Scientists estimate that soon three quarters of the world's population will depend on plants for medicine. But correctly classifying them can take years and, according to a group of Russian students, is far from foolproof. Now, their pioneering efforts co

Young pharmacists from the Samara region of Russia are trying to re-write the pharmacological directory of plant medicine.

They believe that the classification of many plants may have been done incorrectly.

Postgraduate student Olga Sharova has recently proved that narcissine – and not rutin – is the main element in marigolds.

“I think the attitude to our work should be tolerant. Our European colleagues made a mistake at some point when they wrongly classified the plant on its predominant matter, and now we've corrected it”, she said.

Students at the Samara lab don't take long summer holidays as the season is the richest for those interested in herbal crops.

Moroccan Mohammed Lamrini has come to the Russian city for its lavender. He says his native country doesn't boast the variety of the plant he need for his tests.

Marigold plants