The science that studies the effects of chemical compounds on living animals, especially the science of the manufacture, use and effects of medicinal drugs
study of the action and/or mechanism of action of drugs on living tissue In its entirety, pharmacology embraces the knowledge of the history, source, physical and chemical properties, compounding, biochemical and physiological effects, mechanisms of action, absorption, distribution, biotransformation and excretion, and therapeutic and other uses of drugs
The science of the action of drugs and other chemicals on living biological systems It seeks to discover the molecular mechanisms that regulate cells to understand how drugs act and to develop new drugs for the treatment of diseases
Pharmacology is the branch of science relating to drugs and medicines. + pharmacological phar·ma·co·logi·cal As little as 50mg of caffeine can produce pharmacological effects. + pharmacologist pharmacologists phar·ma·colo·gist a pharmacologist from the University of California. the scientific study of drugs and medicines. Branch of medicine dealing with the actions of drugs in the body both therapeutic and toxic effects and development and testing of new drugs and new uses of existing ones. Though the first Western pharmacological treatise (a listing of herbal plants) was compiled in the 1st century AD, scientific pharmacology was possible only from the 18th century on, when drugs could be purified and standardized. Pharmacologists develop drugs from plant and animal sources and create synthetic versions of these, along with new drugs based on them or their chemical structure. They also test drugs, first in vitro (in the laboratory) for biochemical activity and then in vivo (on animals, human volunteers, and patients) for safety, effectiveness, side effects, and interactions with other drugs and to find the best dose, timing, and route (mouth, injection, etc.). Drug products are constantly tested for potency and purity. See also drug poisoning; pharmacy; pharmaceutical industry