JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD Pharm. D II Year PHARMACOGNOSY AND PHYTOPHARMACEUTICALS Previous Question Paper (August/September -2022 - R08)

Pharmacognosy is the branch of pharmaceutical sciences that deals with the systematic study of crude drugs obtained from natural sources, including plants, animals, minerals, and marine organisms. The term is derived from the Greek words pharmakon (drug) and gnosis (knowledge), signifying the study of medicinal substances in their raw or unprepared form.

The history of pharmacognosy dates back to ancient civilizations. Early records include the Rig Veda and Atharva Veda in India, which describe numerous medicinal plants. The Egyptian Ebers Papyrus (1550 BC) lists hundreds of plant-derived remedies. Hippocrates, known as the Father of Medicine, and Dioscorides, who authored De Materia Medica, laid the foundations for Western botanical medicine. The term 'Pharmacognosy' was first coined by C.A. Seydler in 1815. Over centuries, the field evolved from simple botanical identification to the sophisticated isolation and structural elucidation of active chemical constituents.

The scope of pharmacognosy is vast and continues to expand through modern scientific integration:

• Drug Discovery and Development: It provides the lead compounds for new drug entities. Many modern pharmaceuticals, such as morphine, digoxin, and vincristine, are derived from natural sources.
• Standardization and Quality Control: It establishes parameters for the identity, purity, and quality of herbal drugs, ensuring safety and efficacy through pharmacopoeial standards.
• Phytochemistry: It involves the extraction, isolation, and characterization of secondary metabolites like alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, and terpenoids, which serve as the basis for therapeutic activity.
• Biotechnology: Modern techniques like plant tissue culture and genetic engineering are used to enhance the production of bioactive compounds and conserve rare medicinal species.
• Nutraceuticals and Cosmeceuticals: There is an increasing focus on the use of natural products in health supplements and skincare, driven by consumer demand for safer, natural alternatives.
• Ethnomedicine: Documentation and validation of traditional medicinal systems (like Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha) provide a roadmap for discovering new therapeutic agents.