Introduction to Ethnopharmacology

Plant secondary metabolites are currently the subject of much research interest when investigating new target compounds for potential medicine from natural products. New leads for drugs and phytomedicines from plants and plant parts have been increasing at a rapid rate especially by the pharmaceutical industry. Many plants have been selected and collected for their specific secondary compounds and healing powers by ethnobotanists in the field. Students will gain hands on experience identifying medicinal plants, laboratory equipment, sampling procedures, field tests and extraction techniques of secondary metabolites by high throughput screening methods. Enrollment limited to 10 FYS. Instructor permission required.