Toxicological Biochemistry   (424B2)

Academic year:

2025/2026.

Attendance requirements:

201B2 + 202B2 + 062B2

ECTS:

6

Study level:

Study program:

Teacher:

Milan R. Nikolić, Ph.D.
associate professor, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Beograd

Assistants:

—

Hours of instruction:

Weekly: two hours of lectures + three hours of labwork (2+0+3)

Goals:

The aim of the course is for the student to gain knowledge about the interactions between toxic (poisonous) substances and the human organism at the molecular level. The focus is on toxicokinetics ("what the organism does to the poison") and toxicodynamics ("what the poison does to the organism"). Students will study examples of toxic substances, including organochlorine compounds, organophosphorus compounds, war poisons, heavy metals, aromatic organic solvents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, proteins, and other natural poisons. The course also includes mastering the basic experimental skills for working in toxicological laboratories.

Outcome:

Students: (a) Understand basic toxicology terms, the science of poisons; (b) Recognize processes and factors that influence absorption, distribution, deposition, metabolism, and excretion of toxic substances; (c) Identify the molecular mechanisms of acute and chronic toxic effects, as well as the relationships between the structures and activities of toxicants; (d) Understand the biochemical basis for how these xenobiotics show toxicity in target organs; (e) Master the main methods and techniques used in toxicological biochemical laboratories.

Teaching methods:

Lectures, experimental exercises, term paper.

Extracurricular activities:

—

Coursebooks:

Main coursebooks:

• Milan Jokanović: Toksikologija. 2010. Medicinski fakultet, Univerzitet u Nišu.
• Ljuba Mandić: Uputstva za vežbe iz toksikološke biohemije (interni materijal)
• Power-point prezentacije za predavanja (Prof. dr Ljuba Mandić i dr Milan Nikolić)

Supplementary coursebooks:

• John A. Timbrell. Principles of Biochemical Toxicology, 4th Edition. 2008. CRC Press. ISBN-13: 978-0849373022
• Selected review papers

Additional material:

—

Lectures:

10 points (2 hours a week)

Syllabus:

- Overview of toxicology: what it studies, its history, its link to other fields, and why it matters in biochemistry;

- What happens to toxic substances in the body: how they enter, move, spread, are stored, and are removed, along with their breakdown products;

- How the body changes toxic substances: basic chemical changes (phase I and II), how toxins are activated or made harmless, and what affects these steps;

- How toxins harm the body at the molecular level (short- and long-term effects; changes to genes, cancer risks, effects on development);

- How toxic substances affect different parts of the body (blood, skin, liver, kidneys, lungs, and nervous system).

Labwork:

20 points (3 hours a week)

Syllabus:

Experimental topics:

• Examination of the toxic effects of heavy metals;
• Examination of the toxic effects of gases;
• Examination of the toxic effects of alcohols;
• Examination of the toxic effects of aromatic organic solvents;
• Examination of the toxic effects of organophosphate pesticides;
• Principles of drugs and other xenobiotics toxicity testing.

Semester papers:

20 points

Oral exam:

50 points