What is Pharmacology?
Pharmacology is the study of drug actions on biological systems. It embraces knowledge of the sources, chemical properties, biological effects and therapeutic uses of drugs. *NOTE: Pharmacology is different from Pharmacy. Historically, the roots of pharmacology go back to the ancient civilizations which used plants and plant extracts both in healing and as poisons. The accumulated total of this empirical knowledge, acquired by mankind through the ages, provided a foundation for the evolution of scientific pharmacology as it exists today. The well known discovery of the beneficial effects of foxglove extracts for treating some kinds of heart disease, the use of the bark of the willow and cinchona trees in treating fever and the effectiveness of extracts of the poppy in the treatment of dysenteries are outstanding examples of such knowledge which have resulted in important advances in pharmacology, developments which continue today. The rise of organic chemistry in the last half of the n
Pharmacology is the study of drugs. It involves examining the interactions of chemical substances with living systems, with a view to understanding the properties of drugs and their actions from the molecular level through to the whole body. Pharmacology provides the scientific basis and principles for a variety of special applications, such as the study of drug actions in the health sciences, the use of drugs as therapeutic agents in medicine or as tools in scientific research, and the development and regulation of pharmaceuticals. Pharmacology is a multi-disciplinary science with many subspecialties including clinical pharmacology, cardiovascular pharmacology, behavioural pharmacology, neuropsychopharmacology, pharmacogenetics, and pharmacoeconomics, to name a few. Is Pharmacology the same as Pharmacy? No, pharmacology is a distinct program from pharmacy. Pharmacology is a joint undergraduate program between the Faculty of Arts and Science and the Faculty of Medicine. Students gradua
Pharmacology is the study of how drugs exert their effects on living systems. Drugs can be defined as chemical agents that interact with specific target molecules, thereby producing a biological effect. Pharmacologists work to indentify drug targets in order to learn how drugs work. Pharmacologists also study the ways in which drugs are modified within organisms. A fundamental knowledge of the underlying biological processes is required to achieve these objectives and to identify new targets for future therapeutic intervention. Thus, pharmacologists study many basic aspects of cellular and molecular biology. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the rate at which novel drugs are discovered and marketed. As a consequence, it is essential to train a new generation of pharmacologists who will meet the challenges this opportunity presents. Pharmacy, often confused with pharmacology, is a wholly separate profession concerned with the preparation, dispensing and use of medic
Pharmacology is a biomedical science devoted to studying the mechanisms and effects of drug action. Elucidating these mechanisms requires an understanding of the various basic and biomedical sciences, such as chemistry and biochemistry, cell biology, anatomy, and physiology. The study of pharmacology is unique, in that pharmacologists use drugs and other chemicals to explore complex cellular and subcellular processess not previously understood. Graduate study in pharmacology emphasizes training in research design and implementation to prepare students for challenging careers in industry, government, and academia. For a comprehensive explanation Click Here to download ASPET’s “Explore Pharmacology” pdf.
Pharmacology has evolved over the years. Originally a scientific discipline that described the overt effects of biologically active chemicals, pharmacology now explores the molecular mechanisms by which drugs cause biological effects. In the broadest sense, pharmacology is the study of how chemical agents, both natural and synthetic (i.e., drugs) affect biological systems. This encompasses investigation of the derivation, chemical properties, physiological and behavioral effects, mechanisms of action, biological transformations, and the therapeutic and non-therapeutic uses of drugs. Pharmacological studies can determine the effects of chemical agents upon subcellular, systemic, physiological or behavioral processes; focus on the treatment and prevention of diseases; or deal with the potential hazards of pesticides and herbicides.
