FARMA2010 Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy Course description

The course covers important groups of pharmaceuticals and natural products, with emphasis on the mechanisms of action. It focuses on the connection between the chemical structure of a pharmaceutical and its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties. Emphasis is also placed on the ability of pharmaceuticals to interact with their target molecules, and on the structure-activity relationship (SAR) in physiological environments.

The table below shows the subjects covered by the course, with credits specified:

• Medicinal chemistry 8 credits
• Pharmacognosy 2 credits

Passed the first year of the programme.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of pharmaceuticals and of their reactions and reaction mechanisms in a physiological environment
• is capable of explaining different main groups of pharmaceuticals (ATC classification)
• is capable of explaining how pharmaceuticals are metabolised in the body
• is capable of explaining the use of different derivatives of pharmaceutical molecules and their significance in relation to pharmaceutical effects
• is capable of explaining the main principles of interaction between pharmaceuticals and their target molecules (receptors/enzymes/transport proteins) and how pharmaceuticals influence the activity in the body's different mediator systems
• is familiar with the classes of natural products and their traditional use

Skills

The student is capable of

• assessing the structure-activity relationship and molecular mechanisms of action for the main groups of pharmaceuticals and natural products
• analysing the chemical and physical properties of the substances, functional groups, stereochemistry, absorption and metabolism, structure-activity relationship (SAR), the connection between the chemical structure of pharmaceuticals and their pharmacodynamic properties

General competence

The student is capable of 

• independently acquiring knowledge about and assessing the properties of a pharmaceutical product and its activity relationship

Work and teaching methods include lectures, group work and a prescription lab with student-active discussion. Discussing the discipline with fellow students and teachers is emphasised.

The Flipped Classroom is used as a teaching method for part of the course. Digital learning resources will be made available to students in advance and the time they spend at the university will be used to work on assignments and group work.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• minimum attendance requirement of 90 % at the prescription lab
• laboratory reports in accordance with specified criteria

Exam content: The learning outcomes

Exam form: Supervised individual written exam, 4 hours

Molecular model set

Grade scale A-F

One external and one internal examiner will assess all the papers