FAFG1_12 Pharmacognosy I

Faculty of Pharmacy
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/4/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
prof. PharmDr. Karel Šmejkal, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PharmDr. Martin Helcman, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PharmDr. Karel Šmejkal, Ph.D.
Department of Natural Drugs – Departments – Faculty of Pharmacy
Timetable
Wed 12:35–14:15 45-224
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
FAFG1_12/01: Wed 14:30–17:50 45-321, M. Helcman
Prerequisites
STUDIJNI_SKUPINA(start_before_2025) || PROGRAM(KOS)
The students should have passed basic subjects touching organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, biology, botany, and physiology.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
Objectives of Pharmacognosy are to impart knowledges of those drugs of biological origin and their constituents that are of value for their therapeutic, profylactic and diagnostic use in the human and veterinary medicine.
Its scope includes the study of the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of drugs, drug substances, or potential drugs or drug substances of natural origin as well as the search for new drugs from natural sources. Research problems in pharmacognosy include studies in the areas of phytochemistry, microbial chemistry, biosynthesis, biotransformation, chemotaxonomy, and other biological and chemical sciences.
Pharmacognosy represents a highly interdisciplinary science which is one of five major areas of pharmaceutical education.

Learning outcomes
The student must be able to microscopically and macroscopically identify selected drugs, know their main content substances, use, basic biosynthetic reactions, basal classes of secondary metabolites. Know the main plants used in the pharmacy. Chemical characteristics of secondary metabolites, basic knowledge of structure-activity relationships, basic knowledge of adverse effects and interactions.
Key topics
Syllabus of lectures
" Introduction and historical background.
" Generalities on collection, preservation, evaluation, and factors that influence the quality and price of drugs.
" Systemes for classification and characterization of natural drugs.
" Methodology of pharmacognosy.
" Natural drugs in relation to the European Pharmacopoeia.
" Biosynthesis of natural compounds, primary and secondary metabolism, precursors, relationship.
" Carbohydrates and their derivatives. Monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides (starches, mucilages). Polysaccharides from microorganisms, fungi, and algae, glycoconjugates. Lipids.
" General characterization of the individual class of plant constituents:
glycosides, essential oils, terpenoids and steroids, bitter substances, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, compounds with hormonal activity, vitamins, coloring principles, sweeteners.
" Antibiotics, macrolides, cytostatics, important drugs of animal origin.
" Natural compounds derived from the shikimic acid.
" Natural compounds derived from the acetic acid.
" Natural compounds derived from mevalonic acid.
" Natural compounds derived from the aminoacids.
Practical classes
1.
Drugs, the terminology of drugs, pharmacopeia, Pharmacognostic control tests of identity and purity, Preparation of temporary and durable preparations, Micro and macroscopic examination of drugs, Classification of drugs according to the pharmacological effects, Survey of modern literature and databases
2.
Powders - starches, Faex medicinalis, Lycopodium
Lana gossypii depurata, Cellulosum ligni
Agar, Gelatina animalis, Cera alba, Cera lanae, Cetaceum, Guttapercha, Cautschuc, Mel, Propolis
Fibers, Natural antidiabetics
3.
Lichen islandicus, Secale cornutum
Filicis maris rhizoma
Sarsaparillae radix, Veratri albi radix,
Calami aromatici rhizoma
Balsamum peruvianum, Camphora, Carbo adsorbens, Chrysarobinum, Gummi arabicum, Gummiresina myrha, Fagi pix, Lithanthracis pix, Tragacantha, Aconiti tuber, Colchici tuber
4.
Roots of dicotyledonous plants I
Rhizomes of dicotyledonous plants
Macro: Angelicae radix, Bardanae radix, Graminis rhizoma, Inulae rhizoma, Primulae radix, Rhei radix, Saponariae radix, Sarsaparillae radix, Valerianae radix, Echinaceae angustifoliae radix
5.
Roots of dicotyledonous plants II
Macro: Zingiberis radix, Ginseng radix, Betulae folium, Digitalis lanatae folium, Digitalis purpureae folium, Farfarae folium, Fragariae folium, Hamamelidis folium, Malvae folium, Rubi fruticosi folium, Rubi idaei folium, Eleutherococci radix, Rusci radix
test I
6.
Barks
Monofacial leaves
Macro: Cinnamomi chinensis cortex, Condurango cortex, Rhamni purshianae cortex, Salicis cortex, Bucco folium, Juglandis folium, Lauri folium, Myrtilli folium, Vitis idaeae folium, Quassiae lignum
7.
Bifacial leaves
Macro: Crataegi folium cum flore, Plantaginis folium, Ribes nigri folium, Adonidis herba, Agrimoniae herba, Alchemillae herba, Centaurii herba, Herniariae herba, Hyperici herba, Hyssopi herba, Ginkgo folium, Hederae folium, Oleae folium
8.
Leves, herbs
Macro: Marrubii herba, Millefolii herba, Origani herba, Polygoni avicularis herba, Salviae herba, Serpylli herba, Urticae herba, Visci albi herba, Solidaginis virgaureae herba, Tanaceti parthenii herba
9.
Herbs, flowers
Macro: Arnicae flos, Caryophylli flos, Farfarae flos, Lamii albi flos, Lavandulae flos, Malvae flos, Primulae flos, Sambuci flos, Tiliae flos, Hibisci sabdariffae flos, Lupuli flos
10.
Fruits
Macro: Avenae fructus, Capsici fructus, Carvi fructus, Crataegi fructus, Cynosbati fructus, Juniperi fructus, Myrtilli fructus, Papaveris fructus, Phaseoli sine semine fructus, Sennae fructus
test II
11.
Seeds, Pericarp
Macro: Colae semen, Colchici semen, Lini semen, Ricini semen, Sinapis semen
Selection of newly introduced drugs.
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • Dewick P. Medicinal natural products, a biosynthetic approach. Hoboken, 2008. ISBN 9780470741689. info
  • Bruneton Jean. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. 1999. ISBN 1898298637. info
    recommended literature
  • Samuelsson G., Bohlin L. Drugs of Natural Origin. A Treatise of Pharmacognosy. 7th revised edition. 2015. info
  • Evans W Ch. Trease and Evans' Pharmacognosy. 2009. ISBN 9780702029332. info
  • Wichtl M. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. 2002. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Monologic (explanation, lecture) Practical classes
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Written tests
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
100% attendance of all the seminars
Passing the written tests (60% is required to pass)
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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