Introduction to pharmacology

About-Pharmacology.com
Dr. Aqeel Nasim

www.about-pharmacology.com

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Definition
Scope and Divisions
Sources of Drugs


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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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Clinical Pharmacology
Drugs
Pharmacy
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacotherapeutics
Toxicology
Chemotherapy
Pharmacopoeia

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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.

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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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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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Pharmacotherapeutics:
It deals with the proper selection and
therapeutic use of drugs for the prevention, cure
and treatment of particular disease.
Toxicology:
It’s 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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Chemotherapy:
It’s 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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Minerals
Animals
Plants
Synthetic sources and semi synthetic
sources
Micro organisms
Genetic engineering


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.

2. Animals: These are natural sources of drugs obtained
from animals
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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.


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.
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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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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.

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 semisynthetic.
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.


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:
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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 End
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Introduction to pharmacology

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