Pharmacognosy?

[Paracelsian]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

How come I don't see many pharmacy schools, at least in my state, including courses in Pharmacognosy as part of their curriculum? AACP considers it one of the "six major areas of instruction," listed second after pharmaceutical chemistry.

 

[JamesL1585]

How come I don't see many pharmacy schools, at least in my state, including courses in Pharmacognosy as part of their curriculum? AACP considers it one of the "six major areas of instruction," listed second after pharmaceutical chemistry.

Hey,

I did pharmacognosy research at the University of Rhode Island last summer.. and from my education on different papers I've read, and from my professors comments from applying for grants, more and more companies and universities are getting away from Pharmacognosy interest and research, so basically its not really being taught anymore. It's a pretty interesting subject of interest, but you probably get bits and pieces of it from all the areas of study including microbiology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology,Natural products chemistry... and others

 

[cycloketocaine]

How come I don't see many pharmacy schools, at least in my state, including courses in Pharmacognosy as part of their curriculum? AACP considers it one of the "six major areas of instruction," listed second after pharmaceutical chemistry.

It is incorporated into other classes at my school, mainly Principles of Drug Action.

That's probably what happens at other schools too.

 

[mattc_85]

I could see pharmacognosy coming more towards to forefront again with interest in natural products increasing. However, like was said above, this basic principles are incorporated into other classes in the curriculum.

 

[Paracelsian]

Why is it not considered important enough to warrant having it's own course(s)?

 

[mike36]

Understand that many pharmacy schools have an integrated curriculum nowadays. At my school, pharmacotherapy includes med chem, pharmacology, and therapeutics. There is probably some pharmocognosy in some of the med chem lectures.

These classes are usually about 8 or 9 hours of lecture each semester. If one were to look at our curriculum, one would think that we only have one hour of introductory med chem and one hour of introductory pharmacology in the entire four years, if one did not know these are included in the PT lectures.

 

[RxWildcat]

I had to look up the word pharmacognosy to see what it meant. That stuff is kinda integrated into other courses but we spend a LOT more time dealing with therapeutics than pharmacognosy.

 

[Paracelsian]

Understand that many pharmacy schools have an integrated curriculum nowadays. At my school, pharmacotherapy includes med chem, pharmacology, and therapeutics. There is probably some pharmocognosy in some of the med chem lectures.

These classes are usually about 8 or 9 hours of lecture each semester. If one were to look at our curriculum, one would think that we only have one hour of introductory med chem and one hour of introductory pharmacology in the entire four years, if one did not know these are included in the PT lectures.

I understood. But my question is not so much about why there are not courses entitled "Pharmacognosy" when I look at your schools curriculum, as it is about why there aren't many classes dedicated to it. You say there "is probably some [pharmacognosy] in some of the med chem lectures."

Why is it only "probably some?" Why aren't there entire lectures and labs dedicated to it? My point is that there should be, if it is considered one of the six major areas of instruction.

 

[Paracelsian]

I had to look up the word pharmacognosy to see what it meant. That stuff is kinda integrated into other courses but we spend a LOT more time dealing with therapeutics than pharmacognosy.

This is exactly my point: grad students don't even know what it is. I suppose it's just not important; drugs come from factories in jars.

 

[mike36]

I understood. But my question is not so much about why there are not courses entitled "Pharmacognosy" when I look at your schools curriculum, as it is about why there aren't many classes dedicated to it. You say there "is probably some [pharmacognosy] in some of the med chem lectures."

Why is it only "probably some?" Why aren't there entire lectures and labs dedicated to it? My point is that there should be, if it is considered one of the six major areas of instruction.

I dunno, just a P1. I am not really sure what you mean about labs though. Labs in pharmacy school are for compounding and for pharmacotherapy/counseling.