Pharmacognosy introduction

Pharmacognosy –I

Introduction, Development, present status significance & future scope

Dr Taj Khan Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Oriental College of Pharmacy, Sanpada, New Mumbai.

Welcome

Pharmacognosy is the study of medicinal use of various naturally occurring drugs its history, sources, distributions, method of cultivation, active constituents, medicinal uses, identification test, preservation methods, substituents and adulterants.

Branches or replated disciplines of pharmacognosy

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PHARMACOGNOSYHistory of pharmacognosy represents the history of pharmacy & medicine.

Pharmacognosy had its origin in the health-related activities of the most

primitive human race of the remote past.

They acquired knowledge of medicinal properties of plants in the following way

a) By guesswork or trial & error

b) While searching for food

c) By superficial resemblance between the plant parts & the affected organs,

that is, by examining the “Signature of Nature”

d) By observing other animals instinctive discrimination between toxic &

palatable plants

e) By accidental discovery

The Babylonians were aware of the Medicinal effects of a number of plants.

Ancient Egyptians possessed a sound knowledge of human anatomy as well as a knowledge of the medicinal uses of many plants and animals.

Papyrys Ebers- written in 1550 B.C. & discovered in a tomb of a mummy, much has been said about the- skill and knowledge of those people in this field.

In India the study of the drugs was started about 5000 years ago at the time of the Vedas. Ayrurveda

Hippocrates (460 - 370 B.C.) deals with anatomy and physiology in many of his treatises.

Aristotle (384 -322 B.C.), the great philosopher wrote much about the animal kingdom and his writings were placed on scientific footing free from all superstitions.

Theophrastus (370-287 B.C.) wrote about plants and described medicinal uses of plants.

Dioscorides a Greek physician of the1st Century A.D. was the writer of the first Materia Medica (78 A.D.) Here he described 600 medicinal plants, including Belladona, Colchicum, Opium, Hyoscyamus, etc.

Galen (131 -200 A.D.) described the method of preparing drugs of vegetable and animal origin and laid down many formulas contained in a trearise of 20 volumes.

Pen Ts’ao Kang Moa 1000 B.C. (published only at 1597) contained an incredible number of medicinal plants and drugs of animal origin. The Chinese thought that for every disease, there must be a drug is only provided by the nature.

Development of Pharmacognosy

Modern Pharmacognosy occurred during 1934 - 1960.

This development was mainly due to some events like:

Discovery of Penicillin in 1928

Isolation of Resperine 1952

Anticancer properties of Vinca rosea

Discovery of Dioscorea was utilized to prepare semi-

synthetic steroidal hormones.

Development of PharmacognosyPharmacognosy as an applied science. It played a crucial role in the development of different disciplines of science.Pharmacognosy is an imp link between Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry


Natural products got more and more therapeutic importance with

developments like:

Isolation of therapeutically active constituents

Their identification and structure elucidation.

There is close link between structure and Pharmacological action.


Natural products served the purpose of precursor for synthesis

of several medicinally important compounds.

Some isolated components from plants were made into different

formulations and used as drugs.


Step by step processes in biosynthesis of Primary &

Secondary metabolites were presented before the world.

Invention of microscopy and different chemical test reagents.


Knowledge of

• Plant taxonomy

• Plant breeding

• Plant pathology

• Plant genetics

Is helpful in the development of cultivation technology

for medicinal and aromatic plants.

Present status and future prospects

•Now the people have realized the utility of drugs of natural origin which

are not only economical but even safer too.

•Active constituents from plant sources have lead to rapid developments in

Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.

•Availability of modern state of art facility like structure determination and

pharmacological screening

Present status and future prospects

Rapid devt in the fields of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology

have further supported advancements in Pharmacognosy.

Present Status and Future Prospects

Plants like

• Podophyllum

• Liquorice

• Valerian

• Artimisia

• Veratrum

Earlier considered to be less important but their re-

evaluation have established their utility.

Scope of Pharmacognosy

•World Health Organisation (WHO) has emphasized the utilization of Indigenous

systems of medicine based on folklore and locally available plant materials.

•Large scale scientific cultivation of some of the medicinally important plants is

necessary.


•Some of the products like Balsam of Tolu and Peru

Benzoin, Storax, Asafoetida, Colocynth etc.,

if large scale cultivation of these drugs producing plants is

started we can save huge amount on foreign currency.


•Guggulsterols from Commiphora mukul

• Podophyllotoxin from Podophyllum hexandrum

•Artimisinin from Artemisia

•Annua and Silymarine from Silybuim marionum are

approved as drugs in several countries which is encouraging

news in the fields of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.


We have not yet devised the cure by modern medicine.

Only symptomatic relief is our reply as in case of Arthritic disorders,

AIDS & Cancer.

Alternative and Complementary systemsof medicine (aka folk medicine, traditional medicine)

Ayurveda,Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, Chinese medicine Aromatherapy.

Ayurvedic system of medicine

The word ‘veda’ means knowledge. It evolved from 4 Vedas namely:

Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda.

It deals with the diseases, injuries, fertility, sanity and health.

History of Ayurveda

Texts of Charaka and Sushruta

Charaka (1st century A.D.) wrote Charaka Samhita (samhita-

meaning collection of verses written in Sanskrit).

Sushruta (4th century A.D.) Sushruta Samhita.

2000 plants that were used in healing diseases and abating symptoms

were identified in these books.

Ayurvedic Dosage Forms

Various dosage forms according to its physical status of

product

1. Solid dosage form: Vati, Churna, bhasma, Kshara

2. Semisolid dosage form: Avleha, ghirta

3. Liquid dosage form: Taila, Asava-arista, Arka

Unani System of Medicine

System of medicine which was developed during Arabian

civilization.

In Europe it is known as Arab medicine.

It is based on well-established knowledge and practices

relating to the promotion of positive health and prevention

of diseases.

Traditional medicines in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Persia, India,

China and other Middle East countries.

The system of medicine was documented in Al-Qanoon, a

medical Bible, by Sheikh Ali Sina (Avicena, 980-1037 AD),

and Razi (Rhazes, 850-923 AD) and in many other books

written by the Unani physicians. The literature of the Unani

system is mostly found in Arabic, Persian and Urdu

languages.

It is also based on use of herbs and minerals.

Basic principle is to treat root cause rather than symptoms.

Homoeopathic System of MedicineHahnemann (1790)Homoeo (similar) pathos (suffering). Based on law of Simular's, “Similia Similibus Curantur” Effect of antimalarial drug cinchona on his healthy body. Surprisingly,he found symptoms of malaria developing in him which disappeared after he discontinued the drug. He continued his research in that direction by studying the effect of different substances on this close friends and relatives and ultimately published his discovery in 1796.

Theory and Basic Concept

The doctrine of Similia Similibus Curantur (Let like be treated by

like) is the basic foundation of it.

A tree cannot be destroyed by just cutting it’s branches or roots

because the branches may sprout again.

Uprooting is necessary if the tree is to be destroyed permanently.

In the same way, a disease will not recur if the root cause of the

disease is removed completely from the patient.

Potencies and Dilution

Sources of Homeopathic medicines Plant kingdom: Various morphological parts of plants, fungi, etc.Animal kingdom: Secretion, saliva, poisons and whole animal, etc.Minerals and chemicals: Inorganic salts, non-metals, acids and mixtures etc.Important Homeopathic drugs and their usesAllium cepa: Allergies and hay feverArnica spp:. Aches, painAtropa belladonna: Headache, feverBorax: UlcersCalendula: AntisepticRauwolfia: HypertensionUrtica urens: Burn treatment

Siddha System of Medicine

One of the most ancient recorded herbal systems of medicine, dating back to pre-Ayurvedic period. It is believed to be developed with the ancient civilization of Mohenjodaro hadappa in the Indus valley.Bogar, a Chinese, who came to India and settled down on the pazhani hills, is known for his extensive work on alchemy and medicine. Siddha Vaidyas have studied thousands of herbs, and have arrived at tangible solutions for health problems, which are relevant to modern age.

Theory and Basic Principles3 principles vata, pitta, kapha (Triguna).

TreatmentSiddha Vaidya keeps the knowledge of thousands of herbs and their effectiveness in specific composition and formulation. Kashayam (extracts); churnam (powders); tailams (medicated oils); bhasmam (calx prepared by calcination); ghritam (medicated ghee);

Kashayam for infants; jaundice; pilesChurnam Panchammruta; kadukai; ashwagandhaLehyam Amla lehya; ginger lehya; coconut lehya

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)•TCM as a healing system is thousands of years old.•A principle of TCM is that the interaction of people with their environment is most significant in creating health•The concept most central to TCM is Qi/chi, which is translated as energy. •Qi represents an invisible flow of energy that circulates through plants, animals, and people as well as the earth and sky.

Yin and Yang•Qi is further viewed as either yin or yang energy. •Opposites and complementary, •Good Health is present when they are in balance in a person and his/her total environment. •Imbalance of yin and yang is considered to be the cause of illness.

Aromatherapy•Can be defined as the controlled use of essential oils to maintain and promote physical, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing.•Use of essential oils of plants to treat symptoms•Commonly used essential oils in a healthcare setting are ginger or peppermint for nausea and lavender or chamomile for insomnia

Aromatherapy uses pure essential oils to balance the body’s equilibrium and to improve mental and physical health.It involves more than fragrance. Plant essential oils have therapeutic powers in addition to beneficial fragrance, and have antiseptic action in different degrees.

The natural healing art of aromatherapy is an excellent way to promote optimum health and vitality. It can reduce stress, improve sleep and give you more energy. It can improve your complexion, treat an annoying skin itch and eliminate a stomachache.

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Pharmacognosy introduction