Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden promotes event on medicinal plants

The event to commemorate Medicinal Plant Day provides an opportunity to exchange knowledge and curiosities about the history and use of these species.

The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (JBRJ), with the support of Herbarium, the leading pharmaceutical company in herbal medicine in Brazil, will be promoting the event: "Medicinal Plants: an invitation to stories, uses and knowledge". The meeting will be held on May 14, in commemoration of Medicinal Plant Day, celebrated on May 21, and aims to expand knowledge about the history and use of these plants.

The event is being coordinated by researchers Viviane Stern da Fonseca Kruel (researcher in Ethnobotany at the JBRJ) and Leopoldo Baratto (professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and coordinator of the Planta Ciência Extension Project).

"The event seeks to deepen our knowledge of medicinal plants, exploring botanical aspects, history, traditional uses, properties and curiosities. The meeting is an important initiative that aims to help preserve these species, as well as expanding knowledge of all biodiversity," says Viviane Kruel, who is curator of the Thematic Collection of Medicinal Plants at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden.

Medicinal Plant Day pays homage to Professor Francisco José de Abreu Matos, who was born on this date in 1924. A pharmacist-chemist with a degree from the Ceará Faculty of Pharmacy, he dedicated his life to the study of these plants and created the Farmácias Vivas (Living Pharmacies) project, which promotes the use of medicinal plants based on science. This project inspired and served as a model for the National Policy on Medicinal Plants and Herbal Medicines, created by the Ministry of Health and adopted by the Unified Health System (SUS) throughout the country.

Herbarium has an ongoing partnership with the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden to revitalize the space dedicated to the Thematic Collection of Medicinal Plants. With the partnership, which began in 2008, the company's mission is to implement improvements, as well as preserving the more than 180 plants on display there. Throughout these years of support, various initiatives have already been carried out by the pharmaceutical company, which aims to encourage scientific research and the appreciation of biodiversity.

"This support is very gratifying for Herbarium. As a specialized company recognized for its excellence in research and development, we aim to expand practical knowledge about the therapeutic action of plants, as well as their uses and benefits," says Natana Martins, Herbarium's Institutional Marketing Manager.
The Medicinal Plants Collection at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden contains around 250 species - both native to Brazil and exotic - related to health and well-being, organized in the open-air exhibition "Diverse Knowledge and Views".

Registration for the meeting is limited, free of charge and must be made through the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Visitor Center by emailing cvis@jbrj.gov.br by May 8.

Services
Event: Medicinal Plants: an invitation to stories, uses and knowledge.
Date: May 14, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Venue: Thematic Collection of Medicinal Plants at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden.
Meeting point: Visitor Center, accessed via Rua Jardim Botânico, 1008.
Limited free places.
Registration: e-mail cvis@jbrj.gov.br by May 8, 2024