BIOTECNOLOGIE DEI PRODOTTI BIOLOGICAMENTE ATTIVI E MICROBICI

Module BIOTECNOLOGIE DEI PRODOTTI BIOLOGICAMENTE ATTIVI

Provide students with the knowledge of the main plants of pharmaceutical interest and specific herbal and their use in the pharmaceutical and herbal.
Describe the fundamental biological processes of the cell and living organisms in order to understand the specific methodologies in the study of biologically active products obtainable from renewable sources also through biotechnological processes.
Acuire knowledge in the botanical-pharmaceutical and applicative fields aimed at technical-professional fields for the production and control of biotechnological drugs, hormones and vaccines, and natural bioactive products.

The course will be structured in frontal teaching with power point projection and/or short films and group exercises in the laboratory. During the course there will be exercises and problem based learning. Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

Information for students with disabilities and / or SLD:
To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and / or dispensatory measures, based on the teaching objectives and specifications needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP contact person (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and / or SLD) of the Department of Biomedical and Biotechonological Sciences.

The Biotechnology of Biologically Active Products course will be divided into frontal lessons and laboratory exercises on extraction, identification and quality control techniques of metabolites of pharmacist plants for the production of biotechnologically active plant products/ingredients. The lessons shared and cooperative, during which students will be invited to participate in feedback assessment activities.
Introduction to the study of the Pharmaceutical Biology. 
Characters tissue. Systems of tissues and their classification.
Meristematic tissues or cells.
Adult tissues or definitive: system parenchyma, tegument system, conducting system, segregators system and mechanical system.
Organization of the plant body: root, leaf, leaves, flower, stem.
Supply of Medicinal Plants.
Vegetative reproduction. Sexual reproduction. The spores. The biological cycles. 
Vegetable drugs: classification and factors that influence the content of active ingredients.
Medicinal plants
Metabolism: primary metabolites, intermediate metabolites and secondary metabolites.
Classification of plants
Primary metabolites: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins.
Secondary metabolites: phenolic compounds, terpenoids, alkaloids. 
Preparation, extraction and identification of active ingredients. Crushing, crushing and pulverization. Squeezing and compression. 
Extraction with supercritical fluids. Distillation. decoction. Enfleurage. Maceration. Isolation of active ingredients.
Qualitative and quantitative control of a drug. Dosage of active ingredients.
Renewable sources of drugs: algae, fungi, lichens, gymnosperms and angiosperms.
Biotechnology of medicinal plants. Plant biotechnologies as sources of pharmaceutical products. Agro-biotechnology. Preparation in vitro cultures. Biotechnology in the cultivation of medicinal plants. In vitro crops of medicinal interest. Biotechnological production of secondary metabolites. Biotransformations.
Pharmacist plants for the production of hormones, vaccines and natural and bioactive products.
Notes on the cultivation and processing of medicinal plants.
Quality control of medicinal plants.
Vegetable health products.
Course Content is divided in three part
First Part 1 CFU TL - 7 h
Introduction to the study of the Pharmaceutical Biology. 
Characters tissue. Systems of tissues and their classification.
Meristematic tissues or cells.
Adult tissues or definitive: system parenchyma, tegument system, conducting system, segregators system and mechanical system.
Organization of the plant body: root, leaf, leaves, flower, stem.
Supply of Medicinal Plants.
Vegetative reproduction. Sexual reproduction. The spores. The biological cycles. 
Vegetable drugs: classification and factors that influence the content of active ingredients.
Medicinal plants. Classification of plants
Primary metabolites: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins.
Secondary metabolites: phenolic compounds, terpenoids, alkaloids. 
Second Part 3 CFU LE - 36 h
Preparation, extraction and identification of active ingredients. Crushing, crushing and pulverization. Squeezing and compression. 
Extraction with supercritical fluids. Distillation. decoction. Enfleurage. Maceration. Isolation of active ingredients.
Qualitative and quantitative control of a drug. Dosage of active ingredients.
Three part 2 CFU - 14  h
Renewable sources of drugs: algae, fungi, lichens, gymnosperms and angiosperms.
Biotechnology of medicinal plants. Plant biotechnologies as sources of pharmaceutical products. Agro-biotechnology. Preparation in vitro cultures. Biotechnology in the cultivation of medicinal plants. In vitro crops of medicinal interest. Biotechnological production of secondary metabolites. Biotransformations.
Pharmacist plants for the production of hormones, vaccines and natural and bioactive products.

Notes on the cultivation and processing of medicinal plants.
Quality control of medicinal plants. Vegetable health products.

1. Poli F.  - Biologia Farmaceutica - II Ed. - Pearson 2019
2. Maugini E., Maleci Bini L., Mariotti Lippi M. - Manuale di Botanica Farmaceutica IX Ed. – PICCIN 2014
3. Solomon, Berg, Martin -Struttura e processi vitali nelle piante- Ed. Edises
4. Bruni A., -Farmacognosia generale e applicata- ed. PICCIN

The exam dates are published on the website of the Department of BIOMETEC: http://www.biometec.unict.it/corsi/l-2/esami Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it. Information for students with disabilities and / or SLD: To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and / or dispensatory measures, based on the teaching objectives and specifications needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP contact person (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and / or SLD) of the Department of Biomedical and Biotechonological Sciences. 
EVALUATIVE CRITERIA.
The final exam will be evaluated based on the following indicators weighted equally and consistent with what is described in the expected learning outcomes (Dublin Descriptors):
- personal processing skills and operational initiative;
- ability to consult and use bibliographic materials;
- expository skills;
- scientific understanding of the topic.
Therefore, the final grade takes into account various factors listed below.
Quality of knowledge, skills, competencies possessed and/or manifested:
(a) appropriateness, correctness and congruence of knowledge
(b) appropriateness, correctness and congruence of skills
(c) appropriateness, correctness and congruence of skills
Expository mode:
(a) Expressive ability;
(b) Appropriate use of discipline-specific language;
(c) Logical skills and consequentiality in linking content;
(d) Ability to connect different topics by finding common points and establishing a coherent overall pattern, i.e., taking care of structure, organization and logical connections of expository discourse;
(e) Ability to synthesize including through the use of the subject's own symbolism and the graphic expression of notions and concepts, in the form of, for example, formulas, diagrams, equations.
Relational qualities:
Willingness to exchange and interact with the lecturer during the interview.
Personal qualities:
(a) critical spirit;
(b) ability to self-evaluate;
(c) problem-solving skills;
(d) ability to make decisions.
 
Based on the above, the rating can be:
(a) Sufficient (18 to 20/30)
Candidate demonstrates little acquired knowledge, superficial level, many gaps. Modest expressive skills, but still sufficient to sustain a coherent dialogue; logical skills and consequentiality in connecting topics of elementary level; poor synthesis skills and rather stunted graphic expression skills; poor interaction with the lecturer during the interview.
(b) Fair (21 to 23)
Candidate demonstrates fair acquisition of notions, but little in-depth study, few gaps; more than sufficient expressive skills to sustain a coherent dialogue; acceptable command of scientific language; logical skills and consequentiality in connecting topics of moderate complexity; more than sufficient ability to synthesize and acceptable graphic expression skills.
Example Questions: 1.Describe the morphology and classification of the plant body 2. Describe the morphology of meristematic tissues 4. Characteristics and function of primary and secondary metabolites 5. Biotechnology of medicinal plants. 6. Medicinal plants for the production of hormones, vaccines, and natural and bioactive products.
(c) Good (24 to 26)
The candidate demonstrates a fairly broad background, moderate depth of knowledge, with small gaps; satisfactory expressive skills and significant mastery of scientific language; well-detectable dialogical skills and critical spirit; good synthesis skills and more than acceptable graphical expression skills.
(d) Excellent (27 to 29)
The candidate demonstrates a very extensive, well-developed body of knowledge, with marginal gaps; remarkable expressive skills and high mastery of scientific language; remarkable dialogical ability, good competence and relevant aptitude for logical synthesis; high synthesis and graphic expression skills.
(e) Excellent (30)
The candidate demonstrates a very extensive and in-depth knowledge base, any gaps irrelevant; high expressive ability and high mastery of scientific language; remarkable dialogical ability, marked aptitude for making connections between different topics; excellent synthesis ability and great familiarity with graphic expression.
Honors are awarded to candidates who are clearly above average, and whose possible limitations in notional, expressive, conceptual, and logical skills are on the whole completely irrelevant.

Exam dates

Exam dates are posted on the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnology website (http://www.biometec.unict.it/corsi/l-2/esami)

EXAMPLES OF FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND/OR EXERCISES
1. Describe the morphology and classification of the plant body
2. Describe the morphology of the meristematic tissues 2.
4. Characteristics and function of primary and secondary metabolites
5. Biotechnology of medicinal plants. 
6. Medicinal plants for the production of hormones, vaccines, and natural and bioactive products.