Phytochemistry and Pharmacognosy I

Code:

MI072216

Acronym:

FTFGN1

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Physical Sciences

Instance: 2019/2020 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	https://moodle.up.pt/course/view.php?id=78
Responsible unit:	Pharmacognosy Laboratory
Course/CS Responsible:	MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MICF	341	Official Curriculum	2	-	6	52	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Knowledge of basic metabolic pathways of plant biosynthesis (particularly acetate and shikimate pathway,);
Knowledge of chemical groups and biosynthetic pathways of origin of secondary metabolites;
Knowledge of drugs of natural origin, either included or not in pharmacopoeias:
-with pharmacological actions and used in therapeutics
-containing starting materials for the semisynthesis of pharmacologically active molecules by the pharmaceutical industry
- containing auxiliary substances for pharmaceutical and food industries.

Learning outcomes and competences

In a broad sense, the student will acquire knowledge on plant products with therapeutic activity and on active principles with pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food interest, or their toxicity, derived from plant species. The student will have an overview of the various uses of plant species and acquire knowledge on techniques applicable to their quality control.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Concepts of phytochemistry and pharmacognosy
2. Therapeutic use of drugs of plant origin
3. Microscopic analysis of plant drugs
4. Primary metabolites
4.1. Carbohydrates
4.1.1. Monosaccharides
4.1.2. Oligosaccharides
4.1.3. Polysaccharides
4.1.3.1. Bacteria and fungi polysaccharides
4.1.3.2. Algae polysaccharides
4.1.3.3. Vascular plants polysaccharides
4.1.3.3.1. Homogeneous polysaccharides
4.1.3.3.1.1. Starch
4.1.3.3.1.2. Cellulose
4.1.3.3.1.3. Frutans 
4.1.3.3.2. Heterogeneous polysaccharides
4.1.3.3.2.1. Gums
4.1.3.3.2.2. Mucilages
4.1.3.3.2.3. Pectic substances
4.2. Lipids
5. Secondary metabolites
5.1. Acetyl-coenzyme A and acetate pathway metabolites
5.1.1. Quinones
5.1.1.1. Biosynthesis and classification
5.1.1.2. Physicochemical properties and analysis
5.1.1.3. Pharmacological activity and therapeutic use
5.1.1.4. Naphthoquinone-containing plant drugs
5.1.1.5. Anthraquinone-containing plant drugs
5.1.1.6. Naphthodiantrone-containing plant drugs
5.1.2. Orcinols and phloroglucinols
5.1.2.1. Biosynthesis
5.1.2.2. Pharmacological activity
5.1.2.3. Plant drugs with these compounds
5.2. Shikimic acid and shikimic acid pathway metabolites
5.2.1. Simple phenols and phenolic acids
5.2.1.1. Biosynthesis
5.2.1.2. Physicochemical properties and analysis
5.2.1.3. Simple phenol-containing plant drugs
5.2.1.4. Phenolic acid-containing plant drugs
5.2.2. Coumarins
5.2.2.1. Biosynthesis
5.2.2.2. Physicochemical properties and analysis
5.2.2.3. Pharmacological activity and therapeutic use
5.2.2.4. Plant drugs with these compounds
5.2.3. Lignans, neolignans and related compounds 
5.2.3.1. Biosynthesis
5.2.3.2. Pharmacological activity and therapeutic use
5.2.3.3. Plant drugs with these compounds 
5.2.4. Diarylheptanoids, arylalkanones and stilbenoids
5.2.4.1. Biosynthesis
5.2.4.2. Physicochemical properties and analysis
5.2.4.3. Pharmacological activity and therapeutic use
5.2.4.4. Plant drugs containing these compounds 
5.2.5. Xanthones
5.2.5.1. Biosynthesis
5.2.5.2. Physicochemical properties and analysis
5.2.5.3. Pharmacological activity and therapeutic use
5.2.5.4. Xanthone-containing plant drugs
5.2.6. Flavonoids
5.2.6.1. Biosynthesis, chemical structure and classification
5.2.6.2. Physicochemical properties and analysis
5.2.6.3. Biological properties and therapeutic use
5.2.6.4. Flavonoid-containing drugs
5.2.7. Tannins
5.2.7.1. Biosynthesis, chemical structure and classification
5.2.7.2. Physicochemical properties and analysis
5.2.7.3. Biological properties and therapeutic use
5.2.7.4. Tannin-containing drugs

Mandatory literature

Bruneton, Jean; Pharmacognosie, Phytochimie, Plantes Médicinales, Lavoisier TEC & DOC, 2016. ISBN: 978-2-7430-2165-8
Valentão, Patrícia; Fitoquímica e Farmacognosia I, Manual de Laboratório 2019-2020

Complementary Bibliography

Comissão da Farmacopeia Portuguesa; Farmacopeia portuguesa VIII. ISBN: 972-8425-67-8
Cunha A. Proença da 340; Farmacognosia e fitoquímica. ISBN: 972-31-1142-X
Costa Aloísio Fernandes; Farmacognosia. ISBN: 972-31-0913-1

Teaching methods and learning activities

The course unit of Phytochemistry and Pharmacognosy I is included in the Moodle e-learning platform provided by the Office of Support for New Technologies in Education, UP. Thus, the presentations given in the lessons will be available in the platform. The platform also includes a forum to address the subjects from a different perspective of the lessons.

Theoretical lessons: 2 h/week. Presentations in "data show" (powerpoint software).
Laboratorial lessons: 2 h/week. In the beginning of the semester a laboratory handbook is supplied to the students, where they will find the protocols of the works to be performed and the respective theoretical explanation. Each laboratorial work will be carried out by groups of two students. Whenever possible, the laboratorial work will correspond to the content of the theoretical lectures, in order to facilitate their interconnection.

keywords

Health sciences
Health sciences > Pharmacological sciences > Pharmacognosy

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	48,00
Total:	48,00

Eligibility for exams

The assistance of students to theoretical lectures is not mandatory.
The assistance of students to laboratory lectures is mandatory. Students with less than 75% attendance of effectively given lectures are considered not eligible for the exam.

Calculation formula of final grade

In the final classification, the laboratory component corresponds to 25%, with the remaining 75% allocated to the written test.
Students with a grade of less than 50% (2.5 points) of the value of the laboratory component in the evaluation of the course unit are considered failed and must perform a practical final exam.
Students who obtain a score on the written test less than 46.67% (7.0 points) of the value of the written component in the evaluation of the course unit are considered failed.

Examinations or Special Assignments

There is neither specific evaluation nor special assignments, except for those cases prescribed by law for students included in special regimens.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

According to the general law and the rules adopted by the Educational Council.

Classification improvement

The improvement of classification consists of a practical test (optional) and a written test, covering all subjects taught in the lessons.

Observations

Prerequisites: knowledge of chemistry, including the distribution of chemical compounds by families and solubility characteristics of the compounds (acquired in the courses of General and Inorganic Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry I and II).

On March 7, 2020, the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto was closed, as a positive case of SARS-CoV-2 infection was identified. Additionally, the pandemic caused by this virus led to the establishment of a State of Emergency in Portugal, which was associated with a Contingency Plan.

 

Despite the changes imposed to the "Teaching Methods and Learning Activities", resulting from the application of the Covid-19 Contingency Plan, the UC program was taught in its entirety with the adjustments shown below:

• As of March 16, the theoretical classes started to take place at a distance, by synchronous sessions, as indicated in each summary, with the videos of these classes being made available later on the e-learning platform.
• Laboratory classes were suspended, but the programmatic content included in the laboratory manual that had been made available on the e-learning platform at the beginning of the semester, had already been explained previously, in the first four theoretical classes. However, additionally, demonstration videos of the laboratory execution and justification of all scheduled tests were recorded and made available. Teachers were always available to answer questions posed either by email or through the forum created for that purpose on the e-learning platform.
• Evaluation of the UC takes place with the elements of evaluation provided and with the same formula for calculating the final classification. However, there were some changes in the evaluation processes:

The measurement of knowledge of the practical component took place at a distance (and not in person), through the Moodle test, in the last week of May, within the schedule that was assigned to each class. The evaluation was carried out using mechanisms to guarantee academic integrity. Students who did not achieve a classification corresponding to 50% (2.5 points) of the value of the laboratory component in the UC evaluation were considered to have failed, as provided for in the UC form, and will have to take a new test, which will also take place at a distance (and not in person), using the Moodle test, on the date specified in the exam schedule. The evaluation takes place using academic integrity guarantee mechanisms.

The evaluation of the theoretical component will take place at a distance (and not in person), using the Moodle test, on the date specified in the exam calendar. The evaluation takes place using academic integrity guarantee mechanisms.