PHARMACOGNOSY

DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOGNOSY

Pharmacognosy is an essential subject in the pharmacy curriculum that involves the study of drugs and bioactive substances derived from natural sources such as plants, animals, minerals, and marine organisms. In college, the study of pharmacognosy focuses on the morphological, anatomical, and chemical characteristics of crude drugs, along with their sources, cultivation, collection, processing, and preservation. Students learn to identify medicinal plants, understand their phytochemical constituents, and analyze their therapeutic uses through practical and theoretical approaches. The subject also includes standardization techniques, adulteration detection, and evaluation methods, ensuring the quality and safety of herbal products. With advancements in research, pharmacognosy integrates knowledge from botany, chemistry, and pharmacology to explore drug discovery from natural products. It plays a significant role in bridging traditional systems of medicine with modern healthcare, and opens up career opportunities in areas like herbal drug formulation, quality control, research and development, regulatory affairs, and academia.