FDFF1_FAF Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Faculty of Pharmacy
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
prof. PharmDr. Karel Šmejkal, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PharmDr. Karel Šmejkal, Ph.D.
Faculty of Pharmacy
Supplier department: Department of Natural Drugs – Departments – Faculty of Pharmacy
Prerequisites
Knowledge of pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, and basics of toxicology of natural compounds
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
The course is to provide in-depth knowledge of pharmacognosy and phytochemistry, with a special focus on areas close to the content of the dissertation. The content of the course is the issue of drugs and excipients of natural origin used in human and veterinary medicine. Pharmacognosy deals with the search for and study of sources of bioactive natural substances and the possibilities of their biotechnological acquisition. It explains the interrelationships and conditions of the formation of secondary metabolites, the mechanism of their effect and the possibilities of practical use. Within phytochemistry, the course also describes the ingredients, defines their structure, which determines the biological properties, deals with their qualitative and quantitative analysis and biological activity. It uses the procedures and methods described in scientific and professional publications with emphasis on the knowledge of science and research contained in world databases containing knowledge from scientific publications and is necessary to increase the student's ability to process knowledge from the described area of ​​knowledge into research texts.
Learning outcomes
Deep knowledge of the subject with overlaps into related areas. Ability to independently assess pharmacognostic problems. Knowledge of natural substances, structural characteristics, methods for isolation, biological activities, possible side effects.
Key topics
Pharmacognosy methodology. Natural medicines in relation to ČL 2017 and mass-produced medicinal products. Pharmacopoeial methods. drug evaluation. Czech Pharmaceutical Code. Standards. Biosynthesis of natural substances, primary and secondary metabolites, precursors, mutual relations. Sugars and their derivatives. Mono-, oligo- and polysaccharides (starches, mucilages, gums), specific sugars. Glycoconjugates. Glycosides, essential oils, steroids, lipids, bitters, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, dyes, substances with hormonal action, proteins, peptides, vitamins. Antibiotics, macrolides, cytostatics, fungal components, animal drugs. Natural substances derived from shikimic acid. Natural substances derived from acetic acid. Natural substances derived from mevalonic acid. Natural substances derived from amino acids. Pharmacotherapeutic groups including natural substances. Pharmacokinetics, elimination, interaction potential. Toxicity of natural substances.
Study resources and literature
    recommended literature
  • HEINRICH, Michael; Joanne BARNES; José M. PRIETO GARCIA; Simon GIBBONS and Elizabeth M. WILLIAMSON. Fundamentals of pharmacognosy and phytotherapy. Edited by A. Douglas Kinghorn - Mark Blumenthal. Fourth edition. [London]: Elsevier, 2024, x, 272. ISBN 9780323834346. info
  • Pharmacognosy : fundamentals, applications, and strategies. Edited by Simone Badal McCreath - Yuri N. Clement. Second edition. London: Elsevier, 2024, xxv, 819. ISBN 9780443186578. info
  • From herbs to healing : pharmacognosy - phytochemistry - phytotherapy - biotechnology. Edited by Éva Szöke - Ágnes Kéry - Éva Lemberkovics. Cham: Springer, 2023, xvii, 570. ISBN 9783031173004. info
  • Assessment of medicinal plants for human health : phytochemistry, disease management, and novel applications. Edited by Megh Raj Goyal - Durgesh Nandini Chauhan. Burlington, ON: Apple Academic Press, 2021, xxiii, 261. ISBN 9781771888578. info
  • Principles and practice of botanicals as an integrative therapy. Edited by Anne Hume - Katherine Kelly Orr. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2019, 1 online. ISBN 9780429546976. URL info
  • Nagy, M., Mučaji, P., Grančai, D. Farmakognózia. 2017. ISBN 9788089631643. info
  • BONE, Kerry and Simon MILLS. Principles and practice of phytotherapy : modern herbal medicine. Edited by Michael Dixon - Mark Blumenthal. Second edition. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier, 2013, xxiv, 1051. ISBN 9780443069925. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Reading, homework, discussion.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Oral examination.
Language of instruction
Czech
Teacher's information
The Ph.D. study program in Pharmacy is conducted in the Czech language, but the subject may be taught in English, depending on the student's language preferences. Study literature and scientific literature are also available in English.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2025, Spring 2026, Autumn 2026.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/pharm/spring2025/FDFF1_FAF