Page 36 - Mansoura National University

Medicinal Plants Course – Level 1

“From Seed to Slide: A Medicinal Plants Student Activity”
- Planning to Implement Plant Nursery at the Faculty -

First-year pharmacy students conducted a hands-on learning activity in their Medical Plants course
that involved cultivating a variety of medicinal plants, including guava, mint, thyme, aloe,

chamomile, chrysanthemum, rosemary, basil, fig, and pyrethrum. Working in small teams, each
group was responsible for planting, nurturing, and monitoring one species in dedicated pots. Under

staff supervision, students ensured optimal growth conditions through proper watering, fertilizing,

and ongoing care. After the plants matured, students proceeded to controlled-laboratory work: they
prepared plant samples and produced microscopic tissue slides to examine the anatomical structures
under the microscope. This enabled them to closely analyze the unique characteristics and internal
features of each medicinal plant.

Educational Benefits:

• Scientific and Practical Skill Development: Students gained hands-on experience in both
cultivation techniques and anatomical botany.
• Team Coordination and Responsibility: Each student group managed all aspects of caring for
their assigned plant.
• Microscopy and Research Proficiency: Laboratory work emphasized precision and
observational skills essential for scientific inquiry.
• Deepened Understanding of Medicinal Plants: Students learned to connect plant anatomy with
therapeutic utility, bridging theory with biological insight.

Overall, this immersive project combined fieldwork and laboratory analysis, significantly enhancing
students’ knowledge, research aptitude, and practical expertise in pharmaceutical botany.

34 Faculty of Pharmacy Newsletter