Learning objectives
The course aims at teaching the basic functional aspects of living organisms, with an emphasis on the systems of production and accumulation of primary and secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical interest. From this standpoint, the course aims to provide the key to understand the ecophysiological rationale behind the role of biodiversity and agrobiodiversity and behind the organization of plant tissues and organs.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
- Key substances of living organisms: lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, DNA. Enzymes and their roles.
- Morphogenesis and plant secondary metabolism.
Autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms. Cytology: the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure, the cellular organization, the physiological and ecological role of its components. Differences between animal and plant cells. The plant cell as a laboratory for the production of compounds relevant for pharmaceutical purposes: biological (primary and secondary metabolism). Unique plant cell structures (vacuoles, plastids, wall) and their biological function and relapses on food uses. Histology: meristematic tissues, adult and definitive tissues. Structures devoted to the secretion and accumulation of plant secondary metabolites. Histological anatomy of roots, stems (in primary and secondary structure) and leaves, with examples functional to the obtention of foods. Organography of leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds and their role in the accumulation of primary and secondary metabolites. Botanical relevance of plant tissues and plant organs in recognition of plants, in quality control and in the production and accumulation of the food-related ingredients.
Plant secondary metabolism as a plastic tool: genetic, environmental influences, effects of development stages and cultivation on the production of bioactives and consequences on pharmaceutical uses of plants.
- Plant Systematics.
Fundamentals of plant systematics: species concepts, taxonomic groups, and methods in systematic nomenclature. Main families of food, aromatic and poisonous plants. The biological basis of biodiversity, agrobiodiversity and sustanability of medicinal plants.
Full programme
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Bibliography
Poli et al., Biologia farmaceutica. Biologia vegetale, botanica farmaceutica, fitochimica - Con MyLab + eText - Ed. Pearson, 2019.
Teaching methods
Teaching will be conducted by favoring active learning methods alternated with lectures dedicated to case studies, aimed at establishing a link between the everyday reality of the students (as consumers and future pharmacists) and the and conventional topics typical of plant biology. Supporting slides will be uploaded on a weekly basis on the Elly platform as well as other in-depth multimedia materials (both in Italian and English) aimed at providing the aforementioned case studies and further elements useful for developing a critical interpretation in the student on the use of medicinal and health food plants. Supporting materials will be made available through the Elly online platform. Slides and other supporting materials here uploaded are considered an integral part of the teaching material and therefore of the exam program.
Assessment methods and criteria
The examination is based on an oral exam to be taken together with the Animal Biology module. Failure to pass one of the two modules makes the entire exam insufficient regardless of the outcome of the other.
On the same day of the exam, a preliminary access test based on multiple choice and open-ended questions will be carried out, lasting 60 minutes.
The oral exam is intended to verify the student's command of language and communication skills in demonstrating the learning of the scientific concepts of both modules.
Please note that online registration for the exam is mandatory. Students' ability to understand histology, anatomy and plant physiology will be assessed, with particular attention to the necessary logical processes of reasoning between the various parts of the program.
The scientific communication skills of the topics covered will also be assessed.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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