These free B.Pharm notes on definition, history and scope of pharmacognosy cover chapter 1 of Introduction to Pharmacognosy, a first-semester subject. Read the key points below, then study the complete chapter PDF. You can browse every chapter in the Introduction to Pharmacognosy category.
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Overview of definition, history and scope of pharmacognosy
This chapter defines pharmacognosy and traces its history from early human experience through ancient China, Egypt, India, Greece and Rome to modern and present-day research. It then explains the present scope of the subject, how it developed into an interdisciplinary science, and its future, with examples such as artemisinin and taxol.
Key points on definition, history and scope of pharmacognosy
- Pharmacognosy comes from the Greek words pharmakon (drug) and gignosis (knowledge), and it studies crude drugs from plant, animal and mineral sources.
- Crude drugs are natural substances used as such or after simple processing, without any big change in their chemical composition, and most of them are of plant origin.
- The Ebers Papyrus of ancient Egypt, written about 1550 BC, is the most important early record, with about 800 prescriptions and about 700 drugs.
- Galen (131-200 AD) is called the first pharmacist of the world, and the drugs he prepared by his methods are known as galenicals.
- Nearly 80% of the world’s people depend on plant medicines for primary healthcare, so natural drugs have regained importance because of safety and fewer side effects.
Relevance to pharmacy practice
Knowing where drugs came from helps a pharmacist understand why many medicines are still based on plants and why herbal products need standards. It also helps when patients ask about traditional remedies, natural products and the safety of herbal medicines.
Every chapter in this subject builds on the one before it, so do not skip topics that look simple. Definitions, classifications and examples are the parts that examiners return to most often, and a clear understanding here will also make later subjects easier to follow in the coming semesters.
Frequently asked questions on definition, history and scope of pharmacognosy
What is the definition of pharmacognosy?
Pharmacognosy is the branch of pharmaceutical science that studies crude drugs from natural sources such as plants, animals and minerals. The study covers their identification, constituents and therapeutic uses.
What is the origin of the word pharmacognosy?
The word comes from two Greek words, pharmakon meaning drug and gignosis or gnosis meaning knowledge. So it literally means knowledge of drugs, especially drugs from natural sources.
What is the scope of pharmacognosy today?
Its scope includes discovery of new drugs from plants, micro-organisms and marine sources, herbal formulations and nutraceuticals, standardisation and quality control of herbal drugs, and natural products in cosmetics, food additives, dyes and pesticides.
Quick revision checklist
Use this self-test after reading the chapter on definition, history and scope of pharmacognosy. If you can do all of the following without looking at your notes, you are ready for the exam.
- I can explain: the definition and origin of pharmacognosy
- I can explain: the history of pharmacognosy in ancient civilizations
- I can explain: the contributions of Hippocrates, Theophrastus and Galen
- I can explain: the present scope of pharmacognosy
- I can explain: the recent drugs showing its future potential
Study and exam tips
Start by reading the chapter once for the overall idea, then revise definition, history and scope of pharmacognosy using headings, definitions, classifications and examples. Short-answer questions in the university exam usually ask for definitions, features, advantages, disadvantages and examples, so write these in your own words and practise drawing the tables and flow charts that the chapter has.
For wider reading, standard textbooks and open resources such as the NCBI Bookshelf help you confirm terms and see more examples. Revise definition, history and scope of pharmacognosy again a day later and again a week later, because spaced revision improves long-term memory.
This page is part of the Introduction to Pharmacognosy series for first-semester B.Pharm students on B.Pharm Guru, where every chapter has a short summary and a full PDF. Bookmark this page and share it with classmates who are preparing for the same exam.
Related notes: 3. HISTORICAL MILESTONES IN DRUG DISCOVERY, 4. INTRODUCTION TO DIFFERENT HERBAL AND TRADITIONAL PHARMACOPOEIAS.
Next: 2. SOURCES OF DRUGS – PLANT, ANIMAL, MICROBIAL AND MARINE. Back to the Introduction to Pharmacognosy category.
