Welcome to the PhD. Pharmacognosy

The aim of the course is to introduce primary metabolites from higher plants with respect to their general chemical characters (features), biological activities and the uses in the pharmaceutical industry. In this perspective, the biosynthesis, chemical classifications, nomenclature, physical and chemical properties, methods for their production, detection, isolation and structure elucidation, distribution in nature, biological activities and the uses of of primary metabolites are introduced.
The aim of the course is to introduce phenylpropanoids (simple phenols, coumarins, lignans), xanthons, flavonoids, tannins, anthronoids and naphthalen derivatives which can be evaluated as potential active chemical constituents in drug discovery studies from the higher plants. Their biosynthesis, chemical classifications, nomenclature, physical and chemical properties, methods for their detection, isolation and structure elucidation, distribution in nature, biological activities and their uses are examplified.
The course aims to introduce the terpenoids (mono-, sesqui-, di-, and triterpenes, teriterpenic saponins, cucurbitacines, cyloartanes) from the natural sources having importance in the field of health and pharmaceutical industry together with their biosynthesis, classifications, nomenclature, physical and chemical properties, methods for their detection, isolation and structure elucidation, distribution in nature, biological activities.
Objective of the course is to introduce spectroscopical methods used in the structure elucidation of the natural compounds. Mainly, introduction to NMR spectroscopy and basic principles will be discussed. The aim of the course is to to teach students structure elucidation by studying spectral features comparatively on the selected group in the natural compounds. Carbohydrates, glycosides and phenylpropanoids are the main subjects in the structure elucidation by UV, IR, NMR (1D- and 2D-NMR) and mass spectr.