Phytochemistry & Pharmacognosy 2 BIPH 4235

Course description:

This course is a continuation of phytochemistryand pharmacognosyI that covers the therapeutic and pharmaceutical value of medicinal plants, the relevant chemical structures and the biosynthetic origin, methods of extraction, separation, purification, classification, and quantification. Metabolites of natural products, their significance, therapeutic, and pharmaceutical value, their biosynthetic origin: glycosides, saponins (separation and identification techniques), sugars (mono, disaccharides, polysaccharides) and bitter principles, their properties and therapeutic values. Chromatography and its application in the analysis of medicinal plant constituents; practical applications of major methods.

Course Aims:

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
Describe the chemistry of natural products; essential oils and alkaloids, and their applications in therapeutics. 
Describe the different methods of preparation, isolation and identification of these compounds from their natural sources by chemical and chromatographic methods as well as their application in medicine and pharmaceutical industries. In addition, special emphasis on the biosynthesis of the different classes is also concerned.

Course outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:  
  • Give an account on the chemistry, biological activity of alkaloids and volatile oils. 
  • Know the mechanism of action of these biologically active components (Alkaloids and Essential oils) and their structure activity relationship.
  • Recognize or draw the chemical structure of such biologically active compounds. 
  • Explain the application of essential oils in Aromatherapy. 
  • Explain the mechanism of action of different classes of alkaloids as chemotherapeutic drugs. 
  • Recognize herbal drugs and phytopharmaceuticals and their medicinal indications and limitation.