The 11th National Congress of Medicinal Plants was held at Yazd University on Wednesday, June 4th, with the participation of scientists, researchers, industrialists, professors, and students.
Dr. Peyman Salehi, Vice Chancellor for Research at the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, stated that Iran has a rich biodiversity, with approximately 8,600 plant species, more than the entire European continent. Over 2,800 of these species are endemic to Iran.
He emphasized that many compounds with various properties, particularly medicinal ones, have plant origins. These compounds are either directly extracted from plants, inspired by nature, or modified and used in pharmaceuticals or other products.
Dr. Salehi described medicinal plants as a God-given treasure in Iran, deserving greater attention. He highlighted positive developments in this field, including the approval of the National Document of Medicinal Plants in 2013 by the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. The implementation of this document has led to the issuance of around 5,000 licenses for the production of natural products and herbal medicines.
According to the National Document and the synergistic activities of all stakeholders, significant progress has been made in the field of medicinal plants. However, there is still room for improvement. Dr. Salehi expressed optimism that in the future, the production, consumption, and export of medicinal plants will gain increasing recognition, not only scientifically but also in terms of health and economy.
Dr. Samad Nejad Ebrahimi, Executive Secretary of the 11th National Congress of Medicinal Plants and Director General of Research Affairs at the Ministry of Science, Reaseach and Technology referred to the Congress as one of the most prestigious events in the field of medicinal plants and related fields. He stated that around 900 authors and researchers are participating in the 11th Congress, presenting their findings in 500 posters and speeches over two days.
Dr. Abbas Kalanteri, President of Yazd University, emphasized the importance of plants in his speech, referring to the numerous mentions of plants in the Quran and their significance in understanding God.
He pointed to the mention of the properties of many plants in verses and hadiths, including the swearing by fig and olive in the verse "By the fig and the olive." This emphasis highlights the importance of plants.