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This Botanical Garden is mainly dedicated to medicinal plants.
Professor Giordano Emilio Ghirardi, the owner of the pharmaceutical company Simes la Cardioterapica, built this facility in 1964 to grow plants of several different origins.

When he passed away in 1991, the garden was donated to the University of Milan, which entrusted its management to its Department of Biology.

Several native species in the garden are used for projects in collaboration with the Mountain Community of Alto Garda Bresciano Park, for the study of the local flora.
Ever since its donation to the University of Milan, this facility has proven vital for seminars, instructional workshops, and comprehensive research.

BOTANICAL COLLECTIONS

There are several species belonging to Solanaceae and Apocynaceae families, while the Digitalis collection is currently being restored.

The Camptotheca acuminata it’s probably one of the most interesting species – of oriental origin, its seeds were brought to Toscolano-Maderno for alleged anti-cancer benefits, still under close scrutiny by several scientists.

In the area for the cultivation of plants for scientific research, there’s Solanum malacoxylon, extensively researched by University the of Milan for dihydroxyvitamin D3.

There are also specimens of Nigella damascena, cultivated for studies about plant-to-plant and plant-to-environment interaction, as well as varieties of Vitis vinifera (involved in the production of polyphenols). The latter may be used for natural remedies against several pathogens.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)