Description of research and teaching

My research interest is in plants as sources of extracts and compounds with biological activities, and during the recent years my research has focused on antimicrobial activities. I have been leading a research group since 2012, and previously our research focused on African medicinal plants, their uses in ethnomedicine and their antimicrobial potential. Now, my group is working on the antimicrobial effects of Finnish willow species (Salix spp.). In this project we have studied the effects of some less well-known willow species on human pathogenic bacteria. The compounds spectra and molecular structures of compounds in active extracts has been elucidated in collaboration with Viikki Metabolomics Unit. Moreover, in our new research we study the antibiotic potentiating effects of Salix extracts. Our research is connected to the teaching of the division via the supervision of master`s students in Pharmacy as well as exchange students.

My expertise is in botany, ethnobotany, in vitro biological activity testing, and elucidation of molecular structures using LC-MS and LC-MS/MS. I have a long experience of teaching in University of Helsinki ever since 1993. I have taught botany and ecology in Department of Botany, UH and I was lecturer and part-time teacher in Pharmaceutical Biology at UH ever since the year 2000.