About-Pharmacology.

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Dr. Aqeel Nasim

Introduction to
Pharmacology

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Introduction to
Pharmacology
Definition
Scope and
Sources of

Divisions
Drugs

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Definition
The

branch of medicine concerned

with the uses, effects, and modes of
action of drugs (interaction of drugs
with living organisms). It also
includes history, source,
physicochemical properties, dosage
forms, methods of administration,
Pharmacokinetics,
Pharmacodynamics clinical uses and
adverse effects of drugs.
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Scope and divisions of

Pharmacology
Clinical

Pharmacology

Drugs
Pharmacy
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacotherapeutics
Toxicology
Chemotherapy
Pharmacopoeia
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Scope and divisions of

Pharmacology
Clinical

Pharmacology
Application or uses of pharmacological principles
for the purpose use of better outcomes in patient
care. It evaluate the pharmacological action of
drug preferred route of administration and safe
dosage range in human by clinical trails.

Drugs:

These are chemicals or chemical substances that

alter the functions of living organisms. Drugs are
generally given for the diagnosis, prevention,
control or cure of disease.
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Scope and divisions of

Pharmacology
Pharmacy:

It is the science and art of of identification, selection,

preservation, standardization, compounding and
dispensing of drugs or medical substances.
Pharmacodynamics:
The study of the biological and therapeutic effects of drugs
inside the living organism is called pharmacodynamics (i.e,
what the drug does to the body).
Pharmacokinetics:
Study of the absorption, distribution metabolism and
excretion (ADME) of drugs (i.e what the body does to the
drug).
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Scope and divisions of

Pharmacology
Pharmacotherapeutics:

It deals with the proper selection and therapeutic

use of drugs for the prevention, cure and
treatment of particular disease.
Toxicology:
Its the science that deals with poisons. Most of
drugs in larger doses may act as poisons.
Poisons are chemical substances that cause
lethal or harmful, dangerous or fatal effects and
symptoms in living
substances.
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Scope and divisions of

Pharmacology
Chemotherapy:

Its the effect of drugs upon microorganisms

generally related to cancer, parasites and neoplastic
cells living and multiplying in living organisms.
Pharmacopoeia:
An official code containing a selected list of the
established drugs and medical preparations with
descriptions of their physical properties and tests for
their identity, purity and potency e.g. USP (United
States Pharmacopeia), British Pharmacopoeia

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Sources of Drugs
Minerals
Animals
Plants
Synthetic sources and semi
synthetic sources
5. Micro organisms
6. Genetic engineering
1.
2.
3.
4.

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Sources of Drugs
1. Minerals: A solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence.
Liquid paraffin, magnesium sulfate, magnesium trisilicate, kaolin,
etc.
i. Metallic and Non metallic sources:
Iron is used to treat iron deficiency (anemia).
Mercurial salts are used in Syphilis.
Zinc is used as zinc supplement.
Zinc oxide paste is used in wounds and in eczema.
Iodine is antiseptic.
Iodine supplements are also used.
Gold salts used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
ii. Miscellaneous Sources:
Fluorine act as antiseptic
Borax has antiseptic properties as well.
Selenium as selenium sulphide is used in anti dandruff shampoos.
Petroleum is used in preparation of liquid paraffin.
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Sources of Drugs
2. Animals: These are natural sources of drugs obtained
from animals
Insulin,

thyroid extract, heparin and antitoxin sera, etc.

Pancreas is a source of Insulin.
Urine of pregnant women gives human chorionic
gonadotropin (hCG) used for the treatment of infertility.
Sheep thyroid is a source of thyroxin.
Cod liver as a source of vitamin A and D.
Anterior pituitary is a source of pituitary gonadotropins,
used in treatment of infertility.
Blood of animals is used in preparation of vaccines.

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Sources of Drugs
3. Plants: These are natural sources of drugs obtained from plants and
their parts,
Plant source is the oldest source of drugs. Most of the drugs in ancient
times were derived from plants. Almost all parts of the plants are used
i.e. leaves, stem, bark, fruits and roots.
Morphine, digoxin, atropine, castor oil, etc.

Leaves:
a. The leaves of Digitalis Purpurea are the source of Digitoxin and Digoxin
(cardiac glycosides)
b. Tobacco leaves give nicotine (parasympathomimetic alkaloid).
c. Atropa belladonna gives atropine (an anticholinergic drug).
Flowers:
Poppy papaver somniferum gives morphine (opoid, a narcotic analgesic)
Vinca rosea gives vincristine and vinblastine (anti-cancerous drugs
particularly anti metabolites)
Rose gives rose water used as tonic.
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Sources of Drugs Plants

Contt
Fruits:
Senna

pod gives anthracine, which is a purgative (used in constipation)

Calabar beans give physostigmine, (cholinomimetic drug)
Seeds:
Seeds of Nux Vomica give strychnine, (CNS stimulant.)
Castor oil seeds give castor oil.
Calabar beans give Physostigmine, (cholinomimetic drug)
Roots:
Ipecacuanha root gives Emetine, (to induce vomiting). It also has amoebicidal
properties.
Rauwolfia serpentina gives reserpine, (hypotensive agent)
Reserpine was used for (hypertension).
Bark:
Cinchona bark gives quinine and quinidine, (antimalarial drugs.) Quinidine also has
antiarrythmic properties.
Atropa belladonna gives atropine, (anticholinergic.)
Hyoscyamus Niger gives Hyosine, (anticholinergic.)
Stem:
Chondrodendron tomentosum gives tuboqurarine, which is skeletal muscle relaxant
used in general anesthesia.
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Sources of Drugs
4. Synthetic sources and semi synthetic sources:
Aspirin, sulphonamides, paracetamol, zidovudine, etc.
i. Synthetic Sources:
When the core or nucleus of the drug from natural source or
its chemical structure is altered or modify, it is called as
synthetic drugs
Examples include Emetine Bismuth Iodide
ii. Semi Synthetic Source:
When the nucleus of drug obtained from natural source is
retained but the chemical structure is altered, it is known as
semi-synthetic.
Examples include Apomorphine, Diacetyl morphine, Ethinyl
Estradiol, Homatropine, Ampicillin and Methyl testosterone.
Most of the drugs used nowadays (such as antianxiety drugs,
anti convulsants) are synthetic forms.
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Sources of Drugs
5. Micro organisms:
Those deugs thatta are obtained from micro-organism and useful against
other micro-organiss.
eg; Penicillin, streptomycin and many other antibiotics.
Penicillium notatum is a fungus which gives penicillin.
Actinobacteria give Streptomycin.
Aminoglycosides such as gentamicin and tobramycin are obtained from
streptomycis and micromonosporas.
6. Genetic engineering:
Recombinant

DNA technology involves cleavage of DNA by enzyme

restriction endonucleases. The desired gene is coupled to rapidly replicating
DNA (viral, bacterial or plasmid). The new genetic combination is inserted
into the bacterial cultures which allow production of vast amount of genetic
material.
e.g; Human insulin, human growth hormone etc.
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 The

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