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High Altitude Plant Collection - Jardin Alpin du Lautaret ™

Introduction

Established in 1899, the Jardin Alpin du Lautaret™ is a high altitude plant collection located in the French Alps with a fully-equipped laboratory that is of special interest to companies looking to develop innovative drugs or products.  A wide range of plants emanating from a variety of national and international sources are grown and maintained at the centre. The harsh nature of their natural habitat can provide potential answers to many scientific questions and enable the identification of new molecules.

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Key Features / Benefits

  • A garden and high altitude laboratory based at 2100m
    The Jardin du Lautaret is the only high altitude plant collection in existence in France and one of very few that exist on a global scale. The harsh climatic environment in which these plants exist can result in the development of data that is of special interest to cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies.
  • Over 2300 alpine and other mountain plant species
    Biodiversity : access to a huge variety of plants around the world
  • Seeds exchanged with 50 countries
    Access to rare and new plants, a fact that may prove beneficial for both ecological and commercial reasons
  • Plants adapted to life in extreme conditions (cold, intense light, wind, etc.)
    Access to promising molecules that have demonstrated a proven resistance to extreme climatic conditions. Additionally the centre offers an extremely wide variety of medicinal and edible plants
  • Laboratory equipped with a wide range of modern equipment (centrifuge, spectrophotometer, freeze dryer, etc.)
    This enables certain projects to be carried out at the research centre that would otherwise be impossible to implement
  • Artist's Studio
    The centre is also equipped with an artist's studio that can be used by botanists, or used for commercial purposes (illustrators have shown interest in using the site)

Plants and Molecules exhibiting special propertiesaconitum_napelus1717low def.jpg

The centre carries out a wide range of research projects ranging from those based at molecular & cellular levels, to tissue-based studies and ecology-based projects.

The centre is also able to work on the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of plant systems which can lead to the characterisation of molecules of interest exhibiting stress tolerance to all of the following factors:

  • high light radiation (including UV)
  • low temperatures
  • water stress/snow
  • Poor soil quality
Examples of plants of note

Arnica montana: possesses vulnerary, astringent and sudorific properties
Aconitum napellus: possesses analgesic, hypotensive respiratory and cardiac paralysis properties

arnica9907low def.jpgApplications / Target Audience
The high altitude plant collection is of special interest to companies working in the following fields:

  • Pharmaceutical development
  • Cosmetology
  • Medical research
  • Phytotherapy
  • Nutraceutics

Research Opportunities

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Research contracts can be put in place enabling organisations to carry out scientific studies at this high altitude research centre. In addition, certain plants from the centre can be provided for use in studies off-site. The centre also offers a range of consultancy services for organisations wishing to implement New Product Development activities (using new vegetal material).

Contact

Nicole Giraud
Technology Transfer
Tel. +33 (0)4 76 00 78 42
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