Pharmacognosy Laboratory Experiments Practical For Pharmacy Students In Nigeria

Pharmacognosy and Traditional medicine Laboratory

Pharmacognosy and traditional medicine is the oldest branch of all pharmaceutical sciences. Since it is argued that the oldest form of treatment was with the use of herbs, we can confidently say pharmacognosy and traditional medicine is the oldest form of all sciences.

Pharmacognosy and traditional medicine is the study of medicinal drugs derived from natural sources. The most common source is herbs from plants. Another definition by the American Society of Pharmacognosy (A.S.P) put it this way; the study of the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of drugs, substances or potential drugs or drug substances of natural origin as well as the search for new drugs of natural origin.

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The knowledge of Pharmacognosy and traditional medicine cannot be taught completely theoretically only as the practice is based on actions. This can only be completely understood when an experiment is added. This practice is what pharmacy students learn in one of the laboratory in school, Pharmacognosy and Traditional Medicine laboratory.

Pharmacognosy and traditional medicine experiments are carried out from 200 level. It is done every semester. It is completed with an examination that is based on the experiments for that semester.

The laboratory is equipped and designed to teach students on the morphological and microscopical studies of cells and tissues in different parts of natural materials such as plants. Also, the chemical nature or constituents of substances believed to have medicinal properties are studied. The identification and standardization of crude drugs of natural origins using modern techniques and equipment are carried out here. This provides the opportunity for students to gain the knowledge of physio-chemical properties of natural products.

Nature of Experiments In Pharmacognosy And Traditional Medicine Laboratory

In Pharmacognosy and traditional medicine laboratory, the various test is carried out on crude drugs extracted from medicinal substances. Experiments include;
Identification, Extraction, Isolation, Detection, Determination, Estimation Of natural products,
Qualitative analysis of drugs
Phytoconstituents of extracts
Lastly, the activity of extracts on living things.

Instruments And Equipment

The equipment in pharmacognosy and traditional medicine laboratory is for identification of natural materials such as;

• Compound microscope

The equipment for the other experiments are

• Chromatography instruments such as Thin Layer Chromatography plate
• Beakers
• Conical flask
• Heating mantle
• Hot air oven
• Hot plate
• Stop watch
• Weighing balance
• Ph scale
• Soxhlet
• Different reagents
• Herbarium
• Etc.

Experiment

Identification of plants using morphology of the plants part. This involves using a microscope to see the difference between different species. Some other experiments may not even require equipment such as examining physical properties of some plants such as the type of vein it has or the shape of the apex. This is done especially in the herbarium laboratory for schools with two laboratories for Pharmacognosy and traditional medicine.

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The various methods of extracting crude drugs from natural materials for effective and better results is carried out. Extraction and preparation of starches and related products are done.

Crude drug extracts such as acacia gum, tragacanth, alginate and agar can be studied for the presence of carbohydrates (glucose, fructose etc.), fats and oil using means such as TLC or other suitable methods depending on the compounds that are required.

Botanical Garden

This is a small farm that have been planted plants of medicinal value. It is used by the department in teaching students on the physical characteristics of some herbs to be able to differentiate them from adulterated plants with similar characteristics. The plants can be harvested and their chemical compositions compared with those of other schools or location.

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