INDUSTRIAL PRACTICE IN PHARMACOGNOSY AT THE PYATIGORSK MEDICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL INSTITUTE – BRANCH OF VOLGOGRAD STATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

Based on the Memorandum of Cooperation between JSC South Kazakhstan Medical Academy (SKMA) and Pyatigorsk Medical and Pharmaceutical Institute - branch of Volgograd State Medical University (PMPI - branch of VolSMU, Pyatigorsk, Russia), 3rd year students of the educational program "Pharmacy" Vakhapov Zhakhongir, Nurzhanbek Yerkebulan, Akberdiyeva Bibizhamal, Abdrakhmanova Adelya, Serikhan Gulnaz - underwent industrial practice from June 2 to June 13, 2025. The head of the practice from the Department of Medicine Technology and Pharmacognosy of SKMA was candidate of pharmaceutical sciences, professor Orynbassarova Kulpan. The practice was conducted on the basis of the Department of Pharmacognosy, Botany and Technology of Phytopreparations of PMPI - branch of Volgograd State Medical University.

From June 2 to June 13, 2025, students got acquainted with the medicinal flora of the Ciscaucasia, including the Caucasian Mineral Waters. These territories are famous for their rich flora and unique climatic conditions, which makes them valuable for the study of medicinal plants. One of the important reasons for completing the internship in this region is that the Stavropol Territory is unique in the diversity of medicinal plants containing biologically active substances such as alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, essential oils, phenolic compounds, which represent a large section of the educational program.

In addition, to replenish the herbarium and raw material fund of the Department of Medicine Technology and 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, they got acquainted with the work of the university, the departments of the pharmaceutical faculty, the peculiarities of teaching pharmaceutical disciplines, and research laboratories.

The purpose of the industrial practice: to get acquainted with the growing conditions and ecology of medicinal plants of the North Caucasus flora, to consolidate and deepen theoretical knowledge about wild and cultivated medicinal plants, to form knowledge and improve practical skills in the procurement, storage and processing of medicinal plant materials with the rationale for the use of products from medicinal plants and the protection of their resources. Students acquired the following skills: to carry out primary processing, drying and labeling of plant materials. Conducting a pharmacognostic analysis of medicinal plant materials. The ability to properly store medicinal plant materials. Carrying out packaging, labeling, transportation of medicinal plant materials.

According to the work plan, the students worked in the botanical garden of the PMPI and in the Percale dendrological park, where they got acquainted with the conditions of cultivation and cultivation of various pharmacopoeial, medicinal and ornamental plants: types of foxglove, spring adonis, ragwort, yellow poppy, pink radiola, Chinese magnolia vine, senticosus, high eleutherococcus, Nippon and Caucasian dioscorea and others. In addition to studying agricultural technology in the botanical garden and the Percale dendrological park, the students conducted macroscopic and microscopic analyses of medicinal plants.

As part of the internship, an excursion to Mount Mashuk was also organized, where the students became acquainted with the unique flora of this mountainous area and studied wild species of medicinal plants, such as Caucasian sage, common thyme, juniper and others.

In addition to the mandatory internship program, students and the internship supervisor Orynbasarova K.K. took part in a round table with international participation on June 10, 2025 on the topic: "Study of medicinal plants of Russia and Kazakhstan". During the round table, methodological issues were also discussed: "Modern educational technologies: project-oriented learning as an effective teaching method" (speaker: Professor Orynbassarova K.K.), "The role of Pharmacy and pharmaceutical education in the implementation of the national project "Health"" (speaker: Professor Popova O.I.), "Formation of professional competencies in the study of an elective course (LPR used in phytotherapy of the discipline of pharmacognosy)" (speaker: Associate Professor Lukashuk S.P.), "Issues of studying and standardizing common thyme and medicinal rosemary introduced in the Krasnodar Territory" (speaker: Associate Professor Popov I.V.).

Also, the 3rd year students of the educational program "Pharmacy" of the South Kazakhstan Medical Academy made reports on the results of project-oriented learning: Akberdiyeva Bibizhamal, Abdrakhmanova Adelya "Preparation of dental film based on plant extracts". Vakhapov Zhakhongir "Online courses - an innovative type of training for students in universities". An exchange of opinions and experience in conducting research and educational programs with the organizers and guests of the round table took place.

During the meeting with the Director of PMFI, Professor Olga Albertovna Akhverdova, key issues of scientific and educational cooperation between educational institutions were discussed. Particular attention was paid to issues of academic mobility of students and teachers, as well as prospects for the implementation of joint educational programs and international scientific projects.

The students not only got acquainted with local plants, but also visited historical places of the city. Kislovodsk National Park is a specially protected natural area in the city of Kislovodsk. The largest city park in Europe.

We would like to express our gratitude to the host party, the head of the Department of Pharmacognosy, Botany and Technology of Phytopreparations, Professor D.A. Konovalov, and the staff of the department for organizing the exchange program and the warm welcome. The students note that the internship 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 academy management and personally to the rector of SKMA Seitzhanova Zh.S. for the opportunity to gain new knowledge and for the opportunity to undergo industrial training at one of the leading pharmaceutical universities in Russia.