Industrial practice on the discipline «Pharmacognosy» at the St. Petersburg State Chemical and Pharmaceutical University

An important part of the training of highly qualified pharmacists is the industrial practice of students. Taking this into account, the management of our academy provides the opportunity to undergo practices in various cities of the world where leading pharmaceutical universities and organizations. This allows students to deepen their theoretical knowledge and apply it in practice.
Based on the Memorandum of Cooperation between the «South Kazakhstan Medical Academy» JSC and the «St. Petersburg State Chemical and Pharmaceutical University» (SPСPU), 3rd year students of the educational program «Pharmacy» Kerimkul Zhansaya, Nurgalikyzy Anel, Nuraly Rakhat, Baymyrzayeva Aigerim, Mansurov Akhmat with the head of the Department of Pharmacognosy, Candidate of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Acting Professor Orynbassarova Kulpan carried out industrial practice in the period from June 3 to June 14, 2024 at the basis of the Department of Pharmacognosy of the St. Petersburg State Chemical and Pharmaceutical University.

The internship in this region is justified by the fact that the North-Western region is unique in the variety of medicinal plants containing alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, essential oils, flavonoids, which represent a large section of the educational program. The purpose of the practical training is to become familiar with the growing conditions and ecology of medicinal plants of the flora of the Northwestern Federal District, the possibilities of experimental cultivation of plants in a botanical garden, and study the experience of introducing into culture many of the most important species of medicinal plants with limited supplies and narrow growing areas.

In addition, to replenish the herbarium and raw materials fund of the Department of Pharmacognosy of SKMA, students have the opportunity to prepare herbariums and raw materials of medicinal plants that do not grow in Kazakhstan. As part of the internship, we got acquainted with the work of the university, the departments of the Faculty of Pharmacy, the peculiarities of teaching pharmaceutical disciplines, and research laboratories.

According to the work plan, students worked in the Great Peter Botanical Garden and in the nursery of medicinal plants, where they became familiar with the conditions for the cultivation and cultivation of various pharmacopoeial, medicinal and ornamental plants: Scopolia Carinolia, Rhodiola rosea, greater celandine, horse chestnut, etc. Students, in addition to studying agricultural technology in the botanical garden and nursery, carried out macroscopic and microscopic analyzes of medicinal plants.

Students not only got acquainted with local plants, but also visited historical places of the city. One of the places is the Hermitage, which is one of the largest museums in the world; there are historical paintings of jewelry from 300 years ago. In addition, they visited a museum with a collection of jewelry of the imperial family and works of Carl Faberge, which was founded in 2014. They got acquainted with unique Faberge eggs and examined the works of great jewelers of the 20th century.

In addition, they also got acquainted with the architectural structures of the city such as: Kazan Cathedral, Savior on Spilled Blood, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Peterhof State Museum-Reserve and, of course, one of the main attractions of this city - the raising of bridges.

Also held a “Kazakhstan Day”, where a table was set with national dishes and familiarized local residents with the meaning of these dishes. Guests learned about the traditions and history of Kazakh cuisine, and were also able to try a variety of treats typical of the country.

During a meeting with the rector of SPCPU, Igor Narkevich, a memorandum of cooperation between our universities was signed, joint educational programs were discussed and agreed upon, and issues of further interaction were also considered.

Further development and strengthening of relations with the partner university, the search for new directions and forms of cooperation in the field of training highly qualified specialists for the pharmaceutical industry will contribute to obtaining mutually beneficial results.
We would like to express our gratitude to the host in the person of the head of the Department of Pharmacognosy at SPCPU M. Povydysh, Doctor of Biological Sciences and the staff of the department for organizing the exchange program and the warm welcome. Students noted that the practice helped them feel more confident in their knowledge and skills in the field of medicinal plant research.
The youth expressed their sincere gratitude to the leadership of the academy and personally to the rector of SKMA M. Ryssbekov for the opportunity to gain new knowledge and for the opportunity to undergo industrial practice at one of the leading pharmaceutical universities in Russia.