After officiating the First International Symposium on 'Ethnobotany in the Quran and Hadith - An Exploration", His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to visit the Universiti Brunei Darussalam, UBD Botanical Research Centre. Apart from collecting, propagating and safeguarding various flora and plant species, the establishment of the Botanical Research Centre also serves as a centre for herbal research and commercialisation.

 His Majesty consented to sign a plaque to officially declare the UBD Botanical Garden open.

Located near the Female Hostel of UBD, the centre has identified about two hundred herbal plants and one hundred tree species in the estimated five acres of tropical peat forest locally known as "keranggas". Without disturbing the vulnerable forest, the centre aims to enhance conservation and sustainable utilisation of the tropical timber and herb species which are commonly used for complementary medicine.

The move by UBD in establishing the Botanical Research Centre is in line with His Majesty's titah at the 23rd UBD Convocation in 2011, during which His Majesty voiced the wish to see outcomes of the institution's research effort no matter how small and regardless of whether it comes from the lecturers, undergraduates or the government.

The centre which is open to the public also conducts translation research where the findings are useful for the general public, herbalists and students.

 With the research being carried currently, and with cooperation from other government agencies, the Botanical Research Centre will also help to contribute to the economy and function as a centre for herbal research and commercialisation.

Green plants are said to be the key to good health, and a study published in a Neurology journal has found that those who eat half a bowl or eat green vegetables everyday have a stronger memory, similar to those who are way younger, compared to people who do not or almost do not consume them.

 From the UBD Botanical Research Centre, His Majesty visited Simpur café BSB, a UBD-owned café that operates in the campus premises. His Majesty consented to sign a plaque to officially declare the cafe open.

 Simpur café BSB offers cuisines incorporating herbal recipes grown from the UBD Botanical Research Centre. It also serve as an internship and training venue for IBTE Hospitality students similar to Simpur Restaurant in Da Nang, Vietnam which was officiated by His Majesty in November last year.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

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