0 the study of medical drugs obtained from plants, animals, and microbes (= very small living things that can only be seen under a microscope):
“Pharmacognosy” derives from two Greek words, “pharmakon” or drug, and “gnosis” or knowledge.
In pharmacognosy, fructus is not always synonymous with the botanical definition.
Today, the subject matter contained in this branch of science is taught under the heading of several specialized fields, such as pharmacology, pharmacognosy, and drug analysis of various types.
