JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD Pharm. D II Year PHARMACOGNOSY AND PHYTOPHARMACEUTICALS Previous Question Paper (April/May - 2019 - R08)

Pharmacognosy is the branch of science that deals with the systematic study of crude drugs obtained from natural sources, including plants, animals, minerals, and marine organisms. It encompasses the study of their physical, chemical, biochemical, and biological properties, as well as their identification, cultivation, collection, preparation, and preservation for medicinal use.

The history of pharmacognosy is an evolution from ancient empirical practices to modern scientific analysis:

• Ancient Era: Early civilizations relied on the observation of nature. The Ebers Papyrus (1550 BC) documented hundreds of medicinal plants. In India, the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita laid the foundation for Ayurveda, detailing the therapeutic uses of thousands of plants.
• Classical Period: Hippocrates, known as the father of medicine, and Dioscorides, who wrote De Materia Medica, provided systematic classifications of medicinal substances that influenced medical practice for over a millennium.
• Development of the Term: The term 'Pharmacognosy' was coined by C.A. Seydler in 1815 in his work Analecta Pharmacognostica, derived from the Greek words 'pharmakon' (drug) and 'gnosis' (knowledge).
• Scientific Revolution: The 19th century marked a shift from using whole crude drugs to the isolation of active chemical constituents. Friedrich Sertürner's isolation of morphine from opium in 1806 initiated the era of phytochemistry, leading to the identification of alkaloids, glycosides, and volatile oils.
• Modern Era: Today, pharmacognosy integrates advanced analytical techniques such as chromatography (HPLC, GC), spectroscopy (NMR, IR), and biotechnology to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of natural products. It now focuses on standardization, drug discovery from natural leads, and the study of nutraceuticals and herbal medicines.