PHARMACOLOGY
pharmacology is the branch of science which deals with the study of drugs, including their origins, history, uses, toxicity and other propertiesThe main focus is on the action of drugs on the body
Pharmacology comes from the Greek word PHARMAKON means drug or medicine and logos means study
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General History of Pharmacology
Like other disciplines of science pharmacology is quite young as it emerged as a discipline in the 19th Century but the knowledge of drugs and their application in disease is as old as mankind historyIn ancient times the idea-disease of disease has been conceived as an evil spirit to harm a person physically or mentally hence religion have been brought in the healing.
Hippocrates did not believe in magic remedies. so a reaction has been started against these myths and more emphasis was given to drugs.
Theophratus discovered about 500 drugs he had a good knowledge of plants and their use in the disease. Hindus had their medical text SUSRUTA in which 760 herbs were mentioned
In ancient Chinese medicine, the Emperor SHAN NUNG was known as the father of Chinese materia medicine he was the author of Pen Taao which describes 265 drugs of which 240 were vegetable substances.
The Chinese employed Iodine, Rhubarb, Aconite, iron, sulphur, mercury, and other drugs some of which contain ephedrine or camphor
In Ancient Roman period Celsus wrote a book in which 28 chapters were related to therapentics
Pliny wrote seven books on remedies derived from plants and trees. Galen wrote 30 books on drugs they introduced the method of preparing pure drugs from their crude sourcesand such preparation like tinctures found extracts etc are still used Caued Galenicals
Arabs ultimate saurce of medical knowledge was Dioscorides. They introduced castoroil which was used as Catnartic. The Arabs also introduced musk for cerebral and Ophthalmic discauses Ambergris was used in the treatment of cramps, heart diseases, brain disorders Camphor for vertigo, cholera, haemorrhage and inflammation of brain
Nux vonica as emetic during Arab period great schools of learning had been established at Baghdad.
Although the main advances in 18th century were due to the progress of chemistry.Digitalis and Foxglove became popular in 18th century.The first pharmacopoeia of US in 19th century listed purple foxglov,ether known as chemical agent from 19th century was used for toothache in 19th century.Chloroform made in 1831 was used as general anaesthetic much later.
The great achievement in the century was the introduction of chemotherapeutic agents against the bacterial infection by Paul Ehrlich(1854-1915).The compounds killing the microorganisms were also injurious to the host.However advances in the subject brought in sulphonamide compounds and then the antibiotics which have made true the dreams of Ehrlich.
In early 19th century morphine was isolated from opium and was followed by isolation of quinine.A new phase of modern pharmacology was started by Oswald Schmied-Berg(1838-1921) with consideration of fate of drugs in the body.Now in the 21st century the effects of drugs on sub-cellular level and molecular level has put pharmacology amongst the advanced sciences.
FIELDS OF PHARMACOLOGY:
MAIN FIELDS:
1)Pharmacodynamics:It is the study of the physiological and biochemical effects of drugs as well as their mechanisms of action.It is also defined as the response of the drug to the body i.e.,onset,peak and duration of action etc.
2)Pharmacokinetics:
It deals with the study of response of the body to the drug i.e.absorption,distribution,biotransformation and excretion of drugs and their relationship to the onset,duration and intensity of drug effects.
OTHER FIELDS:
1)Therapeutics:It is the art and science of treatment of disease.It includes drug treatment.
2)Pharmacotherapeutics:
it is also called Medical pharmacology which deals with the proper selection and use of drugs for the prevention and treatment of disease.
3)Chemotherapy:
it deals with the effect of drugs upon microorganisms and parasites,living and multiplying in a living body,without damage to the host.
4)Clinical pharmacology:
It is the scientific study of drugs in man.It includes pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic investigations of drugs in man and their therapeutic evaluations.
5)Toxicology:
It deals with the adverse effects of drugs.Also concerned with other chemicals responsible for household,environmental or industrial poisonings.
6)Pharmacognosy:
It is the science of identification of drugs.
7)Pharmacy:
It is the science which deals with the preparation,compounding and dispensing of medicines.
8)Posology:
It is the branch of pharmacology which deals with doses of drugs.
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