of pharmaceutical plants.

The plant cell: plastids, vacuole, cell wall and its modifications. Plant tissues: meristems. Adult tissues: parenchymas, dermal tissue system, collenchyma, sclerenchyma, vascular tissue system, secretory system. Seed, germination, plantlet. Stem structure: shoot primary growth and structure, secondary growth in Dycotiledones and Gymnospermae. Leaf morphology and anatomy. Root morphology and anatomy.Flower, inflorescences, fruits. Photosynthesis,essentialnutrients, water transport process, plant hormones. Classification of the plant kingdom. Bacteria (notes). Algae:general structure, pharmaceutical significance of Cyanobacteria, Rhodophyta, Phaeophyta. Fungi: general structure, pharmaceutical significance of Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Deuteromycetes.Claviceps purpurea Tulas.Lichens, general structure, pharmaceutical significance:Cetraria islandica. Bryophyta (notes). Pteridophyta: general structure and pharmaceutical significance. Gimnospermae: general structure and pharmaceutical significance. Angiospermae: general structure, reproduction. Dycotiledones, Monocotyledones and most important families with pharmaceutical significance. Species considered on the basis of their active substances: Plants containing cardioactive glycosides: Digitalis purpurea L.; Digitalis lanata Ehrh; Urginea maritima L.; Plants containing antraquinones: Rhamnus purshiana DC.; R.; Rhamnus frangula L. ;Rheum palmatum L.; Plants containing mucillages: Althaea officinalis L.; Malva sylvestris L.; Mucillages of algae. Plants containing tannins: Hamamelis virginiana L. Plants containing cannabinoids : Cannabis sativa L..Plants containing alkaloids: Taxus baccata L.; Ephedra ssp;  Papaver somniferum L.; Erytroxylon coca L.; Atropa belladonna L.; Datura stramonium L.; Hyoscyamus niger L.. Plants containing essential oils: Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees; Camomilla recutita L.; Anthemis nobilis L. Mentha x piperita L.;Pimpinella anisum L..

The student must demonstrate to have the basic knowledge about plant cell, tissues and organs. 

The student must demostrate to have acquired knowledges which are necessary for the differentiation of main groups of plants. 

The student must demostrate to have acquired the knowlwdge of the properties of plants of pharmaceutical interest, of their drugs and active principles.

The student should be able to recognize medicinal plants and relative active metabolites
The course aims at the achievement of communication skills, by employing appropriate language, to transfer clearly the acquired  information to other people
Finally, the student should acquire the ability to read autonomously study material through continuous use of textbooks, scientific papers and specific database.

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

Teaching

Frontal lessons with PC and video-projector( Power point)

Course books

Maugini E., Maleci Bini L.,Mariotti Lippi M.,

Botanica Farmaceutica IX ed. PICCIN ed.

Assessment

The final exam consists in oral questions aimed to understand the knowlwdge and comprehension achieved by the student about the topics indicated in the program. Questions concern the general section, that is the plant cell, its tissues and organs, and  pharmaceutically important plants, with their classification, description, drug , anatomical characteristics and active principles.

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.