RRB PHARMACIEST SYLLABOUS

1. Human Anatomy and Physiology

 Introduction to Human Body:

o Definitions, anatomical terminology, levels of structural organization.

o Body planes and sections, directional terms.

 Cell Structure and Function:

o Detailed cell structure, organelles, and their functions.

o Cell cycle, cell division (mitosis and meiosis).

o Cell membrane structure, transport mechanisms (diffusion, osmosis, active

transport).

 Tissues:

o Types of tissues (epithelial, connective, muscular, nervous).

o Structure, function, and location of different tissues.

 Skeletal System:

o Bone structure, types of bones, bone formation (ossification).

o Axial and appendicular skeleton, joints, and their classification.

o Bone growth and remodeling, bone healing, and common disorders.

 Muscular System:

o Types of muscle tissue (skeletal, cardiac, smooth).

o Mechanism of muscle contraction, muscle metabolism.

o Structure of muscle fibers, neuromuscular junction.

 Cardiovascular System:

o Structure of heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries).

o Cardiac cycle, cardiac output, blood pressure regulation.

o Blood composition, hematopoiesis, blood groups, coagulation.

 Respiratory System:

o Structure of respiratory tract, mechanism of breathing.

o Gas exchange, transport of gases, regulation of respiration.

o Respiratory volumes and capacities, respiratory disorders.

 Digestive System:

o Structure and function of digestive organs, accessory organs.

o Digestion, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients.

o Hormonal regulation of digestion, common digestive disorders.

 Nervous System:

o Structure of neurons, neuroglia, synapses, neurotransmitters.

o Central nervous system (CNS) structure and function.

o Peripheral nervous system (PNS), autonomic nervous system (ANS).

o Reflex arc, sensory and motor pathways, brain and spinal cord disorders.

 Endocrine System:

o Structure and function of endocrine glands, hormone synthesis.

o Mechanism of hormone action, regulation of hormone secretion.

o Disorders related to endocrine glands (e.g., diabetes, thyroid disorders).

 Reproductive System:

o Structure of male and female reproductive systems.

o Gametogenesis, menstrual cycle, fertilization, pregnancy.

o Hormonal control of reproduction, reproductive health.

 Urinary System:

o Structure of kidneys, nephrons, and urinary tract.

o Mechanism of urine formation, regulation of water and electrolyte balance.

o Acid-base balance, renal disorders.

 Lymphatic and Immune System:

o Structure and function of lymphatic system, lymphoid organs.

o Immune response, types of immunity (innate and adaptive).

o Disorders of the immune system (e.g., autoimmune diseases, allergies).

 Integumentary System:

o Structure of skin, hair, nails, and glands.

o Functions of the skin, thermoregulation, wound healing.

o Common skin disorders (e.g., dermatitis, psoriasis).

 Special Senses:

o Structure and function of eye, ear, taste buds, and olfactory receptors.
 o Mechanism of vision, hearing, taste, and smell.

o Disorders related to special senses (e.g., cataracts, hearing loss).

2. Pharmaceutical Analysis

 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Analysis:

o Importance of pharmaceutical analysis, types of analytical methods.

 Quantitative Analysis:

o Gravimetric analysis, titrimetric methods (acid-base, redox, complexometric,

precipitation).

o Theory and applications of titration curves, indicators.

 Spectroscopy:

o Principles and applications of UV-Visible, IR, NMR, and mass spectroscopy.

o Sample preparation, wavelength selection, interpretation of spectra.

 Chromatography:

o Principles and techniques of TLC, HPLC, GC, and ion-exchange chromatography.

o Mobile phase, stationary phase, detection methods, and quantitative analysis.

 Electrochemical Methods:

o Potentiometry, conductometry, voltammetry, polarography.

o Electrode types, measurement techniques, applications in pharmaceutical analysis.

 Thermal Analysis:

o Principles and applications of DSC, TGA, DTA.

o Interpretation of thermal curves, polymorphism studies.

 Validation of Analytical Methods:

o Parameters of validation (accuracy, precision, specificity, linearity, robustness).

o Validation protocols, regulatory guidelines (ICH, USP).

 Bioanalytical Techniques:

o Sample preparation, extraction techniques, bioavailability, and bioequivalence

studies.

o Pharmacokinetic data analysis, drug metabolism studies.

 Quality Control:

o In-process quality control tests for pharmaceuticals.

o Stability testing, assay methods, dissolution testing.

 o Regulatory aspects (GMP, GLP, quality assurance).

3. Pharmaceutics

 Introduction to Pharmaceutics:

o Definitions, scope, and history of pharmaceutics.

o Types of dosage forms (solid, liquid, semi-solid, gaseous).

 Preformulation Studies:

o Physicochemical properties of drugs (solubility, pKa, polymorphism, stability).

o Drug-excipient compatibility studies, formulation development.

 Dosage Form Design:

o Design and development of tablets, capsules, syrups, emulsions, ointments.

o Excipients used in formulations, manufacturing processes, evaluation methods.

 Controlled Release Drug Delivery:

o Principles of controlled release, polymers used, design considerations.

o Types of controlled release systems (matrix, reservoir, osmotic).

o Evaluation of controlled release formulations, in vitro and in vivo testing.

 Pharmaceutical Packaging:

o Types of packaging materials (glass, plastic, metal, rubber).

o Packaging of different dosage forms, labeling requirements, stability studies.

 Pharmaceutical Stability:

o Stability studies, ICH guidelines, shelf life determination.

o Factors affecting stability (temperature, humidity, light), stability-indicating assays.

 Biopharmaceutics:

o Drug absorption mechanisms, bioavailability, bioequivalence.

o Factors affecting drug absorption (pH, solubility, particle size).

o Biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS), IVIVC.

 Pharmacokinetics:

o Compartment models, pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, Tmax, AUC).

o Multiple-dose regimens, non-linear pharmacokinetics, therapeutic drug monitoring.

 Pharmaceutical Dispensing:

o Prescription handling, compounding, labeling, dispensing errors.

o Patient counseling, medication adherence, legal and ethical considerations.

4. Pharmaceutical Inorganic Chemistry

 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Inorganic Chemistry:

o Importance and applications of inorganic chemistry in pharmacy.

 Pharmaceutical Compounds:

o Preparation, properties, uses, and assay of inorganic pharmaceuticals.

o Compounds of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, iron, zinc, and

other metals.

 Analytical Techniques:

o Limit tests for impurities (chlorides, sulfates, heavy metals, arsenic).

o Qualitative and quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical inorganic compounds.

 Radiopharmaceuticals:

o Principles of radiochemistry, types of radiopharmaceuticals.

o Applications in diagnostics and therapy, safety and handling precautions.

 Coordination Chemistry:

o Coordination compounds, chelates, metal-ligand bonding.

o Importance in biological systems, applications in pharmacy.

 Electrolytes:

o Types of electrolytes, physiological role, electrolyte balance.

o Preparation and use of electrolyte solutions, ORS, IV fluids.

 Acids, Bases, and Buffers:

o Theories of acids and bases (Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, Lewis).

o Buffer solutions, buffer capacity, pH adjustment in formulations.

 Analytical Reagents:

o Purity of reagents, standardization, use in pharmaceutical analysis.

 Complexometric Titrations:

o EDTA titrations, metal indicators, applications in pharmaceutical analysis.

5. Remedial Biology/Remedial Mathematics

 Remedial Biology:

o Plant Biology:

 Morphology, anatomy, and classification of plants.

  Photosynthesis, respiration, plant hormones, reproduction.

o Animal Biology:

 Classification of animals, structure and function of organ systems.

 Nutrition, respiration, excretion, reproduction, and endocrine systems in

animals.

o Microbiology:

 Structure and function of bacteria, viruses, fungi.

 Methods of sterilization, disinfection, and preservation.

 Basics of immunology, vaccines, and antibiotics.

 Remedial Mathematics:

o Algebra:

 Basic algebraic operations, equations, inequalities, exponents, and

logarithms.

o Trigonometry:

 Trigonometric ratios, identities, equations, and their applications.

o Calculus:

 Limits, differentiation, integration, applications of calculus.

o Statistics:

 Measures of central tendency, dispersion, probability, and distributions.

o Vectors and Matrices:

 Operations on vectors, matrices, determinants, applications in pharmacy.

o Analytical Geometry:

 Equations of lines, circles, parabolas, ellipses, hyperbolas, and their

applications.

6. Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry

 Introduction to Organic Chemistry:

o Structure and bonding, hybridization, resonance, aromaticity.

 Nomenclature:

o IUPAC naming of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic compounds, alcohols, ethers,

acids, amines, and derivatives.

 Isomerism:

o Structural, geometrical, optical isomerism, stereochemistry.

  Reactions and Mechanisms:

o Types of organic reactions (addition, substitution, elimination, rearrangement).

o Reaction intermediates (carbocations, carbanions, free radicals).

o Mechanisms of common organic reactions (SN1, SN2, E1, E2, electrophilic and
nucleophilic substitutions).

 Alkanes and Alkenes:

o Preparation, properties, reactions, and applications.

 Alcohols and Phenols:

o Preparation, properties, reactions, and applications.

 Carbonyl Compounds:

o Structure, preparation, properties, reactions of aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids,

and derivatives.

 Amines:

o Structure, preparation, properties, reactions, and applications.

 Aromatic Compounds:

o Electrophilic aromatic substitution, orientation and reactivity, common aromatic

compounds.

 Heterocyclic Chemistry:

o Structure, synthesis, properties, and importance of five and six-membered

heterocycles (e.g., pyrrole, furan, thiophene, pyridine).

 Biomolecules:

o Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids: structure, properties, and reactions.

 Organic Synthesis:

o Retrosynthetic analysis, multi-step synthesis, protecting groups.

 Green Chemistry:

o Principles, sustainable practices, green solvents, and catalysts.

7. Biochemistry

 Introduction to Biochemistry:

o Biomolecules, their structure, and function.

 Carbohydrate Metabolism:

o Glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogen metabolism, Krebs cycle, electron transport

chain.
  Lipid Metabolism:

o Beta-oxidation, fatty acid synthesis, ketogenesis, lipid transport.

 Protein Metabolism:

o Amino acid metabolism, urea cycle, protein synthesis, degradation.

 Nucleic Acid Metabolism:

o DNA replication, transcription, translation, regulation of gene expression.

 Enzymes:

o Enzyme structure, function, kinetics, regulation, inhibition.

 Vitamins and Minerals:

o Structure, function, deficiency diseases, role in metabolism.

 Hormones:

o Structure, mechanism of action, role in metabolism.

 Biochemical Techniques:

o Chromatography, electrophoresis, spectrophotometry, enzyme assays.

 Clinical Biochemistry:

o Diagnostic enzymology, blood glucose, lipid profile, liver and kidney function tests.

 Biochemical Pathways:

o Integration of metabolic pathways, regulation of metabolism.

8. Pathophysiology

 Introduction to Pathophysiology:

o Definition, scope, and importance of pathophysiology in disease understanding.

 Cellular Pathophysiology:

o Cellular injury, adaptation, cell death (apoptosis, necrosis).

 Inflammation:

o Acute and chronic inflammation, mediators of inflammation, outcomes of

inflammation.

 Infectious Diseases:

o Pathophysiology of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections.

o Mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis, host defense mechanisms.

 Immune System Disorders:

 o Hypersensitivity reactions, autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency disorders.

 Genetic Disorders:

o Chromosomal abnormalities, single-gene disorders, multifactorial disorders.

 Neoplastic Disorders:

o Carcinogenesis, tumor growth, metastasis, classification of tumors.

 Cardiovascular Disorders:

o Pathophysiology of hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, heart

failure.

 Respiratory Disorders:

o Pathophysiology of asthma, COPD, pneumonia, tuberculosis.

 Gastrointestinal Disorders:

o Pathophysiology of peptic ulcer, inflammatory bowel disease, liver cirrhosis,

hepatitis.

 Endocrine Disorders:

o Pathophysiology of diabetes, thyroid disorders, adrenal disorders.

 Renal Disorders:

o Pathophysiology of acute and chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome.

 Neurological Disorders:

o Pathophysiology of stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease.

 Musculoskeletal Disorders:

o Pathophysiology of osteoporosis, arthritis, muscular dystrophies.

 Hematological Disorders:

o Pathophysiology of anemia, leukemia, coagulation disorders.

9. Computer Applications in Pharmacy

 Introduction to Computers:

o Basics of computer hardware, software, and operating systems.

o Types of computers, input/output devices, storage devices.

 Software Applications:

o Introduction to commonly used software in pharmacy (e.g., MS Office, Excel, Word,

PowerPoint).

o Data entry, formatting, data analysis, and presentation using software tools.

 Pharmacy Management Software:

 o Overview of software used for inventory management, billing, patient records, and
prescription handling.

o Advantages of using pharmacy management systems, data security, and patient

confidentiality.

 Internet and Networking:

o Basics of internet, email, search engines, and online resources for pharmacy
professionals.

o Networking concepts, types of networks (LAN, WAN), internet protocols.

 Database Management:

o Introduction to databases, database management systems (DBMS).

o Basics of SQL (Structured Query Language), creating and managing databases in

pharmacy.

 E-Pharmacy:

o Concept of e-pharmacy, online drug distribution, legal aspects.

o Advantages and challenges of e-pharmacy, role in healthcare.

 Telemedicine:

o Overview of telemedicine, its applications, and benefits in healthcare.

o Regulatory considerations, patient confidentiality in telemedicine.

 Biostatistics and Data Analysis:

o Introduction to biostatistics, types of data, data collection methods.

o Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, hypothesis testing.

o Use of statistical software for data analysis in pharmacy research.

 Bioinformatics:

o Basics of bioinformatics, applications in drug discovery and development.

o Use of bioinformatics tools for sequence analysis, structure prediction, and

molecular modeling.

 Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy:

o Overview of AI, machine learning, and their applications in pharmacy.

o AI-driven drug discovery, personalized medicine, and patient care.

10. Environmental Sciences

 Introduction to Environmental Sciences:

o Definition, scope, and importance of environmental studies.

 o Relationship between environment and human health, environmental ethics.

 Ecosystems:

o Structure and function of ecosystems, types of ecosystems (forest, grassland, desert,

aquatic).

o Energy flow in ecosystems, food chains, food webs, ecological pyramids.

 Biodiversity:

o Importance of biodiversity, threats to biodiversity, conservation strategies.

o Endangered and endemic species, biodiversity hotspots.

 Natural Resources:

o Types of natural resources (renewable, non-renewable).

o Conservation of natural resources, sustainable development.

o Water conservation, rainwater harvesting, watershed management.

 Environmental Pollution:

o Types of pollution (air, water, soil, noise, thermal, radioactive).

o Sources, effects, and control measures of pollution.

o Solid waste management, hazardous waste management, e-waste management.

 Environmental Legislation:

o Overview of environmental laws and policies in India and globally.

o Important environmental acts (Water Act, Air Act, Environmental Protection Act).

o Role of government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in environmental

protection.

 Climate Change:

o Causes and effects of climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion.

o Mitigation strategies, international protocols (Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement).

 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA):

o Process of EIA, significance, and steps involved.

o Public participation in environmental decision-making.

 Green Chemistry:

o Principles of green chemistry, environmentally friendly chemical processes.

o Role of green chemistry in reducing environmental pollution.

 Sustainable Pharmacy Practices:

 o Waste management in pharmacies, recycling, and disposal of pharmaceuticals.

o Reducing carbon footprint in pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution.

11. Physical Pharmaceutics

 Introduction to Physical Pharmaceutics:

o Importance and applications of physical pharmaceutics in drug formulation.

 States of Matter:

o Properties of solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.

o Phase equilibria, phase rule, phase diagrams, critical phenomena.

 Thermodynamics:

o Basic concepts of thermodynamics, laws of thermodynamics, enthalpy, entropy, free

energy.

o Application of thermodynamics in predicting the stability of drug formulations.

 Solubility:

o Factors affecting solubility, solubility of gases in liquids, liquids in liquids, and solids in
liquids.

o Techniques to enhance solubility (micronization, use of surfactants, complexation).

 Rheology:

o Flow properties of liquids, viscosity, viscometers, rheological behavior of polymers.

o Application of rheology in designing pharmaceutical suspensions, emulsions, and

semisolid dosage forms.

 Surface and Interfacial Phenomena:

o Surface tension, interfacial tension, surfactants, wetting, spreading.

o Adsorption at interfaces, applications in emulsion and suspension formulation.

 Micromeritics:

o Particle size distribution, methods for particle size analysis (sieving, microscopy, laser
diffraction).

o Flow properties of powders, packing characteristics, porosity, bulk density, tapped

density.

o Significance of particle size in drug absorption and dissolution.

 Colloidal Dispersions:

o Properties of colloids, types of colloidal systems, stability of colloids.

o Preparation and characterization of colloidal systems, applications in drug delivery.

  Diffusion and Dissolution:

o Fick’s laws of diffusion, factors affecting drug diffusion, methods to study diffusion.

o Dissolution testing, factors affecting dissolution rate, models of drug release.

 Complexation:

o Types of complexes (inclusion complexes, coordination complexes).

o Methods of preparation, analysis, and applications in drug solubilization and

stabilization.

 Kinetics and Drug Stability:

o Reaction kinetics, zero-order, first-order, and second-order reactions.

o Stability testing, shelf-life determination, accelerated stability studies.

12. Pharmaceutical Microbiology

 Introduction to Microbiology:

o History and scope of microbiology, classification of microorganisms.

 Microbial Structure and Function:

o Structure of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.

o Reproduction and growth of microorganisms, microbial metabolism.

 Sterilization Techniques:

o Methods of sterilization (thermal, radiation, filtration, chemical).

o Validation of sterilization methods, sterility testing.

 Disinfection and Antisepsis:

o Types of disinfectants and antiseptics, their mechanisms of action.

o Factors affecting the efficacy of disinfectants, testing of disinfectants.

 Microbial Spoilage and Preservation:

o Factors affecting microbial spoilage of pharmaceutical products.

o Preservation of pharmaceuticals using chemical preservatives and physical methods.

 Pharmaceutical Biotechnology:

o Role of microorganisms in the production of antibiotics, vaccines, enzymes, and

biotherapeutics.

o Genetic engineering, recombinant DNA technology, and their applications in

pharmacy.

 Immunology:

o Basic concepts of immunology, types of immunity (innate, adaptive).

 o Structure and function of the immune system, immune responses.

o Vaccines, types of vaccines, vaccine development, and production.

 Microbial Assays:

o Methods for microbial limit testing, assay of antibiotics, vitamins, and amino acids.

o Use of bioassays in pharmaceutical quality control.

 Microbial Control in Manufacturing:

o Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) related to microbiology.

o Contamination control in pharmaceutical manufacturing, clean room standards.

 Antibiotic Resistance:

o Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, factors contributing to resistance.

o Strategies to combat antibiotic resistance, role of pharmacists in antimicrobial

stewardship.

13. Pharmaceutical Engineering

 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Engineering:

o Scope and importance of engineering in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

 Unit Operations:

o Fluid Flow:

 Basics of fluid dynamics, types of flow (laminar, turbulent), Reynolds

number.

 Measurement of fluid flow, pumps, and piping systems.

o Heat Transfer:

 Mechanisms of heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation).

 Heat exchangers, steam generation, and application in sterilization.

o Mass Transfer:

 Principles of mass transfer, diffusion, and osmosis.

 Application in drying, extraction, crystallization, and distillation.

o Size Reduction:

 Principles of size reduction, methods (milling, grinding, cutting).

 Equipment used (ball mill, hammer mill, jet mill), factors affecting size
reduction.

o Mixing:
  Mixing mechanisms, types of mixers (liquid-liquid, solid-liquid, solid-solid).

 Factors affecting mixing, mixing efficiency, and scale-up considerations.

 Filtration and Centrifugation:

o Principles of filtration, types of filters (gravity, pressure, vacuum, membrane).

o Centrifugation principles, types of centrifuges, applications in separation processes.

 Drying:

o Types of drying methods (tray drying, fluidized bed drying, spray drying, freeze-
drying).

o Principles, equipment, and applications in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

 Crystallization:

o Principles of crystallization, types of crystallizers, factors affecting crystallization.

o Application in the purification of pharmaceuticals.

 Evaporation:

o Principles of evaporation, types of evaporators (single effect, multiple effect).

o Applications in concentration of liquids and solvent recovery.

 Distillation:

o Principles of distillation, types of distillation (simple, fractional, steam).

o Application in the separation and purification of liquids.

 Material Handling:

o Importance of material handling in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

o Equipment used (conveyors, elevators, hoppers), safety considerations.

 Pharmaceutical Plant Design:

o Basics of plant layout, design considerations, HVAC systems.

o Water systems in pharmaceutical plants, waste management.

14. Medicinal Chemistry

 Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry:

o Role of medicinal chemistry in drug discovery and development.

 Drug Design:

o Concepts of lead compound identification, optimization, structure-activity

relationships (SAR).
 o Concepts of prodrug design, bioisosterism, and drug metabolism.

 Receptors and Drug Action:

o Types of receptors, receptor theories, receptor-ligand interactions.

o Agonists, antagonists, partial agonists, inverse agonists, receptor desensitization.

 Mechanisms of Drug Action:

o Enzyme inhibition, ion channel modulation, receptor binding, DNA interaction.

o Specific examples of drug action mechanisms in therapeutic agents.

 Synthesis of Drugs:

o General methods for the synthesis of therapeutic agents, including analgesics,

antipyretics, antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and anticancer agents.

o Retrosynthetic analysis, synthesis of heterocyclic compounds of medicinal

importance.

 Molecular Modeling:

o Introduction to molecular docking, QSAR (Quantitative Structure-Activity

Relationship), and 3D pharmacophore modeling.

o Use of computational tools in drug design and discovery.

 Combinatorial Chemistry:

o Principles, techniques, and applications in drug discovery.

 Drug Metabolism:

o Phase I and Phase II metabolic reactions, enzymes involved in drug metabolism

(CYP450).

o Factors affecting drug metabolism, implications for drug design.

 Chemistry of Specific Drug Classes:

o Chemistry, synthesis, SAR, and mechanism of action of:

 Antibacterial Agents: Penicillins, cephalosporins, sulfonamides, quinolones,

macrolides.

 Antiviral Agents: Nucleoside analogs, protease inhibitors, reverse

transcriptase inhibitors.

 Anticancer Agents: Alkylating agents, antimetabolites, natural products,

targeted therapies.

 Cardiovascular Drugs: Beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE

inhibitors, statins.

 CNS Agents: Benzodiazepines, barbiturates, SSRIs, antipsychotics,

anticonvulsants.
  Anti-inflammatory Agents: NSAIDs, corticosteroids, COX-2 inhibitors.

 Antidiabetic Agents: Insulin, oral hypoglycemics, GLP-1 analogs, DPP-4

inhibitors.

15. Pharmacology

 General Pharmacology:

o Introduction to pharmacology, scope, and significance.

o Routes of drug administration, factors affecting drug absorption, distribution,

metabolism, and excretion (ADME).

o Mechanisms of drug action, drug-receptor interactions, dose-response relationships.

o Principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, therapeutic index,

bioavailability.

 Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Pharmacology:

o Drugs affecting the ANS, including sympathomimetics, sympatholytics,

parasympathomimetics, and parasympatholytics.

o Mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and side effects of adrenergic and

cholinergic drugs.

 Cardiovascular Pharmacology:

o Drugs used in the treatment of hypertension, heart failure, arrhythmias, angina

pectoris, and hyperlipidemia.

o Mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects of antihypertensive

agents, antianginal agents, and anticoagulants.

 Central Nervous System (CNS) Pharmacology:

o Drugs used in the treatment of anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, epilepsy,

Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

o Mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects of anxiolytics,

antidepressants, antipsychotics, antiepileptics, and neurodegenerative disease
therapies.

 Endocrine Pharmacology:

o Drugs affecting the endocrine system, including thyroid hormones, antithyroid drugs,
insulin, oral hypoglycemics, corticosteroids, sex hormones, and hormone
antagonists.

o Mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects.

 Chemotherapy:

o Antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antimalarial, and anticancer drugs.

 o Mechanisms of action, resistance, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects.

 Respiratory Pharmacology:

o Drugs used in the treatment of asthma, COPD, allergic rhinitis, and cough.

o Mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects of bronchodilators, anti-

inflammatory agents, and mucolytics.

 Gastrointestinal Pharmacology:

o Drugs used in the treatment of peptic ulcer, GERD, constipation, diarrhea, and IBS.

o Mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects of antacids, proton

pump inhibitors, laxatives, antidiarrheals, and antiemetics.

 Renal Pharmacology:

o Diuretics, mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects.

o Drugs used in the treatment of renal failure and electrolyte imbalances.

 Immunopharmacology:

o Drugs affecting the immune system, including immunosuppressants,

immunostimulants, and vaccines.

o Mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects.

 Toxicology:

o Principles of toxicology, types of toxic agents, mechanisms of toxicity, management

of poisoning.

o Antidotes and treatment of specific poisonings (e.g., heavy metals,

organophosphates).

16. Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

 Introduction to Pharmacognosy:

o Definition, scope, and significance of pharmacognosy in drug discovery.

o Sources of drugs: plants, animals, marine, and microorganisms.

 Phytochemistry:

o Extraction, isolation, and characterization of phytoconstituents.

o Techniques for the identification of phytochemicals (chromatography, spectroscopy).

o Study of phytochemical groups: alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids,

and steroids.

 Plant Tissue Culture:

o Techniques in plant tissue culture, applications in the production of secondary

metabolites.
 o Role of plant biotechnology in the development of medicinal plants.

 Medicinal Plant Drugs:

o Pharmacognostic study of selected medicinal plants used in traditional systems of

medicine (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha).

o Study of selected crude drugs with respect to their sources, chemical constituents,
uses, and adulterants.

 Standardization of Herbal Drugs:

o Quality control, standardization, and evaluation of herbal drugs.

o WHO guidelines for the standardization of herbal products.

 Pharmacopoeial Standards:

o Overview of pharmacopoeial standards for herbal drugs, monographs, and

guidelines.

 Herbal Drug Formulation:

o Principles of herbal formulation, preparation of herbal products (capsules, tablets,

syrups, ointments).

o Challenges in herbal drug formulation, stability studies, and shelf-life determination.

 Phytopharmaceuticals:

o Study of phytopharmaceuticals used in the treatment of various diseases (e.g.,

anticancer, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective).

 Ethnopharmacology:

o Study of traditional knowledge, ethnopharmacological practices, and their role in

drug discovery.

 Regulatory Aspects:

o Regulatory requirements for herbal drugs, guidelines for herbal product

development.

o Role of regulatory agencies (e.g., AYUSH, FDA) in the approval and monitoring of
herbal products.

17. Industrial Pharmacy

 Introduction to Industrial Pharmacy:

o Role of industrial pharmacy in drug development and manufacturing.

 Preformulation Studies:

o Importance of preformulation, characterization of drug substances (solubility,

stability, compatibility).

 Formulation Development:
 o Principles of formulation design, selection of excipients, formulation of solid, liquid,
and semi-solid dosage forms.

o Techniques in granulation (wet, dry, direct compression), coating, encapsulation.

 Pharmaceutical Packaging:

o Types of packaging materials (glass, plastic, metal, paper).

o Packaging of different dosage forms, stability, and compatibility with packaging

materials.

 Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP):

o Principles and guidelines of GMP, quality assurance, and quality control in

pharmaceutical manufacturing.

 Process Validation:

o Importance of process validation, types of validation (prospective, concurrent,

retrospective).

o Validation of manufacturing processes, cleaning validation.

 Scale-Up and Technology Transfer:

o Challenges in scaling up formulations from laboratory to industrial scale.

o Technology transfer processes, documentation, and regulatory considerations.

 Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs:

o Overview of pharmaceutical regulations, role of regulatory bodies (FDA, EMA,

CDSCO).

o Regulatory requirements for the approval of pharmaceutical products, clinical trials,

and drug marketing.

 Pharmaceutical Plant Layout:

o Design and layout of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.

o Considerations for HVAC systems, water systems, waste management.

 Pharmaceutical Documentation:

o Importance of documentation in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

o Types of documents (SOPs, batch records, validation protocols), record-keeping

practices.

18. Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence

 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Legislation:

o History and evolution

  Regulatory Framework:

o Overview of regulatory agencies (FDA, EMA, CDSCO) and their roles.

o Structure and functions of national regulatory bodies.

 Pharmacy Act:

o Key provisions of the Pharmacy Act, registration of pharmacists, licensing of

pharmacy establishments.

 Drug and Cosmetic Act:

o Overview of the Drug and Cosmetic Act, regulatory requirements for drug approval
and marketing.

o Drug classification, labeling, and packaging requirements.

 Drug Control:

o Regulation of drug quality, standards, and control.

o Procedures for drug inspection, compliance, and enforcement.

 Intellectual Property Rights:

o Patents, trademarks, and copyrights in pharmaceuticals.

o Process of patent application, patent rights, and intellectual property management.

 Pharmacovigilance:

o Principles of pharmacovigilance, reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs).

o Role of pharmacists in monitoring and reporting drug safety.

 Ethics and Professional Conduct:

o Code of ethics for pharmacists, professional responsibilities, and conduct.

o Issues related to professional ethics, conflicts of interest, and patient confidentiality.

19. Herbal Drug Technology

 Introduction to Herbal Drug Technology:

o Importance of herbal drugs, traditional medicine systems, and their relevance.

 Herbal Drug Development:

o Process of developing herbal drugs, from plant selection to product formulation.

 Extraction Techniques:

o Methods of extracting active constituents from plant materials (e.g., maceration,

percolation, Soxhlet extraction).

 Standardization and Quality Control:

 o Techniques for the standardization and quality control of herbal drugs.

o Phytochemical screening, quantitative analysis of active ingredients.

 Formulation of Herbal Products:

o Preparation of herbal formulations (tablets, capsules, tinctures, extracts, ointments).

o Stability and preservation of herbal products.

 Regulatory Aspects of Herbal Drugs:

o Guidelines and regulations for the approval and marketing of herbal drugs.

o Role of regulatory agencies in ensuring the safety and efficacy of herbal products.

 Herbal Medicine in Modern Therapeutics:

o Integration of herbal medicine with modern therapeutic approaches.

o Evidence-based use of herbal drugs in clinical practice.

20. Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics

 Introduction to Biopharmaceutics:

o Relationship between drug formulation and drug action.

 Pharmacokinetics:

o Principles of pharmacokinetics, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion

of drugs.

o Mathematical models and equations in pharmacokinetics (e.g., zero-order kinetics,

first-order kinetics).

 Bioavailability and Bioequivalence:

o Concepts of bioavailability, factors affecting bioavailability.

o Bioequivalence studies, methods for determining bioequivalence.

 Pharmacokinetic Parameters:

o Calculation and interpretation of pharmacokinetic parameters (e.g., clearance,

volume of distribution, half-life).

 Drug-Drug and Drug-Food Interactions:

o Mechanisms and effects of drug-drug and drug-food interactions on

pharmacokinetics.

 Therapeutic Drug Monitoring:

o Importance of therapeutic drug monitoring, methods for monitoring drug levels.

o Role of pharmacists in managing drug therapy based on pharmacokinetic principles.

 Pharmacogenomics:
 o Influence of genetic factors on drug metabolism and response.

o Application of pharmacogenomics in personalized medicine.

21. Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Biotechnology:

o Role of biotechnology in drug development and production.

 Biopharmaceuticals:

o Types of biopharmaceuticals (monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins,

vaccines).

o Production processes, applications, and regulatory considerations.

 Genetic Engineering:

o Principles of genetic engineering, recombinant DNA technology.

o Application in the production of therapeutic proteins and vaccines.

 Cell and Tissue Culture:

o Techniques and applications in biotechnology.

o Use of cell and tissue cultures in drug discovery and production.

 Gene Therapy:

o Concepts of gene therapy, vectors used, applications, and challenges.

 Proteomics and Genomics:

o Overview of proteomics and genomics, applications in drug discovery and

development.

 Biomanufacturing:

o Principles and practices of biomanufacturing, quality control, and regulatory issues.

22. Quality Assurance

 Introduction to Quality Assurance:

o Principles and importance of quality assurance in pharmaceuticals.

 Quality Management Systems:

o Overview of quality management systems (QMS), ISO standards.

o Implementation of QMS in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

 Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP):

 o Detailed aspects of GMP, including facilities, equipment, and personnel.

o Documentation and record-keeping practices.

 Quality Control:

o Techniques for quality control of raw materials, in-process materials, and finished
products.

o Analytical methods for quality assessment (e.g., HPLC, GC, spectroscopy).

 Validation:

o Principles of validation, validation of processes, equipment, and methods.

o Documentation and regulatory requirements for validation.

 Audits and Inspections:

o Conducting internal and external audits, preparation for regulatory inspections.

 Compliance and Regulatory Requirements:

o Understanding and adhering to regulatory guidelines and standards.

o Role of quality assurance in ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

23. Instrumental Methods of Analysis

 Introduction to Instrumental Analysis:

o Importance and applications of instrumental methods in pharmaceutical analysis.

 Spectroscopic Methods:

o UV-Visible Spectroscopy: Principles, instrumentation, applications, and data

interpretation.

o Infrared Spectroscopy (IR): Principles, instrumentation, applications, and data

interpretation.

o Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy: Principles, instrumentation,

applications, and data interpretation.

o Mass Spectrometry (MS): Principles, instrumentation, applications, and data

interpretation.

 Chromatographic Methods:

o High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC): Principles, instrumentation,

applications, and data interpretation.

o Gas Chromatography (GC): Principles, instrumentation, applications, and data

interpretation.

o Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC): Principles, techniques, and applications.

 Electrochemical Methods:
 o Potentiometry: Principles, instrumentation, applications.

o Voltammetry: Principles, instrumentation, applications.

 Microscopy:

o Optical Microscopy: Principles, types, and applications.

o Electron Microscopy: Principles, types (SEM, TEM), and applications.

 Thermal Methods:

o Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA): Principles, instrumentation, applications.

o Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC): Principles, instrumentation, applications.

24. Pharmacy Practice

 Introduction to Pharmacy Practice:

o Role of pharmacists in healthcare, scope of pharmacy practice.

 Patient Counseling:

o Techniques and skills for effective patient counseling.

o Addressing patient concerns, medication adherence, lifestyle modifications.

 Medication Management:

o Medication therapy management, drug utilization review, and optimization of drug

therapy.

 Clinical Pharmacy:

o Role of clinical pharmacists in patient care, involvement in clinical decision-making.

o Collaboration with healthcare teams, participation in rounds.

 Drug Information Services:

o Providing drug information, literature searching, responding to drug-related

inquiries.

 Pharmacy Law and Ethics:

o Legal and ethical issues in pharmacy practice, professional conduct, and

responsibilities.

 Pharmacy Administration:

o Management principles, financial aspects, human resources management in

pharmacy.

 Pharmacy Research:

o Conducting research in pharmacy practice, designing and implementing studies, data

analysis.

25. Novel Drug Delivery System

  Introduction to Novel Drug Delivery Systems:

o Principles and importance of novel drug delivery systems (NDDS).

 Types of NDDS:

o Controlled Release Systems: Principles, types (matrix systems, reservoir systems),

applications.

o Targeted Drug Delivery: Principles, types (liposomes, nanoparticles), applications.

o Transdermal Systems: Principles, formulation, and applications.

o Ocular Drug Delivery: Challenges and strategies in ocular drug delivery.

 Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Considerations:

o Optimization of drug release profiles, therapeutic efficacy, and safety.

 Biodegradable Systems:

o Use of biodegradable polymers and materials in drug delivery.

 Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery:

o Application of nanotechnology in developing advanced drug delivery systems.

 Challenges and Future Trends:

o Current challenges in NDDS, future directions and innovations.

26. Biostatistics and Research Methodology

 Introduction to Biostatistics:

o Importance and application of biostatistics in pharmaceutical research.

 Statistical Methods:

o Descriptive Statistics: Measures of central tendency, dispersion, and graphical

representation.

o Inferential Statistics: Hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, p-values.

o Regression Analysis: Linear regression, multiple regression, logistic regression.

o ANOVA (Analysis of Variance): Principles, types

 Research Methodology:

o Principles of research design, types of research (experimental, observational).

o Sampling methods, sample size determination, data collection techniques.

 Clinical Trials:

o Phases of clinical trials, randomization, blinding, study designs.

o Ethical considerations in clinical research, informed consent.

  Data Analysis:

o Data management, statistical software applications (e.g., SPSS, SAS).

 Publication and Reporting:

o Writing research papers, presentation of research findings, peer review process.

 Ethics in Research:

o Ethical issues in research, institutional review boards (IRBs), responsible conduct of

research.

27. Social and Preventive Pharmacy

 Introduction to Social Pharmacy:

o Role of social pharmacy in public health, community pharmacy practice.

 Health Education and Promotion:

o Principles of health education, strategies for health promotion.

o Role of pharmacists in disease prevention and health promotion.

 Public Health Issues:

o Major public health issues, communicable and non-communicable diseases.

o Role of pharmacists in managing public health crises (e.g., pandemics, natural

disasters).

 Community Pharmacy:

o Role of community pharmacists, services provided, patient counseling.

 Pharmacoeconomics:

o Introduction to pharmacoeconomics, cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness

analysis.

 Health Policies and Regulations:

o Overview of health policies, role of government and regulatory bodies in healthcare.

 Global Health:

o Issues in global health, role of pharmacists in global health initiatives.

28. Pharma Marketing Management

 Introduction to Pharma Marketing:

o Role of marketing in the pharmaceutical industry, marketing mix (4 Ps).

 Market Research:

o Techniques for market research, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

  Product Management:

o Life cycle management of pharmaceutical products, strategies for new product

launches.

 Brand Management:

o Building and managing pharmaceutical brands, brand equity, brand positioning.

 Sales Management:

o Sales strategies, sales force management, sales forecasting.

 Pharmaceutical Distribution:

o Distribution channels in the pharmaceutical industry, logistics, and supply chain

management.

 Regulatory Aspects of Pharma Marketing:

o Overview of regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical marketing.

o Ethical issues in pharmaceutical marketing, DTC advertising.

 Pharma Marketing Strategies:

o Strategies for promoting pharmaceutical products, digital marketing, and social

media.

29. Pharmaceutical Regulatory Science

 Introduction to Regulatory Science:

o Role of regulatory science in the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory pathways.

 Drug Approval Process:

o Overview of the drug approval process, stages of drug development.

o Role of regulatory agencies in drug approval (FDA, EMA, CDSCO).

 Regulatory Documentation:

o Types of regulatory documents (IND, NDA, ANDA, BLA), preparation, and submission.

 Regulatory Guidelines:

o Overview of regulatory guidelines (ICH, WHO, USP), compliance requirements.

 Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety:

o Role of regulatory agencies in monitoring drug safety, reporting systems for adverse
events.

 International Regulatory Affairs:

o Differences in regulatory requirements across regions (US, EU, India).

 Quality Assurance in Regulatory Affairs:

 o Role of quality assurance in ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

 Emerging Trends in Regulatory Science:

o Current trends and challenges in regulatory science, digital health, personalized

medicine.

30. Pharmacovigilance

 Introduction to Pharmacovigilance:

o Definition, scope, and importance of pharmacovigilance in drug safety.

 Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs):

o Types, mechanisms, and classification of ADRs.

o Methods for detecting and assessing ADRs.

 Pharmacovigilance Systems:

o Overview of global pharmacovigilance systems (e.g., WHO, FDA, EudraVigilance).

o National pharmacovigilance programs and reporting systems.

 Signal Detection and Risk Management:

o Techniques for signal detection, risk assessment, and management in

pharmacovigilance.

 Regulatory Requirements for Pharmacovigilance:

o Regulatory guidelines for pharmacovigilance, role of regulatory agencies.

 Pharmacovigilance in Clinical Trials:

o Role of pharmacovigilance in clinical trials, monitoring and reporting of adverse

events.

 Post-Marketing Surveillance:

o Importance of post-marketing surveillance, methods for monitoring drug safety post-

approval.

 Pharmacovigilance Databases:

o Overview of pharmacovigilance databases, data management, and analysis.

 Role of Pharmacists in Pharmacovigilance:

o Responsibilities of pharmacists in monitoring and reporting ADRs, patient education.

 Emerging Trends in Pharmacovigilance:

o Current challenges and trends in pharmacovigilance, use of artificial intelligence and

big data.

31. Quality Control and Standardization of Herbals

  Introduction to Herbal Quality Control:

o Importance of quality control in herbal products, challenges in standardization.

 Pharmacopoeial Standards for Herbals:

o Overview of pharmacopoeial standards, monographs, and guidelines for herbal

drugs.

 Quality Assurance in Herbal Drug Manufacturing:

o Implementation of quality assurance practices in the manufacturing of herbal

products.

 Analytical Techniques for Herbals:

o Techniques used for the analysis of herbal drugs (chromatography, spectroscopy,

microscopy).

 Standardization of Herbal Drugs:

o Methods for standardization, determination of active constituents, and validation of

analytical methods.

 Safety and Efficacy of Herbals:

o Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of herbal products, clinical studies, and
regulatory requirements.

 Adulteration and Contamination of Herbals:

o Common adulterants and contaminants in herbal products, methods for detection.

 GMP for Herbal Products:

o Implementation of GMP in the production of herbal products, quality control

measures.

32. Computer-Aided Drug Design

 Introduction to Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD):

o Role of CADD in drug discovery, types of drug design (structure-based, ligand-based).

 Molecular Modeling:

o Principles of molecular modeling, use of software tools for molecular docking, and
dynamics.

 QSAR (Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship):

o Overview of QSAR, techniques for developing QSAR models, applications in drug

design.

 Pharmacophore Modeling:

o Principles of pharmacophore modeling, identification of pharmacophore features,

and applications.
  Virtual Screening:

o Techniques for virtual screening, use of databases for lead identification.

 Structure-Based Drug Design:

o Methods for structure-based drug design, role of X-ray crystallography, and NMR in
drug discovery.

 Molecular Docking:

o Techniques for molecular docking, scoring functions, and interpretation of docking

results.

 Challenges and Future Trends in CADD:

o Current challenges in CADD, emerging trends, and future directions.

33. Cell and Molecular Biology

 Introduction to Cell Biology:

o Structure and function of cell organelles, cell membrane, and cytoskeleton.

 Cell Cycle and Division:

o Phases of the cell cycle, regulation of the cell cycle, mitosis, and meiosis.

 Cell Signaling:

o Overview of cell signaling pathways, receptors, and signal transduction mechanisms.

 Molecular Biology Techniques:

o Techniques in molecular biology (PCR, gel electrophoresis, DNA sequencing).

 Genetic Engineering:

o Principles of genetic engineering, gene cloning, and gene expression.

 Molecular Genetics:

o Structure and function of DNA, RNA, and proteins, gene regulation, and mutation.

 Biotechnology Applications:

o Application of cell and molecular biology in drug discovery, disease diagnosis, and
therapy.

34. Cosmetic Science

 Introduction to Cosmetic Science:

o Importance and scope of cosmetic science, regulatory aspects of cosmetics.

 Cosmetic Ingredients:

o Types of cosmetic ingredients (emollients, surfactants, preservatives), formulation of

cosmetic products.
  Skin and Hair Care Products:

o Formulation and evaluation of skin and hair care products (creams, lotions,
shampoos).

 Cosmetic Packaging:

o Packaging materials and techniques for cosmetics, labeling, and regulatory

requirements.

 Safety and Efficacy Testing of Cosmetics:

o Methods for testing the safety and efficacy of cosmetics, stability studies, and clinical
testing.

35. Experimental Pharmacology

 Introduction to Experimental Pharmacology:

o Principles and importance of experimental pharmacology in drug development.

 Animal Models in Pharmacology:

o Use of animal models in pharmacological research, ethical considerations, and

alternatives.

 Experimental Techniques:

o Techniques for evaluating drug effects in vivo and in vitro (e.g., dose-response
studies, toxicity testing).

 Pharmacological Assays:

o Types of pharmacological assays, evaluation of drug effects on different organ

systems.

 Data Analysis in Experimental Pharmacology:

o Statistical methods for analyzing experimental data, interpretation of results.

36. Advanced Instrumentation Techniques

 Introduction to Advanced Instrumentation:

o Overview of advanced instrumentation techniques used in pharmaceutical analysis.

 NMR Spectroscopy:

o Advanced techniques in NMR spectroscopy, multidimensional NMR, and applications

in drug discovery.

 Mass Spectrometry:

o Advanced techniques in mass spectrometry, tandem MS, and high-resolution MS.

 Chromatography Techniques:

o Advanced chromatographic techniques (e.g., HPLC-MS, GC-MS), applications in

pharmaceutical analysis.
 X-ray Crystallography:

o Principles and applications of X-ray crystallography in drug design and development.

 Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR):

o Principles of SPR, applications in studying biomolecular interactions.