Structural organization of Bergenia crassifolia (L.) Fritsch

УДК 581.41

Abstract

Currently, many scientific studies are devoted to the search for sources of biologically active compounds among plants of regional flora and foreign species. The species rich in chemical composition are promising in the production of medicines and natural cosmetics. One of such plants is Bergenia crassifolia (L.) Fritsch, underground organs and leaves of which have long been used in folk and official medicine. However, when collecting plant raw materials, it is important to take into account the peculiarities of the structural organization of the individual to preserve the species in the natural environment and in the conditions of introduction. In this regard, the aim of the present study is to identify the peculiarities of the structural organization of B. crassifolia under conditions of introduction and to formulate recommendations on collection of plant raw materials for obtaining biologically active substances. In the course of the study it was found that

B. crassifolia develops according to the monopodial rosette model of shoot formation, is a polycarpic, summer-winter-green vegetative-mobile implicitly polycentric herbaceous short-rooted perennial. Taking into account the peculiarities of shoot formation of an individual, when collecting underground organs, it is necessary to excavate underground organs without removing them to the surface and without disturbing their integrity, and collect only proximal parts of the main axis of the rhizome and/or apical parts of lateral axes of the rhizome that have fulfilled reproductive function. The brown leaves of B. crassifolia of the second year of life are also of interest as a raw material.