Overview
An introduction to pharmacognosy - understanding of natural product use as traditional and modern medicines including extraction, chemistry, assessment of biological activity, formulation, production considerations and regulation.
Natural products form the basis of modern medicines and are still used traditionally around the world for health benefits. The aim of this paper is to introduce students to the use and development of natural products for medicinal uses whilst obtaining practical skills applicable to this area. The paper features a component of traditional Māori medicine and rongoā.
About this paper
| Paper title | Natural Products and Medicines |
|---|---|
| Subject | Pharmaceutical Science |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,318.20 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- (CHEM 191 or CHEM 111) plus 54 points at 200-level
- Eligibility
This paper can complement BSc degrees with a pharmacology, botany or biology focus.
- Contact
- More information link
- Teaching staff
Paper Co-ordinator: Associate Professor Arlene McDowell
Teaching Staff:
Professor Natalie Hughes
Dr Lisa Kremer
Professor Sarah Hook
Professor Nigel Perry
Associate Professor Bill Hawkins
Professor Janice Lord
Associate Professor Allan Gamble
Professor Craig Bunt
Plus guest lecturers from industry
- Paper Structure
PSCI303 will be taught through lectures, laboratories and field trips covering the following general topics:
- Introduction to pharmacognosy.
- Identification, isolation and extraction of natural products.
- Biological activity of natural products.
- Production considerations for natural products.
- Textbooks
No Textbooks required.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.- Learning Outcomes
By completion of this paper students will be able to:
- Discuss the use of natural products as medicines.
- Explain the chemical properties of natural products.
- Demonstrate the process of extraction and isolation of natural products.
- Summarize the concepts for assessing the biological activity of natural products.
- Describe the quality assurance processes and regulatory issues for natural products.
- Apply principles of scientific research and methods to problem solving.
- Communicate expert scientific knowledge effectively to different audiences.
- Works effectively as a team member.
Overview
An introduction to pharmacognosy - understanding of natural product use as traditional and modern medicines including extraction, chemistry, assessment of biological activity, formulation, production considerations and regulation.
Natural products form the basis of modern medicines and are still used traditionally around the world for health benefits. The aim of this paper is to introduce students to the use and development of natural products for medicinal uses whilst obtaining practical skills applicable to this area. The paper features a component of traditional Māori medicine and rongoā.
About this paper
| Paper title | Natural Products and Medicines |
|---|---|
| Subject | Pharmaceutical Science |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- (CHEM 191 or CHEM 111) plus 54 points at 200-level
- Eligibility
This paper can complement BSc degrees with a pharmacology, botany or biology focus.
- Contact
- More information link
- Teaching staff
Paper Co-ordinator: Professor Arlene McDowell
Teaching Staff:
- Professor Natalie Hughes
- Dr Lisa Kremer
- Professor Sarah Hook
- Professor Nigel Perry
- Associate Professor Bill Hawkins
- Professor Janice Lord
- Associate Professor Allan Gamble
- Professor Craig Bunt
- Plus guest lecturers from industry
- Paper Structure
PSCI303 will be taught through lectures, laboratories and field trips covering the following general topics:
- Introduction to pharmacognosy.
- Identification, isolation and extraction of natural products.
- Biological activity of natural products.
- Production considerations for natural products.
- Textbooks
No Textbooks required.
- Course outline
Lectures
Module 1: Introduction to pharmacognosy
- What are natural products and medicines - pharmacognosy?
- Use of natural products for traditional medicines in Western Countries I
- Use of natural products for traditional medicines in Eastern Countries II
- Rongoā practitioners
- Rongoā engagement
- Rongoā rakau
- Botanical descriptions and anatomy of plants
- Botanical identification of key natural product genera
Module 2: Identification, isolation and extraction of natural products
- Natural product chemistry I
- Natural product chemistry II
- Taonga natural products of Aotearoa I: Whenua
- Taonga natural products of Aotearoa II: Moana
- Commercialisation and IP of natural products
- Extraction and isolation of natural products
- Synthesis and biological evaluation of alkaloids
Module 3: Biological activity of natural products
- Assessment of biological activity – in vitro
- Assessment of biological activity – in vivo
- Critical appraisal of natural product evidence
- Bioavailability of natural products
- Adverse effects and drug interactions
- Guest lecture: Cannabis – herb to pharmaceutical
- Animals and natural medicines
Module 4: Production considerations for natural products
- Quality control and adulteration of natural products
- Regulation of natural products
- Formulation of natural products I
- Formulation of natural products II
- Pharmacopoeia and monographs for natural products
- Industry perspectives on natural products I
- Industry perspectives on natural products II
- Cultivation considerations for natural products
- Using biotechnology to produce bioactives
- Recent advances in natural products and medicines
Laboratories
Laboratory 1: Botanical identification and seaweed polysaccharide extraction
Laboratory 2: Extraction of bioactives from natural sources
Laboratory 3: Determine activity of bioactive compounds
Laboratory 4: Formulation of natural products
Workshop and tutorials
- A 2-hour journal club format where students are required to read a paper before class and then report on a figure in the paper and present a critical interpretation
- A 2-hour tutorial where students discuss ethical issues around testing natural products
Fieldwork
- A 4-hour field trip to a production site for natural products
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
By completion of this paper students will be able to:
- Discuss the use of natural products as medicines.
- Explain the chemical properties of natural products.
- Demonstrate the process of extraction and isolation of natural products.
- Summarise the concepts for assessing the biological activity of natural products.
- Describe the quality assurance processes and regulatory issues for natural products.
- Apply principles of scientific research and methods to problem solving.
- Communicate expert scientific knowledge effectively to different audiences.
- Works effectively as a team member.
- Assessment details
Internal Assessments (40%)
- End of Module Test (MCQ & SAQ) - 10%
- Lab Report (individual) - 15%
- Research Article vLog (group) - 15%