Pharmacognosy is a branch of the pharmaceutical field that studies the beneficial properties of drugs derived from raw materials of natural origin. Since this science has made a huge contribution to modern medicine and stands in the way of further discoveries, you may be interested in learning more about it.
Raw materials used for the manufacture of drugs
Pharmacognosy is responsible for a wide range of research materials. The purpose of this area is a rigorous study of products obtained from animals and plants, as well as substances that underwent primary processing. The processing of resins, milk juices, fats, essential oils and other natural components opens up great opportunities for studying these substances in a new state and for making active biological additives from them.
From plant materials , dried herbs or their individual parts are used for the production of medicines.
The objects of animal origin include: leeches, flies, snake venom, fats, bees and their metabolic products.
The conclusion suggests itself that pharmacognosy is a comprehensive laboratory that studies a variety of materials for the manufacture of various types of biological additives.
History
The history of pharmacognosy has deep roots. This science was known back in the 16th century. The scientist of that time, Paracelsus, already had a definite opinion about the medicinal properties of plants. From his words it is clear that one and the same remedy can become both a poison and a medicine, since everything is decided by the dosage.
Even at the dawn of human history, people used plants for medicinal purposes. Long-term observation of the results after their application gave rise to such an industry as traditional medicine.
The healing properties of vegetation were known in Ancient Egypt, China, Assyria and India, and were also widely used by Scythians.
Many folk methods of manufacturing medicines have been used for centuries and have survived to this day.
There is information that the name of this science was given by the German scientist K. Zaydler, who lived in the XVIII century. If the word "pharmacognosy" is divided into two parts, then translated from Greek, they literally mean "medicine (poison)" and "knowledge."
Modern pharmacognosy is a popular multifaceted science that has spread throughout the world. Thanks to the improvement of methods for the analysis of biological substances, ideas about the basic concepts of medicinal raw materials are changing. Moreover, with the discoveries of new classes of compounds, the arsenal of materials for the development of the latest drugs is constantly being replenished.
Pharmacognosy is also quite developed in Russia. A significant amount of wild and cultivated plants for the manufacture of medicines is procured annually. In our country there is a great need for specialists in this area.
Popular professions
Pharmacognosy trains qualified professionals. Graduates of higher education institutions become comprehensively developed people, because the curriculum includes several courses of study that have a relationship with herbal medicine. Their listing can be found in our article.
Pharmacognosy is very important for pharmacists, as it opens up great opportunities. In order to master and realize the available stocks of plant materials, resource scientists, organizers and analysts who are versed in the specifics of medicinal plants are required.
Pharmacognosts and pharmacists are needed not only in pharmacies, but also in research institutions, as well as procurement organizations.
The pharmaceutical discipline sets itself several tasks, which we will alternately consider in the article.
Commodity tasks
Pharmacognosy is an industry that studies the merchandising resources of medicinal plants. This is associated with a number of tasks, such as the search for places of growth of medicinal herbs in the wild, the presumptive determination of future vegetation and the preparation of the volume of working raw materials.
Initially, pharmaceutical science developed only in the field of merchandising. Scientists working in this field have been diagnosing objects for the further development of medicines. Morphological and anatomical features of plants were examined in detail. A complete description of the various types of raw materials supplied to the pharmaceutical market was provided. Varietal details, their advantages and disadvantages were described.
It took a lot of effort to find more advanced methods for further experiments and diagnostics of plants and other objects. It became possible to conduct a more in-depth verification of the quality and authenticity of materials.
Plants as pharmacologically active substances
There are a number of areas that pharmacognosy is studying. Medicinal raw materials must be of high quality and environmentally friendly.
- Geographic studies are being carried out in relation to the habitats of animals whose vital products are used for the manufacture of biological additives. The collection of medicinal plants is carried out in places not contaminated with household and chemical waste.
- A thorough study of the chemical composition of biomaterial is an important component of the pharmacognosy of plants. In this case, the raw material is considered as a source of active substances. The dynamics of their accumulation under the influence of the external environment and methods of cultivation is studied, and their localization in different organs is also monitored. The morphological characteristics of medicinal herbs and their pharmaceutical properties are considered.
- Given the dynamics of the accumulation of active beneficial substances in medicinal plants, pharmacognosy determines the regulations in relation to the procurement of raw materials, the collection of herbs, their drying, selection and transportation. All work takes place under strict control and in compliance with certain rules.
Standardization goal
One of the important tasks is the maintenance of regulatory and technical documents, as well as the standardization and rationing of natural raw materials. It is necessary to regularly analyze the manufactured products and develop new methods for their standards. Visual observations of the external signs of objects are carried out and authenticity is determined by the microscopic characteristics of the raw materials. Substances are checked in powdered form and in powdered form.
Assortment expansion
Until the 19th century, pharmacognosy used 80% of only plant materials. After the development of auxiliary sciences, materials of animal origin and even mushrooms began to be used. The range of objects for research has expanded significantly, and it began to include algae, amphibians, fish and insects. Specialists are in constant search for new raw materials.
In addition, the poorly studied organs of already known medicinal herbs are being investigated. For example, in medical practice, ginseng root was used more. Currently, experts are studying the leaves of this plant.
Great attention is paid to environmental protection. Due to changing environmental conditions and anthropogenic impacts, many valuable types of medicinal herbs are threatened with destruction. Plants requiring protection from extinction are listed in the Red Book. For this purpose, a catalog of medicinal plants is maintained and measures are regularly taken to restore and conserve species.
Systemic connection of pharmacognosy with basic basic sciences
Since pharmacognosy is an applied science, it has a stable foundation of previously confirmed knowledge and practical experience, on the basis of which new products are developed. Thanks to the advent of innovative technologies, new algorithms are created for the production of drugs.
The scope of pharmacognosy is closely related to the main specialized sciences, such as chemistry and botany. It is impossible to do without knowledge of biological, organic, colloidal and inorganic chemistry.
- Awareness of the chemical properties of natural organic substances allows specialists to competently carry out a number of technical procedures. Indeed, in such works it is important to determine the melting temperature, to carry out the process of distillation and extraction. In this case, methods for the isolation and purification of organic compounds, as well as the identification of substances, are studied.
- The botany course helps to isolate and correctly describe individual organs and parts of plants, as well as make up a herbarium. A necessity is the acquisition of knowledge on plant taxonomy and anatomy. In order to develop micropreparations, it is important to master the ability to use a microscope.
- Knowledge of analytical chemistry gives a powerful impetus to the development of various areas of theoretical analysis, which must be resorted to in phytochemistry. This includes the following areas: chromatography, photoelectrocolorimetry, titremetry, densitometry, spectrophotometry and polarography. Such training involves the acquisition of skills in chromatography and titration, as well as the use of measuring dishes and instruments.
- The physiological course gives an idea of the main processes taking place in the human body. Pharmacognost should understand how the disease proceeds, which must be treated with herbal remedies, and what is its nature. Therefore, the pathogenesis and possible pathologies in these conditions are studied.
- The basics of the Latin language and grammar are necessary in order to distinguish between the names of medicinal plants and their families, the morphological groups of materials, as well as the correct assignment.
- Knowledge of philosophy with basic laws gives a deep understanding of the variability and regularities of the chemical composition of plants.
Textbook
There are several handy publications designed specifically for students in pharmaceutical colleges. They act as reference books on pharmacognosy. The textbook of E.V. Zhokhov is considered one of the best.
The manual meets the current requirements of federal standards. It contains all the information necessary for the study of plant materials and plants in general. It includes sections on procurement processes and issues related to the raw material base of products. There is a characteristic of certain groups of active biological substances and their pharmacological properties are indicated. Attention is drawn to the monitoring of the quality and authenticity of the material. The textbook provides familiarization information with regulatory documents. The book "Pharmacognosy" by E. Zhokhov also covers the history of the development of this science.
Of course, there are other publications. Textbooks on pharmacognosy of Samylin I.A. (2014) and Yakovleva G.P. (2013) were recognized as good.
The international cooperation
The development of pharmacognosy does not stand still. All over the world deliveries of industrial raw materials are made. From developed countries such as Germany, Spain, England, France and the Netherlands, medicinal plants are transported to Africa, India and Indonesia. In highly developed countries, this science is gaining wide scope and continues to accelerate. All this allows an effective fight against various diseases that can be treated with biological additives.
The use of plant materials in other industries
Natural preparations are widely used in cosmetology. On the basis of medicinal plants, shampoos, face creams and other cosmetics and perfumes are produced.
In the food industry, additives from mint, coriander, turmeric, jasmine, etc. are often used.
Castor oil is used to lubricate aircraft engines. For technical purposes, even licorice root extract serves. It is included in some household products because of the ability to form foam.
Plant essential oils are used in several sectors of the national economy.
Conclusion
Why have medicinal plants become the basis of herbal medicine? Vegetation contains substances that are not alien to the human body by nature. Unlike synthetic drugs, dietary supplements are much easier to tolerate and do not cause side effects. Medicines made from natural raw materials are indispensable in the case of long therapeutic courses, as well as in the treatment of chronic diseases.