Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

School of Pharmacy

Department of Pharmacognosy

 

Head of Department:Dr.
Fereshteh Gol-Fakhrabadi

 

 

 

 

The 21st century is a century of nature return and Pharmacognosy is the study of medicines derived from natural sources. The American Society of Pharmacognosy defines pharmacognosy as "the study of the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of drugs, drug substances or potential drugs or drug substances of natural origin as well as the search for new drugs from natural sources.

Most pharmacologists and affiliated researchers at renowned universities and research institutes and massive pharmaceutical companies have focused their attention on research into investigating active ingredients, pharmacological properties, therapeutic applications, and the formulation of herbal medicine. In this regard, the identification of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine of different nations is also of particular importance. Most developed countries have developed extensive studies identifying their herbal flora and herbs used in other countries, resulting in the marketing of numerous herbal products in various pharmaceutical dosage forms. Fortunately, the country has a rich flora of various herbs, which an important part of them are medicinal plants, as well as a very long history of their experimental use by the great scientists and proprietors such as Razi, Ibn Sina and Biruni, the leaders in the use of herbs in the treatment, played a very significant role in the evolution of herbal medicine throughout the centuries.

The Department of Pharmacognosy was established in Ahvaz Pharmacy School in 1987. The Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Division, Persian (traditional) Pharmacy Division and Marine Pharmaceutical Natural Products are currently under the supervision of this department as well. During the development of Pharmacy school, three laboratories of Pharmacognosy (I-III), one Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Lab were assigned to this Department. In addition, the department has one herbarium and one herboratum. Currently, the department has 3 faculty members, 11 postgraduate students and 5 associated staff.

Mission

  • To provide academic education and training in the field of pharmacognosy and biotechnology
  • To carry out the research projects in the field of pharmacognosy and biotechnology
  • To communicate with pharmaceutical industries in the  related research projects
  • To develop the herbarium of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

Vision

The main goal of the Department is to conduct research and provide education and training for students at Pharm.D, MSc and Ph.D. levels in the areas of Pharmacy, Marine Medicinal Compounds and Traditional Pharmacy, respectively, with a particular emphasis on extending the knowledge generated from these studies towards the development of products and technologies of commercial significance. 

 

Educational activities:

  1. Teaching and training various courses in the field of Pharmacy, including theoretical and practical Pharmacognosy, Biological Products, Cell Culture, theoretical and practical Medicinal Herbs, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
  2. Teaching and training various courses in the field of Marine Pharmaceutical Natural Products
  3. Teaching and training various courses in the field of Persian (traditional) Pharmacy
  4. Conducting theses and dissertations in the field of Pharmacognosy, Biotechnology and Traditional Pharmacy

 

Research activities:

  1. Investigating the chemical compounds of medicinal herbs and other natural substances
  2. Laboratory and Clinical evaluation of the therapeutic effects of medicinal herbs and other natural substances
  3. Investigating the efficacy of treatment methods on the basis of traditional approaches
  4. Providing natural pharmaceutical drugs to produce drugs
  5. Screening of microorganisms and other natural substances for bioactive compounds
  6. Culturing microbial or animal cells for production of bioactive compounds and pharmaceuticals
  7. Culturing microbial or animal cells for bioassays
  8. Gene expression analysis
  9. Genetic and Epigenetic studies

 

 

Laboratory facilities and equipment

Chemical Hood, Spectrophotometer, ELISA plate Reader, Rotary  Evaporator, Freeze-Drier, Oven,  Electric Furnace, Bain-Marie, Heater Stirrer, Heating Mantle, Autoclave, UV Cabinet, Digital Scales, Analytical Balance, Centrifuge, Micro-Centrifuge, Incubator, Shaker Incubator, Microscope,  Thermo-Cycler, PCR Work Station, Horizontal & Vertical Electrophoresis Tank, Gel Documentation System,  Laminar Flow Cabinet Class II, Refrigerator, Freezer,  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to admit a student

Admission will be made through a national examination. All international applicants are welcome to apply to AJUMS through completing and submitting AJUMS online application form.