MOHI UD DIN ISLAMIC

INSTITUTE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

SCOPE OF
PHARMACOGNOSY
By

DR. MUSSADIQ LATIF

Student of 2ND Prof PharmD

Scope of Pharmacognosy | Dr.

Mussadiq Latif
 PHARMACOGNOSY

“Pharmacognosy is defined as the study of medicines obtained from natural

sources; including, plants, animals and minerals”

The American Society of Pharmacognosy has defined 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."

SCOPE (APPLICATIONS) OF PHARMACOGNOSY

Pharmacognosy has vast applications in the Pharmaceutical Industry and

therapeutics. Some of the basic applications of Pharmacognosy are listed
below;

• The most important application of Pharmacognosy includes the

thorough knowledge on the history, cultivation, collection,
standardization, transfer and storage of drugs and economic
substances affecting the health of man and other animals.

• The drug-drug, drug-food interactions are studied in Pharmacognosy

which help us avoid the untoward effects of severe interactions and
hence help in obtaining the optimal therapeutic outcomes. The most
sensitive classes of drugs include, the following;

o Blood thinners

o Protease inhibitors

o Cardiac Glycosides

o Imuuno Suppressant Cyclosporine

• Bioassay Guided Fractionation technique helps in the extraction of the

crude substance from the natural sources on the basis of their
physiochemical activities as well as the biochemical activity. The
extraction of medicines from various plants and parts of plants and its
utilization has revolutionized the health sciences.

• World Health Organization has estimated that the 80% of the total
world population uses the herbal medicines. Some of the common
botanical sources of drugs include the following,

o Bitter Gourd (product used for lowering blood pressure)

o St John's Wort (product used to cure depression problems)

Scope of Pharmacognosy | Dr.

Mussadiq Latif
 o Garlic (extract have Lovastatin which is used for lowering
cholesterol level in blood and also used for the regulation of
blood pressure)

o Ginger (used for the cure of throat problems and also used as
carminative)

o Gingko Biloba (the product from it is used to cure Alzheimer’s

Disease)

o Kava Kava (Extracts used for the treatment of anxiety.

• In the pharmaceutical industry, various drugs of botanical origin are

used in drug manufacture process including the following;

o Opium (Anesthetic, Analgesic) obtained from Papaver

sominerum

o Aspirin (Antipyretic, Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic) Obtained from

Spiraea Plant

o Digitalis (Cardiac Glycosides Digoxin, Digitoxin) obtained from

Digitalis purpurea

o Quinine (Anti Malarial) Obtained from Cinchona Bark

• Alkaloids have effects on central nervous system. Some alkaloids are;

o Caffeine has a mild effect on the central nervous system

o Datura is a severe intoxicant and can cause even death.

• Phenolics including the Anthocyanines donate purple colour to grapes

and Tannins that give the Tea the characteristic property of drawing
the tissues together.

• Terpenoids obtained from plants are of great importance such as;

o Monoterpenes donate aroma to the rose and lavender

o Carotenoids are responsible for production of red and orange

colour in Corn, Carrot and Tomatoes

• Another type of drug substances is Glycosides (e.g: cyanoglycosides)

which have various pharmacological effects in the body like;

o Cardiac Glycosides (e.g Digitalis, Scilla, Strophanthus)are used to

cure, cardiac disorders like Congestive Cardiac Failure

Scope of Pharmacognosy | Dr.

Mussadiq Latif
 o Alcoholic glycosides (e.g salicin) converted into the Acetyl
Salicylic Acid(aspirin)

o Anthraquinone glycosides obtained from Aloe Specie and is a

laxative

o Coumarin glycosides(e.g apterin) have a vasodilator effect on

coronary arteries as well as block calcium channels

o Other examples include, Chromone Glycosides, Cynogenic

Glycosides, Flavonoid Glycosides, Phenolic Glycosides, Saponins,
Steviol Glycosides and Thioglycosides

• The revolution of herbal medicine has increased the demand for

research in the field of Pharmacognosy. It includes;

o Quality Control to assure the Identity, purity and consistency of

drug substances
o Efficacy to determine the therapeutical effects, indications,
clinical aspects and pharmacological effects)
o Safety research to study, the untoward toxic reactions,
interactions, contraindications, precautions
o
• Following is the list of various medicinally important sources of drugs;

o Aloe Vera used for healing burns and wound healing

o Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) used for reduction in Cholesterol

Level

o Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) reduces the wrinkling of skin, aging

effect

o Boo phone (Boophone disticha) used for the treatment of mental

disorders

o Calendula (Calendula officinalis) used for treatment of

constipation and cramps

o Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) effective in treating UT

infections in women

o Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia) used for action against

rhinovirus colds

o Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) used for the treatment of influenza

Scope of Pharmacognosy | Dr.

Mussadiq Latif
o Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) used for the cure of
migraine

o Garlic (Allium sativum) is responsible for lowering the cholesterol

level

o Ginger (Zingiber officinale) decreases the nausea and vomiting

during pregnancy

o Grapefruit (Naringenin) is used for the treatment of obesity

o German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a famous

antispasmodic

o Green tea (Camelia sinensis) may cure the breast cancer

Scope of Pharmacognosy | Dr.

Mussadiq Latif
 References:

http://pharmacognosy.com/

http://www.pharmatutor.org

http://www.herbalremedies.com

http://www.phcog.org/definition.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov

http://www.medind.nic.in

Scope of Pharmacognosy | Dr.

Mussadiq Latif