Pharmacognosy is the study and teaching of substances from living organisms having a therapeutic interest. It is a question of deepening the knowledge on the plants already tamed and to discover new plants allowing to heal.

Pharmacognosy is a multidisciplinary science. It is part of the lessons of the pharmacist. It consists of the study and teaching of drugs provided by nature, raw materials of natural origin having a medical interest. The aim of pharmacognosy is to study in depth the already known medicinal plants and to search for new medicinal substances.

These raw materials can be of plant origin. Pharmacognosy is based on medicinal plants, that is, at least part of the plant has medicinal properties. The part of the plant, fresh or dried, which is used for therapeutic purposes is called a herbal drug. It can be roots, bark, flowers, leaves, seeds… The plant is rarely used as a whole. These medicinal plants contain active ingredients, that is to say constituents with therapeutic effects. They are also called herbal drugs. They can be used in different forms:

• in extracts;
• in tinctures;
• an infusion;
• in fatty or essential oils;
• in fragments;
• in powders;
• or in juice.

They can also be found in more “classic” galenic forms: capsules or tablets.

The part of the study of pharmacognosy consists of the study of the plant itself as well as the active ingredients. What is this plant ? What is she like ? Where is she from ? What are the physico-chemical properties (stability, solubility, extractability, etc.) of the active ingredients? It is also about studying the optimal use of plants and their active ingredients. As with a drug, it is important to know the indications, contraindications, side effects or interactions with drugs or other plants.

Pharmacognosy is different from pharmacology (study of the chemical properties of drugs and their classification), phytotherapy (treatment or prevention of diseases through the use of plants) and phytopharmacy (study of means of prevention and treatment against plant diseases and pests).

In the event of a mild pathology, the patient can contact the pharmacist who will offer him a product that does not require a prescription, or will refer him to a doctor if necessary. If the problem returns, it is still important to consult a doctor in order to find the causes of the symptom.

The pharmacist most often works in pharmacies, that is to say in pharmacies (this is the case for 75% of them). It is also possible to be a hospital pharmacist, or to work in industry or in medical analysis laboratories. The pharmacist combines two aspects in his work: he is both a health professional and a shopkeeper.

For the health professional side, in pharmacies, the pharmacist:

• dispenses drugs prescribed by medical prescription;
• advises and informs the patient on the treatment to be followed;
• ensures the compatibility and compliance of the drugs with other treatments taken by the patient as well as his state of health;
• gives indications on the dosage (doses to be respected over a given period);
• carries out special preparations;
• delivers parapharmacy products, without medical prescription.

For the merchant side, the pharmacist:

• orders, receives and stores drugs and products;
• performs administrative tasks;
• keeps the accounts up to date;
• manages the team that works with him.

The pharmacist is also an actor in public health: he participates in the detection and prevention of certain pathologies. In the hospital, the pharmacist dispenses the drugs prescribed by the doctors to the hospitalized patients. With a specialization in medical biology, the pharmacist can practice in a medical analysis laboratory. In the pharmaceutical industry, it contributes to the development of new drugs and the monitoring of existing products. Research or the military also offer opportunities.

Pharmacognosy is one of the disciplines studied and used by the pharmacist. To become a pharmacist, you need 6 or 9 years of study at the university. The duration of the studies varies according to the desired specialty: dispensary (pharmacy), industry, hospital, analysis laboratory, etc.

The training leads to the DE (state diploma) of doctor of pharmacy. It can also be accompanied by additional diplomas depending on the sector. Indeed, it offers the possibility of double-degree courses with management and business schools, engineering schools, and masters.

As with a visit to the doctor, it is advisable to note the different symptoms so that nothing is forgotten during the interview. In order to advise a possible drug, the pharmacist will need to know the different products (drug, food supplement, plant, essential oil, etc.) already taken in order to avoid drug interactions.