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Section 2. Biomedical science
Akmyradov Allamyrat, Turkmen State Medical University, Teacher, Department of Medical Biology and Genetics E-mail: [email protected]
Shaiymov Babaguly, Turkmen State Medical University, Candidate of Biology, Teacher, Department of Medical Biology and Genetics
Nuryyev Saparmyrat, Teacher, Department of Medical Biology and Physics, Candidate of Physics and Mathematics
Nuryyev Kakysh Egenmyradovich, Student, Turkmen State Medical University
Survey of the endemic and rare orchid plants of Turkmenistan
Abstract: The article is about the representatives of Orchidaceae family. The information for the article was collected by the authors during the survey of 2007-2015. The described list of materials is only a part of the extensive data which have been collected within the country and outside. We hope that the problem of preservation and restoration of all biological species, irrespective their economic value, is considered to be important in all countries, and this will help to keep the beauty of our Earth for the future generations. Keywords: Orchid plants (Orchidaceae Juss.), Red Book of Turkmenistan, Kopetdag, endemic.
The study of medicinal plants has been originated in elderly age and to the patients suffering from tuberculo-
ancient times. For a long time the information about their use for treating various diseases has been the influenced by mystical views. In the course of time, a number of great scientists such as Theophrastos, Dioscorides, Jean Baptiste Lamarck, Abu Ali Ibn-Sina, Abu-al-Rayhan Biruni, Yusuf Muhammad, Jelaleddin Hydyr and others mentioned in their works about useful plants and the importance of orchids [20, 23-36].
Since immemorial times, the Greeks, Arabs, Turks and Persians have been preparing a tasty medicinal drink salep from young dried daughter tubers of orchids. The components ofthe drink were mucuses (arabin and dextrin), starch, proteic substances, and sugar, and its history lasts for some centuries. Soldiers took it with themselves in the campaigns to recreate quickly during their halts. Medieval doctors used it for treating various diseases and recommended it to their patients for their speedy recovery. Thus, English doctor and botanist John Gerard recommended that drink for strengthening health in the
sis. In China, orchids were introduced to the cultivation over a thousand years ago while in the scientific literature they were mentioned in the 3rd century A. C. During the period of the Sung Empire (960-1279), the monographs describing the methods of their introduction to the culture were issued [8, 272].
Since the ancient times, in Central Asia, the tubers have been used for treating various diseases as a coating, general health-improving, antiflammatory, diuretic and hemopoietic agent; it was also used for improving the growth of hair and for cosmetic purposes. The material accumulated by folk medicine has provided an additional opportunity for the further study of orchids. The development of the pharmaceutical industry in the 20th-21st centuries gave a stimulus to the study of the chemical composition and pharmaceutical properties as well to carrying out clinical trials of new medicinal plants. A concrete work on collecting the information, critical analysis and study of the species used in the folk
medicine has been systematically carried out to use the most promising among them in the scientific medicine. It has been determined that some representatives of the given family are widely used in the traditional medicine as a coating agent for treating gastrointestinal disturbances and respiratory system disorder [3, 19; 6, 11].
Orchid plants (Orchidaceae Juss.) are a largest family whose representatives are presented by nature with original beauty, diversity of shapes and shades. Their fanciful flowers still amaze mankind. The largest and most beautiful species grow in the wet tropical forests on the trunks and branches of trees, letting their roots down. In this way the plants have adapted to a peculiar way of nutrition: their roots absorb water from the wet air and nutrients from the dust deposing on them [5, 187].
All the orchids are mycorrhizal plants; their seeds germinate only in the case of penetrating of hyphae of some mushrooms into the tissue of the germ. At first, they eat on their expense and then they live on independently but the hyphae are preserved all life long. As a result of rather small seeds whose ripening takes 2-18 months, seed regeneration is difficult but a vegetative reproduction of many representatives of this family is well-developed.
The orchid representatives can be met in all the corners of the world favourable for habitation: from Alaska in the Far North to the Tierra del Fuego and a subantarctic peninsula Macquarie in the south, though the majority of them are concentrated in the tropical latitudes, especially in tropical America and in the Southeast Asia. There, in the regions with a short dry season and a high level of precipitation, they find the most favourable conditions for their growth. According to the data of R. S. Dressler (1981), in the tropical America there are 306 genera and 8,266 species of orchid plants while in the tropical Asia — 250 genera and 6,800 species. At present, there are about 20-30 thousand species (about 7 % of all are flowering plants or angiosperms) all over the world, except arctic regions. The originality of the family vegetation in different continents is a peculiar feature of their spread [8, 248; 18, 69; 21, 27-29].
At present, due to their hypersensitivity to the changes of the habitation conditions, reclamation measures, water and air pollution, and fertilization as well as because of the exorbitant gathering and selling, about 17 thousand representatives of the orchid family are endangered species. As a result of this, in Great Britain 17 orchid species are entered in the Red Book of Great Britain, in Yugoslavia — 7, in Greece — 4, in Liechtenstein — 14, in Luxemburg — 8, in Bulgaria — 4,
in Island — 1, in the CIS countries — 35 [3, 53; 7, 5] and in Turkmenistan — 7 species. A great role in the protection of some species of plants, including rare ones, is played by the reserves, wildlife reserves and nature monuments. Besides, one of the ways of protecting rare and endangered plants is their cultivation in the Botanical gardens and at the experimental stations as well as reaclimatisation in the places of their natural habitats.
All the representatives of Orchid family growing in Turkmenistan are relict endemics with a limited natural habitat. Our country is not rich in the orchid representatives; there grow only 14 species united in 8 genera; the rarest are entered in the Red Book of Turkmenistan (2011) [9, 260-273]. Being relicts, all the orchid representatives of the ancient wet periods are living monuments of nature and, taking into consideration the fact that they are rare and that they never form large populations, they should be protected from destruction even if they are used for herbarization.
All the orchid species growing in Turkmenistan are small perennial herbaceous plants with some leaves with a parallel or arcuate venation covering a single flower stem and short creeping rhizomes (5 kinds) or root tubers (9 kinds). A young tuber is a daughter one in which nutrients are accumulated. In spring, it lets out leaves and a flower-bearing stem. At the same time, an underground bud accumulating nutrients is formed in the axil of a lower leaf and it turns into a new young tuber while an old one weakens, crumples and dies together with a floral stem.
Stems are usually foliaceous, seldom leafless; sometimes a plant is without a green colour with lepidoid leaves, latter are saprophyte living on decaying substances. Flowers are collected in the apical clustering inflorescences, seldom single with zigomorphic stipules, monoecious. A perianth is coloured, corollaceous, consisting of 6 small leaves (three exterior and three interior) in two circles. Five small leaves are similar, almost of the same shape, a sixth leaf is usually larger than the others and it is of another shape, changed into a mesopetalum. Only one (seldom two) stamen of six is developed. A fruit is a small many-seed boll opening in six rimas. Seeds are very small.
Below there is an information summary collected by the authors in 2007-2015 where local names, medicinal properties and economic value of the orchid representatives are described. The data from the literary sources and our own factual material have been used in the article, which served as a basis for its writing. A cited list of materials cannot lay claim to the comprehensive data. It is only a part of the extensive information collected
and being collected by the specialists engaged in the study of the rare species in the country and beyond its borders because wild plants, orchids, in particular, are rather valuable raw materials but many of them cannot be used in view of the fact that their populations in the nature are not large that is why it is planned to take measures in our country on further study, preservation, regeneration and cultivation of these valuable species.
Eulophiaturkestanica (Litv.) Schlecher is a perennial saprophyte plant 25-50 cm. high, yellow-violet, bare. The rhizome is angular with fleshy strings. A stem is upright with reduced, narrow, linear and rough leaves resembling leaves of cereals. Upper leaves have a shape of bracts, assidenous, while lower ones are stem-clasping, 2-3 cm. long; three-corned and pointed. An inflorescence is clustering and friable, 22 cm. long. Bracts are linear or linear- spear-shaped, pointed. Flowers are drooping, bright-yellow. A peduncle is about one cm long. A fruit is an elliptical boll, 2.5 cm. long and 1.2 cm. wide. Seeds are numerous, small. Pollination is entomophi-lous. It flowers in April-May, brings fruits in May-June and propagates by seeds [15, 15-19].
Eulophia peculiar for its type of nutrition (a myco-trophic plant), grows in tugais and on the flood plains of the waterlogged river banks, among the growth of Elaeagnusangustifolia L., Clycyrrhizaaspera Pall. and Eri-anthusravennae (L.) Beauv. At present, its rare natural populations can be met in the surburbs of Farab Village and Atamurat (Kerki) city [9, 260; 15, 135].
This species can be met very seldom, individually. In total, there are 5 individuals [9, 261]. It is entered in the Red Book of Turkmenistan (1985, 1999, 2011) and the CITES List (2011). Limiting factors are a violation of water regime of the Amuderya flood plain, licorice harvesting and grazing. It is necessary to study the bioeco-logical features as well as to search for new habitats and to propagandize, preserve and regenerate this species.
Dactilorhizaflavescens (C. Koch) Holub is a perennial herbaceous plant 10-35 cm. high. It has 2-4 regenerative palmately-laciniate partite tubers on the end. Leaves (5-12 in number) clustered in a lower part of the stem are linear, oblong-linear- spear-shaped or seldom oblong-spear-shaped, 8-12 cm. long and 0.5-1.5 cm. wide, blunt-pointed. A spikelet is short- cylindrical or almost egg-shaped, firm, many-flowered, 3-8 cm. long and 3.0-3.5 cm. wide. Flowers are light-yellow or violet-purple, seldom albescent. A fruit is an upright oblong boll with small seeds. It flowers in April-May and brings fruits in May-June. It is a mesophyte and propagates by seeds [15, 135].
In 2012-2013 there were registered 10 and 12 individuals 15-30 cm. high in the blooming and fruit-bearing period at the Arvaz key section in the Ypaygala gorge on the two one-square-metre registered plots. A plant cover is presented by Juniperusturkomanica B. Fedtsch, Ul-mus minor Mill, Crataegusturkomanica Pojark, Rosa canina L., Cerasusmicrocarpa ((C. A. Mey) Boiss), Turkmen marple (Pojark.) Equisetum ramossissimum Desf., Hyperi-cumscabrum L., Ferula gummosa Boiss., Zosimaorintalis Hoffm., Salvia spinosa L., Perovskiaabrotanoides Kar.
This species grows in the Southwestern (Syunt, Kapakly, Hatynaga) and Central (Garaul, Nohur, Arvaz) Kopetdag, preferring the upper and middle belts of the mountains (1400-1600 m. above-sea level). It grows on the northern flanks of the hills and wet lands, in the growth of lignose and on the mountain lawns.
Some individuals can be met very seldom, individually. At present about 600 individuals have been registered [9, 263]. Limiting factors are change of plant cover and grazing. It is entered in the Red Book of Turkmenistan (1985, 1999, 2011). It is necessary to perform a strict control over the places of growing and to study the peculiarities of the bioecology and seed propagation.
D. umbrosa (Kar. et Kir) Nevski is a perennial herbaceous plant (10) 30-50 (80) cm. high. Tubers are 3-6 — partite, fistular, straight and dense, up to 1.5 cm. thick at the bottom. Leaves 4-12 in number (usually they are 6 or 7 in number) are always spotless, spear-shaped or linear-spear-shaped, pointed, slightly bent or folded; lower leaves are 10-30 cm. long and 2-5 cm. wide, slightly narrow at the bottom, upper ones are narrower, usually reaching the root of the spikelet. A spikelet is cylindrical or short cylindrical, firm and many-flowered, 3-25 cm. in the diameter. Flowers are violet-purple or lilac-purple. A fruit is an upright oblong boll. Seeds are numerous, small. It flowers in May-June, brings fruits in June-July and propagates by seeds [15, 135].
The species grows in the Central Kopetdag (Sarym-sakly), Badhyz (near Serhetabat) and in Koytendag (Da-raydere, Umbardere), preferring the upper and middle belts of the mountains (1300-2750 m. above-sea level). It grows on the plains, in the growth of lignose and on the wet lands at the springs and on the banks of the mountain rivers. It can be met very seldom; its resource potential is limited [2, 39; 15, 135].
Orchispseudolaxiflora Czerniak is a perennial herbaceous plant 25-60 cm. high with whole oblong, sometimes, ball-shaped, and seldom with 2 — partite tubers at the end, up to 3 cm. long. A stem is fistular, upright,
rather tall, up to 0.1 cm. thick, slightly narrow at the top, straight, foliaceous up to the top, with a short boot. Leaves (4-6 in number) are upright, wide-spear-shaped or linear-spear-shaped, 10-20 cm. long and 0.4-1.5 cm. wide, narrower at the top, blunt-pointed, spotless. Lower and upper leaves (8) are 11-20 cm. long and 1.4-2.8 cm. wide, the leaves at the very top are smaller and narrower. An inflorescence is spikelet-like, long, thin, cylindrical, with leaf-shaped, linear-spear-shaped, and pointed bracts 4-15 cm. long. Flowers are small, lilac-pink or purple-violet. A fruit is an oblong upright boll. Seeds are numerous, small. It flowers in March-May, brings fruits in June-July and propagates by seeds [17, 132].
5 individuals 30-40 cm. high were registered in the Misinev key section in 2006 on the ten-square metre-area in the flowering period; in 2007 — 7 individuals in the fruit-bearing period in the satisfactory state. In May 2010, there were registered 3 blooming individuals at the foothills to the south of Serhetabat on the ten- square-metre plot [1, 39].
In 2012, on the wetland in the suburbs of Gargylyja there was registered one individual 45 cm. high; it had one floral shoot with numerous flowers. A plant cover is presented by the following plantations of trees: Pyrus-comunis L., Malusturkmenorum Juz. et M. Pop., Prunus-cerasifera Ehrh., Vitisvinifera L., and by various grasses: Typhaaustralis Schum et Thonn., Elytrigiarepens (L.) Beauv., Poapalustris L., Phragmitesaustralis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud., Scirpustriquertifomis (V. Krecz.) Egor. and others. In 2013 anorchis tuber was brought to the Botanical gardens; next year it grew up to 13 cm. and at present it is in a satisfactory state.
The species grows in the Southwest (Parhay, Sum-bar, Hojaeken), Central (Germab, Bagir, Vannov, Arch-abil) and East Kopetdag, Badhyz (Childuhtar) and in Koytendag, preferring foothills and a middle mountain belt (800-1500 m. above-sea level). It grows on the northern flanks of the hills and moorlands and on the banks of the mountain rivers. It can be met seldom [2, 39; 14, 62; 15, 136].
O. palustris Jacq. is a perennial herbaceous plant (30) 40-75 cm. high. Stems are fistular, upright, rather tall, foliaceous. Tubers are oval or ellipsoidal up to 3 cm. long and 2 cm. thick. Leaves are linear or linear- spear-shaped, prominent at the top, gradually narrowing and pointed, up to 15 cm. long and 2-2.5 cm. wide. A spike-let is thin, about 20 cm. long. Flowers are in a thin or rather dense cluster with bracts, uneven, with slightly purple ends, albescent in the middle with a lilac-purple spot. A fruit is an oblong upright boll with small seeds.
It flowers in May-June, brings fruits in June-July and propagates by seeds. [11, 213; 15, 136; 19, 714-715].
The species grows in the Southwest Kopetdag (Aydere, Pordere), preferring a middle mountain belt (1300-1400 m. above-sea level). It grows on the flanks of the hills, in the gorges, on the moorlandsand on the banks of the mountain rivers where Circvassian walnuts grow (Juglansregia (L.)). It can be met seldom [15, 136].
O. fedtschenkoi Czerniak is a perennial herbaceous plant 20-30 cm. high. Tubers are whole, oblong, assidenous, egg-shaped, 2.0-2.5 cm. long and up to 1.5 cm. in the diameter with small additional roots. A stem is bare, foliaceous, upright, cylindrical, 28 cm. high. Stem leaves are spear-shaped, pointed, 4-5 cm. long and 0.8-1.5 cm. wide, gradually turning into foliaceous bracts. Lower leaves (5 in number) are oval, blunt-pointed, 6-7 cm. long and 2-3 cm. wide. A spike-let (consisting of10-13 flowers) is straight, dense, 9 cm. long and 2.5 cm. wide. Flowers are violet, spotty, 1.7 cm. long. A fruit is an oblong upright boll with numerous small seeds. It flowers in April, brings fruits in May and propagates by seeds [19, 689; 15, 136; 16, 38].
The species grows in the Southwest Kopetdag (Tut-lybyl), Hojaeken hole, and in Chadyr valley, preferring a middle belt of the mountains (1200-1300 m. above-sea level). It grows on the rocky the flanks of the hills, in the wood growth and rock cracks. It is an endemic and can be met very seldom [15, 136; 14, 63].
O. simia Lam. is a perennial herbaceous plant 20-45 cm. high. Tubers are oval, egg-shaped or ellipsoid, 2.0-2.5 cm. long and 1.0-1.5 cm. in the diametre with short additional roots. A stem is tall, foliaceous in its lower part (with 1-2 sheathing leaves), bare on the top. Leaves are oblong or egg-shaped -oblong, 5.5-15 cm. long and 2.0-3.5 cm. wide, pointed or almost blunt. A multiflowered inflorescence is rather dense, oval or oblong, 3- (7) -8 cm. long and 3-4 cm. wide. Bracts are scarious, upright, bent, spear-shaped, long-thin-pointed, very small. Flowers are uneven, pale pink, light-gray-violet or light-gray-violet or light-gray-purple. A fruit is an oblong upright boll. Seeds are very small. It flowers in April-May and brings fruits in May-June. Pollination is entomophilous. Seed regeneration is poor, especially in the dry years [19, 693; 10, 317; 13, 228; 15, 136].
The species grows in the Southwest (Magtymguly, Altybay, Syunt, Yoldere, Aydere, Pordere, Tazetaplan, Hatynaga) and Central (Gagaul) Kopetdag, preferring a middle belt of the mountains (1100-1600 m. above-sea level). It grows in the grass shadow, on the wet north flanks of the hills and in the wood growth. It can be
met very seldom; only single individuals have been registered. It is a water-loving xerophyte, endemic [15, 136].
In 2012, 7 (5 veg/2 bl) and 12 (10 veg/2 bl) individuals were registered at two registered one-square-metre plots in the Garagachdere gorge. In total, about 600 individuals in the satisfactory state have been registered in the gorge, 79 % of individuals were in the vegetative period and 21 % in the flowering period.
In 2012-2014 some individuals in the Desh gorge (17 individuals) and in the Yoldere gorge (7 individuals) were registered in the vegetation and flowering periods at the registered one-square-metre plots. Plant cover in the Yoldere gorge is presented by Turkmen juniper (cop1), Circvassian walnuts (sol.), Caucasian esa (Eltiscaucasi-ca Willd. (sol.), common fig trees (Ficuscarica L. (sp)), Turkmen maple (cop2) and by various grasses: rough John's wood (cop1), white felted germander (Teucri-umpolium L. (sp), lavender-leafed betony (Stachyslavan-dulifolia Vahl (sp), Turkmen sage (Salvia turcomanica Po-bed. (sp)), and others.
About 800 [9, 265] individuals have been recently registered. The species is entered in the Red Book of Turkmenistan (1985, 1999, 2011). Limiting factors are habitat desiccation and grazing. It is necessary to study of the bioecology and seed regeneration. In 2007, some attempts were made to introduce the species from the Kumushdash hole (on the joint of the Central and Southwest Kopetdag) in Ashgabat.
The resource populations are not sufficient. It is recommended to cultivate it [3, 119].
Anacamptis piramidalis (L.) Rich is a perennial herbaceous plant 25-65 cm. high. Tubers are ellipsoid or egg-shaped. Lower leaves are linear and pointed, 10-25 cm. long and 0.7-1.4 cm. wide, upper ones are with long and pointed green boots. An inflorescence is dense, egg-shaped- pyramidal, multiflow-ered, 2.5-8.0 cm. long and 2.3-4.0 cm. in the diameter. Flowers are uneven, with spurs, purple-red, sometimes pink or white. For the first time it flowers at the age of 7-8 years. A fruit is a boll with numerous small seeds. It flowers in May-June, brings fruits in June-July and propagates by seeds [6, 12; 10, 319; 15, 136; 19, 718-719].
The species grows in the Southwest (Gyuen) Kopetdag, preferring a middle belt of the mountains (1300-1500 m. above-sea level). It grows on the flanks of the hills, in the gorges and in the wood growth. It can be met very seldom [15, 136].
Orphystranshyrcana Czerniak is a perennial herbaceous plant 20-45 cm. high. Tubers are whole, globose, assidenous, 1.0-2.0 cm. in the diametre. A stem is straight,
longitudinally-grooved, bare, with a white membranous boot at the bottom, pointed at the top. Leaves (4-5 in number) are assidenous, concentrated in the lower part of the stem, thin, flat, oblong-spear-shaped or oblong, 5-6 cm. long, blunt, accreting in a membranous petiole. A lamina is 5-6 cm. long and 1.5-2.0 cm. wide. Stem leaves (2-3 in number) are spear-shaped, pointed, as-sidenous, stem-clasping, gradually narrowing at the top and turning into grass bracts. A botryoid inflorescence is thin, short, secund, 5-8 cm. long. Flowers are numerous (less 10), 2.5-3.0 cm. in the diametre, yellow-green. A fruit is a green bare multi-seed boll of the oval shape on a short (03-0.4 cm. long) stem. Seeds are very small, oblong, and light. It flowers in April-May, brings fruits in June-July and propagates by seeds [15, 136; 19, 726-727].
On March 27, 2014, 5 and 7 flowering individuals were registered in the Yoldere gorge at two one-square-metre registered plots. Plant cover is presented by Hya-cinthuslitwinowil Czerniak., Circvassian walnuts, pseudo-ambiguous hawthorn (Crataeguspseudoambigua Pojark.), alycha trees, cherry-plums, small-fruited cherry trees, Viola sintenisilW. Beck., Thelycraniameyeri Pojark., Ach-illeabiebersteinii Afan. and others.
The species grows in the Southwest (Aydere, Hatyn-dere, Syunt, Altyndere) and Central (Sarymsakly) Kopetdag, preferring a lower and middle belts of the mountains (1100-1400 m. above-sea level). It grows on the grass the flanks of the hills, wet lands, river banks, and in the cereal steppes. It can be met seldom. It is a me-sophyte, endemic [15, 136; 16, 39]. In the West Kopet-dag this rare species was registered for the first time on the wetlands at the springs. Its population is rather large. Bulbotubers of the plants from the Sayvan Village suburbs, collected in the flowering period, were brought to Ashgabat and planted in the Botanical gardens on the introduction plot of the local flora laboratory. After a short vegetation period, plants began developing and bringing fruits [14, 63]. At present, there about 100 individuals [9, 273]. Main limiting factors are plant cover change, spring drying up, and grazing. It is entered in the Red Book of Turkmenistan (1985, 1999, 2011) and in the CITES List (2011).
O. kopetdagensis K. Pop. et Neschat is a perennial herbaceous plant 60-70 cm. high with almost globose or oblong tubers. A stem is foliaceous till the middle.
Leaves are oblong-oval or wide-spear-shaped with a stem-clasping bottom; lower leaves are 10 cm. long and 2-3 cm. wide, wedge-shaped or rounded. An inflorescence is a lengthened cluster up to 25 cm. long and 3 cm. in the diametre, with 4-8 flowers. Fruits are
unknown. It flowers in May-June, brings fruits in July-August and propagates by seeds [15, 136].
The species grows in the Southwest Kopetdag (Ay-dere, Pordere), preferring a lower and middle belts of the mountains (1100-1300 m. above-sea level). It grows on the matted river banks, in the half-shadow of Circvassian walnuts and Syrian ash trees. It can be met seldom. It is a particularly local endemic [14, 63; 16, 40]. It vanishes because of the destruction or pollution of natural habitats and disappearance of the insects-pollinators dying of insecticides.
Epistasis veratrifolia Boiss. et Hohen is a perennial herbaceous plant with numerous green leaves (25-60) 50-100 cm. high. A stem is straight, slightly-downy at the top, with 3-4 short boots at the bottom, a creeping rhizome with additional roots, and with 6-10 oval or narrow-spear-shaped, pointed, bare leaves, 20 cm. long and 4 cm. wide. An inflorescence is a straight, secund, thin cluster (10) 15-40 (45) cm. long, slightly-downy on the top with 4-20 flowers. Flowers are uneven, drooping, green-purple. A fruit is a multiseeded boll opening in six rimas. Seeds are small. It flowers in May-June, brings fruits in July-August and propagates by seeds and vegetation (rhizomes) [15, 136-137; 19, 623].
The species grows in the Southwest (Kyrkgyz, Aydere, Uchtekeler) and Central (Sarymsakly) Kopetdag, preferring a middle belt ofthe mountains (1300-1450 m. above-sea level). It grows in the gorges and on the shadowy and wet lands among the woody plants. In can be met seldom, individually or in small groups [15, 136-137].
For the first time hellebore- leafed helleborine was registered in the Kyrgyz hole, on the border of the Central and West Kopetdag where it grows only at the river bed of the Kyrkgyz spring in the Arundodonax L. growth. The rhizomes of the plant were brought to Ashgabat and planted on the tugai plot in the Botanical gardens. After short vegetation, plants "fell asleep" and some time later they again began their usual vegetation [14, 63]. At present, 120 individuals have been registered. This species is entered in the Red Book of Turkmenistan (1985, 1999, 2011) [9, 269]. It is necessary to study the peculiarities of the bioecology and symbiosis with mushrooms. The species was introduced to the Botanical gardens by the Institute of Botany of the AS of Turkmenistan.
E. turcomanica K. Pop. et Neschat is a perennial herbaceous plant 25-30 cm. high with a creeping rhizome high. A stem is straight, slightly-downy at the top, with 3-4 short boots at the bottom, a creeping root supporting additional cordlike roots. A stem is longitudinally grooved, bare, with thin very short hairs only in the
upper part. Leaves are not numerous (about 4-5) a little longer than internodes, assidenous, bare; lower leaves are oval or oval-spear-shaped, middle one are spear-shaped, pointed, 2-3 cm. long and 1-2 cm. wide. A top botry-oid inflorescence is short, second, 5-8 cm. long. Flowers are uneven and not numerous (less 10), monoecious. A fruit is an oval, greenish, bare boll, 1.0-1.2 cm. long and 05.-0.6 cm. wide, on short (0.4-0.5 cm. long) stems. Seeds are numerous, very small, oblong, gray. It flowers in May-June and brings fruits in July. It propagates by rhizome suckers [16, 41].
The species grows in the Southwest (Aydere) Kopetdag, preferring a middle belt of the mountains (1200-1300 m. above-sea level). It grows in the gorges and on the wet lands and on the banks of the mountain rivers. In can be met seldom, individually [15, 137; 16, 41].
There up to 12 individuals [9, 271; 15, 137] in the population. It is entered in the Red Book of Turkmenistan (1999, 2011). Main limiting factors are grazing, land development and mud floods. It is necessary to search for new habitat and to study of the bioecological peculiar features.
Listeraovata (L.) R. Br. is a perennial herbaceous plant 25-60 cm. high. A rhizome is creeping, short, thickened, covered with thin roots. A stem below the leaves is bare and thicker with reddish black boots, and short iron-downy above with 1-3 small reduced leaves. Leaves at the bottom are narrowed, assidenous, with a stem-clasping bottom, blunt or slightly pointed at the top. An inflorescence is botryoid. Flowers are greenish or yellow-green, sometimes with off-purple colour of the interior leaves of the perianth. A frit is anunilocular boll. Seeds are very small. It flowers in April-May, brings fruits in June-July and propagates by seeds and rhizomes [15, 137; 19, 612].
The species grows in the Southwest Kopetdag (Yoldere, Aydere, Pordere), preferring a middle belt of the mountains (1300-1450 m. above-sea level). It grows on the flanks of the hills, in the gorges and on the wet lands and on the banks of the rivers. In can be met very seldom [15, 137; 19, 612].
Only 5 [9, 273] individuals have been recently registered. It is entered in the Red Book ofTurkmenistan (1985, 1999, 2011). Limiting factors are mountain springs drying up and intensive grazing. It is necessary to strengthen a preserve regime, to forbid grazing and to study the bioecological peculiar features and a possibility of seed propagation to regenerate the species in the natural biotopes.
Zeuxinestrateumatica (L.) Schlechter is a perennial herbaceous plant with a thin rhizome 6-16 cm. high. Stems are not tall, with numerous, narrow, linear leaves. A cluster is 2.5-5.0 cm. long and 0.9-1.8 cm. wide.
Membranous, pointed, single-nervous, 0.8-1.5 cm. long bracts are larger than flowers. The latter are white; the leaves of the perianth are 0.3-0.5 cm. long; there is a me-sopetalum with a small kidney-shaped dilatation at the end. It flows in March, brings fruits in April and propagates by seeds [19, 640].
The species grows on the sand-silty drifts of the right bank of the Amuderya River, preferring wetlands. On April 10, 1989, a new habitat was discovered [17, 132]. The herbarium samples are kept in the herbariums of the Botanical gardens and the Institute of Botany of the AS of the Russian Federation. We would like to recommend entering this species in the Red Book of Turkmenistan. It is necessary to study the bioecological peculiar features and searching for new habitats.
All the orchid species begin vegetating and flowering under a certain temperature regime, depending on the kind, altitude above sea level and habitat when the wet season comes. Then, when it becomes hot, plants rest (for 5-6 months). When the season of autumn raining season comes, a new one-year cycle of development begins [12, 68].
The development of the orchid plants in the territory of Turkmenistan began in the Miocene. It was
during that period when all the orchid species developed in the wet and warm climatic conditions in the Southwest Kopetdag. Florocenotypes were formed in the cenosis of hydrophytone with the participation of orchids. It was in the Miocene when all the orchids were developed and made up a basis of the plant cover of the mesophilous flora. Because of sharp warming in the territory of Kopetdag, the florocenotypes of many mesophilous plants, including orchid ones, dropped out of the plant cover, decreasing in numbers, and some of them have become relict endemics.
Thus, one of the main modern problems is a problem of preserving and regenerating all the biological species regardless their economic significance as the study has two aspects: 1) to reveal all the endangered species requiring in the priority protection measures; 2) to work out and to introduce in to practice a system of such measures. Extinction of any species of plants in this or that country leads to the impoverishment of its phytogene pool. It is that why all the efforts on saving rare plants in the natural or artificial conditions are not only of the national but also of international importance. Saving plants from extinction will help to preserve the beauty of our Earth for future generations.
References:
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8. Жизнь растений: в 6-и т./Гл. ред. А. Л. Тахтаджян. Т. 6. Цветковые растения/Под ред. А. Л. Тахтаджяна. -М.: Просвещение, 1982.
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13. Мазнев Н. И. Золотая книга лекарственных растений. 15-е изд., доп. - М.: ООО «ИД РИПОЛ классик», ООО Издательство «Дом XXI век», 2009.
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15. Никитин В. В., Гельдиханов А. М. Определитель растений Туркменистана. - Л.: Наука, 1988.
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17. Суханкулиев Х. Находка Zeuxinestrateumatica (Orchidaceae) в Туркменистане//Ботанический журнал. -1990. - Т. 75. - № 5.
18. Тахтаджян А. Л. Система магнолиофитов. Т.П. - Л.: Наука, 1987.
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20. Ходжиматов М. Дикорастущие лекарственные растения Таджикистана. - Душанбе: Гл. науч. ред. Тадж. Сов. Энциклопедии, 1989.
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Islamova Jannat Ikramovna, Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances of Academy of Sciences of Republic of Uzbekistan, Doctore of Phylosophy, Senior researcher, Department of farmakology and toksikology E-mail: [email protected]
Sesquiterpene lactones as a potential source of new effective antigiardial drugs
Abstract: A rank of sesquiterpene lactones, extracted from plants of the Central Asian region, studed for having antigiardial activity. It has been shown that some of them: repin, akroptilin, elegin, girkanin, tanatsin, tahillin, tanapsin, artemisinin have quite pronounced antiprotozoal effect to Giardia muris in vivo. Detected connection between molecular structure of sesquiterpene lactones and their antigiardial action.
Keywords: sesquiterpene lactones of Central Asia, antigiardial activity in vivo.
Natural sesquiterpene lactones have versatile biologi- hemocytometer were counted for each mouse. Intense-ef-
cal activity [1, 12780-12805]. One of the properties of these compounds are of great practical importance is their inhibiting action against some parasitic protozoa [2,199-295]. In the present study we investigated the antigiardial activity of several lactones, because giardiasis is a common parasitic diseases and it is becoming increasingly resistant to traditional antigiardial therapy [3, 57-61].
Materials and methods
Albino mice of both sexes weighing 13-15 g. were used in the experiments.To reproduce the experimental model of giardiasis animals were inoculate orally with a suspension containing cysts and trophozoites of Giardia muris 5*10 3 in 0.5 ml. [4, 560-561].The suspension is prepared from the contents of the small intestine of spontaneously infected mice (Roberts-Thomson, Mitchell, 1978) [5, 42-46]. Study lactones were injected to mice by special atraumatic probe into the stomach in the form ofan aqueous emulsion with arabic gum. Calculation is 20 mg/kg on day 5 post-infection for the next 5 days. All experiments were performed in accordance with the "European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes" (Strasbourg, 1986). Groups of mice were euthanized at various time points, and the proximal 10 cm. sections of their small intestines were removed and placed in 5 ml. of physiological solution on ice. The small intestines were minced, and after 15 min. on ice, parasites were counted with a hemocytometer. At least four separate grids on the
ficacy of the compounds was determined by the formula:
IE = 100 (C - E)/K, where K — the number of trophozoites and cysts of Giardia in control, E — in the experience [4, 560-561]. Statistical processing was performed using Student's t-test.
Results and discussion
The experiments revealed of the studied sesquiterpene lactones certain antigiardial activity. Among the lactones belonging to the guayanes type of relatively weak effect showed leukomizin, austritsin, badhyzin (their IE was 46.1, 48.9 and 55.7 %). In contrast, re-pin, girkanin, akroptilin, elegin had a more pronounced antiprotozoal effect. Intense-efficiency in this case was, respectively, 81.5, 72.8, 77.5, 71.6 %.
Among the studied lactones of germakranes type: tanacin, tanakhin and tovulin highest antigiardial activity was detected in tanacin (IE = 62.6 %). Tanakhin and tavulin acted weaker. Their IE accounted for 58.0 and 56.8 %. As for compounds relating to evdesman type is noteworthy expressed antigiardial activity in tahillin and tanapsin — IE is equal to, respectively, 69.7 and 67.4 %. Alantolakton also had a very significant antigiardial effect (IE = 61.6 %). IE of taurin accounted for 44.5 %.
In recent years, increased interest to lactones of kadi-nana - kadinanolides type as detected among them highly antimalarials preparations (such as artemizinin) [6]. Our studies have also shown good antigiardial activity of artemizinin and arteannuin B. Their IE = 82.6 and 70.1 %.
