Course Syllabus
Click to Expand: Pharmacognosy & Ethnobotany Syllabus
Semester IV (DSC/Core)
BOT-H-CC8-4-Th – Pharmacognosy & Ethnobotany – 75 Marks / 3 Credits
1. Medicinal Botany
- History, scope and importance of medicinal plant in herbal drug industry, a brief idea about traditional systems of medicine - ayurveda, siddha and unani, Polyherbal formulations. (4 lectures)
2. Pharmacognosy
- 2.1 General account.
- 2.2 Pharmacognosy and its introduction and importance in modern medicine.
- 2.3 Crude drugs.
- 2.4 Classification of plant drugs - chemical and pharmacological action.
- 2.5 Drug evaluation – organoleptic, microscopic, chemical, physical and biological.
- 2.6 Major pharmacological groups of plant drugs and their uses.
- 2.7 Conservation of endangered and endemic medicinal plants. (8 Lectures)
3. Secondary Metabolites
- 3.1 Secondary metabolites and their differences with primary metabolites.
- 3.2 Interrelationship of basic metabolic pathways (Shikimate, Mevalonate, Acetate & MEP) with secondary metabolite biosynthesis (outlines only).
- 3.3 Major types and classification–terpenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids and their pharmacological importance. (8 lectures)
4. Secondary Metabolites
- Source plants (one example) parts used and uses of: 4.1 Steroids (Solasodin, Diosgenin, Digitoxin), 4.2 Tannin (Catechin), 4.3 Resins (Gingerol,Curcuminoids), 4.4 Alkaloids (Quinine, Atropine. Pilocarpine, Strychnine, Reserpine, Vinblastine, Taxol, Pyrolizidine), 4.5. Phenols (Sennoside and Capsaicin). (8 lectures)
5. Ethnobotany and folk medicine
- Definition, methods of study, application, Indian scenario, national interacts, folk medicines in ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, ethnoecology, ethnic communities of India, sacred groves, application of natural products to certain diseases- jaundice, cardiac, infertility, diabetics, blood pressure and skin diseases, challenges in application of ethno medicines with reference to modern medicines. (12 lectures)
6. Neutraceuticals
- General introduction, classification, inorganic mineral supplements, multivitamins, digestive enzymes, probiotics, prebiotics, dietary fibres, health drinks, antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, herbs as functional foods - future of pharmacognosy.. (8 lectures)
Previous Year Questions
2025
BOTANY — HONOURS
Paper : DSCC-8
(Pharmacognosy and Ethnobotany)
Full Marks : 75
1. Answer any six questions:
2 × 6
(a) What is Pharmacopoeia? Give an example.
(b) Give example of an antihypertensive drug and name its source plant.
(c) Distinguish between probiotics and prebiotics.
(d) Name one volatile plant secondary metabolite.
(e) What do you mean by dietary fibre?
(f) Name the basic unit of steroids.
(g) Name two naturally occurring PUFAs.
(h) What do you mean by the term 'functional foods'?
(i) Alkaloids are synthesized via which metabolic pathway in plants?
2. Answer any three of the following:
5 × 3
(a) What is polyherbal formulation? Cite an example of polyherbal formulation effective against a particular disease. (3+2)
(b) Classify drugs on the basis of its chemical nature. Mention the advantage of the classification. (3+2)
(c) Write a short note on sacred grove. Give two examples of plant species found in sacred groves across India. (3+2)
(d) Define secondary metabolites. Schematically give a brief outline of Mevalonate pathway. (1+4)
(e) Define Ethnobotany. Briefly describe the methods to study Ethnobotany. (2+3)
3. Answer any four questions from the following:
12 × 4
(a) What are organized and unorganized crude drugs? Cite one example and use of each. Write a brief note on organoleptic and chemical evaluation of plant drugs. (2+2+4+4)
(b) Discuss the importance of ethnomedicine in modern science. Briefly describe the different strategies of conservation of endangered and endemic medicinal plants. (4+8)
(c) Mention the source plant, parts used, therapeutic application and the chemical nature of the following drugs: (½+½+½+½)x6
(i) Digitoxin
(ii) Taxol
(iii) Catechin
(iv) Gingerol
(v) Atropine
(vi) Capsaicin.
(i) Digitoxin
(ii) Taxol
(iii) Catechin
(iv) Gingerol
(v) Atropine
(vi) Capsaicin.
(d) What is folk medicine? Name two ethnic communities of North-East India. Write some natural remedies for the treatment of (i) jaundice, (ii) infertility and (iii) cardiac disorder. (1+2+3+3+3)
(e) Write briefly the principles of 'Siddha' system of medicine. Explain the role of pharmacognosy in the field of modern medicines. (6+6)
(f) Define antioxidants. Briefly state the classification of nutraceuticals. Give the importance of mineral supplements and health drinks. (2+6+2+2)
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