By Ms mariam Razzak Ph.

D
Research fellow
Unit I: Introduction to Pharmacology
• Definitions: Terminology use.
• Branches of Pharmacology
• Pharmaco-dynamics: Actions, therapeutic
Adverse, toxic effect.
• Pharmacokinetics: Absorption, distribution,
metabolism, interaction, excretion
● Drug: sources of drug
• Routes and principles of administration of
drugs
 INTRODUCTION TO
PHARMACOLOGY
Pharma=Drugs, Logos = Knowledge
(Pharmacology = The study of science of drugs)
• Pharmacology: It is the science of drugs derived
from two Greek words: Pharmakon (Greek word
for drugs) and logos (the Greek word for
science).
It includes physical and chemical properties,
biochemical and physiological effects,
mechanism of action, therapeutic uses and
adverse effects of drugs
 HISTORY Of Pharmacology
Knowledge of drugs and
their uses in diseases are
as old as history of
mankind.
• Primitive men gather the
knowledge of healing and
medicines by observing the
nature, noticing the animals
while ill and personal
experience after consuming
plants and herbs as
remedies.
●Ancient civilizations
discovered that extracts
from plants, animals, and
minerals had medicinal
effects on body tissue.
These discoveries
became the foundation
of pharmacology
●PEN TSAO (2700 BC) It was the great
herbal materia medica written in china.

•Kahun Papyrus (2000 BC) is an oldest

Egyptian document containing information
about veterinary medicines and uterine
diseases of women.

•Ebers papyrus (1550 BC) also an Egyptian

document containing information about
number of diseases and 829 prescription
where castor oil, opium like drug are being
used.
 Historical developments in
Pharmacology
• Hippocrates (460-375 BC) A greek physician
consider “father of Medicine”.
● He was the first person who recognize
disease as abnormal reaction of body.
● He introduce use of metallic salts for the
treatment of disease.
• Theophrastus (380-287 BC) a great
philosopher called father of Pharmacognosy.
He classified medicinal plants on the base of
medicinal characteristics.
 • Dioscorides (AD 57) a greek, produced
one of the first materia medica of
approximately 500 plants and remedies.
• Claudius Galen (AD 129–200) first
attempted to consider the theoretical
background of pharmacology.
• Paracelsus (1493–1541) a Swiss scholar
and alchemist, often considered the
“grandfather of pharmacology”. He
introduces the use of chemicals for
treatment of disease.
• Valerius Cordus (1514-1544) He compiled
the first pharmacopeia where he described
 MODERN PHARMACOLOGY
• Conversion of old medicines into the
modern, pharmacology start taking shape
following the introduction of animal
experimentation and isolation of active
ingredients from plants.
• Francois Megendie (1783-1855) a first
pharmacologist established the
foundation of modern pharmacology.
● He developed experiment to elucidate the
physiological processes and action of
• Rudolph Buchheim (1820–1879) German
pharmacologist a key figure in the
development of pharmacology, who at the
University of Dorpat, created the first
pharmacological institute.
●Frederich Sertürner, German pharmacist’s
assistant, isolated morphine—the first pure
drug—in 1805
● Claude Bernard (1813-1878) considered
Father of experimental Medicine. He
identifies the site of action of curare (arrow
Poisoning).
●Oswald Schmiedeberg (1838–1921)
“Father of Pharmacology” established
pharmacology as an independent
discipline.
●He start teaching Pharmacology in
University of Strasbourg (France).

● John Jacob Abel (1857-1938) founded

first department of pharmacology in USA in
the University of Michigan in 1893.
● In 1897 he established pharmacology
department at Johns Hopkins University.
● L. mayer Jones (1912-2002) regarded as
father of modern veterinary pharmacology.
He authored first book of veterinary
pharmacology therapeutics in 1954
 SCOPE OF PHARMACOLOGY
● It provides the rational basis for the
therapeutic use of the drug. Before the
establishment of this discipline, even
though many remedies were used, but
doctors were reluctant to apply scientific
principles to therapeutics.
• In 1920s, many synthetic chemicals were
first introduced and the modern
pharmaceutical companies began to
develop.
●Scientific understanding of drugs enables
us to predict the pharmacological effect of
a new chemical that will produce a
specified therapeutic effect.

• The scope of pharmacology has expanded

greatly over the last decade to incorporate
many new approaches such as computer-
assisted drug design, genetic screens,
protein engineering and use of novel drug
delivery vehicles including viruses and
artificial cells.
 Sources of Drug information
● The sources of drug information is
received by pharmacopeia, that is a book
which contains a list of established and
officially approved drug with description of
their physical and chemical characteristics
and tests for their identification, purity,
methods of storage etc. some of the
pharmacopeia’s are: • British
Pharmacopeia (B.P.) • European
Pharmacopeia.(E.P) • United states
Pharmacopeia.
●A drug generally has three categories of names:
(a)Chemical name : It describes the substance
chemically, e.g. N-(4 hydroxyphenyl)ethanamide
● (b) Non-proprietary / official name / Approved
name: Name in the official books accepted all
over the world. ACETAMINOPHEN
● (c)Proprietary (Brand) name : CALPOL for
Paracetamol
 Sources of Drugs
● • The different sources of drugs are:
• Plants:
● • Alkaloids: eg. Morphine, Atropine, Quinine, reserpine,
ephedrine. • Glycosides: eg. Digoxin, Digitoxin.
• Animals: Insulin, Heparin.
• Minerals: ferrous sulphate, Magnesium sulphate.
• Microorganisms: Penicillins, Streptomycin, Grisiofulvin.
• Synthetic: Most of the drugs used today are synthetic.
Eg. Aspirin, paracetamol.
• Drugs are also produced by genetic engineering (DNA
recombinant technology) eg. Human insulin, Human
growth hormone and Hepatitis B Vaccine
 Classification of Pharmacology
● Experimental Pharmacology: Done in the
laboratory on experimental animals such
as rodents and non rodents.
● Clinical Pharmacology: On human subjects
normal or deceased
 CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS
●1. Chemical Nature
●2. Source
●3. Target organ/Site of Action
●4. Mode of Action
●5. Therapeutic Uses
●6. Physiological system
 CLASSIFICATION BASED ON
CHEMICAL NATURE
• Chemical Nature of drug is discussed by a
Chemist and based on chemical nature we
divide drugs into
• INORGANIC DRUGS Metals and their Salts
(Ferrous Sulphate, Zinc Sulphate, Magnesium
Sulphate. Non Metals Includes Sulphur.
• ORGANIC DRUGS • Alkaloids (atropine,
Morphine, Strychnine) • Glycosides (Digitoxin,
Digoxin). • Proteins(Insuline, Oxytocin) •
Esters, Amide, Alcohol, Glycerides.
 CLASSIFICATION BASED ON
SOURCE
● Natural Source • Plants (Morphine, Atropine,
Digitoxin)
● Animals (Insulin)
● Micro organism (Penicillin)
● Mineral (Sodium Chloride)
● Synthetic Source (Sulphonamide, Procaine).
● Semi-synthetic Source Amoxicillin, Ampicillin,
Doxycycline
● Biosynthetic Source Recombinant Human
erythropiotin, Recombinant bovine somattotropine
 CLASSIFICATION BASED ON
TARGET ORGAN
● Drugs acting on CNS (Diazepam,
Phenobarbitone).
● Drugs acting on Respiratory System
(Bromhexaine).
● Drugs acting on CVS (Digitoxin, Digoxin).
● Drugs acting on GIT (Omeprazole, Kaoline,
Sulphadimidine).
● Drugs acting on Urinary System (Magnesium
Sulphate, Lasix
● Drugs acting on reproductive system
(Oxytocin, Estrogen)
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON MODE
OF ACTION
● Inhibitor of bacterial cell wall synthesis
(penicillin)
●• Inhibitor of bacterial protein synthesis
(Tetracycline)
● Calcium Channel blocker (Verapamil,
nifedipine)
 CLASSIFICATION BASED ON
PHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEM
● Sympathomimetics (Adrenaline,
Noradrenaline).
● Parasympathomimetics (Carbachol,
Pilocarpine, Neostigmine).
● Neuromuscular blockers Suxamethonium,
Gallamine).
 CLASSIFICATION BASED ON
PHYSICAL EFFECTS
• Emollients (Lanolin, Vaseline)

• Caustics (Silver nitrate)

• Demulcents (Zinc Oxide, Tannic Acid).

 CLASSIFICATION BASED ON
THERAPEUTIC USE
• Antimicrobials/Antibacterials (Penicillin,
Streptomycin, Quinolones, Macrolides).
• Antihypertensive (Clonidine, hydralazine,
Enalpril).
• Antidiarrheal (Lopramide, Kaoline).
• Antiemetics (Domperidone, Meclizine and
Metoclopramide