Pharmacopeia

Pharmacopoeia or pharmacopeia (usual US spelling) (literally, 'drug-making'), in its modern technical sense, is a book

containing directions for the identification of samples and the preparation of compound medicines, and published by the

authority of a government or a medical or pharmaceutical society.

In a broader sense it is a reference work for pharmaceutical drug specifications.

The name has also been applied[where?] to similar compendia issued by private individuals.[citation needed]

Although older writings exist which deal with herbal medicine, such as Edwin Smith Papyrus in Egypt, Pliny’s

pharmacopoeia[1] and DeMateria Medica ( Περί ύλης ιατρικής ), a five volume book originally written in Greek by Pedanius

Dioscorides, are considered the major initial works in the field. The later is considered to be precursor to all modern

pharmacopoeias, and is one of the most influential herbal books in history. In fact it remained in use until about CE 1600.[2]

A number of early pharmacopoeia books were written by Persian physicians.[3] These included The Canon of

Medicine of Avicenna in 1025, books by Abu-Rayhan Biruni in the 11th century,[citation needed]c Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar) in the 12th

century (and printed in 1491),[4] and Ibn Baytar in the 14th century.[5]

Joseph Caventou

He was a professor at the École de Pharmacie (School of Pharmacy) in Paris. He collaborated with Pierre-Joseph

Pelletier in a Parisianlaboratory located behind an apothecary. He was a pioneer in the use of mild solvents to isolate a

number of active ingredients from plants, making a study of alkaloids from vegetables. Among their successes were the

isolation of the following compounds:

Year Isolated compound(s) Source

1817 Chlorophyll

1817 Emetine Ipecacuanha

1818 Strychnine Nux vomica

1819 Brucine Nux vomica

1820 Cinchonine and quinine Cinchona bark

1821 Caffeine

Quinine sulfate later proved to be an important remedy for the disease malaria. Quinine is the active anti-malarial ingredient

in the bark ofcinchona tree.[1][2]

Neither of the partners chose to patent their discovery of this compound, releasing it for everybody to use. In 1823 they

discovered nitrogen in alkaloid compounds. Other compounds they discovered include colchicine and veratrine.

The crater Caventou on the Moon is named after him.

Pierre-Joseph Pelletier

was a French chemist who did notable research on vegetable alkaloids, and was the co-discoverer
of quinine and strychnine.[1]

Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Sertürner (born 19 June 1783 in Neuhaus (near Paderborn), died 20 February 1841 in Hamelin)

was a German pharmacist, who discovered morphine in 1804.[1]

As a pharmacist's apprentice in Paderborn, he was the first to isolate morphine from opium. He called the

isolated alkaloid "morphium" after the Greek god of dreams, Morpheus. It was not only the first alkaloid to be extracted from

opium, but the first ever alkaloid to be isolated from any plant. Thus he became the first person to isolate the active

ingredient associated with a medicinal plant or herb.

In the years following, he investigated the effects of morphine. However, it only became widely used after 1815. In 1809,

Sertürner opened his first own pharmacy in Einbeck. In 1822, he bought the main pharmacy in Hamelin (Rathaus Apotheke),

where he worked until his death in 1841.