Accumulation of biologically active substances in plants of Elsholtzia stauntonii Benth. grown in the foothill zone of the Crimea

Abstract

Abstract. The purpose of the research was to study the quality of Elsholtzia stauntonii Benth. raw materials grown in the foothill zone of the Crimea. In the course of the research, we studied such indicators as the content of essential oil and other types of biologically active substances (BAS), which allow using elsholtzia as an essential oil, food, or medicinal raw materials. Research methods. Determination of the quality of E. stauntonii raw materials was carried out according to generally accepted methods. Results. Peculiarities of the accumulation of essential oil in various organs of E. stauntonii were determined. The variability of the mass fraction of essential oil, its component composition and BAS depending on the plant’s growth stage is shown. We found that the main oil-synthesizing organs of E. stauntonii are leaves and inflorescences. The largest amount of essential oil (1.82 %) was obtained from inflorescences. In the fractional composition of raw materials, they amounted to 45.6 %. The maximum amount of essential oil with the dominant components (rosefuran and rosefuran epoxide) accumulated in plants during the phase of mass flowering (1.48 % in terms of absolutely dry weight). The highest content of BAS, namely phenolic compounds, accumulated in the stage of active growth of vegetative and the formation of generative organs of plants (regrowth and bud formation); extractives – in the stage of regrowth. During two years of storage of air-dry raw materials, there is a loss of essential oil as a result of its evaporation (54.0 %) and a change in its component composition (an increase in monoterpene derivatives of furan by 26.6 % and a decrease in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons by 23.5 %). To store air-dry raw materials of E. stauntonii for more than two years is not, however, reasonable because of significant losses of essential oil. Scientific novelty. The quality of raw materials of E. stauntonii variety Rozovoe oblako, which was grown in the foothill zone of the Crimea, was studied for the first time. Raw materials and essential oil of E. stauntonii have a broad spectrum of biological activity and can be used in medicine, as well as in essential oil and food industries.

Genetic Diversity Study on Geographical Populations of the Multipurpose Species Elsholtzia stauntonii Using Transferable Microsatellite Markers

“…With its dense flowers, late flowering and bright colors, E. stauntonii is a popular bedding plant cultivated in public gardens and a wild nectar plant ( Tian et al, 2007 ). Its branches and leaves are also used as a traditional Chinese medicinal material for treating common colds, toothache, and digestive system diseases ( Zheng et al, 1999 ; Pekhova et al, 2020 ). Furthermore, the species is of ecological importance owing to its strong tolerance of drought and barren environments ( Si and Peng, 2017 ).…”