PRODOTTI FITOTERAPICI, NUTRACEUTICI E INTEGRATORI ALIMENTARI
Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher:
ROSARIA ACQUAVIVA
Expected Learning Outcomes
Provide the student with the skills to:
acquire knowledge of active ingredients and health products of plant origin
Acquire knowledge about the use of plant-derived products in therapeutic-health and nutraceuticals.
acquire skills on plant-derived health products and formulations
- identify the role of supplements (nutraceuticals and herbal medicines) in the management of physiological disorders
- develop his or her critical ability in being able to recognize a health product of natural origin and its possible fields of application.
Course Structure
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.
Required Prerequisites
Knowledge of biology, diet and nutrition
Attendance of Lessons
Attendance is compulsory according to the regulations of the teaching regulations of the Degree Course as indicated in the link:http://www.biometec.unict.it/it/corsi/lm-61/regolamento-didattico
Detailed Course Content
Course Introduction. Definition and role of plant-derived health products: drug, primary metabolites, secondary metabolites and phytocomplex. Formulation of plant-based preparations (herbal medicines, nutraceuticals and dietary supplements). Functional foods. Classification and chemical properties of major plant-based nutraceuticals. Legislative provisions governing the use of "Botanicals" in food supplements. Interaction between plant-based preparations, foods and synthetic drugs. Regulatory aspects of health formulations. Fields of application of phytotherapeutic products, nutraceuticals and supplements in metabolic (hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, obesity), inflammatory syndromes and disorders of the cardiovascular (arterial and venous tonics), digestive (bitters, antidispeptics, carminatives, laxatives, choleretics and cholagogues), urinary (antiseptics and diuretics) and nervous (sedatives, adaptogens) systems. Main classes of dietary supplements of plant origin: protein supplements; lipid supplements; fiber supplements; probiotic and prebiotic supplements; enzyme supplements; supplements with antioxidant activity; supplements with immune-stimulating activity.
Course Planning
| | Subjects | Text References |
|---|
| 1 | Plant drugs; Primary, secondary plant metabolites of pharmaceutical interest and phytocomplex. Formulation of plant-based preparations (herbal medicines, nutraceuticals and dietary supplements). | |
| 2 | Application of phytotherapeutic products, nutraceuticals and supplements in metabolic (hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, obesity), inflammatory syndromes and disorders of the cardiovascular (arterial and venous tonics), digestive (bitters, antidispeptics, carminatives, laxatives, choleretics and cholagogues), urinary (antiseptics and diuretics) and nervous (sedatives, adaptogens) systems. | |
| 3 | Classes of plant-based dietary supplements: protein supplements; lipid supplements; fiber supplements; probiotic and prebiotic supplements; enzyme supplements; supplements with antioxidant activity; supplements with immune-stimulating activity. | |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
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/lm-61/esami)
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
1. Difference between drug, active ingredients and phytocomplex
2. Describe the characteristics of phytotherapeutic products
3. Interaction between herbal health products, nutrition and drugs
4. Use of health products and physiological disorders
VERSIONE IN ITALIANO
