Arnica - an alternative crop for the Highlands and Islands?
| Elizabeth Barron, of the Science, Engineering and Technology dept at Inverness College, is currently researching the potential of Arnica as an alternative crop. Developing the work of the Agronomy Institute in Orkney College, where it was found that Arnica montana grew well in the northern temperate climate, Liz is studying the agronomic conditions that result in the highest quality product. |
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Arnica extract is a source of sesquiterpene lactones, which in this case have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and healing properties. The plant is also used widely in cosmetics. The project hopes to assess the full potential of Arnica as a commercial crop by investigating both the yield and the quality produced. |
| Liz is examining the flowers over a four season period. Over the summer Liz comes up to Orkney and harvests the flowers, then analyses the flower extract using a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer in the research lab in Inverness College UHI. |  |
http://invernessuhi.blogspot.com/2006/06/arnica-alternative-crop-for-highlands.html