A NOT-SO-SECRET secret is the Trinity House herb garden on campus. Tucked away near Leicester Castle Business School, this garden flourishes both physically and scientifically, playing a vital role in ongoing research.
Whilst the bright flowers in spring and summer might look eye-catching, the real magic happens behind the scenes. Associate Professor Dr Tiziana Sgamma, Post-doc researcher Dr Nazia Nazar and PhD student Jordan Boulton are conducting medicinal plants and herbs research, taking the garden back to its original purpose.
They are working alongside Dan, the head gardener at ذكذكتسئµ.
Tiziana and Jordan are leading a project focused on Echinacea, a plant widely used to boost the immune system, especially in the prevention and reduction of the severity of colds and infections.
Tiziana and Jordan are using DNA barcoding methodologies to ensure the quality and authentication of echinacea and other plants, as cheaper and potentially harmful plants are often used without the consumer’s knowledge.
This is an important part of the herbal medicine supply chain because it enables regulators to enforce standards that keep consumers safe and producers accountable.
Growing different species of Echinacea is no easy task, and Dan plays a key role in cultivating and maintaining these, and other plants, in the herb garden.
Some species are difficult to source and even harder to grow, but thanks to Dan’s expertise and dedication, they are thriving.
Once fully established, their vibrant purple flowers will be a striking addition to the garden, and there is hope that they may even become part of the National Plant Collection, so our not-so-secret secret garden might not be much more of a secret!
Tiziana and Nazia are researching Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum tenuiflorum, more commonly known as common and holy basil respectively.
Their work focuses on the sustainable and safe use of basil essential oils, due to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and stress-relieving properties. One focus of the research is about understanding how and when certain Ocimum varieties produce allergenic and sometimes carcinogenic compounds.
These compounds can cause reactions even at low levels that are accepted and set by the regulatory authorities in the UK.
Working in collaboration with the aromatherapy industry, including local independent businesses, they aim to identify these plants and determine the optimal harvesting time to ensure the essential oils are safe (do not contain unwanted or cancerogenic compounds), high quality and sustainably sourced.
At the 2022 Science Festival, Tiziana and Nazia engaged with a vast number of people, sharing insights on the medicinal benefits of the Ocimum, and highlighting how some plants commonly assumed to be holy basil are, in fact, entirely different species and do not have the same beneficial properties – some might even be dangerous.
Through this engagement, they aimed to educate the public on the challenges of accurately identifying plants and the importance of understanding that not all plants have beneficial health properties.
To extend this learning beyond the festival, these plants are now being grown in the herb garden, where visitors can explore them firsthand. Informational signage has been installed to explain their uses, helping to ensure that public awareness and education continue long after the event.
This is just a taste of what goes on behind the scenes in the herb garden. With numerous exciting projects in progress, the herb garden is full of discoveries waiting to be explored.
Once the weather has warmed up, take a walk in the herb garden and see if you can spot any Echinacea or Ocimum, showcasing ذكذكتسئµ research behind these medicinal plants.
The herb garden on the ذكذكتسئµ Leicester campus
The herb garden on the ذكذكتسئµ Leicester campus
The herb garden on the ذكذكتسئµ Leicester campus