Medicinal Plants

General characterization

Prerequisites

students must have basic knowledge of biology, chemistry and biochemistry

Bibliography

Balunas M.J. & Kinghorn, A.D. 2005. Drug discovery from medicinal plants. Life Sci. 78: 431-441.

Raven P., Evert R.F. & Eichhorn S.E. 2005. Biology of plants 7^th edit. W.H. Freeman (New York) 686 pp.

WHO. 2007/2009. Monographs on selected medicinal plants, Vol. 3 and 4, World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland.

Makkar, H.P.S., Siddhuraju, P. & Becker, K. 2007. Plant secondary metabolites (Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol 393), Humana Press, 130 pp.

Hussain, M.S., Fareed, S., Ansari, S., Rahman, M.A., Ahmad I.Z. & Saeed,M. 2012. Current approaches toward production of secondary plant metabolites. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 4:10–20.

Proença da Cunha A. & Roque O. R. 2011. Plantas medicinais da farmacopeia Portuguesa: constituintes, controlo, farmacologia e utilização. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (Lisboa), 2ª Ed., 710 pp

Proença da Cunha, A. 2014. Farmacognosia e fitoquímica. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (Lisboa), 4ª Ed., 674 pp

Teaching method

Theoretical lectures are held using data-show and e-learning methods (use of the Moodle platform). Theoretical-practical sessions consist of analysis and interpretation of case studies. The projects and/or works within the framework of Curricular Unit (CU), begin in theoretic-practical sessions through online research and continuous orientation by the Responsible. Field trips will be performed to both Botanical Gardens and medicinal plant beds. Students will have access to all the bibliography and materials (power-points, PDFs) used in the CU which will be put on a web-platform. The theoretical and theoretic-practical lectures are complemented with Tutorial classes 

Evaluation method

The assessment will be continuous, made up of 3 elements, with a minimum pass mark (9.5 on a scale of 20 points) for each component - the theoretical component has a weight of 50% and the seminar component 50%.

Test: December 5th from 6-8.30 pm (50% weighting in the final grade)

Presentation of the Project/work on Medicinal Plants, in PowerPoint - December 13, 2023 (weight in the final grade of 10%)

The project/work will be delivered by December 10, 2023 (40% weighting in the final grade). The project/work on medicinal plants must be sent in Word format to the email address of the person in charge (fhr@fct.unl.pt), or handed in on paper by the deadline.

Both the test and the presentation of the project/work are in person on the dates mentioned above. There is no need for aids (scientific calculators, for example) to be used during the assessment.

Attendance hours have been registered on this platform (Teacher Attendance item), although the teacher is always available to receive students after a prior appointment by email.

NOTE: Students who fail to meet the established deadlines will be penalized in the assessment of their work, and no work will be accepted more than 5 days late. The penalty will be 5% of the grade awarded for the first 3 days late, rising to 10% for the remaining days. Please note that the work cannot be awarded a grade <9.5.

Subject matter

The concept of medicinal plant. The use of medicinal plants throughout time. From traditional medicine to conventional medicine.

The main plant groups with phytotherapic interest. The importance of the correct identification in plant systematics. Medicinal plants in the Portuguese Farmacopeia.

Phytochemistry and phytotherapy. Extraction, isolation and characterization of active principles

Secondary metabolism compounds with phytotherapic interest – phenolic compounds, alkaloids, terpenes, essential oils

The emergence of the chemical synthesis. The role of plant biotechnology.

Acute toxicity due to the incorrect use of wild plants and/or medicinal plants.

Challenges in drug discovery from medicinal plants

Cultivation and world trade of medicinal plants

Medicinal plants – current threats and protection measures

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: