Microscopy as Tool for Quality Control of Plants

By adopting an integrated approach, the course aims to provide students with the basic notions on the value of light and electronic microscopy techniques for the recognition of selected herbal drugs and parts of medicinal plants, with particular reference to diagnostic microcharacters.
The course also provides knowledge on the sampling methods and standard sample preparation protocols, in order to optimally visualize images and correctly identify the plant material.
Special attention is paid to the methods aimed at highlighting potential adulterations and/or sophistications of dried and fragmented plant raw material.
Therefore, the course aims to highlight how the quality control of herbal drugs makes use of the identifying importance of light microscopy, in addition to macroscopic examination.

At the end of the course, students will have acquired basic knowledge and will have to demonstrate that they have understood the main light and electronic microscopy techniques for the recognition of herbal drugs or parts of medicinal plants, with in-depth information on sampling methods, sample preparation protocols and potential adulterants.
Students will be able to correctly apply the knowledge and techniques learned for the correct macroscopic and microscopic identification of dried and fragmented drug samples.