Aromatic and Medicinal Plants

1. Historical review of the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants. Their importance in the national economy.

2. Geographical distribution. Botanical classification.

3. General soil and climate characteristics of these plants. Cultivated species and varieties.

4. Morphology of plants. Stages of development. Proliferation. Nutrition-irrigation-plant protection. Seasonality.

5. Harvesting, post-harvest handling, drying, standardization, packaging of aromatics and medicinal plants.

6. Aromatic plants-essential oils. Role of essential oils in plants, Biosynthesis.

7. Isolation of secondary metabolites. Distillation, Extraction, Mechanical Extraction Methods

8. Biological actions and utilization in various sectors (perfumery, pharmaceutical industry, food, beverages, agrochemicals, cosmetics, etc.).

9. Analytical description of Aromatic - Medicinal plants (such as Oregano, Sage, Lavender, etc.). For each plant are listed: Classification, description, biological cycle, Cultivation technique. Economic importance. Chemical composition – Uses – Properties.

10. Analytical description of Aromatic - Medicinal plants (such as Basil, Thyme, Chamomile, etc.). For each plant are listed: Classification, description, biological cycle, Cultivation technique. Economic importance. Chemical composition – Uses – Properties.

11. Analytical description of Aromatic - Medicinal plants (such as mint, mountain tea, valerian, etc.) For each plant, the following are mentioned: Classification, description, biological cycle, Cultivation technique. Economic importance. Chemical composition – Uses – Properties.

12. Cultivation and production of aromatic-medicinal plants-Large scale application

13. Perspectives of the cultivation of aromatic plants. Impact of medicinal and aromatic plant products on the domestic agri-food sector.

Laboratory Courses

1. Identification of various aromatic and medicinal plants (I). (e.g. oregano, sage, lavender, mint, etc.)

2. Identification of various aromatic plants (II). (e.g. Basil, Thyme, Chamomile, mountain valerian tea, etc.)

3. Propagating materials

4. Seeding and planting of aromatic and medicinal plants (I).

5. Seeding and planting of aromatic and medicinal plants (II). Field/Farm visit.

6. Essential oils, ways of extracting essential oils from plants, biological activity of essential oils.

7. Repeat Lab