Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, Pharmacognosy

Olena Konovalova, professor, Doctor of Pharmacy, Laureate of the Prize of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU).

Professor O. Konovalova has been working in the field of pharmaceutical sciences and education for over 30 years. In 1988 she graduated from the Faculty of Biology of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. She worked in the department of biochemistry of M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany of the NASU, in the Department of Medical Botany of the Central Botanical Garden of the NASU (now known as M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of NASU). Since the establishment of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy of the University at September 1, 2003, Olena is its currently permanent head. In 1992 she defended PhD thesis “Biological features and comparative evaluation of biologically active substances of the genus Hypericum L. from Ukraine”, in 2002 – D.Sc. thesis “Biologically active substances of Hypericum L. species as a source of drugs with specified properties”.

Winner of the NASU Award for Young Scientists (2000) for a set of introductory and phytochemical studies of St. John’s wort, a flowering plant in the Hypericaceae family and the type species of the Hypericum L genus.

Professor Konovalova is the author of over 350 scientific and methodological works, including 17 textbooks, three monographs, 12 patents of Ukraine for inventions and patent applications. She is also:

• the author of a new classification of natural compounds
• founder of the chemosystematic and evolutionary approach in pharmacognosy
• the first scientist in the world who conducted computer modeling and synthesis of a new class of compounds – glycosides – dianthrones
• developer of the technology and an analytical regulation for antidepressant drug based on St. John’s wort
• the only author of a six-language botanical and pharmacognostic textbook-dictionary, awarded at international educational exhibitions

Professor O.Yu. Konovalova is a full member of the European Academy of Natural Sciences (UK – Montenegro) and the member of the editorial board of “Pharmacology and Medicinal Toxicology” journal and scientific editor of “Phytotherapy. Chasopys” journal.

She was awarded a diploma of the Department of Health of Kyiv City State Administration (2013), Order of Education Development (2016), and acknowledgment from the Minister of Health of Ukraine (2007).

The department employs 18 research and teaching staff and 1 Senior Laboratory Assistant, including 3 Professors, Doctors of Sciences, 11 Associate Professors, PhD, 2 Senior Lecturers and 2 Assistants:

• OLENA KONOVALOVA, Doctor of Science (in Pharmacy), Professor, Head of the Department;
• IHOR HERASHCHENKO, Doctor of Science (in Pharmacy), Professor;
• NATALIIA HUDZENKO, PhD in Chemistry, Associate Professor, Head of Educational and Methodological Work at the Department (responsible for teaching the discipline «Pharmaceutical Chemistry»);
• IRYNA HURTOVENKO, PhD in Pharmacy, Associate Professor (responsible for teaching the discipline «Toxicological and Forensic Chemistry»);
• TAMARA SHURAIEVA, PhD in Pharmacy, Associate Professor;
• OLHA SHCHERBAKOVA, PhD in Biology, Associate Professor (responsible for teaching the discipline «Pharmacognosy»);
• MARIIA KALISTA, PhD in Biology, Associate Professor (responsible for teaching the discipline «Pharmaceutical Botany»);
• OLHA SLISENKO, PhD in Chemistry, Associate Professor;
• Oleksandr Tolstov, PhD in Chemistry, associate professor;
• IVAN MAHA, PhD in Chemistry, Associate Professor;
• HANNA ARTAMONOVA, PhD in Biology, Associate Professor (responsible for teaching the discipline «Biological Chemistry»);
• OLHA PONOMARENKO, PhD in Biology, Associate Professor;
• YEVHEN DERKACH, PhD in Biology, Associate Professor;
• TETIANA ANDREIEVA, Senior Lecturer;
• OLHA BILAN, Senior Lecturer;
• TETIANA OMELKOVETS, Assistant;
• BOHDANA YASHCHUK, Assistant;
• VIRA FOMENKO, Senior Laboratory Assistant.

The department provides teaching of disciplines in Ukrainian and English for applicants for higher education of the second educational level of pharmaceutical, dental and medical faculties, pharmacists-interns in the internship in the specialty “General Pharmacy” and applicants for higher education of the third educational and scientific level in the specialty «Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy».

Disciplines taught for applicants for higher education of the second educational level in the EPP “Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy” full-time and part-time:

mandatory components

• Pharmaceutical Botany;
• Information Technologies in Pharmacy;
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry;
• Biological Chemistry;
• Pharmacognosy;
• Toxicological and Forensic Chemistry;
• Drug Toxicology;
• Technology of Medicinal Cosmetics;

elective components

• Valeology;
• Physical-chemical analysis in the creation of Medicinal Products;
• Innovative Qualitative Research Methods of Medicines;
• Phytochemical Analysis of Medicines;
• Functional Biochemistry;
• Computer Simulation in Pharmacy;
• IT Technologies in Pharmacy;
• Pharmaceutical Aspects of Drug Dependence and Toxicomania;
• Nutrition and Bromatology;
• Laboratory Diagnostics;
• Evidence-Based Medicine;
• Biopharmacy;
• Development of Drugs;
• Resource study of Medicinal Plants;
• Сultivation and Conservation of Medicinal Herbs Biodiversity;
• Standardization of Medicines;
• Pharmaceutical Analysis of Drugs;
• Medicinal Herbs and Phytotherapy;
• Quality Control of Drugs;
• Chemical and Toxicological Analysis;

practical training cycle

• Traineeship in Pharmaceutical Botany;
• Traineeship in Pharmacognosy;
• Pharmaceutical Clerkship in Technology of Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

Summer training practices in Pharmaceutical Botany and Pharmacognosy for 2nd and 3rd year students are conducted by the teachers of the Department in Yaremche (Ivano-Frankivsk region).

Teachers of the Department provide scientific supervision of the work of students of the Faculty of Pharmacy in the preparation of term course works in the disciplines ”Pharmaceutical Chemistry” and “Pharmacognosy”.

The Department prepares students for certification:

• Unified State Qualification Exam (USQE) (stage 1, Integrated Test-Based Exam KROK 1);
• Unified State Qualification Exam (USQE) (stage 1, Integrated Test-Based Exam KROK 2);
• Practical Comprehensive Exam (PCE) or Master’s thesis defence “Master’s thesis topic”;
• Writing a qualification (master’s) work;
• Final exams in the disciplines “Pharmaceutical Chemistry” and “Pharmacognosy”.

Disciplines taught for applicants for higher education of the second educational level in the EPP “Medicine” and EPP “Dentistry”:

compulsory components

• Biological Chemistry

elective components

• Laboratory Diagnostics.

Since 2016, postgraduate training of provizor-interns (from 2021 pharmacists-interns) has been conducted at the internship, where disciplines from the course of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy are taught:

• Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

The department trains applicants for the third educational and scientific level in the ESP “Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy” in the specialty “Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy”, and teaches disciplines:

• Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
• Pharmacognosy;
• Cultivation and Conservation of Medicinal Herbs Biodiversity;
• Development and Validation of Quality Control Methods for Medicines and APIs;
• Chemistry of Natural Compounds;
• The Current State of Scientific Knowledge of the Specialty “Pharmacy”;

Pedagogical practice.

During the period from the foundation of the department, 26 textbooks, 30 methodical recommendations and inventions were prepared and published, for which the authors received a number of awards and honorary awards at international exhibitions of educational and methodical publications and scientific developments. Among them:

• “Biologically active substances of medicinal plants” (Konovalova O.Yu., Mitchenko F.A., Shuraeva T.K., 2008);
• “Pharmaceutical chemistry. Textbook of lectures for the fourth-year pharmacy students” (Konovalova O.Yu., 2008);
• “Systemic phytotherapy” (Kislichenko V.S., Zhuravel I.A., Zaichenko A.V., Upyr L.V., Konovalova O.Yu., Pavliy A.I., Garnik T.P., Korol V.V., Stepanova S.I., Nescheret E.I., Omelchenko Z.I., Novosel E.N., Kuznetsova V.Yu., Bukharina E.V., Komissarenko A.N., Koshevoy O.N., Velma V.V., 2008);
• “Pharmaceutical quality control of medications” (Konovalova O.Yu., Mitchenko F.A., Dzhan T.V., Dultseva O.V., 2009);
• “Essential plants fats and oils” (Dudchenko L.G., Konovalova O.Yu., Garnik T.P., Grabova T.Y., Pylypchuk A.B., Dzhan T.V. / Edited by L.G. Dudchenko and O.Yu. Konovalova, 2010);
• “Botanical and pharmacognostic dictionary. Russian-Ukrainian-English-French-German-Latin” (O.Yu. Konovalova, 2010);
• “Manual of standard technological instructions for manufacturing of sterile pharmaceutical products” (Davtyan L.L., Vlasenko I.O., Korytnyuk R.S., Konovalova O.Yu., Rudenko V.V., Drozdova A.O., 2011);
• “Pharmacognostic resource science with the basics of plant introduction” (Mazulin O.V., Konovalova O.Yu., Shuraeva T.K., Shcherbakova O.F., Dolya V.S., Grechana O.V., Dzhan T.V., Smoilovska G.P. / Edited by O.Yu. Konovalova and O.V. Mazulin, 2011; 2013; 2017);
• “Poisonous plants” (Konovalova O.Yu., Tumanov V.A., Mitchenko F.A., Shuraeva T.K., Dzhan T.V., Dudchenko L.G., Lebeda A.P., Gergel E.M., Rybak L.M. / Edited by O.Yu. Konovalova and V.A. Tumanov, 2011);
• “Mineral elements of medicinal plants and their role in human life” (Konovalova O.Yu., Mitchenko F.A., Shuraeva T.K., Dzhan T.V., 2012);
• “Medicinal plants in oncology” (Konovalova O.Yu., Mitchenko F.A., Shuraeva T.K., Rybak L.M., Dzhan T.V., 2013) and others.

The main areas of scientific activity of the department: phytochemistry; computer chemistry of biologically active substances (BAS); evolutionary biochemistry of plants; searching plant species promising in content of BAS, creating drugs with specified properties; studying of the fine molecular structure of BAS; computer modelling and synthesis of new compounds based on known BAS; studying morphobiological diversity of medicinal plants; development of technology for obtaining and quality indicators of new herbal medicines.

In total, during the years of the department activity six monographs and more than 600 scientific publications were published, 26 patents of Ukraine for inventions and utility models and two European patents and one US Patent for inventions were obtained.

Seven staff members defended their Ph.D. thesis, two of them received the academic title of professor, and two – the academic title of associate professor; one D.Sc. thesis and two Ph.D. theses are conducted now.

Department has three spectrophotometers for analytical research in UV, IR and visible areas, high-speed centrifuge with cooling, analytical, torsional and technical scales, refractometers, ionomers, Soxhlet devices, chromatographic chambers, drying equipment and drying cupboard, distillers and other equipment for research and conducting laboratory and practical classes.

Considerable attention is paid to the formation and development of scientific schools in the fields of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, which are well known in Ukraine and abroad. There is a student scientific study group at the department. During activity of the department, students-members of scientific study group won 5 first, 4 second, 3 third places at International and All-Ukrainian congresses, symposia and conferences of young scientists and students. Thus, in 2018, a member of the student research group of the department, a fourth-year student of Pharmaceutical Faculty Bohdana Yashchuk got a first-degree diploma at the XXII International Medical Congress of Students and Young Scientists at I.Ya. Gorbachevsky Ternopil State Medical University. (April 23-25, 2018, Ternopil) with a report: “Study of the content of phenolic compounds in the Agastache foeniculum herb”. In 2019, a member of student scientific study group of the department, a third-year student of the Pharmaceutical Faculty Alonge Halimat Shadiat (Nigeria) got a diploma of the second degree at the 2nd stage of the All-Ukrainian competition of student research papers in English based in O.O. Bogomolets National medical University (April 4, 2019, Kyiv) with a report: “Phytochemical study on Dioscorea rotundata Poir. and Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott”. Scientific work of Bohdana Yashchuk “Comparative pharmacognostic study of the polyphenolic composition of some species of the genus Agastache J.Clayton ex Gronov.” submitted to the competition for the award of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine and the Association of Medical Workers of Ukraine for students for 2019 academic year, awarded the Prize of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine and the Association of Medical Workers of Ukraine for students for 2019 academic year. In 2021 scientific work of Anastasiia Mysholov “Phytopolymer coating with given therapeutic properties”, performed under the supervision of the associate professor of the department, Ph.D. Nataliia Hudzenko, awarded the Prize of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Association of Medical University Employees of Ukraine for students for the 2021 academic year.

The Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy was established in September 1, 2003. Doctor of Pharmacy, Prof. Olena Konovalova is the founder and the currently permanent head of the department.

From the first days, the department proposed seven disciplines with internships for full-time students of the Pharmaceutical Faculty and had 5 employees. Among them both head of the department and Tamara Shuraeva, Associate professor of the department, and are still working today.

During the period from 2003 till 2015, Doctor of Pharmacy, Prof. Oleksandr Tsurkan and Ph.D., Associate prof. Faina Mitchenko, who made a significant contribution to the development of the department, worked there. Thus, Prof. O. Tsurkan worked at the university since 1999, he took an active part in the establishment of the Pharmaceutical Faculty (from 1999 to 2003 he worked at the position of the dean), now he is a professor at Kyiv International University. Prof. F. Mitchenko has worked at the University since 1994. During the period from 1994 to 2003 she worked at the position of Associate prof. of Phytotherapy with a course of Pharmacognosy, from 2003 to 2015 – Associate Prof. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, from 2003 to 2013 – was the head teacher of the department.

The Department of Biological Chemistry was founded in 1993. It was organized by Doctor of Biology, Professor, Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in the field of science and technology Oleksandr Mykolayovych Vasyliyev. During 2006–2007 prof. Yuri Gubsky, corresponding member of the National Academy of the Medical Sciences, supervised the work of the department. In 2007 the discipline “Biological Chemistry” became part of the Department of Chemistry, in 2008 – of the Department of Physiology, Medical Biology, Biological Physics and Biological Chemistry, and in 2018 – the Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, Pharmacognosy.