Qur’anic Botanic Garden (QBG) has hosted a webinar titled ‘Medicinal Plants and their importance to the human immune system’, shedding light on the numerous ways medicinal plants can help boost the immune system.

The discussion was moderated by Mr. Ahmed ElGharib, QBG Assistant Researcher, and featured experts in the field, who discussed the potential uses of medicinal plants in the fight against diseases, exploring case studies on plants, foods, and beverages that can be used to strengthen the response of the immune system. The webinar also included presentations on fungal plants in Qatar, their medical properties, and the State’s role in protecting them, as well as a lecture on medicinal plants and related laboratory experiments analyzing their effect on immune diseases and cancer.

The Holy Qur’an and Hadith mention many such plants with medicinal applications, among them nigella sativa (black seed), ginger, fig, grape, garlic, lentil, olive, onion, and pomegranate. Traditional medicine and medicinal plants are increasingly being brought into the spotlight around the world. In fact, in 2004, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released standardized guidelines for good agricultural practices for growing medicinal plants, to ensure that production of herbal medicines is of good quality, safe, sustainable, and poses no threat to either people or the environment, signaling the projected increase in importance of this topic.

Dr. Ala-Eddin Al Moustafa, Professor of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Qatar University and one of the speakers in the webinar, said: "The webinar was an excellent opportunity to share information about medicinal plants and educate the public about the central role that these plants play in laboratory research, the activation of the immune system and helping reduce the growth and spread of certain types of cancers. I would like to thank QBG for inviting me to this webinar and for the opportunity to participate in these informative discussions.”

Commenting on the webinar, Ms. Fatima Al-Khulaifi, Director, QBG, said:

“Botanical gardens around the world recognize the importance of medicinal plants and their role in the prevention of disease and strengthening the body. Active substances extracted from medicinal plants are considered vital components of the modern medical industry. Hence, botanical gardens play a significant role by preserving these plants and contributing to research in this field through collaboration with scientific institutions. The Arab world, and the Gulf region in particular, has a rich history in the use of traditional medicine, such as the use of senna and myrrh, in parallel with modern medicine. QBG is delighted to have engaged the public on this important topic and we look forward to continuing to host similar events in the future.”

With an emphasis on plants mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith, as well as those located in Qatar, QBG is committed to documenting traditional knowledge in light of modern science, while also promoting awareness and preservation of the environment. In line with this, QBG co-organized a conference titled ‘International Conference on Frankincense and Medicinal Plants: Recent Developments in Scientific Research and Industry’ in Muscat in 2018. The conference and exhibition explored medicinal plants and frankincense, an aromatic resin produced by trees of the Boswellia genus, and their uses across several nations and cultures.

QBG is a member of Qatar Foundation. More information on its upcoming events and activities can be found on its social media channels on Instagram: Quranic_Botanic_Garden; Facebook: Qur'anic Botanic Garden, and on Twitter at @QuranicGarden.

Source: Press Release

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Nabeela

Content Writer

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