General introduction to Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Biochemistry

General introduction to Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Biochemistry

Pharmacy:

The term “Pharmacy” is derived from the Greek word “Pharmacon” which means drug. It is defined as the arts and science of preparing and evaluating drugs from natural and synthetic sources.

Major disciplines of Pharmacy:

Major disciplines of Pharmacy are;

1        Pharmaceutics (physical pharmacy, pharmaceutical preparation, pharmaceutical technology, forensic pharmacy, pharmaceutical management and marketing, dispensing, clinical and hospital pharmacy).

2        Basic Medical Sciences (physiology, histology, anatomy, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology, biochemistry).

3        Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.

4        Pharmaceutical Chemistry (organic chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, medicinal chemistry)

Biochemistry:

The term Biochemistry is derived from Greek word “bios” which means life. Biochemistry is defined as the science which deals with the chemical basis of life. It relates with the chemical constituents of living cells as well as their reactions and other processes.

Aim of Biochemistry:

Biochemistry provides important understandings and practical applications in medicine, agriculture, nutrition and industry. Its ultimate concern is with the wonder of life itself. Aim of Biochemistry is

1.      To explain biological structure and function in chemical terms.

2.      To provide a complete understanding of all of the chemical processes associated with living cells at the molecular level.

3.      To isolate the several molecules found in cells by using salt fractionation, chromatography, electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation.

·         Salt fractionation is precipitation of proteins with ammonium sulfate.

·         Chromatography are of many types e.g. paper chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography, Thin-layer chromatography, Gas–liquid chromatography, High-pressure liquid chromatography, gel filtration chromatography.

·         Electrophoresis are of many types e.g. paper, high-voltage, agarose, cellulose acetate, starch gel, polyacrylamide gel, SDS-polyacrylamide gel

·         Ultracentrifugation is the separation of liquid phase from solid phase at high speed.

4        To determine the structures of several molecules by using elemental analysis, spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography.

·         Elemental analysis is done for quantification of carbon, hydrogen nitrogen and sulphur.

·         Spectroscopy is done by using UV, visible, infrared and NMR spectroscopy

·         X-ray crystallography is done for the study of three dimensional arrangements of the atoms.

Importance of Biochemistry:

1        Knowledge of biochemistry is important for all life sciences because life depends on biochemical reactions and processes.

2        Knowledge of biochemistry is important for Pharmaceutical Sciences i.e. for Physiology, Immunology, Pharmacology, Toxicology, Pathology etc.

·        Physiology is the study of body function; it overlaps with biochemistry almost completely.

·        Immunology uses various biochemical techniques.

·        Pharmacology is based upon a sound knowledge of biochemistry and physiology.

·        Toxicology is the study of effects of poisons on biochemical reactions or processes.

·        Pathology is the study of disease such as inflammation, cell injury and cancer.