Plants & Human Affairs - Introduction

Plants & Human Affairs (BIOL106) - Stephen G. Saupe, Ph.D.; Biology Department, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Collegeville, MN 56321; ssaupe@csbsju.edu; http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe

Herbal Medicine Report

Prepare an oral report documenting an herbal remedy currently found in the markets of local stores. Visit any health food store or even grocery store and explore the shelves. Locate a plant product that interest you. Prepare a report about that plant. The report should include:

Name of the plant
What is the plant used for?
How much did the product cost per unit?
Where is the plant grown?
To where is the plant native?
How is the remedy prepared and administered?
What chemicals have been reported in the plant/medicine?
What type of habitat does the plant grow in?
What folktales or legends or history is known about the plant?
What does the plant look like (diagram/images)?
What is the plant used for? What is the presumed mechanism of action?
Cool stuff?

The reports will be given in class on Thursday March 22 and Monday Mar 26. Computer, overhead and slide projectors will be available. If you choose to do a PowerPoint presentation, email the file to me by 7:30 am on March 22 so we can run them all from one account for convenience.

Internet Resources:

References: (here's a small sampling)

Tyler, Varro E. and James E Robbers. 1999. Tyler's Herbs of Choice. Haworth.
Foster, Steven and Varro E. Tyler. 1999. Tylers' Honest Herbal. Haworth.
Sumner, Judith. 2000. The Natural History of Medicinal Plants. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Medical Botany - Lewis and Lewis
Pharmacognosy

Last updated: 08/25/2003 / � Copyright by SG Saupe / URL:http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/index.html
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