Raw Material Harvesting Research Articles

Measuring Carbon in Cities and Their Buildings through Reverse Engineering of Life Cycle Assessment

According to the European Green Deal, excessive carbon emissions are the origin of global warming and must be drastically reduced. Given that the building sector is one of the major sources of carbon emissions, results imperative to limit these emissions, especially in a city context where the density of buildings is commonly higher and rapidly increasing. All stages of the life cycle of a building, including raw material harvesting, manufacturing of products, use phase of the building, end of life, all generate or reduce carbon. The manufacture of construction materials accounts for 11% of all energy and process-related emissions annually. Additionally, recent estimates indicate that over 80% of all product-related environmental impacts of a building are determined during the design phase of the building. These indicators reflect the urgent need to explore a low-carbon measure method for building design. This is here done using a linear regression Reverse Engineering model and percentage calculation. One of the hypotheses formulated relates Global Warming Potential (GWP) of −30.000 CO2eq or lower (around −165 CO2eq/m2) in the 25% of a block of houses, to carbon further reductions by 11%. This paper has identified barriers in terms of the databases needed to achieve this task.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric characteristics of essential oils of plants of the genus Pycnanthemum (Lamiaceae) and peculiarities of their application in practice

Background. Not all plants are capable of producing essential oil (EO). There are 3.000 different plant EOs described in the world, but only 10 % of them are widely used by humans. In particular, perfumery and the food industry use the largest amount of natural EOs – 30 % and 40 % of the world production, respectively. A thorough study of EOs, knowledge of their components in both chemical and pharmacological sense will facilitate the improvement of the quality of human life. The purpose of our experimental study was to determine the EO potential of four species of the genus Pycnanthemum Michx. (Lamiaceae): P. montanum Michx., P. muticum (Michx.) Pers., P. tenuifolium Schrad., P. verticillatum var. pilosum (Nutt.) Cooperr. introduced in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. The above plants are representatives of the flora of North America. Methods. The EOs were obtained in laboratory conditions by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus. The raw material of the plants – a blended mass of leaves, inflorescences and the herbaceous part of the stem was used in an air-dry state. Harvesting of raw materials was carried out during the flowering phase of plants. The EOs content is given in terms of an absolute dry weight. The identification of compounds and their amount in each EO was determined by the method of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results. In the conditions of the forest-steppe of Ukraine, the introduced species of plants of the genus Pycnanthemum show a high level of EOs biosynthesis – 0.53–3.34 %. The dominant compounds common to the obtained essential oils are Pulegone, Isomenthone, and Isopinocamphone. The indicators of the content of pulegone exceed those of other compounds and reach 48.14–73.93 %. Pulegone is a controversial organic compound, since it exhibits a high biological activity and possesses pharmacological properties suitable for use in medical practice, but when cleaved, it forms toxic metabolites, in particular mentofuran. Conclusions. The obtained results indicate that plants of the genus Pycnanthemum, which are little known in Ukraine, have a high EO potential under the proposed growth conditions. Due to this, they are potential objects for use in domestic cultural phytocenoses. Considering the component composition of EOs with the dominant Pulegone, their consumption requires correct dosage.

Humic preparations in the Macleaya х kevensis Turill cultivation in the conditions of the Western Caucasian region

Over the past years highly effective phytopreparations with antibacterial activity have been created in Russia. Macleaya x kevensis Turill, which is a hybrid between heart-shaped Macleaya (Macleaya cordata) and small-fruited Macleaya (Macleaya microcarpa), can serve as a raw material for their production. To provide the pharmaceutical industry with this type of raw material in the conditions of the North Caucasian branch of VILAR, plantations of this crop have been created and research is being carried out to create a zonal technology for its cultivation. The basis of cultivatiov is the exogenous regulation of the processes of growth, development and bioproductivity of the plant organism through the use of organomineral and microfertilizers. In 2019–2022 experiments on testing humic fertilizers (Potassium Humate, Lignohumate) and their complexes with silicon-containing microfertilizer Siliplant were carried out on the Macleaya plantation. Treatments with these preparations were carried out: in the 1st year of the growing season – at the beginning of regrowth and after 30 days, in the 2nd and 3rd years of the growing season – at the beginning of the growing season and after the first harvesting of raw materials for growing plants. As a result of the tests, an increase in the growth and development of Macleaya plants was observed. The activation of growth processes contributed to an increase in crop yield in the first year with a single cut by 0.18–0.19 t/ha (17–18%), in the 2 and 3 years of the growing season by the sum of two cuts by 1.50–1.76 t/ha (20–24%) and the collection of alkaloids per hectare by 21–27%.

Plant-based traditional foods and beverages of Gumare Village, Botswana

The consumption of traditional and indigenous foods and beverages varies across different ethnic communities and is often influenced by geographical location. However, the diversity of edible plants is rapidly declining due to climate change, leading to a loss of knowledge about useful plants used by different communities before the plant itself becomes extinct. This research investigated the edible plant types and investigated the processing steps of plant-based traditional foods/dishes and beverages of Gumare village, located in the catchment area of the Okavango Delta in the northwest of Botswana. Questionnaire interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) were used to collect data. The study identified 52 wild and 19 domesticated edible plants used in the preparation of traditional foods/dishes and beverages of Gumare village. Maize, sorghum, millets, beans, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, bottle gourd and sweet potato are widely used domesticated crops. The wild edible plants are either directly used after minor processing or as recipes in traditional dishes and/or as an inoculum in the fermentation, as a substrate in traditional beverages and some as medicinal plants. However, some taboos and food safety challenges were observed in the use of certain plants. The study highlighted a decline in the use of traditional foods/dishes and beverages, particularly among the young generation. The youth indicated that they have a low interest in gathering traditional foods and beverages due to the time-consuming nature during harvesting and the labour-intensive processing. In addition, they indicated the dangers of attacks by wild animals from veld by reptiles (for example snakes and pythons) and alligators (crocodiles) from rivers during the harvesting of raw materials used in traditional foods and dishes. For the communities, the diverse edible wild plants documented are a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds such as dietary fibers, phenolics, terpenes, essential oils, carotenoids, and alkaloids that help to combat malnutrition and for use as traditional medicines to support health and wellness. In conclusion, the significant diversity of wild edible plants and domesticated crops in Gumare village, likely due to its location in the catchment area of the Okavango Delta, plays a crucial role in diet diversification and can contribute to food and nutrition security. However, for most wild edible plants of Botswana, information on their nutrient and bioactive compounds are still limited. This study provides baseline information for further chemical investigation and development of resources in the formulation of functional foods and nutraceuticals.Graphical

СРАВНИТЕЛЬНЫЙ АНАЛИЗ СОСТАВА И КОЛИЧЕСТВЕННОГО СОДЕРЖАНИЯ АНТОЦИАНОВ В ПЛОДАХ КЛЮКВЫ ОБЫКНОВЕННОЙ (VACCINIUM OXYCOCCUS L.) И КРУПНОПЛОДНОЙ (VACCINIUM MACROCARPON AIT.)

The authors carry out a comparative analysis of the fruits of the common cranberry, used in the Russian Federation as food and medicinal raw materials, and the fruits of the large-fruited cranberry, which is the most cultivated species, the cultivation of which began in the 19th century in Canada and the United States, and in Russia has been widely spread since 1980. An important group of biologically active substances in cranberry fruits is undoubtedly anthocyanins [5], which have a pronounced antioxidant activity, help strengthen the walls of blood vessels, stimulate the processes of protein biosynthesis, and have a stimulating effect on reparative processes. In vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that anthocyanin pigments can significantly reduce the rate of cancer cell division. HPLC method established the presence of anthocyanins in the fruits of common and large-fruited cranberries. In the composition of the anthocyanin fraction of all the studied samples, peonidin-3-arabinoside was identified, the presence of which makes it possible to reliably identify cranberry fruits and their processed products. The total amount of detected anthocyanin pigments ranges from 0.17% (1.31% by weight of absolutely dry raw materials) in fruits of fresh common cranberries to 0.27% (1.64% by weight of absolutely dry raw materials) in fruits of large-fruited cranberries of the Mack variety -Farlin The observed differences can be associated with both ecological and geographical factors, i.e. the difference caused by the harvesting of raw materials in different places where cranberries grow, and the season of harvesting fruits for analysis, which undoubtedly requires additional study of cranberry fruits from different regions of harvesting and harvesting time and will be continued in subsequent studies. The authors also found that during the preservation of cranberries by freezing, the content of anthocyanins decreases, which makes it possible to recommend the maximum processing of fresh raw materials.

Orman sertifikasyonunun odun hammaddesi üretim faaliyetlerine etkilerinin incelenmesi (Bolu Orman İşletme Müdürlüğü örneği)

Bu çalışmanın amacı, orman yönetim sertifikasının (OYS) odun hammaddesi üretimine etkilerini teknik ve çevresel açılardan araştırmak, sertifikasyon öncesi ve sonrası üretim işlerinin durumunu incelemektir. Çalışma alanı, 2013 yılında OYS alınmasına yönelik çalışmaların başlanarak 2014 yılı ortalarında tamamlandığı Bolu Orman İşletme Müdürlüğü (OİM)’dür. Çalışmada teknik elemanlar (29 kişi) ve orman üretim işçileri (21 kişi) ile gönüllülük esasına göre yüz yüze görüşme yöntemi ve anket tekniği kullanılarak veriler elde edilmiştir. Anket formları 5’li Likert ölçeğinde olup, katılımcıların temel bilgilerini ve OYS kapsamında teknik personelin ve orman işçilerinin OYS hakkındaki genel ve odun üretimi ile ilgili görüşlerini ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Anket sonuçlarına göre; OYS kapsamında üretim işçilerine verilen ilkyardım, temel iş sağlığı ve güvenliği eğitimlerinin sonuçlarının işçiler tarafından olumlu algılandığı ve konunun önemsendiği ortaya çıkmıştır. Üretim işçilerine sağlanan kişisel koruyucu donanımların orman alanlarında kesim ve diğer üretim faaliyetleri esnasında yaşanan iş kazalarında yaralanma şiddetlerini azalttığı belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca eğitimlerin sadece doğanın korunması için değil, üretimde çalışanların da bilgilendirilmesi için yapıldığı belirlenmiştir.

Features of Accumulation of Essential Oil in Bitter Wormwood Herbs of Flora of Voronezh Region of Russia

Introduction. The bitter wormwood herbs ( Artemisia absinthium L.) is used to reflexively enhance gastric juice secretion, increase appetite, and increase bile secretion. These pharmacological effects are due to the rich chemical composition of the feedstock, of which essential oil is an important component. The study of the peculiarities of accumulation of this group of compounds is relevant. Aim. The aim of this study the features of the accumulation of essential oil in bitter wormwood herbs, collected in agro- and urbo-cenoses of the Voronezh region. Materials and methods. In the Voronezh region, 13 raw material harvesting points were chosen to study the content of essential oil in it, which was carried out according to the methodology of the FS "Bitter wormwood herbs." Correlation coefficients were analyzed to examine in detail the effect of basic pollutants (heavy metals and arsenic) on the accumulation of essential oil. Results and discussion. All analyzed vegetable raw materials are considered benign in terms of essential oil content. The maximum amount of essential oil (2.04 %) is noted in a sample of bitter wormwood herbs growing on the territory of the Khopersky Reserve. The minimum amount of essential oil was noted in a sample collected on the street of the city of Voronezh (0.63 %). In general, for samples of control territories and agrobiocenoses, a higher content of essential oil can be noted than in samples of urbobiocenoses. Thus, the content of essential oil in the herb of bitter wormwood collected in territories deprived of human economic activity amounted to 1.85–2.04 %, near agricultural land – 1.61–1.85 %. In a number of urbanized territories, samples of bitter wormwood herbs with a much lower content of essential oil were harvested – less than 1 % – on the streets of the cities of Voronezh, Ostrogozhsk, Borisoglebsk, along the M4 highway in Ramonsky and Pavlovsky districts, along the railway. The calculated values of correlation coefficients showed a strong negative effect of lead, cadmium, nickel, cobalt, zinc on the accumulation of essential oil bitter wormwood herb. Conclusion. The lowest content of essential oil was found in samples harvested on the streets of large cities of the region, along road routes and the railway. This makes it possible to conclude that the anthropogenic load has a negative effect on the accumulation of this group of compounds in bitter wormwood herbs.

The quantitative content determination of main groups of biologically active substances in batches of Viburnum opulus fruits

Aim. To determine the quantitative content of the main groups of biologically active substances (BAS) in batches of Viburnum opulus fruits using pharmacopeial methods for their subsequent use in the standardization of the plant raw material.Materials and methods. For the study, 6 batches of air-dried Viburnum opulus fruits crushed to a particle size of 1 – 2 mm and harvested in different regions of Ukraine in the mass fruiting phase in October-November 2020 were used. The quantitative determination of polyphenols and tannins was performed using the spectrophotometric method at a wavelength of 760 nm calculated with reference to pyrogallol and dried substance. The total amount of hydroxycinnamic acids was determined according to the method of the SPhU (State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine) 2.0 described in the monograph “Kidney TeaN” calculated with reference to rosemary acid. The total amount of organic acids was determined by the titrimetric method according to the method of the monograph of the SPhU 2.1 “Rose hipsN” calculated with reference to malic acid.Results and discussion. The quantitative content of polyphenols (calculated with reference to pyrogallol and dried substance) in batches of Viburnum opulus fruits varied by about 1.4 times from 1.74 ± 0.01 % to 2.36 ± 0.01 %. According to the results obtained, the quantitative content of tannins (calculated with reference to pyrogallol and dried substance) in batches of Viburnum opulus fruits varied by 1.7 times from 0.73 ± 0.01 % to 1.23 ± 0.01 %. The quantitative content of the total amount of hydroxycinnamic acids calculated with reference to rosemary acid in batches of Viburnum opulus fruits ranged by 1.2 times from 3.96 ± 0.01 % to 4.73 ± 0.01 %. The quantitative content of the total amount of organic acids calculated with reference to malic acid in batches of Viburnum opulus fruits fluctuated more than 1.3 times from 6.80 ± 0.01 % to 9.08 ± 0.01 %.Conclusions. The quantitative content of the main groups of biologically active substances has been determined in 6 batches of Viburnum opulus fruits harvested in different regions of Ukraine using pharmacopoeial methods: polyphenols (varied by 1.4 times), tannins (varied by 1.7 times), the total amount of hydroxycinnamic (varied by 1.2 times), and the total amount of organic acids (varied by 1.3 times) calculated with reference to dried substance. The content of the groups of biologically active substances in batches of Viburnum opulus fruits slightly correlates with the place of the raw material harvesting. Thus, the selected methods of the SPhU 2.0 are quite suitable for determining the quantitative content of polyphenols, tannins and of the total amount of hydroxycinnamic and organic acids in batches of Viburnum opulus fruits; they can be used in further studies to standardize the raw material.

The content and dynamics of accumulation of essential oils of <i>Myrtus communis</i> L., <i>Rosmarinus officinalis</i> L., <i>Laurus nobilis</i> L. under the conditions of the introduction in Azerbaijan

The article presents the results of a comparative study of the mass fraction of essential oil and the dynamics of its accumulation in the leaves of subtropical introduced species Laurus nobilis L., Myrtus communis L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. in the Mardakian Arboretum located on the Absheron Peninsula. These species are cultivated as evergreen trees and shrubs, with an optimal autumn-winter leaf ripening period. The natural conditions of this region of Azerbaijan are characterized by a dry subtropical climate. The studies have shown that Rosmarinus officinalis raw materials dried to an air-dry state contain 1.5 times more essential oil compared to other species, both on average for the entire study period and separately for each month, with the greatest accumulation of essential oil in November (mass fraction 0.88%). The features in the dynamics of oil accumulation related to the biological properties of these crops and the conditions of their growth are shown. If Rosmarinus officinalis and Myrtus communis shrubs have a clearly expressed seasonality of essential oil biosynthesis associated with the leaf ripening period, then Laurus nobilis , as a tree crop, has no pronounced dynamics from September to March. In the culture of Rosmarinus officinalis and Myrtus communis on the Absheron Peninsula, it is characterized by a late autumn-winter period of oil accumulation, respectively, a high mass fraction of rosemary oil in October-November (from 0.83 to 0.88%) is associated with the beginning of the second wave of flowering; the maximum yield of myrtle essential oil (8.3 g/kg) was recorded in February - during the full ripening of the leaf. The conducted studies confirm the assessments conducted earlier of the high prospects of the introduction of these species into the conditions of the subtropical climate of Absheron and indicate their high essential oil content. The data obtained allow us to recommend autumn period of the year for the harvesting of raw materials for Laurus nobilis , late autumn time is the best for harvesting of Rosmarinus officinalis and winter period is the best for Myrtus communis in order to obtain the maximum yield of essential oil.

Сравнительный фитохимический анализ настоев травы манжетки обыкновенной и травы манжетки мягкой

The research data revealed the existence of various pharmacological effects of Alchemilla vulgaris herb infusions and confirmed the prospects of introducing these infusions into medical practice. Biologically active substances (BAS) in the Alchemilla herb are of high variability, which adversely affects the phytochemical composition of the infusion and its pharmacological properties. The expansion of the raw material base of Alchemilla is possible due to Alchemilla mollis, which is a micro-specie with a stable chemical composition. Objective: a comparative analysis of the phytochemical composition of infusions of A. mollis and A. vulgaris herbs to assess the possibility of expanding the raw material base of the aerial part due to the cultivated micro-specie A. mollis. Materials and Methods. The objects of the study are A. vulgaris herb infusion (AVI) and A. mollis herb infusion (AMI). The harvesting of raw materials was being produced during the period of mass flowering from cultivated Alchemilla mollis (Buuser) Rothm and wild-growing Alchemilla vulgaris L. s. I. Preliminary qualitative analysis was performed by conventional methods. The content of tannins, polysaccharides, ascorbic acid, and flavonoids were quantified. Results. A preliminary qualitative analysis showed the similarity of the studied infusions, including the presence of phenolic compounds, markers of the genus Alchemilla (caffeic acid, luteolin and quercetin derivatives). The peculiarity of AMI is the predominant content of condensed tannins, which is consistent with the data on the accumulation of this group of biologically active substances in A. mollis herb. Significant higher amounts of tannins (p<0.05) and ascorbic acid (p<0.05) were found in BAS; no differences were found in the amount of polysaccharides and flavonoids. Conclusion. The conducted study indicates the similarity of the chemical composition of the studied infusions, which allows the use of AMI similarly to AVI, and A. mollis herb to expand the raw material base of the herb.

Edible Ferns of the Amur Region and Their Rational Use

Currently, despite of the active development of agriculture and the cultivation of many species, the use of wild food plants is relevant. Ferns also belong to such plants. Eight species of edible ferns grow in the Amur Region, of which 6 species are widespread and form large thickets. The population of the Amur Region uses 4 species for food, the most common is Pteridium japonicum, rarely –Athyrium sinense, Athyrium monomachii, Dryopteris expansa. The literature data on bracken harvesting on the territory of the Amur Region from 1970 to 2019 are presented. It was revealed that the collection takes place spontaneously and unsystematically. Irrational harvesting of raw materials leads to a decrease in yield and quality of harvested products. To restore bracken thickets after collecting, a recovery period of 4-8 years is required. Schemes for the use of fern populations are proposed, taking into account the period of their recovery. For a reasonable recommendation for the use of Athyrium sinense, Athyrium monomachii, Dryopteris expansa, Onoclea interrupta, Diplazium sibiricum in food, it is necessary to conduct research on their chemical composition, nutritional value, methods of preparation and storage.

Технология воспроизводства пихты для получения хвойной лапки

The article considers the use of innovative technologies in logging industry. Manufacture of products “for health” can turn into a substantial profit if one approaches the business competently and chooses a low-competitive niche. Nowadays, there are still types of industries where competition is minimal, despite high consumer demand. These include the industrial production of fir needle oil, which is popular with consumers. It is famous for its healing properties and is used in treating colds, intestinal issues, joints, and nervous disorders; in the manufacture of cosmetics and medicines (ointments and creams). However, there are a number of issues related to the organization of the fir needle oil production, which are the basis of legislation in this area. This applies to the harvesting of raw materials. The share of fir stands in the composition of forests is constantly decreasing. In the European part of Russia, it became necessary to find a way to ensure a regular supply of fir needle oil enterprises with the necessary raw materials. The article proposes a new technology for the artificial reproduction of fir plantations for the purpose of their further use in the production of fir needle oil. A periodic cycle, which allows producing fir needle oil wherever a fir plantation is laid out, is recommended. The design of the device has also been developed. It helps to reduce the planting time, the loads on people when forming the planting spot and thereby increase labor productivity. The article materials can serve as a guide for the efficient use of production resources (people and machinery) for those who lease land for fir growing for oil production. For citation: Tsarev E.М., Rukomojnikov K.P., Anisimov S.E., Tatarinov D.S. Fir Reproduction Technology for Harvesting Coniferous Boughs. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2021, no. 6, pp. 79–88. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2021-6-79-88

Some aspects of morphobiology, conservation of resource potential, crop cultivation and harvesting of raw materials of promising Ferula species

Background: The purpose of this work was to increase scientific information against the background of increasing anthropogenic pressure on nature, which causes irreparable damage to the flora, especially the most sought-after raw materials (especially resins). An improvement of the situation would require cultivating wild species and establishing new plantations that combine the most effective method of cultivating and producing raw material (resins) from Ferula tadshikorum Pimenov and Ferula foetida (Bunge) Regel, in Uzbekistan. Methods: In the present note we reviewed the existing literature for Uzbekistan and the surrounding areas to compile guidelines for the production of Ferula. Results: In total, 5 different fractions of Ferula resin can be obtained, differing from each other in quality and organoleptic properties, which affects the grade and cost of the final product. The raw materials of both species of Ferula are marketed under the common commercial name "assafetida resin. After the collection of raw materials, the roots are again covered with soil. However, according to our observations, after such a long harvest and many cuts applied, the restoration of plants does not occur, the plants die. Therefore, we recommend stop collecting after receiving the Khalva-donak fraction, because this will result in better and more expensive raw materials for the market, and at the same time, will help to preserve and restore plants for subsequent years of harvesting. Conslusion: When harvesting raw materials from underground parts of two species of Ferula, it is of paramount importance to leave a mandatory 20-25% of plants intact to produce seed material. Being monocarpics, both species produce seeds only once during their ontogenesis. The obtained seed material helps to maintain the population and will also serve for further expansion of plantations. Key words: Ferula tadshikorum, Ferula foetida, medicinal plant, resin, yield, plantations, Uzbekistan.

Synergies between Direct Air Capture Technologies and Solar Thermochemical Cycles in the Production of Methanol

Methanol is an example of a valuable chemical that can be produced from water and carbon dioxide through a chemical process that is fully powered by concentrated solar thermal energy and involves three steps: direct air capture (DAC), thermochemical splitting and methanol synthesis. In the present work, we consider the whole value chain from the harvesting of raw materials to the final product. We also identify synergies between the aforementioned steps and collect them in five possible scenarios aimed to reduce the specific energy consumption. To assess the scenarios, we combined data from low and high temperature DAC with an Aspen Plus® model of a plant that includes water and carbon dioxide splitting units via thermochemical cycles (TCC), CO/CO2 separation, storage and methanol synthesis. We paid special attention to the energy required for the generation of low oxygen partial pressures in the reduction step of the TCC, as well as the overall water consumption. Results show that suggested synergies, in particular, co-generation, are effective and can lead to solar-to-fuel efficiencies up to 10.2% (compared to the 8.8% baseline). In addition, we appoint vacuum as the most adequate strategy for obtaining low oxygen partial pressures.

Environmental impact of cement production and Solutions: A review

This paper reviews the impact of cement industry towards the global environment and solutions to the problem. The increasing harvesting of raw materials for mounting cement manufacturing causes reduction in quantity of the non-renewable resources such as limestone. The activities linked to harvesting of the resources from natural surroundings, damages the green landscape which is the habitat of flora and fauna exposing to the risk of ecological imbalance. The continuous reaping of these precious resources, exposes it to the risk of depletion in future. Furthermore, the raw materials processing phases in the factory releases dust, noises, greenhouse gases especially carbon dioxide that contaminates the environment and aggravates the climate change. These uninvited environmental issues cause distress to the lifestyle of mankind. Therefore, enhancing the manufacturing technology of cement plant for cleaner production is one of the resolutions to this issue. Approach of using industrial waste as supplementary cementitious material or cement free concrete also would reduce dependency on cement demand. Success in utilizing other alternative material which production consumes lesser natural resources, economic and has lesser harm to the nature to act as binder in concrete would contribute to sustainable and healthier environment for future generation.

Variation of terpene lactones composition in Ginkgo biloba (L.) leaves under the influence of harvesting time and growing location

Our research aim was to investigate quantitative composition of terpene lactones in G. biloba leaf samples cultivated in the Nordic Baltic region (Lithuania) and present recommendations to industry on rational planning of the collection of plant material rich in terpene lactones. The data of our study showed that the location of the tree and the time of harvest have significant effect (p < 0.05) on the amount of terpene lactones. Studies have shown that the age of the plant affects the amount of the accumulated terpene lactones in Ginkgo biloba leaves, and thus it is important to determine the optimal age of the plantation trees for the harvesting of raw material. A tendency was found that the amount of terpene lactones in Ginkgo biloba leaf samples decrease with the increasing age of the plant. To ensure the optimal collection of raw material, it is recommended to place the G. biloba plantations in northern (to collect the highest amount of ginkgolide A, B, C) and western (to collect the highest amount of bilobalide) phyto-regions. Due to the maximum concentration of ginkgolide C, A, B and bilobalide in samples, October is recommended as appropriate times to collect G. biloba leaves for the industry.

Характеристика ценопопуляций Serratula centauroides (Compositae) в Забайкалье

The coenopopulations of Serratula centauroides in various plant communities of Transbaikalia have been studied. In the study areas 10 geobotanical descriptions were made in plant communities with the participation of S. centauroides. In the investigated area S. centauroides is found on dry rocky slopes, in herb and sandy steppes. Depending on the growing conditions, the density of individuals in coenopopulations ranges from 0.18 to 1.80 individuals per 1 m2. The highest occurrence of S. centauroides is noted in communities dominated by Gramineous and Artemisia: Gramineous-Artemisia-herb, Filifolium-Artemisia-Gramineous, Gramineous-Artemisia, Oxytropis-Gramineous and Allium-Artemisia. Studied coenopopulations S. centauroides are confined to the following communities: Filifolium-herb, Gramineous- Artemisia-herb, Sophora-herb, Filifolium-Artemisia-Gramineous, Gramineous-Artemisia, Agropyron- Carex, Carex-herb, Oxytropis-Gramineous and Allium-Artemisia. The phytomass, biological and exploitation resources, the possible volumes of annual harvesting of raw material of S. centauroides were determined. The phytomass of S. centauroides herb ranges from 8.10±3.46 to 75.93±19.55 g/m2 (air-dry raw material). The average phytomass of 1 individual of S. centauroides herb varies from 13.67±3.59 to 67.14±14.30 g (air-dry raw materials). The total biological resources of S. centauroides herb is 777.9 t (fresh raw materials) and 266.8 tons (air-dry raw materials). The total exploitation resources of S. centauroides herb is 224.7 t (fresh raw materials) and 79.8 t (air-dry raw materials). The possible volume of annual harvesting of raw materials of S. centauroides in the studied coenopopulations on the territory of the Trans-Baikal Territory and the Republic of Buryatia amounts to 37.5 t (fresh raw materials) and 13.3 t (air-dry raw materials).

Morphological intraspecific variability of some &lt;i&gt;Thymus vulgaris&lt;/i&gt; L. varieties in connection with their productivity

Relevance. Common thyme or garden thyme Thymus vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae L.) is the medicinal and aromatic plant containing essential oil which is the source of thymol and other phenol derivatives. This species is characterized by significant morphological and chemical polymorphism. Thymus vulgaris L. has numerous varieties and subspecies which are complicates for the identification of raw materials and makes its quality unstable. The study of intraspecific variability, not only by phenotype but also by biochemical parameters, is an urgent task in the search for varieties and samples of Thýmus vulgáris L. that are promising for the medical industry.Materials and methods. The research material was obtained from botanical institutions and firms in Russia, the Czech Republic and Germany and introduced on the experimental field of Vegetable Growing Department of The Russian State Agricultural University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. Studies were conducted from 2014 to 2019. Sowing the seeds was carried out in the 3rd decade of March in cassettes in a winter greenhouse. Seedlings planted in the field at the end of MayField experiments were laid at the «Vegetable Experimental Station named V.I. Edelstein » in accordance with generally accepted methods of field experiments. A comprehensive comparative assessment of the studied samples was carried out according to a number of criteria, in accordance with the recommendations of the State Register of Selection Achievements and the matrix of the morphological description of plants of the Lamiaceae family developed at the Leibniz-Institut for Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK, Germany). Harvesting of raw materials and crop yield was carried out in the phase of mass flowering. Laboratory studies were carried out in the laboratories of the Vegetable Growing Department, Department of Botany, Selection and Seed Production of Garden Plants, Russian State Autonomous University – Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev. The quantitative determination of essential oil was carried out according to the GF RF XIV. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel.Results. The possibility of growing samples of Thymus vulgaris L. of different geographical origin under the conditions of introduction in the Moscow region is shown. A comparative study of the main morphological characteristics of plant samples of Thymus vulgaris L. revealed significant variability in the form of inflorescence, leaf index, the presence or absence of pubescence, anthocyanin staining, torsion of the leaf, color of corollas and leaves, plant height, yield, quantitative content of essential oil and flavonoids. At the same time, the height of the plants was relatively stable every year and between varieties. According to a set of indicators, the most productive and stable samples was “Di Roma”, which is characterized by a high yield of aerial mass (104 g / plant), a consistently high content of essential oil (1.04-1.8%) with a predominant thymol component (39-80%), high flavonoid content (1,47-2,26%). Varieties "Medoc" and "Deutsche Winter", which at a lower yield are characterized by a high content of essential oil and flavonoids.

Effect of ecological factors on the accumulation of phenolic compounds in Iris species from Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine.

It is important to conduct studies on the influence of environmental factors on the accumulation of secondary metabolites in plants, as well as the cultivation of plants and harvesting of their raw material. In this study, we examined the influence of habitat types, soil composition, climatic factors and altitude on the content of phenolic compounds in Iris species from different populations in Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine. According to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, 25 compounds (flavonoids, isoflavonoids, isoflavonoid glucosides, xanthones, phenolcarboxylic acids) were identified in the methanol extracts of 16 samples of Iris rhizomes. The quantitative data were further analysed by principal component analysis (PCA) to reveal the impact of environmental factors on the accumulation of compounds in plants. Iris pseudacorus from Latvia and Lithuania had a more diverse composition of phenolic compounds than samples from Ukraine. Sampled plants of the Iris subg. Iris had a higher content of the analysed compounds than those of Iris subg. Limniris. PCA results showed that the levels of phenolic compounds in Iris rhizomes were influenced by the content of soil nutrients. The phosphorus and potassium content had a significant impact on the levels of phenolic compounds, whereas the impact of nitrogen content was not significant. Meteorological factors had a small impact; however, sunshine duration had a significant positive effect and the amount of precipitation had a significant negative impact. The results of this study suggest that rhizomes of Iris species may be an important source of pharmacologically active compounds such as flavonoids, isoflavonoids and xanthones. Studies on the effect of environmental factors on the production and accumulation of secondary metabolites in Iris species are important because they contribute to knowledge of quantitative parameters of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants and could be employed for the cultivation and harvesting of raw material for medicinal purposes.

Study of the variability of rutin, vitexin, hyperoside, quercetin in “Crataegi folium cum flore” of hawthorn (Crataegus L.) species from Russian flora

The genus Crataegus L. involving several hundred species is distributed throughout the temperate zne of the nothern hemisphere. Nevertheless, only a few species are included in Pharmacopoeias and used for medical purpose. As hawthorn plants usually grow in small groups, the harvesting of raw material is complicated. The search of species suitable for further inclusion in Pharmacopoeia may facilitate this task. Thus, a comparative analysis of the flavonoid content in herbal raw material ("folium cum flore") from Crataegus species growing in Russia was performed. We compared section Crataegus (7 species) widely distributed in Europe, South-Western and Central Asia and often used for medical purpose with section Sanguineae(8 species) growing in the Asian region of the Russian Federation. Total flavonoid (expressed as hyperoside) yields of the 15 Crataegus spp. investigated by UV–vis spectrophotometry ranged from 12.1 ± 1.1 (C. maximowiczii) to 22.1 ± 0.9 mg/g (C. ambigua), average – 16.5 mg/g. Assays for rutin, vitexin, hyperoside and quercetin were performed using the HPLC-UV method. Hyperoside was the predominant compound in all species except C. nigra and ranged from 1.55 (C. nigra) to 12.59 mg/g (C. monogyna), median – 4.47 mg/g. Rutin ranged from 0.35 to 5.37 mg/g, median 1.17 mg/g. Vitexin – from 0.52 to 3.90 mg/g, median 1.67 mg/g. Quercetin ranged from 0.072 to 0.945 mg/g, while the average value was tenfold lower than that in other flavonoids – 0.144 mg/g. Hyperoside, rutin and quercetin content in plant material demonstrated no significant difference between sections Sanguineae and Crataegus, while the content of vitexin was higher in sect. Sanguineae. Thus, the resource base of Crataegus species might be expanded for "folium cum flore" raw material harvesting.