MODULE SPECIFICATION TEMPLATE
MODULE DETAILS
Module title
Module code
Credit value
Level
Mark the box to the right of the
appropriate level with an ‘X’
Medicinal Plants: quality issues and their uses
CHM03
10
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Level 7
Level 0 (for modules at foundation level)
X
Level 8
Entry criteria for registration on this module
Pre-requisites
Specify in terms of module codes or
equivalent
Successful completion of:
Year 3 of the M.Pharm degree,
Year 2 of the B.Sc.(PCS) or Biomedical Science degree,
Year 3 of the BSMS degree.
Acceptance onto PGDip/MSc Pharmacy (OSPAP)
Co-requisite modules
Specify in terms of module codes or
equivalent
Module delivery
Mode of delivery
Taught
Other
X
Distance
Placement
Pattern of delivery
Weekly
X
Block
Other
Online
When module is delivered
Semester 1
X
Semester 2
Throughout year
Other
Brief description of module This module will consider the use of herbal medicines in the context of
current thinking on conventional pharmaceuticals and their use in selected
content and/ or aims
complementary therapies.
Overview (max 80 words)
Module team/ author/
G.W.J. Olivier and M. Ellis-Martin
coordinator(s)
School
PABS
Site/ campus where
Moulsecoomb
delivered
Course(s) for which module is appropriate and status on that course
Course
M.Pharm
PCS
BMS
BSc Pharmacological Sciences
PGDip/MSc Pharmacy (OSPAP)
Status (mandatory/ compulsory/ optional)
Optional
Optional
Optional
Optional
Optional
MODULE AIMS, ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT
Aims
1. To consider the use of crude plant material as medicines and the
problems involved therein.
2. To relate plant medicines to conventionally manufactured
pharmaceuticals.
3. To critically review the evidence for clinical efficacy of selected
herbal remedies.
4. To debate the need for legislation and regulation of the sale of
Learning outcomes
Content
Learning support
plant products used as medicines.
5. To overview the philosophy and practice behind some alternative/
complementary medical practices which utilise plants as
medicines.
On completion of this module the student should:
1. Understand what is meant by the term ‘medicinal plant’ and be able
to describe the biosynthetic origins of the major 2o metabolic
products of medicinal plants.
2. Appreciate the need for a system of classification and
nomenclature of plants and the implications of this for assuring
product quality.
3. Be aware of the causes of and be able to relate the importance of
product variation to the quality, pharmacological activity and
efficacy of medicinal plants.
4. Be able to stipulate appropriate methods of quality control and
quality assurance to plant medicines.
5. Have knowledge of regulatory and statutory constraints on the sale
of plant medicines and relate these constraints to current practice.
6. Be able to critically evaluate clinical data applicable to a selection
of therapeutic practices.
Primary and secondary metabolites. The major 2o metabolic pathways
and examples of the products of these pathways.
Plant classification and nomenclature. The Linnaean system of
nomenclature for species and hybrids. Priority and reference herbaria.
Variability in crude drugs. Genetics, environmental factors. cultivation,
harvesting, processing, and storage.
Quality control of plant products. Identification, adulteration,
contamination, infestation.
Current medicinal plants with a variety of activities. A selection of
species will be chosen for analysis of quality, safety and clinical
efficacy.
Legislation and regulation relating to medicinal plants, their sale and
use.
Complementary therapies that utilise plants. Evidence for efficacy.
Current research papers and review articles.
Current editions of ‘Trease and Evans’ Pharmacognosy’ W.C. Trease,
W.B. Saunders, London,
‘Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Modern Herbal Medicine.’
Mills, S., Bone, K. Churchill Livingston, London,
‘The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety’ Mills, S., Bone, K. Churchill
Livingston, London.
‘Homeopathic Pharmacy’ Kayne, S., Churchill Livingston, London.
Quality Control methods for medicinal plant materials’ World Health
Organisation, 1999. 92-4-1545-10-0
Teaching and learning activities
Details of teaching and
learning activities
The material will be presented by formal lectures (24 hours), guided
study (55 hours) and independent study.
Allocation of study hours (indicative)
Study hours
Where 10 credits = 100 learning hours
SCHEDULED
This is an indication of the number of hours students can expect to
spend in scheduled teaching activities including lectures, seminars,
tutorials, project supervision, demonstrations, practical classes and
workshops, supervised time in workshops/ studios, fieldwork,
external visits, and work-based learning.
24
GUIDED INDEPENDENT
STUDY
All students are expected to undertake guided independent study
which includes wider reading/ practice, follow-up work, the
completion of assessment tasks, and revisions.
76
PLACEMENT
The placement is a specific type of learning away from the University
that is not work-based learning or a year abroad.
TOTAL STUDY HOURS
100
Assessment tasks
Details of assessment for
this module
Group written assignment (30%) (LO’s 2,3,4 &6)
End of module written examination, 2 hours (70%) (LO’s 1-6)
Types of assessment task1
% weighting
Indicative list of summative assessment tasks which lead to the award of credit or which are required for
progression.
(or indicate if
component is
pass/fail)
WRITTEN
Written exam
70
COURSEWORK
Written assignment/ essay, report, dissertation, portfolio, project
output, set exercise
30
PRACTICAL
Oral assessment and presentation, practical skills assessment, set
exercise
EXAMINATION INFORMATION
Area examination board
Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
External examiners
Name
Position and institution
Date appointed
Date tenure
ends
Professor D Jones
Professor, Queen’s University Belfast
01/10/13
30/09/17
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Date of first approval
2006
Only complete where this is not the
first version
Date of last revision
2008
Only complete where this is not the
first version
Date of approval for this
version
2013
Version number
3
Modules replaced
PY424 component
Specify codes of modules for which
this is a replacement
Available as free-standing module?
Yes
No
1 Set exercises, which assess the application of knowledge or analytical, problem-solving or evaluative skills, are included
under the type of assessment most appropriate to the particular task.
X