Admission requirements
Elementary knowledge of plant and animal biology (e.g. molecular biology, cell biology, cell physiology), biochemistry, natural products /metabolism.
Contact information
Coordinator: Dr. M. Wang
Email: m.wang@biology.leidenuniv.nl
Description
The aim of this course is to get a good understanding of the possibilities and current status of the development of pharmaceuticals from natural products with emphasizing on herbal medicine. Some traditional knowledge of herbal medicine will be introduced. In theory courses, you will learn about chemistry and biology of bioactive molecules originated from natural sources, and their pharmaceutical applications including their biological activities, safety, quality control and production flow, and also about the legal aspects of herbal medicines.
In practicum, an experiment using a medicinal plant including isolation, identification of active compounds and quality control will be performed in IBL, to get impression on herbal plants a visit to Leiden University Hortus Botanicus will be organized during the course.
Learning goals
After completion of the course, students are able to:
Reproduce some of the chemicals /pharmaceutical activities in a number of medicinal plants;
Reproduce and understand the processes of herbal medicine production;
Reproduce and understand the quality control process for herbal medicine;
Calculate the efficiency/and efficacy of herbal extractions;
Explain the principle of interactions between herbal medicine and synthetic drugs;
Evaluate working mechanisms and applicability of a chosen herbal drug using selected scientific publications;
Theoretically design a medicinal product based on basic scientific information;
Deduct and reason of which topics to be used in the presentation;
Explain the use of advanced computational techniques for drug discovery and working mechanisms;
Give a presentation of their selected research topics.
Timetable
See master schedule
Mode of instruction
Following 4-6 introductory lectures, a list of topics will be suggested/given to the students. The introductory lectures will give an overview of the topics and provides scopes and goals for selection of the key articles and related articles. A guidance will be given for the selection of the articles (either in group meeting or in an individual meeting with teacher). A topic within the field of pharmaceuticals from plants can be chosen from the list provided to you by the instructors. The students will select one of the topics and are asked to search for literature related to the selected topic (review and research papers). The students should be able to find recent reviews and key journal articles in the scientific literature databases. Active participation in answering questions, solving problems and explaining concepts to fellow students is part of the introductions.
Based on the literature search by the students, in a follow up individual discussion with the teacher a decision will be made for one key topic will be selected for the presentation, the selected articles to support your selected topic will be used for the preparation of the presentation. This will be done in group of students (2-4 students/group).
The student will have to prepare a presentation on the selected topic and formulate questions about the articles reviewed. Students are expected to present and clarify current concepts within the field of pharmaceuticals from plant origin. Results will be presented by students in an oral presentation. This is part of scientific training: a literature research project, including the discussion of key journal articles and preparation of your Power Point presentation. The references you use should be given as a list at the end of your PPT. In addition, a written task will be provided (different from the literature search and presentation as outlines above). Students will use the knowledge from the lectures and literature search for preparation of a report based on the request from the teacher. This report will be submitted to the teacher for evaluation.
Assessment method
Power point presentation, contributions during the discussion, preparation of the questions.
- The quality of your presentation and discussion of your questions raised during the presentation and your participation in the discussion with the other students.
The presentations must show your ability to:
o analyze the scientific literature and specific journal articles including the research techniques used
o place the views and models discussed in the scientific articles in a broader perspective
o search the literature for additional information, needed to obtain a clear understanding of the discussed views and models
o understand and explain the basics and concepts relevant to the scientific topic in a clear fashion to your fellow students.
o At the presentations of other students, your active participation in the discussions is evaluated as well.
written report based on the request of the teacher will be also submitted to the teacher for evaluation.
Written examination on the topics presented in the introductory lectures.
The grade will be calculated from 30% of the power point presentation plus 20% of a written report ( for PPT presentation: 70% content and 30% the quality of presentation, contributions during the discussion, preparation of the questions), and 50% from the written exam. It is mandaotry to attend all the lectures. If you cannot attend you will need to discuss this with the instructor.
The final grade consists of the following partial grades:
3 grade for PPT
2 grade for written report
5 grade for written examination
Total it will be 10 grade
Inspection and feedback on the examination
Date: July 2022
Brightspace
The course information, time table and study material will be available via Brightspace.
Reading list
Lectures
Recommended book to read: Drugs of natural original by Gunnar Samulesson, Lars Bohlin (7th edition), important reading materials will be posted on Brightspace. Knowledge in this book can be used in the final power point presentation.
Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and phytotherapy by Michael Heinrich et al., (third edition).
Additional literature required for the lectures and own power point presentation on a chosen topic. Selected article study via Medline/Pubmed databases etc.
Registration
Via uSisS and enroll in Brightspace
Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the [Prospective students website] (http://www.prospectivestudents.leiden.edu/programmes/study-abroad/) for more information on how to apply.