NUTRACEUTICS AND PHARMACOLOGY

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Academic Year of enrolment:

2018/2019

Type of Course:

Characterising

Optional/Mandatory:

Compulsory

Degree:

Master's Degree Programme in FOOD SCIENCE, HEALTH AND HUMAN WELL-BEING

Disciplinary Sector:

Pharmacology

Language:

Italian

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

SERRA Pier Andrea

ROCCHITTA Gaia Giovanna Maria

Hours of classroom activity:

Prerequisites:

The student must have knowledge of chemistry, physics, normal human anatomy, human physiology and biochemistry.

AF code:

A001637

Assessment Methods

Verification of learning:

In itinere tests and final exam with Multiple Choice test

Teaching period

First semester

Objectives

The main objective of the teaching unit is the acquisition of skills related to general pharmacology and the general principles of chemotherapy. Starting from the concept of Drug, the student will have to acquire the cardinal concepts of Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and features of Pharmacognosy. He/She will have to understand the concept of Dose, therapeutic effect and adverse effect (predictable and unpredictable), to know the dynamics of scientific studies concerning the drug both at preclinical and clinical level and to acquire knowledge on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions between drugs and between food and drugs and adverse drug reactions (ADR) of particular importance.
The student will have to know the main problems concerning the relationship between nutrition and aging and specific criticisms concerning patients suffering from neurogenerative diseases (Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases); will also have to acquire the basic knowledge on the problems concerning rare diseases and orphan drugs.
The student must demonstrate knowledge of the concept of functional food, supplement and biofortified food, know the main nutraceuticals present in foods and their known biological effects.

Contents

Historical features of Pharmacology.
The drug: medicament and poison.
Plant, animal and mineral drugs.
Active ingredient and excipients.
Plant drugs and principles of Pharmacognosy.
Preclinical studies in vitro and in vivo.
Phase I, II, and III clinical trials.
Observational studies.
Role of the Ethics Committee and patient rights.
Informed consent and processing of personal data.
Pharmacokinetics: absorption.
Pharmacokinetics: distribution.
Pharmacokinetics: metabolism.
Pharmacokinetics: excretion.
Routes of administration of drugs.
Drug-protein binding.
Barriers to the passage of drugs.
Volume of distribution.
Bioaccessibility and bioavailability.
Pharmacogenomics and Pharmacogenetics.
Deepening on hepatic cytochromes.
Pharmacodynamics: the pharmacological receptor.
Pharmacodynamics: types of pharmacological receptors.
Pharmacodynamics: drug-receptor interaction and dose-response curves.
Pharmacodynamics: manageability and therapeutic index.
Adverse drug reactions (ADR).
Pharmacovigilance.
Rare diseases therapy.
Orphan drugs.
Therapy with more drugs.
Interaction between drugs.
Interaction between drugs and food.

Definition of nutraceuticals
The healing power of food
Functional foods
Nutraceuticals
Food supplements,
Biofortificated foods.
Probiotics and prebiotics
Antioxidants
Oxidative stress
Free radicals, ROS and RNS
Hormesis and paraormesis
Physiological antioxidants
 Glutathione
 Vitamins A, C, E
 Uric acid
 Melatonin
Food antioxidants
 Polyphenols
Bioactive carbohydrates
Bioactive peptides
Boactive lipids

Dopamine and pleasure (the rewarding pathway)
Food addiction
Nutritional problems in Parkinson's disease
Nutritional problems in Alzheimer's disease
Nutrition and headaches

Recommended Bibliography

Trattato di farmacologia di Lucio Annunziato, Gianfranco Di Renzo.
Idelson-Gnocchi, 2016.

Le basi farmacologiche della terapia. Goodman e Gilman.
Zanichelli, 2012.

Nutrizione e Dietologia, aspetti clinici dell'alimnetazione di Gianfranco Liguri.
Zanichelli, 2018.

Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, Rotimi E. Aluko.
Springer, 2012.

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

Face to face lectures

Contacts/More Information

none

NUTRACEUTICS AND PHARMACOLOGY

Course year: 1

Course year: 2

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