THE USE OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF HIGHER MEDICAL EDUCATION IN THE STUDY OF THE COURSE OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF NATURAL COMPOUNDS AT THE FACULTIES OF SECHENOV UNIVERSITY

Why Physico-Chemical Properties Matter

Natural compounds are not inherently “drug-like.” Their therapeutic potential depends on:

Solubility: Affects absorption and distribution in the body.

Stability: Determines shelf life and efficacy.

Bioavailability: Influences how much of the compound reaches systemic circulation.

Stereochemistry: Impacts interaction with biological targets .

For instance, the antimalarial compound artemisinin, derived from Artemisia annua, owes its success to modifications that enhanced its solubility and stability—a process Sechenov students learn to replicate .

Sechenov’s Curriculum: A Blueprint for Innovation

The university’s natural medicinal chemistry course emphasizes:

• Extraction and Isolation: Techniques like chromatography and crystallization.
• Structure Elucidation: Using NMR and mass spectrometry to map molecular architectures.
• Applied Problem-Solving: Case studies on optimizing compounds for clinical use .

This hands-on approach ensures graduates can translate laboratory findings into real-world solutions.

Teaching Methodologies: Bridging Theory and Practice

Innovative Learning Tools

Sechenov employs:

Case-Based Learning: Students analyze historical successes (e.g., paclitaxel from yew trees) to understand property optimization.

Virtual Labs: Simulations for predicting compound behavior using computational models.

Collaborative Research: Partnerships with pharmaceutical firms to tackle current drug development hurdles .

Interdisciplinary Integration

Courses intersect with pharmacology, biochemistry, and data science, reflecting the multifaceted nature of drug discovery. For example, machine learning is now used to predict the bioactivity of natural compounds—a topic covered in advanced modules.

Challenges and Future Directions

Overcoming Complexity

Natural compounds often require structural modification to improve druggability. For example, taxol’s poor solubility was addressed by creating nanoparticle-based delivery systems—a technique taught at Sechenov .

Sustainability and Ethics

As demand for natural products grows, students explore sustainable harvesting and synthetic biology to mitigate ecological impacts.

Tables

Table 1: Key Physico-Chemical Properties of Natural Compounds

Property	Impact on Drug Development	Example Compound
Solubility	Determines absorption efficiency	Curcumin (turmeric)
Stability	Affects storage conditions	Vitamin C
Bioavailability	Influences therapeutic dosage	Resveratrol (grapes)

Caption: Critical properties shaping the clinical viability of natural compounds .

Table 2: Core Modules in Sechenov’s Natural Medicinal Chemistry Course

Module	Skills Developed
Advanced Chromatography	Compound purification techniques
Spectroscopic Analysis	Molecular structure determination
Pharmacokinetics	Bioavailability optimization

Caption: Key components of Sechenov’s curriculum for mastering natural compound analysis .

Table 3: Notable Natural Compounds and Their Applications

Compound	Source	Therapeutic Use
Artemisinin	Artemisia annua	Antimalarial
Taxol	Pacific yew tree	Anticancer
Berberine	Berberis vulgaris	Antidiabetic

Caption: Examples of natural compounds transformed into life-saving drugs .

Conclusion: Educating the Next Generation of Drug Discoverers

Sechenov University’s integration of physico-chemical principles into medical education prepares students to tackle the complexities of natural compounds. By blending traditional knowledge with cutting-edge science, the institution is shaping a future where nature’s molecular treasures are harnessed responsibly and innovatively. As drug resistance and novel diseases emerge, this interdisciplinary approach will remain vital to global health.