Department

Pharmacognosy

Scope of the department

>> Pharmacognosy includes the knowledge of History, Distribution, Identification, Cultivation, Collection, Preparation, Evaluation, Preservation and uses of Natural drugs and their constituents; of Plant, Animal and Mineral origin.
>> The plant drugs may be entire plant, some part of it or its product e.g. Entire Plant-Irish moss, Ergot, Ephedra and Datura.
>> Cultivation, Collection and preparation- It means the Cultivation, Collection, Drying, Treatment and Packing of drug so that it.
>> Crude of drugs of natural origin that is obtained from plants, animals and mineral sources and their active chemical constituents are the core subject matter of pharmacognosy.
>> Today applied science of pharmacognosy has a far better knowledge of the active constituents and their prominent therapeutic activity on the human beings.
>> Pharmacognosy, derived from the Greek words “pharmakon” (drug) and “gnosis” (knowledge), is the study of medicinal drugs derived from plants or other natural sources
>> Natural medicines have been used to enhance human and veterinary health since time immemorial and the success of modern medical science largely depends on drugs originally obtained from natural resources.
>> The microscopic evaluation and species verification of medicinal or economically important natural products.

Pharmacognosy is a vital branch of pharmacy that focuses on the study of natural products, especially those derived from plants, and their application in medicine. It involves the identification, extraction, characterization, and evaluation of bioactive compounds obtained from various natural sources, including plants, animals, fungi, and minerals. These substances may be used directly as medicinal agents or serve as blueprints for the synthesis of pharmaceutical drugs. This field delves into the chemical composition of natural organisms and investigates bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, and essential oils, many of which exhibit significant pharmacological properties. Pharmacognosy encompasses the study of crude drugs derived from natural sources and their active constituents, forming the basis for developing numerous therapeutic agents. The scope of pharmacognosy extends beyond identifying medicinal properties; it includes understanding the biological, ecological, and biochemical aspects of natural products. It serves as a bridge between traditional medicine and modern pharmaceutical sciences by validating and standardizing natural remedies. Through advanced techniques, pharmacognosy enables the discovery of new drugs, contributing to fields like phytotherapy, nutraceuticals, and herbal medicine. It plays a crucial role in advancing healthcare by harnessing the therapeutic potential of nature.