1.1 Introduction & History of Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the study of how drugs interact with living systems. From ancient herbal remedies to modern targeted therapies, understanding drug action has transformed medicine.
What is Pharmacology?
Definition
The science of drugs—their origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use, and toxicology.
Pharmacokinetics
What the body does to the drug: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion (ADME).
Pharmacodynamics
What the drug does to the body: Receptor binding, signal transduction, physiological effects.
Historical Milestones
~3000 BCE - Ancient Medicines
Sumerian clay tablets describe opium, Egyptian papyri list 700+ drugs.
1804 - Morphine Isolation
Sertürner isolates morphine from opium—first pure drug from natural source.
1897 - Aspirin Synthesized
Hoffmann at Bayer creates acetylsalicylic acid.
1928 - Penicillin Discovery
Fleming discovers first antibiotic, revolutionizing infectious disease treatment.
1950s - Receptor Theory
Clark and Ariens develop quantitative receptor pharmacology.
1990s - Genomic Era
Rational drug design, targeted therapies, personalized medicine begins.
Key Concepts
Drug
Any chemical that affects physiological function when administered to a living organism.
Receptor
Macromolecule (usually protein) that specifically binds a drug to produce a response.
Therapeutic Index
TD50/ED50 ratio—measure of drug safety. Higher = safer.
Selectivity
Drug's ability to affect one target over others. Key to minimizing side effects.