Plants for life: - Sacred Seeds Sanctuary

Xishuangbanna Tropical BotanicGarden in China has begun a researchprogramme into the propagation andre-introduction of local Dendrobiumspecies, used extensively in TCM.This will include field work to assessthe status of populations in the wildand research into cultivation techniques(Y.Shouhua, pers.comm.).Leiden Botanic Garden in theNetherlands has begun researchingways of distinguishing between legallyproduced and illegally wild harvestedagarwood (Aquilaria and Gyrinops spp.)using DNA markers in plantation crops(van Uffelen, pers.comm.). Thisresearch work aims to assist the controlof illegal wild harvest and trade inthreatened medicinal plants.In 2006, the Pfizer Plant Laboratorywas opened in New York BotanicGarden, systematically screening plantsin the search for active medicinalcompounds, and studying the efficacyof these compounds. This is not assimple as it sounds. Normally, allmedicinal plants have one or twoprimary compounds and a number ofsecondary compounds. The efficacy ofthe plants in medicinal use depends onthe interaction of all roughage,secondary and mucous compoundswith the primary active compounds.If primary compounds are isolated, theymay have completely different effectsthan in combination with the cocktail ofsecondary compounds of the respectiveplant (WWF/TRAFFIC Germany, 2002).Efficacy also depends, to a certainextent, on abiotic factors of theenvironments and on collectionmethods. It differs from location tolocation (soil quality, mineral content,moisture content, temperature, intensityof light) and depends on the weatherconditions at the time of collection.The Jodrell Laboratory at RBG, Kew in theUK is dedicated to ethnobotany and runsnumerous research projects into thechemistry, bioactivity and taxonomy ofmedicinal plants (Olwen, pers.comm.).This scientific research can be used toinform legislation and policy development.Turpan Desert Botanic Garden hasconstructed an Ethnic Medicinal PlantGarden, researching the use of medicinalherbs used by the Uygur people ofXinjiang (Tan, pers.comm.).At Reading University in the UK theFaculty of Pharmacy is developing aUniversity Botanic Garden for use as amedicinal plant resource (V. Heywood,pers.comm.). Work is also underway inaffiliation with the Foundation for theRevitalisation of Local Health Traditions(FRLHT) in India on developing DNAmarkers for medicinal plants. (J. Hawkins,pers.comm.).EducationRightly hailed as a way of inspiring andmotivating action and public support,education about medicinal plants takesmany forms; from educating endconsumers about the sources of theirmedicines to educating farmers and herbgatherers about the value of sustainableharvest. Botanic gardens have a key roleto play in educating the public about thevalue and conservation needs ofmedicinal plants.Target 14 of the GSPC calls foreducation and awareness about plantdiversity to be promoted.Marie Selby Botanic Garden in Floridais creating information profiles for themedicinal plants in the garden, toinclude the conservation status of thespecies in the wild, geographicalinformation, botanical characteristicsand ecology, uses to humans and partsof plants used, chemical compounds,history and folklore, re-affirming thelinks between plants and people(Tieghem, pers.comm.).Seven of the eight botanic gardens inthe South African National BiodiversityInstitute’s (SANBI) network of botanicgardens have demonstration gardensthat are used for education, display andresearch on indigenous traditional use(Xaba, pers.comm.).Several botanic gardens in the US forexample, Denver, Brooklyn, NorthCarolina and New York as well as theRoyal Botanical Gardens in Canada offertraining courses in horticultural therapy.It has been well established that peoplerespond positively to green plants andcolorful flowers. Gardening offers relieffrom physical and cognitive limitations,reduces stress, gently exercises aging orarthritic joints, and stimulates memory.Krishna Mahavidyalaya Botanic Garden inIndia grows approximately 130 species ofmedicinal plants in pots, emphasizingthose used in indigenous systems ofmedicine. The plants are accompaniedby display notes including the commonname in various languages as well as itsuse as medicine and scientific data.Since the plants are in pots, a mobileexhibit has traveled extensively, creatingawareness and educating people abouttheir shared medicinal plant resource(Salunkhe, pers.comm.).The IB-UNAM Botanic Garden, Mexicoruns courses whereby ethnobotanistsshare their technical and botanicalexpertise while traditional healers sharetheir knowledge on the indigenous andritual use of plants. The information isdisseminated by the botanic garden toother healers, housewives, professionalsand alternative health practitioners.In the UK, the Botanic Garden of Waleshas a ‘Physicians of the Myddfai’exhibition and displays traditionallyimportant medicinal plants whilst BristolZoological Gardens provides the localefor a series of courses and lectures onmedicinal plants.Plants for life: Medicinal plant conservation and botanic gardens 17