Analysis of flora of the medicinal plants of the Atyrau region

Medicinal plants are important sources of biologically active substances and phytopreparations for the prevention and treatment of diseases. In Kazakhstan, the regions of the Western Kazakhstan remain poorly studied in relation to wild medicinal plants. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the species composition of medicinal plants of the flora of the Atyrau region and their ranking by life forms, ecological groups, the degree of distribution and possibility of application in medical practice. Based on the analysis of literary sources and the results of own field studies in the Atyrau region, 177 species of medicinal plants belonging to 118 genera and 46 families are identified. The largest number of species of medicinal plants is noted in Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Brassicaceae, Rosaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae and Polygonaceae families. According to the degree of distribution, 4 groups of plants are identified: i) widespread plants, but growing sporadically, not forming thickets (128 species); ii) rare and endangered plants, not to be harvested for raw materials (11 species); iii) plants, forming small thickets (23 taxa); iv) plants, forming significant thickets suitable for industrial harvesting (15 taxa). Among the medicinal plants of the Atyrau region, 6 ecological groups were identified in relation to humidification conditions: hydrophytes, hygrophytes, mesophytes, mesoxerophytes, xerosesophytes and xerophytes. 8 groups of life forms are defined. The largest number of species is concentrated in the group of perennial herbaceous plants — 105 taxa. 128 taxa are allocated for use in folk medicine, 49 species — in official medicine. 12 pharmaceutical-therapeutic groups of plants for treatment of diseases of various etiologies are identified.

Introduction

The development of modern industries and the rapid growth of the human population in the next 30–50 years present for scientists the task of finding new renewable resources: food sources, bio fuels, medicinal preparations, cosmetics and hygiene products. These needs will undoubtedly lead to increased interest in vegetative resources, which are a renewable for production of the raw materials. The World Health Organization notes in recent decades an increase in the use of herbal preparations and an increase in the proportion of medicinal plants by the population of the earth, which has become the basis for the development of an appropriate strategy [1].

In many countries, it is recommended to create a base for active management of traditional medicine, recognition of its role, strengthening the database, and creating mechanisms for the regulation of preparations of plant and animal origin.

Biologically active compounds released from medicinal plants, as well as their individual components from ancient times, have been used by humans as medicinal, antiseptic, perfumery and protective agents (repellents, attractants and others) [2–8]. Present days, the production of components based on medicinal plants is widely developed in many countries. Thus, 65 % of the total production of phytopreparations is accounted for by developing countries, 35 % — by industrialized states [9]. Republic of Kazakhstan has rich raw material potential of wild and cultivated useful plants [10], but own phytopreparations are presented insignificantly, as well as production of medicinal raw materials.

Kazakhstan independence sets the State the task of creating and developing its own industries, including medical and pharmaceutical. Pharmaceutical enterprises in Kazakhstan provide domestic needs by no more than 5–7 %, the remaining share of medicines is imported from abroad. However, the production of medicinal products, especially of plant origin, should be based on a stable raw material base, which is possible with the use of new types of medicinal products with their complex study, sustainable use and protection [11].

The purpose of this study is to analyze the species composition of medicinal plants of the flora of the Atyrau region and their ranking by life forms, ecological groups, degree of distribution and possibility of application in medical practice.

Materials and methods

The Atyrau region is located in the extremely western part of Kazakhstan within the coordinates E 47º05’–56º45’ and N 41º20’–49º15’, extending from west to east to 720 km and from south to north to 880 km. In the west it borders with the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation, in the north — with the Western-Kazakhstan region, in the northeast — with the Aktobe regions, in the southeast — with the Karakalpak autonomy, in the south — Turkmenistan, from the south-west it is washed by the Caspian Sea [12]. The territory of the region is 118.0 thousand km².

According to the geological structure, surface structure and soil-botanical conditions, the territory of the region is quite clearly divided into the following large geo-morphological areas: the Caspian lowland, the Ural plateau and the Ustyurt plateau. The climate is sharply continental, arid type. Summer is hot and durable; winter is moderately frosty and short.

The objects of the study are wild natural populations of medicinal plants of the flora of the Atyrau region. The identification of the species composition of medicinal plants is carried out according to literary data [16–20], analysis of herbarium material and materials of previous field surveys on various floristic areas (Caspian, Embinsky, Bukeev). The names of the plants are given in accordance with the reference book of S.K. Czerepanov [21].

All separated species are ranked according to the following indicators: 1) by systematic groups [22]; 2) by life forms [23]; 3) by ecological groups [24]; 4) by degree of spreading; 5) by pharmaceutical- therapeutic action [25–28] and 6) using in official and folk medicine [10].

Results and discussion

As the results of the analysis of literary data and own field surveys, 177 species of medicinal plants from 118 genera and 46 families were identified in the Atyrau region (Table 1).

Table 1

Taxonomic composition of the medicinal plants of the Atyrau region’s flora

The largest number of species of medicinal plants is noted in Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Brassicaceae, Rosaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae and Polygonaceae families. These 6 leading families contain 57 genera or 48.3 % of the total number of genera, as well as, 97 species or 54.7 % of the total number of medicinal plant species.

On the basis of the flora conception, the identified species of medicinal plants are ranked by the degree of prevalence in natural populations. So, all medicinal plants in the territory of the Atyrau region are separated on 4 groups:

1. Widespread, but growing sporadically, not forming thickets (128 species). Among them are species such as: Alisma plantago-aquatica, Asparagus officinalis, Populus tremula, Polygonum aviculare, Gypsophila paniculata, Thalictrum collinum, Thlaspi arvensis and others;
2. Rare and endangered species, that cannot be harvested for raw materials (11 species), including Juniperus sabina, Acorus calamnus, Nuphar luteum, Pulsatilla patens, Fritillaria meleagroides, F.ruthenica, Adonis vernalis, Amygdalus nana and others;
3. Species, forming small thickets (23 species): Sanguisorba officinalis, Ephedra distachya, Iris tenuifolia, Syrenia sessiliflora, Helichrysum arenarium, Rubus caesius, Melilotus officinalis, Peganum harmala, Polygala comosa and others;
4. Species with significant thickets, suitable for industrial harvesting (15 species). They are: Limonium gmelinii, Rheum tataricum, Althaea officinalis, Anabasis salsa, Artemisia terrae-albae, Salvia stepposa, Scabiosa isetensis, Achillea nobilis and others.

Medicinal plants are ranked according to life forms and ecological groups. In the Atyrau region, medicinal plants belong to 6 ecological groups in relation to humidification conditions: hydrophytes, hygrophytes, mesophytes, meso-xerophytes, xero-xerophytes and xerophytes (Fig. 1).

The largest number of species is concentrated in the group of perennial herbaceous plants — 105 taxa, in second place — herbaceous annual plants — 30 species, in third — herbaceous biennial plants and shrubs (by 13 species), in fourth — trees (7 species), in fifth — semi-shrubs (6 species). The last positions are occupied by a group of low shrubs (2 species) and low semi-shrubs (1 taxon).

The dominant number of species belongs to group used in folk medicine (128 taxa); 49 species are used in official medicine. Analysis of application of identified species in medicine on the basis of pharmaceutical- therapeutic action is carried out. 12 groups are separated (Table 2).

Table 2

Distribution of medicinal plants of the flora of the Atyrau region by pharmaceutical-therapeutic properties

The largest number of species has other types of activity — 131 taxa (or 74.0 %). Among the identified pharmaceutical therapeutic properties, the maximum number of species can be used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract — 92 species (or 51.9 %). 73 species (or 41.2 %), can be used as antipyretic and antiinflammatory agents. A smaller number of species (70 taxa) can be used to treat respiratory diseases. A significant number of species (56 taxa or 31.6 %) are used in official and folk medicine for the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular and nervous system. 52 species (or 29.3 %), are used for the treatment of kidneys and urinary tract.

Conclusion

1. On the territory of the Atyrau region (the Western Kazakhstan), 177 species of medicinal plants belonging to 118 genera and 46 families were found. The largest number of medicinal plant species is noted in Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Brassicaceae, Rosaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae and Polygonaceae families, which include 48.3 % of the total number of genera and 54.7 % of the total number of species.
2. The identified species of medicinal plants are ranked by the degree of spreading, which made it possible to distinguish 4 categories: a) The group of widespread, but growing sporadically, not forming thickets includes 128 species; b) The group of rare and endangered species that cannot be harvested for raw materials (11 species); c) Species forming small thickets amounted (23 taxa); d) Species that form significant thickets suitable for industrial harvesting (15 taxa).
3. Among the medicinal plants of the Atyrau region, 6 ecological groups are identified in relation to humidification conditions: hydrophytes, hygrophytes, mesophytes, meso-xerophytes, xero-mesophytes and xerophytes. The largest number of species is noted to the xerophyte group (57 taxa).
4. 8 groups of life forms are defined. The largest number of species is concentrated in the group of perennial herbaceous plants — 105 taxa, the last positions are occupied by a group of low shrubs (2 species) and low semi-shrubs (1 taxon).
5. The dominated number of species belongs to the wild species used in folk medicine — 128 taxa; 49 species are used in official medicine. 12 pharmaceutical-therapeutic groups of plants for treatment of diseases of various etiologies are identified.

Thus, on the territory of the Atyrau region, a significant species composition of medicinal plants is discovered, covering almost the entire spectrum of pharmaceutical and therapeutic activity, which indicates a high prospect of their practical use.

Acknowledgements

The article is prepared in accordance with Grant Project of Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science (AP092600081 «Study of biological features, ranges, raw materials of medicinal plants of Atyrau region and assessment of their practical use»).

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