Basic Knowledge Pharmacology

Edited by C. Ronald Darwin

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What is pharmacology?
Greek words of Pharmacology Pharmakon - drug or poison Logos - study The science that deals with study of drugs and their

interaction with the living system.

Why Do We Study Pharmacology?

A competent pharmacist must understand why his/her patient is getting a medication, and HOW IT WORKS

Pharmacology

Pharmacologists Study Science at Every Level

Subdivisions of Pharmacology
Neuropharmacology: The study of drugs on components of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and the nerves that communicate with all parts of the body. Example: treatment of Alzheimer's

Cardiovascular Pharmacology: study of the effects of drugs on heart, vasculature, and through kidney, nervous and endocrine systems that participate in cardiovascular function.

Example: treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension)

Subdivisions of Pharmacology
Molecular Pharmacology: study of the biochemical and biophysical characteristics of interactions between drug molecules and those of the cell Example: Drug-Receptor Interaction

Biochemical Pharmacology: study of how drugs act with and influence the chemical machinery of the organism Example: signal transduction through G proteins

Subdivisions of Pharmacology
Behavioral Pharmacology: study of the effects of drugs on behavior

Example: treatment of Attention Deficit Disorders

Endocrine Pharmacology: study of drugs that are hormones or hormone derivatives Example: creation of The Pill

Subdivisions of Pharmacology
Clinical Pharmacology: application of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics to patients with disease. Example: use of pharmacogenomics to tailor individual medical treatment

Chemotherapy: study of drugs used for treatment of microbial/viral infection and malignancies Example: treatment of cancer through anti-angiogenic agents such as bevacizumab. ANTIBODY THERAPY

Subdivisions of Pharmacology
Systems and Integrated Pharmacology: study of the use of whole animal approaches to best predict the efficacy of new treatments in the human. Example: use of pharmacogenomics to tailor individual medical treatment

Veterinary Pharmacology: study of the use of drugs for disease and health problems unique to animals. Example: treatment of feline leukemia (Viral) with Acemannan

Drug?
They are chemical substance which are used in prevention, diagnosis or in curing disease condition. Or Substance that effects any biological process when applied to or introduced into a living organism and has the effect of altering body functions.
These alterations may be prove useful in the treatment of disease (therapeutic application) or it may cause disease (toxicity).
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 Semi synthetic sources

Sources of Drugs
Natural sources Carbohydrates

Natural mimicking Natural modification

Glycosides (sugar + aglycone)

Lipids Proteins Alkaloids Volatile oils Plant exudates Antibiotics, Hormones,

Synthetic sources Laboratory synthetics

Growth factors, Cytokines, Vitamins, Toxins

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SOURCES OF DRUGS
Plants

Oldest source of drugs used empirically Leaves, seeds, flowers, roots, bark etc
Problems: Identification of plant Climatic and social conditions of area Season of collection Condition of storage Standardization of active principle Purity of active ingredient Maintenance of supply line Active principle is synthesized after detection

VARIOUS FORMS OF PLANT DRUG

Extract, infusions, decoction, powders etc Chemicals

(alkaloids, glycosides, oil, resins, tannins, gums etc.) isolated from different forms are
used for humans and animals, c/d active principles

Natural source:
Plant product include the following drugs
Morphine Cocaine Digitalis Quinine Reserpine Ephedrine Nicotine D-Tubocurarine Strychnine
Atropine
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Belladona Opium poppy Coca Digitalis purpera Chincona bark Rauwolfia Ephedrine Tobacco Curare Nux-vomica

Natural source cont., Animals

Animal product include the following drugs: Insulin Sera Vaccines
Modern drugs Active principles are proteins, oil and fats, enzymes and

hormones e.g. gonadotropins, heparin, insulin, thyroid extract and enzymes

Microorganisms
Antibiotics

derived = fungi and bacteria after discovery of penicillin in 1928 and its use in 1940

Use for infective diseases

E.g.
penicillin streptomycin tetracycline chloramphenicol erythromycin

Minerals
Metals, metalloids, non-metal subs and their

compounds E.g.
iron calcium magnesium aluminium sodium potassium sulphur lithium etc

SEMI-SYNTHETIC
These are drugs obtained by chemical modification of the naturally occurring compound
Diacetyl Morphine
Apomorphine Heroin Fluorinated corticosteroids 6-aminopencillanic acid (fungus), semi-synthetic human insulin (pork insulin)

Expensive and for impure natural compound

SYNTHETIC
Prepared in Pharmaceutical laboratory Organic or inorganic or combination of organic and

inorganic compounds & occupies >90% drugs NSAIDS Tolubutamide Barbiturates H2 Histamine antagonist ACE inhibitors -blockers etc..,

RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY

Any use of living organism in the production or modification

of products. Recombinant DNA and monoclonal antibody technologies have provided new and exciting approaches in the diagnosis and treatment. Human Insulin Growth factor -interferon Hepatitiss-B vaccine

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Back to Pharmacology

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 Two important areas in Pharmacology are: 1. Pharmacokinetics: Study of the absorption, distribution, metabolism and

excretion of drugs. 2. Pharmacodynamics: Study of the molecular, biochemical, and physiological effects of drugs on cellular systems and their mechanisms of action.
Pharmacology is closely linked to toxicology.

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