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Ethnoherbs

About

About

Ethnoherbs Project

The cornerstone of ‘EthnoHERBS’ project is the exploitation of traditional knowledge, the investigation of plant biodiversity and the application of eco-friendly technologies for the efficient extraction and purification of bioactive ingredients, as well as their complete chemical characterization and biological evaluation of their effects on skin disorders. Optimization of production processes as well as formulation using emerging technologies will lead to the development of novel final products. The organic cultivation of selected plants will ensure the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainability of the project.

In more details, information related to the use of herbs for the treatment of skin disorders will be collected and a selection of these herbs will be chemically analyzed. For the fast and efficient identification of bioactive components chemometrics and heterocovariance methodologies will be used as well as application of metabolomics and dereplication approaches and other improved techniques will be used to isolate, purify, and structurally characterize the active constituents, which will be further investigated with the aim to be exploited commercially. A broad spectrum of bioassays will be incorporated for the evaluation of antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, skin whitening and wound healing properties of all derived extracts and products.

Using the experience of the academic partners in ethnobotany, phytochemistry and biology, as well as the practical experience of the SMEs in commercialization of plant derived products and development of innovative final products, transfer of scientific knowledge, best practices and know-how, training courses and workshops will take place. Overall, the implementation of the ‘EthnoHERBS’ project aspires to develop a successful and sustainable international and intersectoral collaboration model that will contribute to the most effective conservation and exploitation of natural resources and the development of innovative product.

15

PARTICIPANTS

4

YEARS

7

COUNTRIES

2.447.200€

TOTAL BUDGET

Project

Project

‘EthnoHERBS’ project aims to apply systematic ethnobotanical surveys and cutting edge technologies in the field of Natural Product Chemistry in order to fully and efficiently exploit the traditional knowledge and the therapeutic potential of medicinal and aromatic plants of the Balkan Peninsula. New opportunities for the generation of innovative products will arise and current environmental challenges will be addressed. The cornerstone of ‘EthnoHERBS’ project is the exploitation of traditional knowledge, the investigation of plant biodiversity and the application of eco-friendly technologies for the efficient extraction and purification of bioactive ingredients, as well as their complete chemical characterization and biological evaluation of their effects on skin disorders. Optimization of production processes as well as formulation using emerging technologies will lead to the development of novel final products. The organic cultivation of selected plants will ensure the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainability of the project. A diverse group of experts, leaders in their scientific and technological fields, comprising seven academic groups and seven non-academic partners from five EU Member States and one Candidate Country will join forces and exchange know-how through an extended secondments scheme to advance Research & Innovation. Using the experience of the academic partners in ethnobotany, phytochemistry and biology, as well as the practical experience of the SMEs in commercialization of plant derived products and development of innovative final products, transfer of scientific knowledge, best practices and know-how, training courses and workshops will take place. Overall,

 

the implementation of the ‘EthnoHERBS’ project aspires to develop a successful and sustainable international and intersectoral collaboration model that will contribute to the most effective conservation and exploitation of natural resources and the development of innovative product.

WP1

Biodiversity and traditional knowledge exploitation

WP2

Phytochemical investigations

WP3

Biological evaluation

WP4

Conservation

and development

WP5

Management & Entrepreneurship

WP6

Communication & Dissemination

WP7

Ethics requirements

Consortium

EthnoHERBS_map.png
Consortium

News & Events

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Final meeting of the project is scheduled to be held in Athens at the 27th and 28th of March 2025.
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  • 16 papers have been published in scientific journals:


Jovanović, M. S., Krgović, N., Živković, J., Stević, T., Zdunić, G., Bigović, D., & Šavikin, K. (2022). Ultrasound-assisted natural deep eutectic solvents extraction of bilberry anthocyanins: Optimization, bioactivities, and storage stability. Plants, 11(20), 2680. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11202680
 

Krgović, N., Jovanović, M., Aradski, A. A., Janković, T., Stević, T., Zdunić, G., Laušević, S. D., & Šavikin, K. (2022). Bioassay-guided skin-beneficial effects of fractionated sideritis raeseri subsp. Raeseri extract. Plants, 11(20), 2677. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11202677

Trendafilova, A., Moujir, L. M., Sousa, P. M. C., & Seca, A. M. L. (2020). Research advances on health effects of edible artemisia species and some sesquiterpene lactones constituents. Foods, 10(1), 65. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10010065

Jovanović, M. S., Krgović, N., Šavikin, K., & Živković, J. (2022). Ultrasound-assisted water extraction of gentiopicroside, isogentisin, and polyphenols from willow gentian “dust” supported by hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin as cage molecules. Molecules, 27(21), 7606. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27217606

Tsioutsiou, E. E., Amountzias, V., Vontzalidou, A., Dina, E., Stevanović, Z. D., Cheilari, A., & Aligiannis, N. (2022). Medicinal plants used traditionally for skin related problems in the south balkan and east mediterranean region—A review. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, 936047. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.936047

Jovanović, A. A., Ćujić, D., Stojadinović, B., Čutović, N., Živković, J., & Šavikin, K. (2022). Liposomal bilayer as a carrier of rosa canina l. Seed oil: Physicochemical characterization, stability, and biological potential. Molecules, 28(1), 276. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010276

Aligiannis, N. (2022). Ethnoherbs: Conservation of european biodiversity through exploitation of traditional herbal knowledge for the development of innovative products. Macedonian Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 68(04), 19–20. https://doi.org/10.33320/maced.pharm.bull.2022.68.04.004
 

Dajić Stevanović, Z., Aligiannis, N., Graikou, K., Bilia, A. R., Kolašinac, S., & Kilibarda, S. (2022). Bioactivity of carotenoids and their role in skin disorders: From tradition to application. Macedonian Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 68(04), 149–150. https://doi.org/10.33320/maced.pharm.bull.2022.68.04.067
 

Graikou, K., Fokialakis, N., Dimitrov, V., Dajic, Z., Rita Bilia, A., Zivkovic, J., Dias, A., Kasiotis, K., Afantitis, A., Gardikis, K., Oluški, M., Muñoz Montaño, J. R., & Aligiannis, N. (2022). Conservation of european biodiversity through exploitation of traditional herbal knowledge for the development of innovative products. Macedonian Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 68(04), 93–94. https://doi.org/10.33320/maced.pharm.bull.2022.68.04.041
 

Tsioutsiou, E. E., Cheilari, A., & Aligiannis, N. (2023). Ethnopharmacological study of medicinal plants used against skin ailments on Mount Pelion, central Greece. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14, 1225580. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1225580
 

Tsioutsiou, E. E., Cheilari, A., & Aligiannis, N. (2022). Discovery of bioactive natural products with skin beneficial properties through the exploitation of ethnobotanical studies conducted in the Balkans. Macedonian Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 68(04), 159–160. https://doi.org/10.33320/maced.pharm.bull.2022.68.04.072

Jovanović, A. A., Balanč, B., Volić, M., Pećinar, I., Živković, J., & Šavikin, K. P. (2023). Rosehip extract-loaded liposomes for potential skin application: Physicochemical properties of non- and uv-irradiated liposomes. Plants, 12(17), 3063. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12173063
 

Šoštarić, I., Kilibarda, S., Kolašinac, S., Aćić, S., & Dajić Stevanović, Z. (2022). Traditional knowledge on use of medicinal plants in Central Balkans for treating eczema. Macedonian Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 68(04), 181–182. https://doi.org/10.33320/maced.pharm.bull.2022.68.04.083
 

Seca, A. M. L., & Trendafilova, A. (2021). Secondary metabolites in edible species: Looking beyond nutritional value. Foods, 10(5), 1131. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10051131
 

Horizon publication:
https://projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/horizon-magazine/saving-europes-medicinal-plants-extinction
 

  • A webinar regarding Cosmeceuticals was organized by Apivita and held at the 18th of December 2024.
     

  • A webinar was organized by TecMinho at 21st of March 2024 regarding Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship.
     

  • EthnoHERBS 2nd Workshop:
    The 2nd Workshop of EthnoHERBS project entitled "Natural Products Research" took place during the 2nd Panhellenic Congress of Ethnopharmacology in the city of Ioannina (Epirus, Greece) on March 1-3, 2024. more than 100 participants followed it. click here for the Workshop agenda.
     

  • The MTM took place at the beginning of April 2022 as online meeting with the participation of more than 50 persons discussing the experimental as well as the management part. Click here for the agenda.
     

  • https://www.ga-online.org/ethnoherbs

  • EthnoHERBS Kick-off meeting:

On 24th of October the kick-off meeting of EthnoHERBS project took place at Athens University History Museum.

  • EthnoHERBS 1st Workshop:

The 1st workshop entitled “Biodiversity, traditional medicine and the sustainable use of medicinal plants” took place on 25th of October at Aegli Zappiou, Garden of Zappio. click here for Workshop agenda

 

  • ​​EthnoHERBS: Conservation of European Biodiversity through Exploitation of Traditional Herbal Knowledge for the Development of Innovative Products | GA
    (click here)

     

  • ​​EthnoHERBS: Ερευνητικό πρόγραμμα βάζει στο μικροσκόπιο τα φυτά των Βαλκανίων | Farmakeutikos Kosmos
    (link)

     

  • EthnoHERBS: Saving Europe's medicinal plants from extinction | HORIZON The EU Research & Innovation Magazine
    (link)

     

  • EthnoHERBS projekt | Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade
    (link1) (link2)
     

  • EthnoHERBS | AMAPSEEC, Association for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Southeast European Countries
    (link)
     

  • EthnoHERBS | University of Minho
    (link)
     

  • EthnoHERBS | Institut za proučavanje lekovitog bilja „Dr Josif Pančić“
    (link)
     

  • EthnoHERBS: Conservación de la Biodiversidad Europea a través de la Explotación del Conocimiento Tradicional de Hierbas para el Desarrollo de Productos Innovadores | Parque científico y tecnológico de Castilla la mancha 
    (link)
     

  • Congresses, Conferences and Other Major Events / Publications:

    • VenusRoses Labsolutions at Vitafoods, Singapore 2019
      (click here)

    • 19th International Congress of the International Society for Ethnopharmacology, 12th - 14th June 2019

    • ΄1ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο Εθνοφαρμακολογίας, 11th, 12th & 13th October 2019

    • 20th International Congress of the International Society for Ethnopharmacology, 18 - 20 April 2021
      (poster1) (poster2)

    • 2nd International UNIFood Conference, 24th - 25th September 2021
      (abstract)

    • GA - 69th Annual Meeting 2021, Bonn, Germany; Virtual Conference 5 - 8 September 2021
      (poster)

    • Trendafilova, A.; Moujir, L.M.; Sousa, P.M.C.; Seca, A.M.L. Research Advances on Health Effects
      of Edible Artemisia Species and Some Sesquiterpene Lactones Constituents. Foods 2021, 10, 65.
      https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10010065


      Upcoming events

    • 70th International Congress and Annual Meeting of the Society of Medicinal Plant and
      Natural Product Research (GA), 28 - 31 August 2022, Thessaloniki Concert Hall ('Megaro Mousikis')
      Thessaloniki, Greece
      (link)

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