GENERAL OBJECTIVES
At the end of the four years of instruction in pharmaceutical chemistry, the students should be able to:
1. Identify various functional groups in compounds, especially drugs and other pharmaceuticals where possible.
2. Make correct predictions of the general
reactivity, chemical reactions, and possible
synthesis of compounds.
3. Discuss the use of the compounds in pharmacy and in medicine.
4. Explain atomic and molecular structures and the phenomenon of radio-activity.
5. Discuss physico-chemical concepts as the basis of drug analysis, drug stability, and reaction spontaneity, maximum yields in synthesis, solubilities and drug actions.
6. Classify drugs according to their physiological and biochemical actions.
7. Explain the principles on which analytical instruments have been based.
8. Used basic laboratory equipment and instructions such as the UV, IR Chromatographic kits, pH meter, etc. to identify, assay and estimate the purity of drugs and other pharmaceuticals.
9. Finally apply the knowledge acquired to the study of pharmaceutics, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, biochemistry, clinical pharmacy and physiology, where applicable.
INTRODUCTION
Pharmaceutical Chemistry is that branch of applied chemistry, which embraces
organic, inorganic, physical, medicinal and analytical chemistry and the applications of these disciplines in the preparation, synthesis, standardization, interpretation of drug actions, drug interactions and analysis of chemical substances for medicinal use.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the department is to contribute to the aims and objectives of
The Faculty of Pharmacy in the training of pharmacists. At the end of the four year
training, students should be able to apply the knowledge in pharmaceutical chemistry to the solution of pharmaceutical problems. The department is also to carry out research and to train graduates who after their training would be able to work in industry and provide ]panacea for pharmaceutical problems in this country.
OBJECTIVES OF PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY COURSES
The objectives of pharmaceutical Chemistry Courses are that at the end of four years of instructions in pharmaceutical Chemistry, the students should be able to apply their knowledge of the fundamental concepts and principle in organic, inorganic, physical, medicinal and analytical chemistry to pharmaceuticals and to relate these concepts to drug usage in the practice of pharmacy.
The courses in pharmaceutical Chemistry lay firm
emphasis in the following area:-
a) Functional groups
b) Stereochemistry
c) Synthesis and isolation methods
d) Biochemical pathways and Biotransformation of chemical compounds.
e) Pharmaceutical analysis and Quality Control of pharmaceutical products.
The programs should enable students to write, describe and explain the structure, chemical reactivity, structure activity relationships, synthesis, properties, stereochemistry, assay and use of biologically active compounds (used in Pharmacy and in Medicine).
Stereochemistry is stressed to help students recognize how enantiomers react with chiral molecules of living organisms in a stereoselective manner and how configuration may affect physico-chemical properties and biological activities of drugs.
Functional groups in drugs are emphasized to indicate how they affect physico-chemical properties, which influence absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs. These functional groups would enable students to appreciate their role in structure activity relationship studies in similar molecules and the differences that may result in biological activities due to functional group variations.
Again knowledge in synthetic chemistry is stressed to demonstrate to students how a less reactive drug can be modified or a similar drug can be synthesized to give a more active substance with less side effects.
A knowledge of important metabolic pathways and drug metabolism would enable the student speculate on probable metabolites of medicinal agents and their implication in drug therapy.
Finally the Pharmaceutical Chemistry courses pay special attention to pharmaceutical analysis, which is very important in drug quality control. Methods involving spectroscopic, chromatographic, potentiometric, and titrimetric techniques are used to achieve these goals. The applications of these techniques in other areas of pharmacy practice are stressed to make the pharmacist more efficient and competent in the area of pharmaceutical analysis, drug quality assurance and healthcare delivery.
