Phytopharmacy deals with the value chain of dried or fresh plant parts or other biomass to the finished plant-based medicinal product or food supplement. The various process steps can be optimized in a targeted manner and modern analysis of the natural substance mixtures ensures quality. Research into the necessary raw materials, the medicinal plant, is also an integral part of phytopharmacy.

The Phytopharmacy group at the ZHAW in Wädenswil is dedicated to the research of medicinal plants and natural substances of plant origin. This includes quality assessments, analyses, processing, toxicological and pharmaceutical evaluation, evidence of traditional use and product development of both known and new plants. It is a contact point for industry, associations and authorities and offers various R&D collaborations, services and further training in the field.

In particular, we offer expertise in

• Phytochemical analysis (e.g. HPLC, UHPLC, GC)
• Thin-layer chromatography (TLC/HPTLC)
• Bioautography (combination of TLC with bioassays)
• Plant extracts
• Essential oils
• Natural antioxidants (detection and analysis)
• Natural product research
• Phytopharmaceuticals
• Food supplements
• Natural cosmetics and their active ingredients
• Quality management

The Phytopharmacy group

• offers research and development cooperations
• has a broad network of various institutes, companies and institutions and thus forms the core of the Swiss network for phytopharmacy
• is the point of contact for SMEs in pharmaceuticals, food supplements and natural cosmetics in the field of natural healing, health and well-being products
• is a competent partner and contractor of Swissmedic and works on the development, testing and optimization of methods for the Swiss and European Pharmacopoeia

Our team works on issues in the following areas and with the corresponding technologies:

Natural raw materials

• Support with sourcing issues
• Raw material testing
• Method development (microscopy, DC/HPTLC and U/HPLC)
• Cultivation support and bioprocess control (analytics)
• Medicinal plant cell culture
• Natural biomass-generating processes for pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics

Extraction and drying

• Maceration
• Percolation
• Digestion
• Decoction
• Spray drying
• Vacuum drying
• Air circulation

Galenics

• Tableting
• Coating
• Tinctures
• Dermatologics
• and other dosage forms

Chromatography and analytics

• Qualitative and quantitative method development
• Instrumental thin-layer chromatography
• HPLC and UHPLC with diode array, fluorescence, ELS, RI or ESI-MS detection
• Preparative flash chromatography for the fractionation of ingredients
• Particle size measurement in solution using laser diffraction
• In collaboration with other ZHAW working groups, access to further technologies such as
  o 1H/13C-NMR
  o GC-FID, GC/MS
  o Infrared spectroscopy with ATR sample head or microscope unit (IR imaging)

Quality management

• GMP of natural products
• Quality control
• Regulatory approvals
• Research on toxicology and traditional use

Through the broad networking with various institutes, companies and institutions the ZHAW’s Phytopharmacy group pools forces and promotes innovation. To this end, the network for phytopharmacy and phytotherapy was created to bring the various interests together to find solutions and discuss current topics. As a neutral partner, we form the core of this network and thus offer a point of contact for any questions that may arise and are also happy to pass on know-how within the network.

As part of a research project supported by various foundations and the canton of Graubünden, Franziska Klarer has compiled old knowledge about herbal medicines in veterinary medicine. This resulted in the book "Jenzerwurz und Chäslichrut", which was published by Haupt-Verlag. You can find the results here (in German only).

Phytopharmacy is taught as part of the Pharmaceutical Technology lecture of the Bachelor's degree course in Biotechnology.

Literature, semester, Bachelor's and Master's theses on phytopharmaceutical topics are offered for application of what has been learned. They are based on practical experience and are often formulated in collaboration with a partner from industry, associations or authorities (pharmacopoeia).

• Overview of the student projects carried out at our company
• Information on the Bachelor's program
• Information on the Master's program

The continuing education program consists of the varied course program of the Swiss Medical Society for Phytotherapy (SMGP) as well as courses for industry and authorities in the field of quality and production of phytopharmaceuticals.

In addition to the courses organized by us, the ZHAW offers a varied program for personal development.

• Phytopharmacy courses
• All continuing education courses at the ICBT Institute
• ZHAW continuing education program
• Our competencies and technologies