Ethnopharmacology

The aim of the course is the study of ethnopharmacology, the science that deals with evaluating the efficacy, safety and mechanisms of action of traditional remedies, through the use of modern pharmacological methods.
Ethnopharmacology is based on a multidisciplinary approach that combines science and tradition, with the aim of analyzing the biological properties of plants and preparations, both toxic and beneficial, in specific geographical and cultural contexts. One of the purposes of ethnopharmacology is the conscious and safe use of plants and their preparations, with consequences that include the environmental and economic sustainability of these remedies, often characterized by a confined use in regions with limited economic resources.
The course will describe the main products of plant origin divided by geographical/cultural areas, briefly recalling botanical, phytochemical and traditional uses. In particular, the major scientific evidence and, where possible, the recognized mechanisms of action will be reported.

At the end of the course, the students are expected to know the main plant resources, traditionally used in humans. Furthermore, they must be able to identify the distributions of these resources and describe the traditional therapeutic uses supported by the greatest scientific evidence, recognizing the benefits and limitations of these preparations.