University of Zambia
School of Medicine
Department of Pharmacy
Terms I – 4
Period: 2015/2016
PMY 3310 Course Syllabus
Course Information
Course Title GENERAL PHARMACOGNOSY
Course Code PMY 3310
Prerequisites Second Year Pharmaceutical Chemistry (PMY 2110) and Biochemistry (PGY 2420)
Course Website TBS (To be sourced)
Course Coordinator Dr. A.G. Bwalya
Total Teaching Hours 120 Hours
Total Contact Hours for Lab /
Clinical/Tutorials / Workshops
Sessions
120 Hours
Course Description - Pharmacognosy is the study of medicinal drugs derived from plants or other natural sources.
- The American Society of Pharmacognosy defines pharmacognosy as "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.”
- It is also defined as the study of crude drugs.
- This course introduces the pharmacy student to the science and application of therapeutically
active components of plants and other natural sources
A. 3.5 Credit Units
B. AIM: To provide an understanding of drugs obtained from plants and other natural sources and their active medicinal components to the
pharmacy training students
C. The OBJECTIVES of the course are to:
i. Describe the phytochemistry of plants of medicinal value
ii. Describe the pharmacological activities of drugs of natural origin
iii. Identify the indigenous existing medicinal plants in the country
iv. Identify the different groups of pharmaceutically active substances
v. Isolate active components of natural sources of drugs
vi. Analyze the structures of different groups of pharmaceutically active ingredients from plant sources
vii. Demonstrate alkaloid production in artificial culture
viii. Justify the use of drugs of natural origin
ix. Appreciate the indigenous medicinal products
x. Identify plants of pharmaceutical significance
xi. Discuss the principles related to the commercial production of natural plants

TEXTBOOKS
1. Book Title TREASE & EVANS PHARMACOGNOSY
Author(s) W.C. Evans
Publisher W.B. Saunders
Year 2005
Edition 15th
Edition
ISBN -
2. Book Title INTRODUCTION TO PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
Editors William G. Hopkins and Norman P. A. Hu¨ner
Publisher John Wiley & Sons
Year 2009
Edition 4TH
Edition
ISBN 978-0-470-24766-2 (cloth)
3. Book Title ESAU’S PLANT ANATOMY
Editors Ray F. Evert
Publisher Wiley-Interscience
Year 2006
Edition 3rd
Edition
ISBN 13: 978-0-471-73843-5 (cloth)
4. Book Title Plants: Evolution and
Diversity
Authors Martin Ingrouille
Publisher Cambridge University
Year 2006
Edition 1st
Edition
ISBN 10-0-511-22476-1
5. Book Title Handbook of Plant & Crop Physiology Revised & Expanded
Author Mohammad Pessarakli
Publisher Marcel Dekker,
Year 2002
Edition 2nd
Edition
ISBN 0-8247-0546-7
Other references 6. Thin Layer Chromatography in Phytochemistry, 2008
7. Plant Physiology, Taiz & Zeiger
8. WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants, Vol. 1 1999
9. Plant Constituents Pharmacognosy
10. Pharmacognosy Laboratory Manual
11. PLANTS of the BIBLE A complete handbook
12. Phytochemicals – A Global Perspective of Their Role in Nutrition and Health, 2012
13. Natural Products from Plants
14. Introduction of Plant Constituents and their Tests, 2007
15. Biologically active natural products: pharmaceuticals, Stephen J. Cutler, Horace G. Cutler, 1999
16. Medicinal Plants of the World, Vol 3, 2005, Ivan A. Ross
17. Medicinal Plants of the World, Vol 2, 2003, Ivan A. Ross
18. Medicinal Plants of the World, Vol 1, 1999, Ivan A. Ross
19. A Treatise on Phytochemistry, Dr Amrit Pal Singh, 2002

Assessment
Assessment Due Date Percentage
Test 1 08/12/2016 15%
Test 2 20/04/2016 15%
Assignments TBC 5%
Laboratory Reports TBA 5%
Course Competences
THE EXPECTED COMPETENCES ARE:
1. Identifies plants of pharmaceutical significance
2. Isolates active components of natural sources of drugs
3. Describes the principles of commercial production of natural plants
4. Describes the phytochemistry of plants of medicinal value.
5. Identifies the indigenous existing medicinal plants in the country
6. Describes the pharmacological activities of drugs of natural origin
7. Analyze the macroscopic structures of different groups of pharmaceutically active ingredients
8. Demonstrate alkaloid production in artificial culture
9. Justifies the use of drugs of natural origin
10. Appreciates the indigenous medicinal products
Teaching & Learning Methods
1. Class lectures and lecture notes are designed to achieve the course objectives.
2. Students should read the assigned topics from recommended textbooks before class and participate in class.
3. Students should ask questions - Ask lots of questions.
4. Tutorials will be conducted to encourage discussions and further understanding of material taught in lectures.
5. Students are expected to have answers to tutorial questions for them to be allowed to attend.
6. Students are expected to attend ALL lectures. Students with less than 85% attendance will not be allowed to write end of year
examinations*
7. Students should undertake ALL laboratory practicals
8. You are responsible for all material covered in this course.
9. Please communicate any concerns or issues either in class, or during the tutorials

COURSE CONTENT
UNIT
TOPICS
TIME (hours) REFERENCE
1. Introduction of Concepts in
Pharmacognosy
- Definitions in pharmacognosy
- Origins of pharmacognosy
- The role of pharmacognosy
- The scope of pharmacognosy
- Natural Sources and Products
- Classification of natural drugs
- Plant nomenclature and taxonomy
20 1: Chapter 1-4
2. Anatomy & Physiology of
Medicinal Plants
ANATOMY
- An Overview: Structure and Development of the
Plant Body
- The Protoplast: Plasma Membrane, Nucleus, and
Cytoplasmic Organelles, End membrane System,
Secretory Pathways, Cytoskeleton, and Stored
Compounds
- Cell Wall
- Meristems and Differentiation
- Apical Meristems
- Parenchyma, Collenchyma and Sclerenchyma
- Epidermis
- Xylem: Cell Types, Developmental Aspects,
Secondary Xylem and Variations in Wood
Structure
- Vascular Cambium
- Phloem: Cell Types, Developmental Aspects,
Secondary Phloem and Variations in Its Structure
- Periderm
- External Secretory Structures
- Internal Secretory Structures
PHYSIOLOGY
- An Overview: Growth and Development of Cells
- Plant Cells and Water
- Whole Plant / Water Relations
- Roots, Soils, and Nutrient Uptake
- Plants and Inorganic Nutrients
- Bioenergetics and ATP Synthesis
- The Dual Role of Sunlight: Energy and
Information
- Energy Conservation in Photosynthesis:
Harvesting Sunlight
- Energy Conservation in Photosynthesis: CO2
Assimilation
- Allocation, Translocation, and Partitioning of
Photo assimilates
- Cellular Respiration: Unlocking the Energy
Stored in Photo assimilates
- Nitrogen Assimilation
- Carbon and Nitrogen Assimilation and Plant
Productivity
- Responses of Plants to Environmental Stress
- Acclimation to Environmental Stress
- Adaptations to the Environment
- Hormones: Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins,
Abscisic Acid, Ethylene, and Brassinosteroids
- Photomorphogenesis: Responding to Light
- Tropisms and Nastic Movements: Orienting
Plants in Space
- Measuring Time: Controlling Development by
Photoperiod and Endogenous Clocks
- Flowering and Fruit Development
- Temperature: Plant Development and
Distribution
- Secondary Metabolites
20
3: Chapter 1-17
2: Chapter 1-17

3. Chemistry of metabolites of
natural origin
Plant Materials in Modern Pharmacy and Methods of
Their Investigations
- Plant Material and Marine Products as Sources
of Active Secondary Metabolites
- The Distribution and Concentration of Natural
Compounds with Biological Activity in Different
Organs of Medicinal Plants
- Methods of Investigations of Plant Material
- Modern Extraction Methods of Active
Compounds from Plant Material and Marine
Products
- Purification of Crude Extracts and Sample
Preparation
Medicines and Dietary Supplements Produced from
Plants
- Traditional Western Medicines and Extracts
- Traditional Chinese Medicines
- Indian Systems of Medicine
- Botanical Dietary Supplements
- Qualitative Description of Herbal Medicines
- Identification of Raw Material and Products
- Detection of Adulterants and Impurities
Primary and Secondary Metabolites
- Primary Metabolites
- Secondary Metabolites
- Natural Plant Chemicals as Sources of Industrial
and Medicinal Materials
- Bioactivities of Secondary Metabolites
- Prospects for Discovering New Bioactive
Compounds from Plants
Plant Chemosystematic processes
- Macromolecules
- Micromolecules
(Primary & Secondary Metabolites)
- Classes of Phytochemicals
- Mechanism of action of phytochemicals
20
6: Chapter 2-6
4. Chemistry and activities of
drugs of biological origin
- General Introduction on Phytochemistry
- Phytochemistry and Activities of Morinda
citrifolia L.
- Phytochemistry and Activities of Flavonoids
- Phytochemistry and Activities of Beilschmiedia
anacardioides
- Phytochemistry and Activities of Lignans
- Phytochemistry and Activities of Genus
Galanthus
- Phytochemistry and Activities of Silymarin
- Phytochemistry and Activities of
Phytocannabinoids
- Phytochemistry and Activities of Alkaloids and
Anthraquinones
- Phytochemistry and Activities of Genus
Erythrina
- Phytochemistry and Activities of Amburana
cearensis
- Phytochemistry and Activities of Ximenia
Americana
- Phytochemistry and Activities of Acanthopanax
koreanum
- Phytochemistry and Activities of Polyphenol
Antioxidants
- Phytochemistry and Activities of Pentacyclic
Triterpenes α, β-amyrins
- Phytochemistry and Activities of
Vernonanthura Patens
- Phytochemistry and Activities of Natural
Stilbenes
20
12: Chapters 6-20
19: Document

5. Natural Products of Significance
and Medicinal value
- Allium sativum
- Aloe vera
- Annona muricata
- Allium cepa
- Althaea officinalis
- Ananas comosus
- Angelica sinensis
- Azadirachta indica
- Carica papaya
- Catharanthus roseus
- Camellia sinensis
- Cannabis sativa
- Cocos nucifera
- Coffea Arabica
- Daucus carota
- Ferula asafoetida
- Hordeum vulgare
- Larrea tridentate
- Echinacea angustifolia
- Ephedra sinica
- Eucalyptus globules
- Ginkgo biloba
- Glycyrrhiza glabra
- Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
- Lantana camara
- Macuna pruriens
- Mangifera indica
- Momordica charantia
- Moringa pterygosperma
- Punica granatum
- Tamarindus indica
- Matricaria chamomilla
- Morinda citrifolia
- Musa sapientum
- Myristica fragrans
- Nicotiana tabacum
- Olea europaea
- Oryza sativa
- Plantago ovate
- Saccharum officinarum
- Serenoa repens
- Sesamum indicum
- Tanacetum partheium
- Tribulus terrestris
- Zingiber officinale
20
16: Chapter 1-16
17: Chapter 1-16
18: Chapter 1-16
6. Commercialization of Natural
Products
- General Introduction
- Manufacture of Natural Drug Substance
- Validated Analytical Methodology
- Official characteristic profile of Drug Substance
- Established and traceable Raw Materials
- Proven Purification Specifics
- Reputable Starting Materials
- Manufacturing Process Controls in place
- Reproducible Practical Process Development
- cGMP Manufacturing process followed
- Process Changes when demanded
20 15:Chapter 18
Additional Notes
Examination
Format
Two papers: Paper I and Paper II: Exact format TBC to students at least 14 days before the date of
Examination
Supplementary
Exams
TBA by senate: Format will be similar to that of the main examination
Estimated end
Date
Lectures to end as soon as study period begins
Cheating /
Unusual
activities
The University Zambia Policy on this issue, please read
Attendance 100% attendance in all activities is expected.
Continuous
Assessment [CA]
Please take CA very serious. Students with no CA will not be allowed to sit for final examinations