Course

UNIT I

• Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy
  • Definition, history, present status, scope and development of pharmacognosy. (1 hr)
  • Sources of drugs: Plants, animals, microbial, marine, mineral and plant tissue culture. (2 hr)
  • Historical milestones in drug discovery: Morphine, quinine, aspirin, warfarin, penicillin, cephalosporin, taxol and artemisinin. (1 hr)
  • Introduction to different herbal / traditional pharmacopoeias: Indian Pharmacopoeia, British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, United States Pharmacopeia – Herbal Medicines and Dietary Supplements, Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Unani Pharmacopoeia of India and American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. (2 hr)
  • Official and non-official; codified and non-codified drugs.
  • Classification of crude drugs: alphabetical, morphological, taxonomical, chemical, pharmacological and chemotaxonomic classification along with their merits and limitations. (2 hr)

UNIT II

• Cultivation, Collection, Processing and Storage of Drugs of Natural Origin)
  • Methods of plant cultivation and Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (WHO / GAP / GCP guidelines) for medicinal plants. Factors influencing cultivation, collection and storage of medicinal plants. (3 hr)
  • Plant hormones and their applications in cultivation of medicinal plants. Application of polyploidy, mutation and hybridization concepts with reference to secondary metabolites. (2 hr)

UNIT III

• Quality Control of Drugs of Natural Origin (WHO Guidelines)
  • Adulteration of drugs of natural origin. Evaluation of drugs using organoleptic, microscopic (qualitative and quantitative), physical, chemical and biological methods. (2 hr)
  • Physicochemical parameters: extractive values, moisture content, foreign organic matter, ash values, bitterness value, foaming index, haemolytic potential,
  • swelling index, viscosity, optical rotation, refractive index, acid value and saponification value. DNA barcoding. (3hr)

UNIT IV

• Introduction to Metabolites of Plant Origin
  • Definition and general properties of plant metabolites. Primary and secondary
  • metabolites such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids,
  • tannins, terpenoids, volatile oils and resins. (3 hr)
  • Primary Metabolites
  • General classification and identification tests
  • Pharmacognostic study (biological source, distribution, chemical constituents, specific tests, therapeutic uses, and commercial applications) of Carbohydrates:(1hr)
    • Acacia,
    • Agar
    • Tragacanth
    • Honey
  • Proteins and Enzymes:(2 hr)
    • Gelatin
    • Casein
    • Proteolytic enzymes: Papain, Bromelain, Serratiopeptidase, Urokinase, Streptokinase, Pepsin
  • Lipids (Waxes, Fats, Fixed Oils): (2 hr)
    • Castor oil
    • Olive oil
    • Cocoa butter
    • Wool fat
    • Beeswax

UNIT V

• Phyto-therapeutic Agents
  • Biological source, major constituents and uses of the following classes of drugs:
    • Adaptogens and Immunomodulators: Ashwagandha, Tulsi, Amla
    • Cardiovascular drugs: Garlic, Arjuna (1hr)
    • Hepatoprotectives: Milk thistle, Kutki
    • Antidiabetics: Gymnema, Fenugreek (1hr)
    • Anti-inflammatory and analgesics: Turmeric, Boswellia
    • CNS drugs: Brahmi
    • Antimicrobial and antivirals: Giloy, Neem, Andrographis (1hr)
    • Gastrointestinal drugs: Psyllium
    • Dermatological agents: Aloe
    • Drugs used in women’s health: Chasteberry, Shatavari
    • Respiratory drugs: Vasaka (1 hr)

This course is designed to impart the fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and provides students
with a comprehensive understanding of sources of drugs, good agricultural and collection
practices (GACP) for medicinal plants, and quality control parameters for standardization.
The introduction to traditional systems of medicine bridges the gap between traditional
knowledge and modern evidence-based medicine, enabling graduates to work in areas such
as herbal product development and nutraceuticals. The scope of the course aims to equip
students with the fundamental skills necessary for the accurate identification, authentication,
standardization, and quality control of medicinal plant materials, which is the essential first
step for any research, industrial, or regulatory activity involving herbal drugs.

Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

• K1: Describe the historical development, classification, and scope of Pharmacognosy.
• K2: Identify primary and secondary metabolites with their therapeutic relevance.
• K3: Explain cultivation, processing, and conservation techniques for medicinal plants.
• K4: Justify the clinical applications of phytotherapeutic agents
• S1: Apply quality evaluation methods to crude drugs using organoleptic, microscopic, and chemical parameters.
• A1: Improve critical thinking skills.

• Discuss the history, present status, scope and development of Pharmacognosy.
• Explain the historical and scientific journey that led to the discovery of warfarin
• Analyze the pre- and post-harvest factors influencing the collection and storage of medicinal plants, and their impact on chemical constituents and quality of the drug.
• Assess the role of polyploidy, mutation and hybridization with reference to secondary metabolites in cultivation of medicinal plants.

1. EvansWC. Trease and Evans Pharmacognosy. 16th edn. W.B. Sounders & Co. London; 2009.
2. Tyler VE, BradyLR and Robbers JE. Pharmacognosy. 9th edn. Lea & Febiger.Philadelphia:1988.
3. Wallis TE. Text Book of Pharmacognosy.5th edn. CBS Publishers &Distribution; New Delhi: 2005.
4. Kokate CK, Purohit AP, Gokhlae SB. Text book of Pharmacognosy.37th edn. Nirali Prakashan; New Delhi: 2007.

1. Ali M. Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. Vol. I & II, 1st edn. CBS Publishers & Distribution; New Delhi: 2009.
2. World Health Organization, WHO traditional medicine strategy 2002–2005. World Health Organization; Geneva: 2005.
3. World Health Organization. Quality control methods for medicinal plant materials. World Health Organization, Geneva: 1998.
4. World Health Organization. WHO guidelines on good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) for medicinal plants. World Health Organization; Geneva: 2003.

Additional reading materials:

1. Ansari SH. Essentials of Pharmacognosy. 2nd edn. Birla publications; New Delhi: 2007.
2. Mukherjee PK. Quality Control of Herbal Drugs: An Approach to Evaluation of Botanicals. 1st edn. Business Horizons Publishers; New Delhi: 2002.

*Latest edition of the text books & reference books can be referred.