Biodiversity of medicinal plants from the northern Black Sea coastal wetlands. Part 1. Biodiversity of medicinal plants from Shabla-Ezeretz Lake Complex Protected Area.

Abstract

This study aims to supplement the available research data on medicinal plants for the territory of Shabla-Ezeretz Lake Complex Protected Area by carrying out a taxonomic and analysis of the floristic elements and creating a database of their therapeutic action, usable parts and the groups of diseases they are applicable for. The medicinal plants identified as such in our surveys constitute 113 species of higher plants referring to 46 families and 91 genera. The predominant biological types are herbaceous perennial plants - 69 species or 61 percent. With respect to moisture and humidity as a factor dominant position hold the mesophytes - 49 species (43%). Eurasian geo-elements are prevalent (26 species or 23%), followed by Euro-Mediterranean, cosmopolitans and sub-Mediterranean (14 species or 12%). Among the medicinal plants in the studied wetlands there are 33 species (29%) of conservation significance. The established medicinal plants have a wide variety of more than 38 types of healing action. Half of them are used mainly for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, kidney and urinary tract diseases, respiratory diseases, and those with haemostatic action. The species in which the above ground part (herba) is collected dominate over the rest and represent half of the established for the area medicinal plants.