ARTYKUŁ

Halina Ekiert, Karolina Turcza

Od algologii do biotechnologii – 85 lat działalności Katedry i Zakładu Botaniki Farmaceutycznej w Krakowie Część II, 1971–1999
2014-06-16

 

 

85 years of the Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Botany in Kraków. Part II, 1971-1999

In January 2015, the Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Botany in Krakow (since 1993 the unit of Collegium Medicum of Jagiellonian University) will celebrate 85th anniversary of its activities. Part I of this article outlined the history of the chair and briefly summarized research programs realized under direction of its successive heads. The work focused on scientific achievements of Prof. Jadwiga Wołoszyńska and Prof. Irena Turowska, two first heads of the chair.

 

The aim of Part II of the article is to present in detail scientific accomplishments of the next three heads of the chair: Doc. Janina Korta, Prof. Stanisław Kohlmunzer and Prof. Jan Grzybek. Doc. J. Korta (1908–1980) conducted research on biological activities of essential oil-bearing plant species and studies aimed to verify knowledge of plants used in traditional folk medicine. Prof. S. Kohlmunzer (1919–2001) initiated the modern phytochemical investigations and mycochemical studies of higher fungi (Macromycetes). Mycochemical studies were concentrated on chemical structure and biological activity of polysaccharides. Profesor also initiated innovative investigations in the field of plant and higher fungi biotechnology. Prof. J. Grzybek (1937–1996) continued studies in phytochemistry and mycochemistry of higher fungi. He developed investigations on biological activity of extracts from flower plants and fungal polysaccharides. A new research direction focused on pollution of plant cover with toxic elements. Prof. J. Grzybek served the honorable function of the Vice Dean (1987–1990) and then of the Dean (1990–1996) at the Pharmaceutical Faculty in Krakow.

Keywords: Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Botany in Krakow, Janina Korta, Stanisław Kohlmunzer, Jan Grzybek, pharmacobotany, phytochemistry, mycochemistry, plant biotechnology, biotechnology of higher fungi.

© Farm Pol, 2014, 70(5): 240-248