Plant Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany

The aim of the course, with regards to the part of Plant Biology, is to provide the basic knowledge on the structure and function of the plant cell, of the organelles involved in the processes of cell differentiation, respiration, photosynthesis, plant reproduction and growth, on the tissues and organs that characterize vascular plants. The course also provides information on the strategies adopted by plants to interact with the surrounding environment and mediated by the synthesis and release of secondary metabolites and on the importance of plants in many aspects of human life.
Another aim of the course is to provide students with the fundamentals of Pharmaceutical botany with special emphasis on the recognition and description of selected medicinal plant species. During the lectures the diagnostic morpho-anatomical features, the drug and its content in active compounds, of selected plant species belonging to the following Orders, are described: Pteridophytes (Equisetales), Gymnosperms (Pinaceae, Gingkaceae, Taxaceae), Angiosperms Dicotyledons (Magnoliales, Laurales, Fagales, Illiciales, Ranunculales, Piperales, Papaverales, Hamamelidales, Urticales, Polygonales, Theales, Malvales, Violales, Salicales, Ericales, Rosales, Fabales, Myrtales, Euphorbiales, Rhamnales, Linales, Sapindales, Apiales, Gentianales, Solanales, Lamiales, Plantaginales, Scrophulariales, Dipsacales, Asterales) and Monocotyledons (Arecales, Poales, Zingiberales, Liliales, Orchidales).
The practical lessons and the visits to the Città Studi Botanical Garden (Milan) and to the Ghirardi Botanical Garden (Toscolano Maderno, Bs) allow to complete the course.
The knowledge of these topics serve as basis for the courses of Pharmacognosy and Pharmacology.

The student will be able to acquire theoretical and basic knowledge to:
- describe the structure of the plant cells, of the cellular organelles involved in cellular respiration, photosynthesis, reproduction and growth, and the structure of tissues and organs;
- recognize and describe the structure of the organs in transverse and longitudinal sections in Gymnosperms and Angiosperms, both Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons;
- describe how plants interact with the surrounding environment through the synthesis and release of secondary metabolites;
- describe the relevance of plants in the food, textile, pharmaceutical, cosmetic sectors etc;
- explain the basic topics of Pharmaceutical botany;
- recognize and identify the species, genus, family and order of selected medicinal plants;
- describe the distinctive botanical characters of the selected medicinal plants, the drug and its active principles;
- describe the ecological roles of these secondary metabolites (e.g., insect repellent or insect attractants) and to know basic information on their biological/pharmacological activities.
The verification of the ability to apply the theoretical and basic knowledge acquired in the course will be carried out by evaluating the results obtained in specific practical experiences in the botanical gardens through the solution of problems involving the knowledge of the topics specified in the educational objectives.