Personnel: Principal scientific researcher K. Mchedlidze; Scientific researcher J. Aneli; Herbarium Specialist E. Lomidze.

History: Division of Pharmacobotany (formerly – the Department until 2006, then the Laboratory until 2011) dates back to 1932, when it was founded simultaneously with the Institute of Pharmacochemistry, is still one of its most important structural units, which upholds existing traditions and continues fundamental and applied research. The Division is fully integrated into the overall process of the Institute's scientific research, and all scientific endeavors and projects (that concerns plant raw materials) are coordinated with it.

Prof. Eduard Abol headed the Department since its inception till 1956; the pharmacobotanic expeditions and herbarium formation were carried out under the guidance of Prof. Valerian Shotadze. Since 1956 the unit was headed by Prof. Nikoloz Aneli (1956-1959); Prof. Andrei Yatsko-Khmelevski (1959-1980); Dr. Tamaz Mardaleishvili (1980-1986); Mr. Jemal Aneli (1986-2004); Dr. Manana Churadze (2004- 2018) and Dr. Ketevan Mchedlidze (since 2018)

Many distinguished scientists have been promoted at the Division at various times: a prominent Georgian botanist - Academician Niko Ketskhoveli, a renowned pharmacobotanist – Prof. Dimitri Sosnowski.

Goals: Floristic and pharmacobotanical studies represent an ongoing, everlasting process of exploring and discovering new taxa of plants, alternative sources of raw materials. Division is conducting studies of the Georgian flora in order to identify plants containing biologically active substances.

Objectives: The Division provides botanical support to all units of the Institute conducting both targeted and pharmacobotanical expeditions to various floristic regions of Georgia; it determines the status of the taxon (species, family, genus) under study, according to the morphological signs of the plant. Comparative anatomical studies and verification of plant identity in the herbarium minimizes the possibility of error, which, along with macro-morphological and topoecological data, is crucial in plant diagnostics. The unit investigates prospective medicinal plants and technical crops and determines their natural and operational reserves. As well, the division investigates bioecological features of plant growth and maintains the herbarium. 

Scientific area. Pharmacobotanical studies combine fundamental and applied studies of the natural and agricultural sciences: plant morphology, systematics, taxonomy, nomenclature, plant anatomy, embryology, ecology, plant protection and agronomy.

Research methodology. Pharmacobotanical study is based on numerous research methods and specialized activities: the route-geographic method; macro- and micromorphological investigation of plants; herbarium specimens; diverse methods of light microscopy (preparation of temporal samples; determination and correlation of dimensional and quantitative data of microstructural elements; microphotography, digital processing of diagnostic tissues, etc.)

Academic area. The division has the potential to provide highly qualified trainings in pharmacobotany, as well as to rise a specialist in such rare areas as plant anatomy and herbarium jobs.

Expertise/Consulting Area. Pharmacy staff perform both consulting and expert activities within their qualifications.

10 years results. Since its inception, over 35000 herbarium specimens that represent 3200 species belonging to 750 genera of 160 families formed a unique herbarium collection that is included in the Index Herbarorium under the acronym - TBPH affirming high status of the unit. Each year the fund is filled with new materials. The scientific results are reflected in 64 scientific papers.