Course programme
Unit I Introduction to Medicinally important Plant parts: Fruits, Leaves, Stem and its modifications (underground and aerial), Roots. Unit II Plant identification – Elementary knowledge of Binomial nomenclature – Outline of Bentham and Hooker classification – Herbarium techniques. Unit III Study of some medicinally important families with reference to systematic position. Diagnostic features and medicinal uses only: Meliaceae, Myrtaceae, Apiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Solanaceae, Lamiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Zingiberaceae, Musaceae and Poaceae. Unit IV Cultivation methods – Crop protection – Harvesting – Storage and Protection – Marketing and utilization - Export of medicinally important (General aspects). Unit V Endangered Plants – Conservation: Exsitu and Insitu methods – Importance of Red data book (IUCN) – Patenting and IPR. Practicals: 1. Identification and Medicinal value of locally available medicinal plants. 2. Morphology of the useful parts 3. Vegetative propagation methods (for spotters). References: 1. Gokhale, S.S., C.K.Kokate and A.P. Purohit (1994) Pharmacognosy. Nirali Prakashan. Pune. 2. Tyagi, Dinesh Kumar (2005) Pharma Forestry. Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi. 3. Faroogi, A.A., and B.S. Sreeramu (2004). Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops. University Press (India) Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad. 4. Singh & Jain (1985) Taxonomy of Angiosperms. Rastogi Publications, Meerut. 3 PAPER II – ETHNO MEDICINE Unit I Ethnomedicine – definition, history and its scope – Inter disciplinary approaches in ethnobotany – Collection of ethnic information. Unit II Importance of medicinal plants – role in human health care – health and balanced diet (Role of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and vitamins). Unit III Tribal medicine – methods of disease diagnosis and treatment – Plants in folk religion – Aegle marmelos, Ficus benghalensis, Curcuma domestica, Cyanodon dactylon and Sesamum indicum. Unit IV Traditional knowledge and utility of some medicinal plants in Tamilnadu – Solanum trilobatum, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Vitex negundo, Adathoda vasica, Azadirachta indica, Gloriosa superba, Eclipta alba, Aristolochia indica, Phyllanthus fraternus and Boerhaavia diffusa. Unit V Plants in day today life – Ocimum sanctum, Centella asiatica, Solanum trilobatum, Cassia auriculata, Aloe vera. Nutritive and medicinal value of some fruits (Guava, Sapota, Orange, Mango, Banana, Lemon, Pomegranate) and vegetables - Greens (Moringa, Solanum nigrum) Cabbage. Reference: 1. Ethnobiology – R.K.Sinha & Shweta Sinha – 2001. Surabhe Publications – Jaipur. 2. Tribal medicine – D.C. Pal & S.K. Jain 1998, Naya Prakash, 206, Bidhan Sarani, Calcutta – 700 006. 3. Contribution to Indian ethnobotany – S.K. Jain 1995, 3rd edition, Scientific publishers, P.B.No. 91, Jodhpur, India. 4. A Manual of Ethnobotany – S.K.Jain, 1995, 2nd edition. Practical: Field study of Herbal preparation of 1. Aristolochia indica 2. Azadirachta indica 3. Boerhavea diffusa 4. Vitex negundo 5. Phyllanthus fraternus 4 Paper III – Practicals covering the courses I, II, IV & V (Practical examination at the end of the II semester) PAPER IV – PHARMACOGNOSY Unit I History, Definition and scope of pharmacognosy; Systems of Indian Medicines – Siddha, Unani, Ayurveda, Homeopathy; Terminologies. Unit II Classification of Crude drugs – Taxonomical, Morphological, Pharmacological and chemical classifications; Chemistry of drugs and its evaluation. Unit III Preparation of crude and commercial drugs. Making infusion, decoction, lotion, washers, insectepellents, suppositories, tincture, making herbal syrups, compresses, poultice, plasters, oinments, herbal oils and herbal salves. Surgical fibres, sutures and dressing. Unit IV Organoleptic study of the following medicinal plants: Fruit – Amla, Bulb – Garlic, Rhizome – Ginger, seed – castor, Bark – Cinchona, Leaves – Neem and Flower – Clove. Unit V Analytical Pharmacognosy – drug adultration and detection. Biological testing of herbal drug. Phytochemical investigations with reference to secondary metabolites of locally available medicinal plants. Practical: 1. Histo – anatomical analysis of crude powder drug of locally available medicinal plants. 2. Study of organoleptic parameters of the plants prescribed in the syllabus. References: 1. Pharmacognosy, S.B.Gokhale, Dr.C.K. Kokate, A.P. Purohit Publisher: Nirali Prakasham, Pune. 2. Herbs that Heal, Acharya Vipul Rao – Diamond Pocket Books, New Delhi. 3. Practical Pharmacognosy. Dr.C.K. Kokate et al. 4. Phytochemical methods, Horborne. 5. An Introduction to Medicinal Botany and Pharmacognosy – N.C. Kumar, Emkay Publications, Delhi. 5 PAPER V – HERBS AND DRUG ACTION Unit I Terminologies – Definitions – Classification of medicinal plants based on their effects – Ecological status with special reference to India. Unit II Allergens – types – sources – active principles – Chemical nature – Cell modifiers – Lectins – mutagens, teratogens – Allergic reactions with known examples. Unit III Drugs acting on brain and nervous system – Rheumatic arthritis – Psychoactive drugs – Depressants, Stimulants, hallucinogens – sources, effects, basic mechanism of action. Unit IV Cardiovascular diseases – blood pressure – cardiac drugs of plant origins – alkaloids, anticoagulants – basic mechanism of action. Pulmonary / respiratory disorders – asthma – bronchitis – common cold – allergy – Remedy from plants. Unit V Drugs for urinogenital disorders – roots of Withania somnifera – Memory stimulants – Centella asiatica – Drugs for dissolving kidney stones – Musa paradisica (pseudostem) – Antiinflammatory drugs – Cardiospermum – Anticancer drugs – Catharanthus roseus. Practical: - Poisonus plants – Toxic protein from Abrus Aconitin – from roots of Aconitum Strychnine – from seeds of strychnos Nicotin – from leaves of Nicotiana Alkaloids – from members of solanaceae - Asthma – Allergy – Pollen & allergy - Role of lectins - Anticancer drug from Catharanthus roseus - Depressants – opium (Papaver somniferum) - Stimulants – Strychnos nux – vomica, Coffea arabica - Blood pressure – Digitalis purpurea; Ephedra; Atropa belladonna; Claviceps purpurea - Diuretic properties. Reference Books: 1. Kumar, N.C. (1993). An Introduction to Medical botany and Pharmacognosy. Emkay Publications, New Delhi. 2. Rao, A.P. (1999). Herbs that heal. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd., New Delhi.
