Goodman and Gilman's The
Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics
14th Edition
• Author(s)Laurence Brunton; Bjorn
Knollmann
(Goodman & Gilman–Only | Exam-Ready |
Nursing-Focused)
Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of
Therapeutics, 14th Edition
Chapter 1: Drug Discovery: From Medicinal Plants to
Computer-Aided Drug Design
Chapter 1 — Drug Discovery: From Medicinal Plants to
Computer-Aided Drug Design
EXACTLY 20 Nursing Pharmacology MCQs
,1. Which historical approach most directly led to the
identification of morphine as a therapeutic agent?
A. Rational drug design
B. High-throughput screening
C. Isolation of active compounds from medicinal plants
D. Computer-aided molecular docking
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Goodman & Gilman describes early drug discovery
as originating from the isolation of pharmacologically active
constituents from medicinal plants, with morphine isolated
from opium poppy.
Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Chapter 1
2. A key limitation of traditional medicinal plant–based drug
discovery is:
A. Inability to produce biologically active compounds
B. Lack of reproducibility and standardization
C. Excessive cost of plant cultivation
D. Dependence on synthetic chemistry
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The text emphasizes variability in plant sources and
difficulty standardizing active constituents as a limitation of
early drug discovery methods.
Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Chapter 1
3. Which discovery method relies on testing large libraries of
compounds against a biological target?
A. Ethnopharmacology
B. Structure-based drug design
C. High-throughput screening
D. Lead optimization
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: High-throughput screening is described as a method
that rapidly evaluates thousands of compounds for activity
against a defined target.
Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Chapter 1
4. In drug development, a “lead compound” is best defined as
a compound that:
A. Has completed phase III clinical trials
B. Demonstrates therapeutic efficacy and safety in humans
C. Exhibits desired biological activity but requires optimization
D. Is approved for clinical use
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Goodman & Gilman defines a lead compound as an
initial molecule with desirable biological activity that serves as
the starting point for further chemical modification.
Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Chapter 1
5. Which property is most commonly optimized during lead
compound modification?
A. Brand recognition
B. Molecular weight only
C. Potency, selectivity, and pharmacokinetics
D. Cost of synthesis alone
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The chapter emphasizes improving potency,
selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties during lead
optimization.
Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Chapter 1
6. Computer-aided drug design primarily depends on
knowledge of:
A. Plant taxonomy
B. Drug metabolism pathways
Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics
14th Edition
• Author(s)Laurence Brunton; Bjorn
Knollmann
(Goodman & Gilman–Only | Exam-Ready |
Nursing-Focused)
Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of
Therapeutics, 14th Edition
Chapter 1: Drug Discovery: From Medicinal Plants to
Computer-Aided Drug Design
Chapter 1 — Drug Discovery: From Medicinal Plants to
Computer-Aided Drug Design
EXACTLY 20 Nursing Pharmacology MCQs
,1. Which historical approach most directly led to the
identification of morphine as a therapeutic agent?
A. Rational drug design
B. High-throughput screening
C. Isolation of active compounds from medicinal plants
D. Computer-aided molecular docking
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Goodman & Gilman describes early drug discovery
as originating from the isolation of pharmacologically active
constituents from medicinal plants, with morphine isolated
from opium poppy.
Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Chapter 1
2. A key limitation of traditional medicinal plant–based drug
discovery is:
A. Inability to produce biologically active compounds
B. Lack of reproducibility and standardization
C. Excessive cost of plant cultivation
D. Dependence on synthetic chemistry
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The text emphasizes variability in plant sources and
difficulty standardizing active constituents as a limitation of
early drug discovery methods.
Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Chapter 1
3. Which discovery method relies on testing large libraries of
compounds against a biological target?
A. Ethnopharmacology
B. Structure-based drug design
C. High-throughput screening
D. Lead optimization
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: High-throughput screening is described as a method
that rapidly evaluates thousands of compounds for activity
against a defined target.
Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Chapter 1
4. In drug development, a “lead compound” is best defined as
a compound that:
A. Has completed phase III clinical trials
B. Demonstrates therapeutic efficacy and safety in humans
C. Exhibits desired biological activity but requires optimization
D. Is approved for clinical use
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Goodman & Gilman defines a lead compound as an
initial molecule with desirable biological activity that serves as
the starting point for further chemical modification.
Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Chapter 1
5. Which property is most commonly optimized during lead
compound modification?
A. Brand recognition
B. Molecular weight only
C. Potency, selectivity, and pharmacokinetics
D. Cost of synthesis alone
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The chapter emphasizes improving potency,
selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties during lead
optimization.
Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Chapter 1
6. Computer-aided drug design primarily depends on
knowledge of:
A. Plant taxonomy
B. Drug metabolism pathways
