PHG 220 = Basics of Natural Products

The course is designed to provide the pharmacy student the basic knowledge needed to learn about clinically used drugs that are derived from natural sources. In this course, the student will study: importance of natural products, pharmacognostical characters of medicinal plants. Production of natural products-derived drugs including collection, preparation, storage, uses either in crude form or extracts and their identification will be also discussed. The course will introduce the students to the different biogenetic pathways of secondary metabolites formation and their classification.  The course will give an idea to the students regarding the biological sources, chemical constituents of medicinal plants as well as from other natural sources such as marine organisms. In addition, the course will discuss and address the variability in occurrence of pharmacologically active substances in plants and their impact on efficacy and toxicity.