Summer practices - an important element of pharmaceutical botany learning

Abstract

Identification of medicinal plants and distinguishing them from similar species that do not have the same medicinal properties is an important prerequisite to ensure quality material for the production of pharmaceuticals. For the rational use of natural plant resources serious practical knowledge of botany is needed, the acquisition of which is achievable only by conducting field work in natural habitats followed by preparation of herbarium. Conducting summer practice in pharmaceutical botany is of great value for the professional realization of master of pharmacy. It enables students to get acquainted with exclusive variety of species of medicinal plants in different habitat, to acquire skills for collecting plants during the spring and summer expeditions and to acquire laboratory skills to work with diagnostic keys. The natural conditions on Bulgarian Black Sea coast allow educational practice of Pharmaceutical Botany to be held in extremely diverse habitats, namely forest formations, primary steppes of coastal Southern Dobrogea, aquatic ecosystems and sand communities. The combination of various floral elements is the reason for the great variety of species of medicinal plants, the identification of which is the primary aim of the fieldwork. Visits to the Natural History Museum - Varna and Botanic Garden - Balchik in order to conduct field work in labeled plant collections further enrich the knowledge of future pharmacists.