Lesson 10: Pharmacokinetics of herbal medicines

Question 1

What is Pharmacokinetics?

Answer 1

The study of the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of pharmacological agents in the body.

Question 2

What is Pharmacodynamics?

Answer 2

The study of the biochemical and physiological effects of pharmacological agents on the body.

Question 3

What are the 3 processes that determine Pharmacokinetics?

Answer 3

1. absorption
2. distribution
3. elimination

Question 4

In Pharmacokinetics what does absorption relate to?

Answer 4

How the drug gets into the body: is it absorbed across the small intestine to enter the circulatory system, or is absorbed across the mucous membrane of the mouth (sublingual absorption)?

Question 5

In Pharmacokinetics what does distribution relate to?

Answer 5

Where the drug goes to in the body, so what part of the body does the drug act on.

Question 6

In Pharmacokinetics what does metabolism relate to?

Answer 6

How the body chemically modifies the drug. Most drugs are metabolised by the liver, and drugs taken orally,will pass through the liver which may completely inactivate the drug.

Question 7

In Pharmacokinetics what does elimination/excretion relate to?

Answer 7

How the drug is eliminated from the body. Usually drugs are removed by two main pathways: the hepatobiliary system, and the kidneys.

Question 8

Which of these have been used for centuries as laxatives?

Answer 8

Anthraquinones

Question 9

What is meant by the bioavailability of a herb?

Answer 9

Its ability to reach the body tissues

Question 10

Which organ is involved in the first pass effect?

Answer 10

Liver

Question 11

Which of these bind to oestrogen receptor sites?

Answer 11

Isoflavonoids

Question 12

Which is not a major factor in determining the extent and rate of absorption of a herbal medicine?

a. Whether the herb is taken with plain water or a juice
b. Its ability to ionise
c. The blood flow at the site of administration
d. Its solubility

Answer 12

a. Whether the herb is taken with plain water or a juice

Question 13

Which organ is most often responsible for removal of drugs from the body?

Answer 13

Kidney

Question 14

What is the study of the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of pharmacological agents in the body?

Answer 14

Pharmacokinetics

Question 15

Which of these have a large molecular size and poor lipid solubility, resulting in low bioavailability?

Answer 15

Tannins

Question 16

Which of these readily cross the blood-brain barrier?

Answer 16

Alkaloids

Question 17

What aspect of a drug is determined by its rate of elimination from the body?

Answer 17

Pharmacokinetics