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H2020Staff exchange2019–2025

EthnoHERBS · Conservation of European Biodiversity through Exploitation of Traditional Herbal Knowledge for the Development of Innovative Products

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2019-10-01 → 2025-03-31
EU contribution
€2,447,200
Participants
15
Scheme
MSCA-RISE

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Conservation of European Biodiversity through Exploitation of Traditional Herbal Knowledge for the Development of Innovative Products

The overall objective of the project is the exploitation of the traditional knowledge and the therapeutic potential of medicinal and aromatic plants of the Balkan Peninsula on skin disorders. Traditional medicine includes the knowledge based on the theories and experiences of indigenous populations. The Balkan Peninsula has a very rich flora with a high level of endemism, including regions which have been regarded as biodiversity hotspots. The World Health Organisation has been promoting the evidence that ethnobotanical information can lead to valuable drug discovery. On the other hand traditional herbal medicine is quickly disappearing and it is being replaced by the Western one, while people without scientific knowledge about the healing properties of herbs are now engaged with their commercial exploitation, and a large proportion of plants in the market derive from illegal collections leading to severe decline of wild populations.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

‘EthnoHERBS’ project aims to apply systematic ethnobotanical surveys and cutting edge technologies in the field of Natural Product Chemistry in order to fully and efficiently exploit the traditional knowledge and the therapeutic potential of medicinal and aromatic plants of the Balkan Peninsula. New opportunities for the generation of innovative products will arise and current environmental challenges will be addressed. The cornerstone of ‘EthnoHERBS’ project is the exploitation of traditional knowledge, the investigation of plant biodiversity and the application of eco-friendly technologies for the efficient extraction and purification of bioactive ingredients, as well as their complete chemical characterization and biological evaluation of their effects on skin disorders. Optimization of production processes as well as formulation using emerging technologies will lead to the development of novel final products. The organic cultivation of selected plants will ensure the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainability of the project. A diverse group of experts, leaders in their scientific and technological fields, comprising seven academic groups and seven non-academic partners from five EU Member States and one Candidate Country will join forces and exchange know-how through an extended secondments scheme to advance Research & Innovation. Using the experience of the academic partners in ethnobotany, phytochemistry and biology, as well as the practical experience of the SMEs in commercialization of plant derived products and development of innovative final products, transfer of scientific knowledge, best practices and know-how, training courses and workshops will take place. Overall, the implementation of the ‘EthnoHERBS’ project aspires to develop a successful and sustainable international and intersectoral collaboration model that will contribute to the most effective conservation and exploitation of natural resources and the development of innovative product.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • ETHNIKO KAI KAPODISTRIAKO PANEPISTIMIO ATHINON · ATHINACoordinatorGreece
  • APIVITA KALLYNTIKA DIAITITIKA FARMAKA ANONYMI EMPORIKI KAI VIOTECHNIKI ETAIREIA · MARKOPOULOGreece
  • ASSOCIACAO UNIVERSIDADE EMPRESA PARA DESENVOLVIMENTO TECMINHO · GUIMARAESPortugal
  • BENAKI PHYTOPATHOLOGICAL INSTITUTE · ATHINAGreece
  • EURO HERBS DOO, FOR THE PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, EXPORT AND IMPORT OF THE MEDICINAL, SPICE AND AROMATIC HERBS NOVI SAD · Novi SadSerbia
  • FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE - UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE · BelgradeSerbia
  • Galen-N · SofiaBulgaria
  • INDENA SPA · MilanoItaly
  • INSTITUT ZA PROUCAVANJE LEKOVITOG BILJA DR JOSIF PANCIC - BEOGRAD · BELGRADESerbia
  • INSTITUTE OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY WITH CENTRE OF PHYTOCHEMISTRY - BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES · SofiaBulgaria
  • NOVAMECHANICS LIMITED · NicosiaCyprus
  • UNIVERSIDADE DO MINHO · BragaPortugal
  • UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZE · FlorenceItaly
  • VENUSROUZES LABSOLUTIONS · SofiaBulgaria
  • ZURKO RESEARCH SL · MadridSpain

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union