What is pharmacology?

Pharmacology is defined as the study of drugs and their effects on the body. This encompasses various aspects, including the mechanisms of action, therapeutic use, side effects, and interactions of medications. Understanding pharmacology is crucial for health professionals, as it allows them to comprehend how different drugs can influence body systems, contribute to patient care, and manage potential risks associated with medication use.

The other options, while related to aspects of drugs, do not encompass the full scope of pharmacology. For instance, the study of drug interactions with food is a narrow focus that pertains more to the field of nutrition and how it interacts with pharmacokinetics. Pharmaceutical sales relates to the business and marketing side of medications, rather than the scientific study of their effects. Lastly, the study of drug manufacturing processes pertains to the industrial side of creating pharmaceuticals but does not address their physiological effects on the body. Thus, the definition of pharmacology centers primarily on the interaction between drugs and biological systems, which is accurately captured by the chosen answer.