Chapter 23 — Chapter 23 — Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the branch of biology dealing with drugs and their effects on living organisms — sources, properties, composition, therapeutic uses and effects. Drugs are chemical substances used to diagnose, prevent or treat diseases; obtained from plants, animals, microorganisms or synthesized in laboratories. Plant medicines = herbal medicines (phytotherapy). Drug discovery is the initial stage of finding a new drug: 1. Target identification — a molecule (protein, enzyme) involved in disease that a drug can affect. 2. Target validation — confirm the target plays an important role and acting on it gives therapeutic effects. 3. Lead compound identification — screening thousands of natural or synthetic compounds for those interacting with the target (lead compounds). 4. Lead optimization — modifying leads to improve effectiveness, reduce toxicity and enhance drug-like properties.