PHAR 100 EXAM 2O25/2026 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Drugs - substances other than food that change the structure or function of the body or mind. Any
substance received by a biological system that is not received for nutritive purposes.
Pharmacology - study of drugs/ the science of drugs
historical influences on pharmacology - 1. ancient civilizations
2. poisons
3. religion
Ancient Chinese role in pharmacology - earliest recorded drug experiments come from China in 2700
BC. Drugs classified according to taste
Ancient Egyptian influence on pharmacology - history recorded on papyri. The Ebers Papyrus (1500
BCE) was a textbook of drug use for medical students
Ebers Papyrus - An Egyptian document, dated approximately 1500 B.C., containing more than eight
hundred prescriptions for common ailments and diseases
Shen Nung - Father of Chinese Medicine, emperor who classified all drugs according to taste
Ancient Greek influence on pharmacology - 380 BCE, Theophrastus wrote a textbook on therapeutics
- includes detailed information on opium
- obtained this material from the opium poppy
Theophrastus - Third century BC Greek philosopher and naturalist. Wrote a textbook on therapeutics
including information on opium
Aristotle - A Greek Philosopher, taught Alexander the Great, started a famous school, studied with
Plato. Taught Theophrastus
Opium - substance derived from the opium poppy from which all narcotic drugs are derived
,The influence of religion on pharmacology - Medicine men acted as both physicians and priests.
plants containing Intoxicating substances were used to alter the state of consciousness and facilitate
communication with their gods. Therapy heavily influenced by religion and magic.
Mescaline - natural hallucinogen derived from the peyote cactus buttons. Causes hallucinations, a
feeling of well-being, and distortion of perception (similar to effects of LSD)
LSD - a powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid (lysergic acid diethylamide). Causes
hallucinations, a feeling of well-being and distortion of perception. Synthesis based on structure of
ergot alkaloids
The influence of poisons on pharmacology - According to the 16th c. Swiss physician Paracelsus, "All
substances are poisons, there is none which is not a poison"
Curare - Used by indigenous people of the amazon, arrows dipped in it. Acts upon voluntary muscles
causing paralysis and death.
Eventually used by anesthetists during surgery, a small dose given to relax muscles facilitating
surgeon's work
Ergot poisoning symptoms - restricted blood flow to limbs (limbs become black and die off),
hallucinogenic, mental frenzy, violent contractions of the uterus (small amount could be useful in
hastening labour)
two active principles isolated for drug use
migraines - intense headaches, typically perceived from one half of the head, that recur regularly and
can be difficult to treat. May be caused by pulsation of arterial blood vessels to the head.
drug? ergotamine
zinc oxide - ZnO, considered of great importance in ancient therapies, still found in a number of
topical creams today (diaper rash creams)
Modern sources of drugs - synthetic chemical compounds and plant sources (active substance
purified and modified to make it less toxic or more effective)
,Drugs discovered in the 19th century - Nitrous Oxide -> laughing gas, acts on the brain
Ether -> an anaesthetic, acts on the brain
Drugs discovered in the 20th century - reserpine -> reduces anxiety, acts on the brain
LSD -> from ergot, a hallucinogen, acts on the brain
Organoarsenicals -> selectively bind to parasites (act against infectious disease)
Sulfa Drugs -> first successful drug for treatment of bacterial disease
Penicillin -> first antibiotic
Streptomycin -> different kind of antibiotic, important in treatment of TB
Chlropromazine - Thorazine, preferred to reserpine for management of mentally ill patients. Easier to
determine correct effective dose. A synthetic anti anxiety drug
Rauwolfia plant - a plant long used in indian medicine to reduce tension and anxiety and to lower
blood pressure. 1950s, active agent Reserpine extracted
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) - hallucinogenic or "psychedelic" drug that produces hallucinations
and delusions similar to those occurring in a psychotic state. Discovered by Albert Hoffman.
Albert Hofmann - a Swiss scientist known best for being the first person to synthesize, ingest and
learn of the psychedelic effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Tried to synthesize improved
pharmaceutical products based on the components of ergot. Similar in chemical structure to
ergotamine and ergonovine
anaesthetics - Drugs that make the body unable to feel pain.
Nitrous Oxide and ether.
, Nitrous Oxide - N2O, discovered in the early 1840s
- laughing gas
laughing gas - N2O, an anaesthetic, shown in public demonstrations in 1800s, later used by dentists
Ether Anesthesia - practised by Morton
Organoarsenicals - 1900s, Designed by Paul Ehrlich
- complexes of organic molecules and arsenic
- selectively bound to parasites
- used in cure for syphilis in early 20th c.
Paul Ehrlich - Discovered first cure for syphilis. Designed Organoarsenicals
Syphilis - an STD that attacks many parts of the body and is caused by a small bacterium called a
spirochete. Cured with Organoarsenicals
Sulfa Drugs - 1930s, introduced by Gerhard Domagk
- first successful synthetic drugs for the treatment of bacterial disease
- termed antibacterial compounds
Gerhard Domagk - discovered sulfa drugs
Penicillin - 1940s, Alexander Fleming
- the first antibiotic
- introduced to modern medicine during WWII
Alexander Fleming - discovered penicillin
Selman Waksman - discovered streptomycin
AND ANSWERS
Drugs - substances other than food that change the structure or function of the body or mind. Any
substance received by a biological system that is not received for nutritive purposes.
Pharmacology - study of drugs/ the science of drugs
historical influences on pharmacology - 1. ancient civilizations
2. poisons
3. religion
Ancient Chinese role in pharmacology - earliest recorded drug experiments come from China in 2700
BC. Drugs classified according to taste
Ancient Egyptian influence on pharmacology - history recorded on papyri. The Ebers Papyrus (1500
BCE) was a textbook of drug use for medical students
Ebers Papyrus - An Egyptian document, dated approximately 1500 B.C., containing more than eight
hundred prescriptions for common ailments and diseases
Shen Nung - Father of Chinese Medicine, emperor who classified all drugs according to taste
Ancient Greek influence on pharmacology - 380 BCE, Theophrastus wrote a textbook on therapeutics
- includes detailed information on opium
- obtained this material from the opium poppy
Theophrastus - Third century BC Greek philosopher and naturalist. Wrote a textbook on therapeutics
including information on opium
Aristotle - A Greek Philosopher, taught Alexander the Great, started a famous school, studied with
Plato. Taught Theophrastus
Opium - substance derived from the opium poppy from which all narcotic drugs are derived
,The influence of religion on pharmacology - Medicine men acted as both physicians and priests.
plants containing Intoxicating substances were used to alter the state of consciousness and facilitate
communication with their gods. Therapy heavily influenced by religion and magic.
Mescaline - natural hallucinogen derived from the peyote cactus buttons. Causes hallucinations, a
feeling of well-being, and distortion of perception (similar to effects of LSD)
LSD - a powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid (lysergic acid diethylamide). Causes
hallucinations, a feeling of well-being and distortion of perception. Synthesis based on structure of
ergot alkaloids
The influence of poisons on pharmacology - According to the 16th c. Swiss physician Paracelsus, "All
substances are poisons, there is none which is not a poison"
Curare - Used by indigenous people of the amazon, arrows dipped in it. Acts upon voluntary muscles
causing paralysis and death.
Eventually used by anesthetists during surgery, a small dose given to relax muscles facilitating
surgeon's work
Ergot poisoning symptoms - restricted blood flow to limbs (limbs become black and die off),
hallucinogenic, mental frenzy, violent contractions of the uterus (small amount could be useful in
hastening labour)
two active principles isolated for drug use
migraines - intense headaches, typically perceived from one half of the head, that recur regularly and
can be difficult to treat. May be caused by pulsation of arterial blood vessels to the head.
drug? ergotamine
zinc oxide - ZnO, considered of great importance in ancient therapies, still found in a number of
topical creams today (diaper rash creams)
Modern sources of drugs - synthetic chemical compounds and plant sources (active substance
purified and modified to make it less toxic or more effective)
,Drugs discovered in the 19th century - Nitrous Oxide -> laughing gas, acts on the brain
Ether -> an anaesthetic, acts on the brain
Drugs discovered in the 20th century - reserpine -> reduces anxiety, acts on the brain
LSD -> from ergot, a hallucinogen, acts on the brain
Organoarsenicals -> selectively bind to parasites (act against infectious disease)
Sulfa Drugs -> first successful drug for treatment of bacterial disease
Penicillin -> first antibiotic
Streptomycin -> different kind of antibiotic, important in treatment of TB
Chlropromazine - Thorazine, preferred to reserpine for management of mentally ill patients. Easier to
determine correct effective dose. A synthetic anti anxiety drug
Rauwolfia plant - a plant long used in indian medicine to reduce tension and anxiety and to lower
blood pressure. 1950s, active agent Reserpine extracted
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) - hallucinogenic or "psychedelic" drug that produces hallucinations
and delusions similar to those occurring in a psychotic state. Discovered by Albert Hoffman.
Albert Hofmann - a Swiss scientist known best for being the first person to synthesize, ingest and
learn of the psychedelic effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Tried to synthesize improved
pharmaceutical products based on the components of ergot. Similar in chemical structure to
ergotamine and ergonovine
anaesthetics - Drugs that make the body unable to feel pain.
Nitrous Oxide and ether.
, Nitrous Oxide - N2O, discovered in the early 1840s
- laughing gas
laughing gas - N2O, an anaesthetic, shown in public demonstrations in 1800s, later used by dentists
Ether Anesthesia - practised by Morton
Organoarsenicals - 1900s, Designed by Paul Ehrlich
- complexes of organic molecules and arsenic
- selectively bound to parasites
- used in cure for syphilis in early 20th c.
Paul Ehrlich - Discovered first cure for syphilis. Designed Organoarsenicals
Syphilis - an STD that attacks many parts of the body and is caused by a small bacterium called a
spirochete. Cured with Organoarsenicals
Sulfa Drugs - 1930s, introduced by Gerhard Domagk
- first successful synthetic drugs for the treatment of bacterial disease
- termed antibacterial compounds
Gerhard Domagk - discovered sulfa drugs
Penicillin - 1940s, Alexander Fleming
- the first antibiotic
- introduced to modern medicine during WWII
Alexander Fleming - discovered penicillin
Selman Waksman - discovered streptomycin
