Biodiversity of endemic plants of the Western Balkan area as a source of new medicines

Abstract

The biodiversity of W Balkan includes 7,000 vascular plants. Ethnobotanical research have confirmed so far use of 700 species in human and veterinarian phytotherapy and nutrition [1,2]. Aim of this research was to determine a level of diversity of medicinal wild flora, as well as, based on its phylogenetic-biochemical relationships, to evaluate diversity of the possible medicinal flora and its potential in terms of the occurrance of new chemical compounds and their use in modern phytotherapy. In order to achieve all planned objectives, the following methodology has been applied: field research on different profiles, including ethnobotanical interviews, followed at the end by a comparative taxonomic-biochemical evaluation. Among plants that could be potentially significant in terms of the pharmacology 225 endemic species of W Balkan were identified. The most significant new resources belong to the following genera: Picea, Pinus, Juniperus, Drypis, Silene, Aquilegia, Helleborus, Alyssum, Cardamine, Potentilla, Astragalus, Genista, Oxytropis, Euphorbia, Rhamnus, Viola, Athamanta, Eryngium, Pancicia, Peucedanum, Seseli, Primula, Gentiana, Asperula, Vincetoxicum, Halacsya, Moltkia, Acinos, Micromeria, Salvia, Satureja, Stachys, Teucrium, Thymus, Euphrasia, Pedicularis, Scrophularia, Veronica, Plantago, Lonicera, Viburnum, Knautia, Scabiosa, Campanula, Edraianthus, Symphyandra, Achillea, Amphoricarpos, Centaurea, Crepis, Leucanthemum, Senecio, Fritillaria, Lilium, Scilla, Dioscorea, Crocus, Iris and Arum. Phylogenetic relationships with known species indicates that afore mentioned gen pool hides new metabolites, such as alkaloids, heterosides, saponins, essential oils and other secondary metabolites.