“Farmacia Viva” is an open-air laboratory of medicinal plants that combines science, popular knowledge and community outreach.
The “Living Pharmacy” project transformed a section of the Faculty of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences into a valuable open-air laboratory with a collection of 53 species. Its mission is to scientifically validate the use of medicinal plants, train future pharmacists in the city, and recover valuable ancestral knowledge in direct collaboration with Rosario's gardeners.
In a vital space, strategically located behind the building at Suipacha 570, the Universidad Nacional de Rosario It shaped one of its most outstanding outreach projects. Led by the Faculty's Plant Biology department, this garden, more than ornamental, functions as a center for specialized cultivation, rigorous research, and active teaching.
The main purpose of the project is clear and has a great social impact: to study in depth and actively promote the safe use of various medicinal plant species, both within university educational programs and in the community environment of the city.
Currently, the botanical garden houses a dynamic collection of some 53 cultivated species. The diversity is remarkable, including aromatic lavender, the popular rosemary, calendula, lemon balm, and turmeric, as well as valerian and dandelion. This collection reflects the wide range of uses and knowledge of natural medicine.
The need for this initiative stems from an undeniable global reality. Data from the World Health Organization indicates that over 80% of the world's population uses various forms of traditional medicine, including plant-derived products. Therefore, the UNR assumes the responsibility of providing solid scientific support for these practices.
Teachers and researchers María Laura Martínez, María Victoria Rodríguez and María Noel Campagna clearly explain the fundamentals: “Working with a medicinal plant requires, first and foremost, knowing with absolute certainty its botanical identity, its characteristics and the way of production,” they explain.
This knowledge is fundamental, since multiple factors such as the exact conditions of cultivation, harvesting and storage can substantially affect the chemical composition of the plant and, consequently, its therapeutic properties.
The team focuses on ensuring both botanical and chemical quality. The identification process is not trivial, requiring complex morpho-anatomical and histo-anatomical studies that scientifically validate the species. “The idea is to provide scientific backing for all of this, because we need to dispel the belief that, simply because they are plants, they are completely harmless,” the specialists emphasize. It is crucial, they insist, that consumers and professionals know what they are taking, at what dosage, and under what controls it was produced, guaranteeing that the material is non-toxic and fully effective.
For students, Farmacia Viva represents a return to the origins of their studies. The goal is for students to "go back to the source," that is, to the plant as the raw material for the vast majority of medicines. This hands-on experience largely responds to a clear demand from the students themselves, who, during their coursework, were unable to identify basic plant species.
Since 2019, the project has forged strong community ties, particularly with the Rosario Agroecological Center and various local gardeners. This collaboration, supported by funding from the UNR Extension program, allows for a valuable exchange of knowledge with people who preserve ancestral wisdom, especially those from cultures in northern Argentina and neighboring countries.
This collaborative work resulted in the publication of “Santo remedio: guía para el conocer y uso de plantas medicinales” (UNR Editora, 2023), a didactic and accessible catalog for the general public, with a second part published this year.
The project continues to evolve and seek urban integration. The teachers are in advanced talks with the Parks and Recreation Department of the Municipality of Rosario to establish an exciting exchange: high school gardening students will actively collaborate in the maintenance of the space, while the National University of Rosario (UNR) will provide them with specific training on medicinal plants and their uses.
With the support of the Faculty, a drip irrigation system and furniture were installed to promote the site as a meeting and recreation area. Those in charge are confident that this beautification will increase its value and encourage its collective care.
The ultimate goal is for Farmacia Viva to function as a replicable model and an interdisciplinary hub, open to collaboration with programs such as Medicine, Agronomy and Food Science, reaffirming the commitment of the Public University to applied research and community health in Rosario.
Journalist: Victoria Arrabal/Photos: Chair of Plant Biology