The Department of Horticulture and Landscape Gardening Engineering, in collaboration with the Continuing Education Unit at the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, organized a workshop entitled “Medicinal Plants: A Double-Edged Sword.”
Presented by Asst. Prof. Dr. Zeina Mohammed Abdul Qader, the workshop shed light on the therapeutic and preventive value of medicinal plants while also emphasizing the health risks associated with their improper use. Special attention was given to the importance of determining appropriate dosages, as well as the potential interactions that may occur when medicinal plants are taken alongside synthetic pharmaceutical drugs.
The workshop also highlighted the department’s academic and scientific role in identifying and classifying medicinal plant species, studying environmental factors and their influence on active compounds, and incorporating such plants into the design of healing gardens. In addition, it emphasized the role of agricultural engineers in the cultivation of medicinal plants, the use of advanced agricultural techniques for sustainable production, and the preservation of genetic resources through gene banks and conservation research aimed at protecting these valuable species from extinction.
The workshop concluded with several recommendations that underscored the importance of the safe and sustainable use of medicinal plants in promoting individual health and well-being. It affirmed that medicinal plants can serve as a green pharmacy, positioned between healing and toxicity depending on their proper use. This initiative also reflects the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being.
