Learning objectives
The student will be able to use the basics of each topic and his critical appraisal to a wide range of health products made from vegetable sources will be enforced
Course unit content
The aim of the course is to provide students with a current and updated vision of the products of natural origin and health disciplines related to them. Particular attention will be paid to emerging market niches and products recently introduced for sale in herbal medicine and pharmacy. Specific objective will be the acquisition of skills and ability to upgrade in the context of phytotherapy and phytocosmetics in order to ensure a correct guidance to the consumers. Particular attention will be paid to the definition of scientific and therapeutic limits of phytotherapic and plant-based nutrition practices.
Market analysis for drugs, import-export in the herbal market, the Italian productive, the paths that lead to the formulation and sale of food supplements, nutraceuticals and natural remedies. From the traditional remedy to over-the-counter products: traditional medicines, Ethnopharmacology, scientific research and validation, marketing and positioning in the market for herbal products, health and phytocosmetics.
Definition and theoretical principles of phytocosmetics, critical comparison with the traditional cosmetic approach. The natural ingredients in cosmetic and traditional uses in herbal drug-cosmetic. Topical and functional properties of cosmetic plants. Dermopharmaceutical activity of phytotherapy.
Research and validation of medicinal traditional products, cosmetic, herbal remedies. How to keep updated in ethnic medicine, cosmetic, in phytotherapy and natural ingredients of plant origin.
Emerging sectors within natural prebiotic and probiotics; antioxidants; antidepressants, cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals and dietary supplements of vegetable origin. Medicinal plant monographs recently introduced on the market and not described in the course of Pharmaceutical Botany. Critical analysis of commercial multi-ingredient products.
Bibliography
Capasso F., Grandolini G., Izzo A., Fitoterapia. Impiego razionale delle droghe vegetali, Springer verlag 2006.
Herbal Medicines
Barnes, Joanne; Anderson, Linda A; Phillipson, J David
Third edition, Pharmaceutical Press, 2007
Evaluation of Herbal Medicinal Products
Perspectives on quality, safety and efficacy
Houghton, Peter; Mukherjee, Pulok K
First edition, Pharmaceutical Press, 2009
Nutraceuticals
A guide for healthcare professionals
Lockwood, Brian
Second edition, pharmaceutical Press, 2009.
Der Marderosian A. and Beutler J.A. - The review of Natural Products. 3rd Edition, Facts and comparisons, St.Louis, Missouri, USA, 2002.
Barrett, M., The Handbook of Clinically Tested Herbal Remedies, Haworth Press, 2005
