Pharmacognosy lab provides adequate facilities for morphological and microscopical studies of cells and tissues in different parts like root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit and seed of natural plants, identification and standardization of crude drugs. This lab provides an opportunity for the students to gain the knowledge of physicochemical properties of the natural products and natural medications also the identification tests, extraction, isolation, detection, determination and the estimation of natural products, quantitative and qualitative analysis of drugs and phytoconstituents extracted from medicinal plants.

Goals:

Isolation and purification and determination of effective substances and natural compounds of medicinal plants Phytochemical investigation and determination of the amount of compounds in medicinal plants Design, manufacture and standardization of herbal formulations Preparation of natural, traditional and herbal products for clinical studies Investigating the effect of plant extracts in improving the physicochemical properties and biological effects of other natural products

Research fields:

Preparation and formulation of cosmetic products with herbal and natural base standardization and formulation of herbal medicines Extraction, isolation and determination of chemical structure of pure compounds from medicinal plants

Laboratory equipment of Pharmacognosy group:

Poisons are chemical or non-chemical substances that can have adverse effects on living organisms when they come into contact with them. As a result, toxins represent a large group of hazardous substances present in the environment, and humans are increasingly being exposed to these potentially toxic materials. It is therefore important for students to understand the effects of such substances on the environment and on human health.

The toxicology laboratory is designed to introduce students to various qualitative methods for identifying toxins and drugs. Through this lab, students will develop the ability to successfully detect and identify different poisons and drugs using appropriate analytical techniques.

goals

Learn about the methods of extraction and identification basic of poisons and drugs Learn about the methods of extraction and identification of acidic poisons and drugs Learn about methods for identification and quantification of metallic poisons Learn about methods for identification and quantification of volatile poisons Understand the basics of practical toxicology and forensic toxicology

Research fields

Environmental Toxicology: The study and evaluation of environmental pollutants and their effects on living organisms. Medical Toxicology: The investigation of the effects of poisons on human health and the treatment of poisonings. Pharmaceutical Toxicology: The study of the toxic effects of drugs and the management of drug safety. Food Toxicology: The study of toxic residues in food and their implications for food safety and hygiene. Molecular Toxicology: The study that focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which chemicals and other substances can have toxic effects on living organisms at the molecular level

Instruments

Introduction

In the pharmacology laboratory, both in vivo and in vitro experiments are performed to better understand the fundamental concepts of pharmacology. After completing the course, students should be able to:

• Generalize about research methods and behavioral/molecular models used in pharmacology
• Understand how to create and induce disease states in animal models
• Become familiar with the laboratory equipment and research devices used in the field

This laboratory course provides hands-on instruction in the tools and techniques of pharmacological research. Students will learn how to use a variety of research tools to study the effects of drugs using both in vitro and in vivo animal models. Topics covered include:

• Principles of animal safety and handling
• Investigation of muscle relaxant, anticonvulsant and antidiabetic activity of drugs.
• Measurement of memory, learning, and stereotypic behaviors related to addiction
• Evaluation of cardiovascular, hepatic and renal drug effects
• Analysis of adrenergic and cholinergic drug responses
• Pain assessment methods and the study of anti-inflammatory drugs
• By the end of the laboratory component, students will have gained practical experience with the research methodologies and animal models fundamental to the field of pharmacology.

goals

• Introduction to general safety principles and work experience with animals in the lab
• Evaluation methods of anti-diabetic drugs effects
• Assessment of the efficacy of cholinergic and adrenergic drugs
• Methods for evaluating pain and anti-inflammatory drugs
• Assessment of the efficacy of seizure medication and muscle relaxant drugs
• Introduction to methods of learning and memory assessment
• Stereotypical behavior and addiction
• Assessment of the efficacy of drugs for kidney disease
• Assessment of the efficacy of drugs for heart disease
• Assessment of the efficacy of drugs for liver disease

Research fields

• Neuropharmacology: The study of the effects of drugs on the nervous system, particularly in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.
• Cardiovascular, Respiratory, and Renal Pharmacology: Pharmacological research focused on drugs that impact the cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal (kidney) systems
• Drug Carcinogenicity: Investigations into the potential cancer-causing effects of pharmaceutical compounds.
• Drugs and Diabetes: Research examining the impact, both beneficial and adverse, of various drugs and toxins on diabetes mellitus.

instruments

Animal room

The school maintains an animal housing facility located on the building's rooftop. This space is designed to provide a natural environment for the laboratory animals, with a 12-hour light/dark cycle and a temperature of 25°C. The animals kept in this rooftop facility include rats and mice.

instruments:

• Cages for keeping laboratory animals (rats, mice...)
•  Equipment related to keeping and feeding animals

General Chemistry Lab

Overview

The chemistry laboratory is indeed a vital and active part of the pharmacy faculty. It caters to the educational and research needs of students across various academic levels and disciplines. Since its establishment in 2015, the General Chemistry Laboratory has been committed to providing excellent practical training. Here, students engage in hands-on activities related to pharmaceutical chemistry, including both general chemistry and analytical chemistry. In these practical classes, students become familiar with the nature of chemical substances, their identification, and separation methods. They conduct specific tests for each type of compound. Overall, the laboratory plays a crucial role in shaping students’ understanding of chemical principles and their practical applications in pharmacy.

The key objectives

• Teaching practical units related to general chemistry and analytical chemistry courses.
• Practical familiarity of students with chemical materials, principles, regulations, and safety guidelines.
• Practical introduction of students to general and basic chemistry laboratory equipment.
• Practical knowledge of students in purification methods and determination of chemical material purity.

Research field

• Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis (Non-Instrumental):

This refers to analyzing chemical, pharmaceutical, and natural compounds without the need for specialized equipment. Qualitative analysis identifies substances based on their properties (e.g., color changes, precipitates), while quantitative analysis determines their exact amounts or purity percentages. These methods are valuable for assessing raw materials and ensuring quality.

• Research, Development, and Optimization of Non-Instrumental Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses:

In this context, researchers focus on improving and fine-tuning non-instrumental methods for analyzing chemical, pharmaceutical, and natural compounds. By optimizing these techniques, they enhance accuracy, reliability, and efficiency in various applications.

Equipment

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Lab

Overview

The Pharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory is one of the most important and active laboratories within the School of Pharmacy. It consistently strives to provide the best practical education, considering the needs of students across various academic levels and disciplines. Established in 2015, the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory focuses on educational, research, and workshop activities. Here are some key aspects of the laboratory:

• Practical Units:

The laboratory hosts practical sessions for courses such as Organic Chemistry 1 and 2, as well as Pharmaceutical Chemistry.Students engage in hands-on activities related to drug synthesis, analysis, and quality control.

• Research and Theses:

Research projects and doctoral theses related to pharmaceutical chemistry are conducted here. The laboratory serves as a hub for international students pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees in pharmacy.

• Collaboration with Experts:

Experienced faculty members and experts contribute to the laboratory’s activities. Projects span various aspects of pharmaceutical chemistry, including drug design, synthesis, and evaluation. Overall, the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory plays a vital role in shaping the practical skills and knowledge of future pharmacists

The key objectives

• Teaching Practical Units
• Design and Synthesis of Pharmaceuticals:
• Advancing Research in Pharmaceutical Chemistry:
• Collaborations with experienced faculty members and experts

Research field

• Design and Synthesis of New Compounds:
  • Researchers focus on designing and synthesizing novel and effective compounds targeting various diseases. These compounds may address conditions such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and more.
  • The process involves understanding molecular structures, functional groups, and reaction mechanisms to create potent therapeutic agents.
• Research, Development, and Optimization of Drug Precursor Synthesis:
  • In this area, scientists work on developing and optimizing the synthesis of drug precursors (raw materials).
  • The goal is to produce high-quality intermediates that can be further transformed into active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) during drug manufacturing. 

Equipment

Overview

Modern scientific research and materials production rely heavily on instrumental analytical testing, also known as materials testing. By implementing effective approaches and methodologies in a laboratory setting, analytical testing addresses numerous complex challenges in various focus areas. The primary objective of systematic testing is to qualitatively and quantitatively examine samples for characterization or classification.

The Instrumental Analysis Laboratory employs advanced equipment to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze materials in fields such as pharmaceuticals, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and medicine. Established in 2015 within the School of Pharmacy, this laboratory focuses on educational, research, and workshop activities. Its primary objectives include providing laboratory services and analyzing samples, aligning with the performance of the available instruments. Researchers and  students actively engage in research projects and conduct necessary experiments for their pharmaceutical theses within this laboratory

The purpose of laboratory is to provide an opportunity to perform specific sample preparations and chemical analyses of a variety of substances and mixtures using instrumental methods and to provide reinforcement for and examples of the chemical and analytical principles discussed in the lecture

Whether it's initial chemical formulations or finished pharmaceuticals, the sensitive evaluation of materials with sophisticated instruments and equipment is imperative. Analytical testing provides essential support to biotechnology, food, environmental, and pharmaceutical companies in ensuring product safety and quality for consumers. The significance of analytical laboratory services lies in the accurate determination of chemical and biological properties, which can ultimately save lives and lead to societal advancements. Thorough analysis enables further method development and material improvements when necessary. The findings from these analytical assessments and method analyses offer essential insights into a product's potential impact.

The key objectives

• Providing comprehensive and specialized services across different institutional and research fields to support research projects at all academic levels.
• Cultivating and enhancing a network-oriented approach in laboratory activities associated with research.
•  Advancing instrumental techniques to augment the research capabilities of the university.
•  Maximizing the utilization of laboratory equipment.
•  Offering device services and consultancy for results interpretation and data analysis.
•  Fostering, motivating, and engaging researchers in various research areas.

Research Focus Areas Separation and Purification of Chemical Components Identification, Analysis, and Purity Determination based on Pharmacopoeial methods (e.g., USP, BP, EP)

Equipment

Overview

The Modeling and Drug Design Laboratory was established in Tir 1394 (June/July 2015) with the collaboration of scientific, specialized, and hardware expertise. The primary goal of this laboratory is to provide specialized services related to project execution and research initiatives, particularly in joint projects with universities and research centers. Currently, a significant number of researchers and students at various academic levels, including master’s and doctoral students in fields such as pharmacy, biochemistry, biophysics, physical chemistry, pharmaceutical biotechnology, physiology, and cellular-molecular biology, are actively engaged in research projects and theses within this unit

Our research lab is focused on understanding and engineering biomolecular systems for biomedical applications using computational modeling. We are interested in understanding the fundamental processes in chemistry and biology such as molecular recognition and biomolecular structure-function relationship. Our lab conducted so many projects to simulate and predict molecular behavior, and specific areas of research include protein-ligand interactions for drug discovery, RNA structure prediction and biomaterials and to engineer novel molecules from small-molecule drugs to nanomaterials.

In collaboration with other experimental groups, we utilize computer modeling and simulations to understand these complex biomolecular systems and to discover molecules for treating disease and improving human health.

Objective

• Offering practical units in pharmaceutical chemistry
• Collaborating with students project at different academic levels (Master, PharmD, and PhD)
• Hosting workshops focused on bioinformatics and drug design; computational techniques, molecular modeling, and AI-driven approaches
• Offering consultation services for research projects
• Develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Drug Discovery

Project area

• Homology Modeling
• Molecular Docking (Ligand and Protein–protein interaction)
• Molecular dynamics
• Chemical Database formation
• Chemical Database mining and filtering
• Database scoring
• Computational method validation
• Pharmacophore modeling
• Virtual screening
• Drug repositioning
• Interactomics
• Structure based drug design

Resources

• Hardware
  • Computational work station 16 threads
  • G10 server, 40 threads
  • Linux-based platforms (Ubuntu)
• Software
  • Visualization software

ChemBioDraw Ultra, ChemBio3D Ultra, ChemBioFinder Ultra, spdb-viewer, RasMol, WebLabViewer, UCSF Chimera, VMD, Pymol, Ligplot, Swiss Deep viewer

• Computational Software

Hyper Chem, Ligand scout, Discovery studio, MOE, Sybyl, Gromacs, Amber 10, NAMD, BLAST, Clustal, MEGA, COBALT, Modeller, Autodock, vinaDock, Libdock, CDocker, Hex, Haddock, Dragon, Schrodinger

The model pharmacy functions as a controlled, simulated environment that enhances the teaching and acquisition of professional skills. It aims to improve practical skills training before students enter real-world pharmacy settings, such as hospital or community pharmacies. Through interdisciplinary training and collaboration, the model pharmacy strives to elevate the standard of patient care. It provides access to medicinal resources, allowing individuals to cultivate effective resource utilization. Additionally, learners refine their verbal and non-verbal communication skills by engaging in various clinical scenarios, including role-playing exercises.

Key elements of training at the model pharmacy include:

• Cultivating professional student skills within a composed and regulated environment before practical exposure
• Opportunity for repetitive skill practice (e.g., patient education, interaction with healthcare personnel) to enhance learning
• Potential for self-directed and dynamic learning
• Capability to mitigate real-world errors
• Provision of immediate feedback to the learner
• Upholding patient rights