Al-Andalus University Launches the Medicinal Plants Garden with a Scientific Trip to Tella Forest, Connecting Education with Environment and Local Community

A Scientific Field Trip for Pharmacy Students to Tella Village Forest and the Practical Launch of the Al-Andalus Medicinal Plants Garden

Within the framework of practical training for the Applied Pharmacology course, the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Private University of Al-Andalus for Medical Sciences organized a scientific field trip to Tella Village Forest on Sunday, July 26, 2026. The trip involved students enrolled in the course, under the supervision of the practical session instructor and the coordination of the Vice Dean for Scientific Affairs, Dr. Manal Ibrahim Darwish.

The trip aimed to bridge theoretical knowledge with field practice in identifying medicinal and aromatic plants in their natural environment, studying their characteristics, active components, and pharmaceutical uses.

The visit carried a dimension beyond education; it represented the first field launch of the "Al-Andalus Medicinal Plants Garden" project, which the faculty has begun establishing. Students conducted scientific documentation of an initial group of medicinal species in preparation for their transfer to the garden, transforming it into a permanent educational and research facility serving pharmacology courses, graduation projects, and applied research.

Key Highlights of the Tour:

Field identification of plant species and study of their morphological characteristics in their natural habitat.

Documentation of selected plants in scientific cards with photographs.

Introduction to the principles of sustainable harvesting and biodiversity protection, reinforcing the concept of green pharmacy.

Engagement with the local community and documentation of inherited folk knowledge about medicinal plants, with scientific verification.

This step comes within the faculty's commitment to diversifying teaching methods, honing students' skills, and enhancing their competence in identifying medicinal plants and their therapeutic uses, while strengthening the university's role in serving the environment and the local community.