Медична ботаніка в системі ботанічних садів України
The study analyzed the historical background and the formation of medical botany as a new scientific discipline at the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine. Throughout its entire period of existence (as a department and later as a laboratory), the Medical Botany division has...
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M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine
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| author | Dzhurenko, Nadiia Palamarchuk, Olena Sokol, Oksana Ledenеv, Sergiy |
| author_facet | Dzhurenko, Nadiia Palamarchuk, Olena Sokol, Oksana Ledenеv, Sergiy |
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| datestamp_date | 2026-02-15T12:55:18Z |
| description | The study analyzed the historical background and the formation of medical botany as a new scientific discipline at the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine. Throughout its entire period of existence (as a department and later as a laboratory), the Medical Botany division has functioned as a center for consolidating the efforts of botanists, florists, resource management specialists, iatrochemists, pharmacologists, clinicians, and other relevant experts from Ukraine. The coordinated work of these specialists has focused on the conservation and enhancement of biological resources, as well as the advancement and institutional development of phytotherapy in Ukraine. The primary scientific direction of the Laboratory of Medical Botany is the mobilization of Ukraine’s medicinal plant resources for disease prevention and enhancing human performance under conditions of ecological stress. This requires targeted research aimed at: forecasting prospects for enriching the raw-material base of medicinal plants through the selection and inclusion of native Ukrainian flora and introduced species that represent valuable sources of biologically active compounds; conducting morphological and phytochemical studies of medicinal plants to determine the potential for their multifunctional use; identifying and investigating plants with antiviral, immunostimulatory, radioprotective, antimutagenic, insecticidal and other biologically active properties; introducing promising species into cultivation; searching for and utilizing unconventional plants as potential sources of biologically active compounds for medicinal, nutritional, technical and other applications; ensuring waste-free technologies for processing medicinal plant raw materials through the use of secondary resources to obtain complex biologically active substances; developing therapeutic and prophylactic products of special purpose, as well as phytopreparations with a broad spectrum of physiological activity; conserving rare and endangered species; and promoting medicinal plants through educational and outreach activities.The plants of the collection fund are organized according to a systematic principle, taking into account their pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, choleretic, diuretic, immunostimulatory, sedative, antispasmodic, hemostatic, and other activities, which are determined by the content of biologically active compounds (carbohydrates, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, volatile organic compounds, and others). In 2015, the Collection of Medicinal Plants was designated as a national heritage object. |
| doi_str_mv | 10.46341/PI2025023 |
| first_indexed | 2026-02-08T08:11:58Z |
| format | Article |
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© The Authors. This content is provided under CC BY 4.0 license.
Plant Introduction, 108, 46–54 (2025) ISSN 1605-6574, e-ISSN 2663-290X
CHRONICLE
Medical botany in the system of botanical gardens of Ukraine
Nadiia Dzhurenko *, Olena Palamarchuk, Oksana Sokol, Sergiy Ledenеv
M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Sadovo-Botanichna str. 1, 01103 Kyiv, Ukraine;
* medbotanica@ukr.net
Received: 18.11.2025 | Accepted: 24.12.2025 | Published: 30.12.2025
Abstract
The study analyzed the historical background and the formation of medical botany as a new scientific
discipline at the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine. Throughout its entire
period of existence (as a department and later as a laboratory), the Medical Botany division has
functioned as a center for consolidating the efforts of botanists, florists, resource management specialists,
iatrochemists, pharmacologists, clinicians, and other relevant experts from Ukraine. The coordinated
work of these specialists has focused on the conservation and enhancement of biological resources, as
well as the advancement and institutional development of phytotherapy in Ukraine. The primary scientific
direction of the Laboratory of Medical Botany is the mobilization of Ukraine’s medicinal plant resources
for disease prevention and enhancing human performance under conditions of ecological stress. This
requires targeted research aimed at: forecasting prospects for enriching the raw-material base of medicinal
plants through the selection and inclusion of native Ukrainian flora and introduced species that represent
valuable sources of biologically active compounds; conducting morphological and phytochemical studies
of medicinal plants to determine the potential for their multifunctional use; identifying and investigating
plants with antiviral, immunostimulatory, radioprotective, antimutagenic, insecticidal and other biologically
active properties; introducing promising species into cultivation; searching for and utilizing unconventional
plants as potential sources of biologically active compounds for medicinal, nutritional, technical and other
applications; ensuring waste-free technologies for processing medicinal plant raw materials through the
use of secondary resources to obtain complex biologically active substances; developing therapeutic
and prophylactic products of special purpose, as well as phytopreparations with a broad spectrum of
physiological activity; conserving rare and endangered species; and promoting medicinal plants through
educational and outreach activities.
The plants of the collection fund are organized according to a systematic principle, taking into account their
pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, choleretic, diuretic, immunostimulatory, sedative,
antispasmodic, hemostatic, and other activities, which are determined by the content of biologically active
compounds (carbohydrates, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, volatile organic compounds, and others). In
2015, the Collection of Medicinal Plants was designated as a national heritage object.
Keywords: medical botany, medicinal plants, aromatherapy, phytocombinatorics, phytoergonomics
https://doi.org/10.46341/PI2025023
UDC 5581.192:581.144.4:582.638.21(477-25)
Authors’ contributions: Nadiia Dzhurenko contributed to the analysis of the historical pathway of medical botany at the M.M. Gryshko
National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine. Olena Palamarchuk provided additional input to the analysis of the historical path
of medical botany at the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine. Oksana Sokol was responsible for the
collection component of the Medical Botany Laboratory. Sergiy Ledenyv researched the insecticidal properties of plants.
Funding: None.
Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8210-445X
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8649-6806
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6297-7912
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6909-4443
Plant Introduction • 108 47
Medical botany in the system of botanical gardens of Ukraine
In the past, most botanical gardens
originated as apothecary gardens, where
‘medicinal herbs’ were primarily cultivated.
Subsequently, such activity ceased to be a
priority. The medical function of botanical
gardens is crucial at the present stage of our
development, particularly under wartime
conditions, which determines the growing
interest in medicinal plants (MP) within the
botanical garden system of Ukraine.
On December 15, 2025, it will be 45 years
since the establishment of the Department of
Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapy, which later
was reorginized into Laboratory of Medical
Botany at the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical
Garden of the NAS of Ukraine (NBG). It was
created in accordance with the Resolution
of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences
of the Ukrainian SSR No. 570 of December
29, 1978, “On the development of research
on medicinal plants and their application
in medicine,” and based on the available
capacities of the Central Botanical Garden
of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian
SSR (Order No. 228-K of December 15, 1980).
The duties of Acting Head of the Department
of Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapy were
assigned to A.P. Lebeda. The department
initially included the research teams of
the following specialists: PhD in medicine
V.V. Kryvenko, PhD in biology O.Y. Taldykina,
and PhD in chemistry S.M. Loos.
The idea of establishing such a unit
originated with Academician Andrii
Mykhailovych Hrodzynskyi, with the support
of this innovation by Borys Yevhenovych
Paton, the President of the National Academy
of Sciences. This initiative provided impetus
to the development of a distinct scientific field
– medical botany, which addresses aspects of
studying and using medicinal plants related to
specific taxa, as well as issues of phytotherapy,
phytodesign, and ethnomedicine, one of the
priority areas among numerous scientific
studies.
Throughout its entire period of existence
(as a department and later as a laboratory),
the medical botany division at the NBG has
functioned as a center for consolidating
the efforts of botanists, florists, resource
specialists, pharmacologists, clinicians, and
other relevant experts of Ukraine. Their joint
work is aimed at fulfilling tasks related to the
conservation and enhancement of biological
resources, as well as the development of
phytotherapy in Ukraine. This specialized unit
aims to mobilize Ukraine’s plant resources for
safeguarding public health under conditions of
ecological distress exacerbated by the state of
war.
Within the system of botanical gardens
of Ukraine, the following areas are being
developed:
• botanical research integrating
systematics, resource studies, and
conservation of the gene pool of MP;
• the so-called ‘medicine for the healthy
life’ (pharmacosanation) applying plants
with adaptogenic properties (families
Araliaceae, Schisandraceae, Asteraceae,
etc.), as well as wild or cultivated fruit
and berry species with medicinal
properties (seabuckthorn, rowan,
hawthorn, viburnum, elderberry, etc.);
• a critical analysis of the experience of
empirical medicine (i.e., folk medicine,
traditional Eastern medicine, and
homeopathy);
• the introduction of endangered and rare
MP species, as well as plant species from
other countries, as sources of genetic
material.
The leading role of botanical research lies in
the fact that systematists, florists and resource
specialists forecast the prospects of the raw
material base, determine harvesting volumes,
assess the possibilities of introducing plants
into cultivation, identify the composition
of biologically active compounds and their
required effects on the human body, establish
the botanical name of the plant and the
organ to be used and conduct informational
screening.
An informational screening of Ukraine’s MP
was conducted, including the identification
of biological, chemical, and medical data
within several frameworks: ‘Medicinal plants
containing cardiac glycosides’ (Lebeda, 2002);
‘Medicinal plants containing anthracene
derivatives’ (Lebeda, 2003a, 2003b); ‘Medicinal
plants containing iridoids’ (Lebeda, 2004);
‘Medicinal plants containing coumarins’
(Lebeda, 2005a, 2005b); ‘Ethnobotany of
tropical and subtropical plants introduced into
Ukraine’ (Lebeda, 2005c); ‘Medicinal plants
containing alkaloids’ (Lebeda, 2006); ‘Medicinal
plants containing saponins’ (Lebeda, 2007);
48 Plant Introduction • 108
Dzhurenko et al.
‘Medicinal plants containing carotenoids‘
(Lebeda, 2008a, 2008b); ‘Medicinal plants
containing phytoecdysteroids’ (Lebeda, 2009);
‘Medicinal plants containing lignans’ (Lebeda,
2011a, 2011b); and ‘Medicinal plants containing
quinones’ (Lebeda, 2012). This work contributes
to solving an important problem related to
the provision of comprehensive information,
eliminating randomness in selecting promising
medicinal plant species for in-depth research,
facilitating the introduction of new species
into scientific and practical use, expanding
the raw material base, and accelerating
the development of new plant-derived
pharmaceuticals. It is based on summarized
data on plant species that contain the major
groups of biologically active compounds,
serving as a foundation for biodiversity
conservation monitoring. He is also the
compiler of the encyclopedic reference books
“Medicinal plants” (Dzhurenko et al., 1989) and
a co-compiler of the edition “Medicinal plants:
a complete encyclopedia” (Lebeda, 2004;
2006). He prepared the scientific reference
works “Catalogue of medicinal plants of the
botanical gardens and arboreta of Ukraine”
(Lebeda, 2009) and “Catalogue of rare plants of
the botanical gardens and arboreta of Ukraine”
(Lebeda, 2011b). The International Council
of Botanical Gardens for Plant Conservation
recognized the scientific reference work
“Catalogue of medicinal plants of the botanical
gardens and arboreta of Ukraine” (Lebeda,
2009) as one of significant importance for
addressing the issues outlined in the Global
Strategy for Plant Conservation.
The results obtained in the field of
medical botany have been reflected in
numerous scientific publications and have
been distinguished with the National Award
of Ukraine and the L.P. Symyrenko Award.
The encyclopedic reference book “Medicinal
plants” gained nationwide recognition and was
nominated for the National Award of Ukraine
in 1992. The reference edition comprises over
1,297 articles and features 754 illustrations,
offering morphological and botanical
information on MP, as well as methods for
harvesting, storage, and use. It also presents
chemical composition, pharmacological
properties, medicinal forms, and applications.
Special attention is given to the protection
of medicinal plants, including rare and
endangered species.
Comprehensive studies have been
conducted on the following plant species:
Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Dzhurenko, 1984;
Lebeda & Dzhurenko, 1990), Matricaria
chamomilla L. (Chetvernia, 1987), Hypericum
perforatum L. (Makovetska, 1992), Pastinaca
sativa L. (Palamarchuk, 2004), and Arctium
spp. (Sokol, 2021), each of which was defended
as dissertation research.
The study of the morphological diversity of
the unique natural population of Hippophae
rhamnoides, the only one of its kind in Ukraine,
located in the Danube Delta, enabled the
selection of nearly 30 promising forms suitable
for breeding, pharmacology, phytomelioration,
and landscape development. Seventy-
three Hypericum Tourn. ex L. species were
examined, five of which were recommended
as substitutes for already known officinal
species. The species Hypericum montanum L.,
H. orientale L., and H. hirsutum L. were
proposed as raw materials for the industrial
production of hypericins and flavonoids. Forty
samples of Pastinaca sativa were examined,
and those recommended as substitutes for
officinal species (forms and varieties) were
selected for the production of medicinal
phytopreparations. Investigation of Hippophae
rhamnoides resulted in two comprehensive
publications (Lebeda, 2003b, 2005a).
In the context of pharmacosanation,
relevant studies focused on the search for
and comprehensive investigation of plants
with adaptogenic properties are particularly
relevant, especially those characterized
by a high content of biologically active
compounds with preventive and therapeutic
significance. Notable progress has been
made in the field of aromatherapy. In
particular, a non-structural laboratory of
preventive and restorative phytotherapy,
whose core consisted of medical
researchers, addressed the issues of the
practical application of volatile compounds
(essential oils) for improving public health
in our country. The controlled saturation of
indoor air with volatile biologically active
compounds from higher plants, according
to developed methodologies, enables
the regulation of human mood and vital
activity, enhancement of work capacity,
and increased resistance to stress factors
and diseases (Kryvenko & Potebnia, 1988;
Makarchuk & Lechinskay, 1990).
Plant Introduction • 108 49
Medical botany in the system of botanical gardens of Ukraine
A significant role is attributed to the
proposed new field of phytoergonomics, which
is emerging at the intersection of biology,
physiology, hygiene, and botany. It constitutes
an integral component of the developing branch
of ergonomics, phytoergonomics (Ivanchenko
et al., 1989). A significant contribution to
the development of phytoergonomics was
made by researchers at the NBG, under
the leadership of A.M. Hrodzynskyi, who
established the Department of Medical Botany.
A conference on medical botany was held in
1984, and the presentations delivered there
focused on issues of phytoergonomics. The
works of A.M. Hrodzynskyi, N.M. Makarchuk,
Y.S. Leshchynska, and others received
positive evaluations from specialists for
their work on using plants to optimize the
occupational environment (Hrodzynskyi,
1986). Conditionally, phytoergonomic research
can be divided into two directions: the first is
associated with the direct effects of medicinal
and food plants on human work capacity; the
second, termed phytodesign by Hrodzynskyi
(1986), involves an indirect influence of plants
on work capacity through the improvement of
the human environment in artificial systems.
A new field in medical botany,
phytocombinatorics, was initiated by
Volodymyr Davydovych Osetrov. Its essence
consists of analyzing combinations of medicinal
plant raw materials in the formulations of
folk and scientific medicine from various
countries, with the aim of identifying the
most characteristic combinations of medicinal
plants (phytocomponents) to expand the
possibilities for developing phytopreparations
with predetermined pharmacological
properties. He compiled a reference book
containing 1,265 alternative phytotherapy
formulations and involving 430 species of
the European flora (Osetrov & Shreter, 2001;
Lebeda & Osetrov, 2002; Osetrov, 2003).
The Medicinal Plants collection plot
was established at the beginning of the
1940s, mainly based on funds from the Kyiv
Acclimatization Garden, which at that time
cultivated approximately 200 species of
medicinal, aromatic, and valuable plants. This
gene pool, assembled by Academician Mykola
Feofanovych Kashchenko, subsequently
served as the foundation for the creation of the
collection of useful plants of the Department
of Cultural Flora of the NBG. The purposeful
formation of the medicinal plant collection
began in the 1970s through the acquisition
of seed and planting material from natural
flora, primarily of Ukraine (the material was
collected during expeditions to various regions
of the country). Part of the seed material
was obtained through the international seed
exchange system among botanical gardens
worldwide (Index Seminum). At different times,
the development of the collection involved
researchers N.S. Burachynska, O.Y. Taldykin,
A.P. Lebeda, O.P. Isaikina, S.O. Chetvernia,
N.I. Dzhurenko and others.
The collection comprises plants from
various botanical and geographical regions of
the world, featuring more than 400 species
and cultivars belonging to 61 families and
181 genera. The most numerous families
are Asteraceae (68 taxa), Lamiaceae (38),
Rosaceae (27), Brassicaceae (24), Fabaceae
(21), Ranunculaceae (20), and Apiaceae (14).
Among them, 100 species are officially
designated medicinal plants, 63 are considered
promising, 11 species are listed in the Red
Book of Ukraine, and 47 species are regionally
rare medicinal plants in the administrative
territories of Ukraine that require protection.
The Collection of Medicinal Plants represents
an essential center for the conservation of
genetic resources, including rare, endangered
species and those listed in the Red Book of
Ukraine, such as Adonis vernalis L., Gentiana
lutea L., Astragalus dasyanthus Pall., Acorus
calamus L., and Centaurium erythraea Rafn.
The collection also serves as a basis for
reintroducing them into their natural habitats.
Within the framework of the collection fund,
an exhibition plot, the Apothecary Garden, has
been established.
Plants of the collection fund are arranged
according to a systematic principle,
taking into account their pharmacological
properties, including anti-inflammatory,
choleretic, diuretic, immunostimulatory,
sedative, antispasmodic, hemostatic, and
other activities, which are determined by
the content of biologically active compounds
(carbohydrates, alkaloids, glycosides,
flavonoids, volatile organic compounds, and
others). Considerable attention is paid to
the search for plant species with antiviral,
immunostimulatory, radioprotective,
antioxidant, insecticidal, and other properties.
The collection plays a vital role as a potential
50 Plant Introduction • 108
Dzhurenko et al.
basis for conducting a wide range of integrated
studies in plant anatomy, morphology, and
phytochemistry. Phytochemical research aims
to identify biologically active compounds and
elucidate patterns of their accumulation in
various plant organs throughout the growing
season.
Studies of plants with adaptogenic
properties are of particular importance,
including Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., Aralia
elata (Miq.) Seem., A. cordata Thunb.,
Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.)
Maxim., E. sessiliflorus Seem., and E. lasiogynus
Harms. from the family Araliaceae. The family
Schisandraceae is represented by Schisandra
chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. The plants have
successfully undergone the introduction
process under the conditions of the Forest-
Steppe zone of Ukraine, making it possible
to cultivate them in Ukraine, particularly in
botanical gardens. The collection includes
plant species introduced from the Far East,
such as Dioscorea nipponica Makino, and from
the Caucasus, such as D. caucasica Lipsky, as
well as other taxa.
Based on studies of adaptogenic plants
(i.e., Aralia elata, Ginkgo biloba L., Echinacea
purpurea, and Eleutherococcus senticosus), a
functional phytocomposition with a broad
spectrum of adaptogenic biological activity
has been developed. This composition
stimulates and regulates metabolic processes
in the human body. As a result, a Declarative
Patent for a Utility Model entitled “Method
for obtaining a phytoextract with adaptogenic
activity” No. 98029 dated April 10, 2016 was
obtained. In addition, based on studies of
the antimicrobial properties of plants, a
Declarative Patent for a Utility Model entitled
“Method for obtaining a plant-based agent
with antimicrobial activity” No. 159475 dated
June 4, 2025, was granted.
The collection holds exceptional cognitive
and cultural significance (for the many
thousands of visitors) as well as educational
value. Since 2015, the Collection of Medicinal
Plants has been granted the status of an object
of national heritage (Order of the Cabinet
of Ministers of Ukraine dated January 28,
2015, No. 59-r; Order of the Presidium of the
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
dated February 10, 2015, No. 73).
Significant results have been obtained
regarding the insecticidal properties of
complex plant-based phytopreparations,
which demonstrate high efficacy and
polyvalent insecticidal activity due to the
presence of biologically active compounds
that act against pests of various groups. The
insecticidal and bactericidal properties of
many plants have been known for a long time.
However, their importance declined with
the advent of synthetic organic insecticides.
Moreover, unlike conventional insecticides,
which are based on a single active ingredient,
plant-derived insecticides containing mixtures
of chemical compounds can affect both
behavioral and physiological processes. The
likelihood of pests developing resistance to
such substances is very low. It appears that
the search for bioinsecticides that are both
effective and well-suited to, and adaptable in,
environmental conditions is of considerable
importance for achieving adequate insect
control. Such agents have proven particularly
effective against small insects and newly
hatched early-instar larvae. Practical
developments in this field are reflected in
scientific publications as well as in a utility
model patent “Method for preparing the
insecto-acaricidal preparation ‘Artedok’” (No.
158518, dated February 19, 2025).
Modern challenges require the laboratory
team to focus on accomplishing several
essential tasks, the resolution of which will
contribute to the practical application of
completed developments, as well as the
conservation and enhancement of biological
resources. The development of medicines
for healthy individuals that eliminate or
mitigate the effects of harmful factors,
prevent diseases, maintain health, and ensure
a long and active life has become particularly
relevant. The selection and study of promising
medicinal plant species under current
conditions are being conducted, and based
on these, formulations of phytocompositions
are being developed for the production of
beverages, dietary supplements, teas, and
other products. Research and application of
plants with phytoncidal activity are being
revived for the sanitation of air in premises
of many scientifically substantiated. Original
herbal teas with a balanced composition
and carefully designed formulations have
been developed using medicinal plant raw
materials with therapeutic and preventive
effects, including antioxidant, detoxifying,
Plant Introduction • 108 51
Medical botany in the system of botanical gardens of Ukraine
immunostimulatory, antimicrobial, and other
properties. In addition, special-purpose jelly
products with antioxidant, antimutagenic,
genoprotective, and detoxifying properties,
as well as high biological value, have been
created. These products are produced using
the liquid fraction (juice) of plant fruits (such
as guelder rose, seabuckthorn, and kiwifruit),
which contain a powerful complex of
biologically active compounds, combined with
apple pectin concentrate, providing enhanced
resilience of the human body under conditions
of environmental stress.
The developed special-purpose products
were presented at the international
exhibition “Food and Life. XXI Century” and
at interregional exhibitions, where they were
recognized as therapeutic and preventive
phytoproducts for restoring the deficiency of
natural bioregulators. These products can be
used as adjuncts for comprehensive health
improvement and for primary and secondary
prevention under conditions of everyday
exposure to stressful and aggressive chemical
and physical factors.
One alternative approach to enhancing
treatment efficacy is the use of phytotherapy,
a method based on medicinal forms
derived from whole plants that contain
pharmacologically active substances and do
not produce significant adverse effects on the
body. Based on numerous biochemical and
pharmacological studies of individual plants,
it has been found that, due to the rationally
balanced and finely dosed proportions of
various substances, whole plants (unlike
isolated active constituents) possess valuable
qualities such as mild pharmacological action,
gradual accumulation of therapeutic effect,
low toxicity even with prolonged use and the
presence of multiple active compounds within
a single plant exhibiting diverse therapeutic
properties. The complex and diverse chemical
composition of plants is a key factor in
their multifaceted biological activities,
distinguishing them by the complexity of their
therapeutic effects. This allows phytoproducts
to act comprehensively on the body, targeting
different stages of diseases and pathogenetic
factors, thereby contributing to the elimination
of the underlying cause of the illness.
Medicinal products made from native
plants, despite their seemingly modest
pharmacological activity at first glance, are in
some cases more effective than their synthetic
counterparts or isolated phytopreparations,
which account for about one-third of modern
medicines. The latter occurs because the
separation of one or even several components
from a plant composition disrupts the natural
balance of their proportions within the plant,
which can result in changes to its therapeutic
properties. Clinical practice and extensive
experimental studies conducted in various
countries have demonstrated that the action
of phytotherapeutic agents is realized on a
fundamentally different basis compared to
synthetic drugs.
Hence, the priority scientific direction
of the Laboratory of Medical Botany is the
mobilization of medicinal plant resources
of Ukraine for disease prevention and for
enhancing human work capacity under
conditions of environmental adversity and
wartime. This necessitates targeted research
aimed at: forecasting the prospects for
expanding the raw material base of medicinal
plants through the selection and involvement
of plant species from the flora of Ukraine as well
as introduced species that represent valuable
sources of biologically active compounds
(BACs); conducting morpho-phytochemical
studies of medicinal plants to determine the
possibilities of their multifunctional use;
the search for and investigation of plants
possessing antiviral, immunostimulatory,
radioprotective, antimutagenic, insecticidal
and other properties; the introduction into
cultivation of promising medicinal plant
species; the search for and utilization of
non-traditional plants as potential sources
of biologically active compounds (BACs) for
medicinal, nutritional, technical and other
applications; the development of waste-free
processing technologies for medicinal plant
raw materials, including the use of secondary
resources to obtain substances containing
complexes of BACs as well as individual
BACs; the development of therapeutic and
preventive products for special purposes and
herbal remedies with a broad spectrum of
physiological activity; the conservation of rare
and endangered medicinal plant species; and
the popularization of medicinal plants and the
implementation of educational and outreach
activities.
Over the long period of activity of the
Department and the Laboratory of Medical
52 Plant Introduction • 108
Dzhurenko et al.
Botany, the phytocomplex ‘Energovital’ has
been developed in powdered form, based on
high-energy natural plant components as
a source of naturally occurring biologically
active compounds for use in diabetes mellitus,
overfatigue, and hypotension, as well as for
enhancing mental and physical performance.
The formulation includes powder of fresh
ginseng root, burdock root, plantain flowers,
quercetin, pectin, ascorbic acid, and citric
acid. An innovative technology was applied
to preserve the natural complexes of ginseng
triterpene panaxosides in combination with
polysaccharides, stabilized by modulation
with quercetin and ascorbic acid. This
approach contributes to the preservation of
the informational component of the natural
ingredients and to the manifestation of their
energy-enhancing effects.
A biologically active supplement ‘Arctan’
has been developed in gel form, based on
structured complexes of inulin, antioxidant
vitamins, polyphenolic compounds, and
sulfur-containing compounds present in the
roots of Arctium lappa L. The supplement
exhibits detoxifying and anti-inflammatory
properties and is intended for use in disorders
of the musculoskeletal system.
Lipid complexes derived from Viburnum
spp., Actinidia spp., and Sambucus spp.
have been investigated and proposed,
demonstrating a high level of antioxidant
activity, which suggests their potential for
developing oil-based preparations as natural
antioxidants.
An antioxidant phytotherapeutic agent has
been developed in tablet form, obtained by the
direct compression method using excipients
such as tablettose and hydroxypropylcellulose
grades LH-11 and NBD-022, based on powder
of marigold (Tagetes spp.) inflorescences.
A medical film based on 3% sodium
carboxymethylcellulose and a homeopathic
mother tincture of Ruta graveolens L. has
been developed, exhibiting wound-healing,
reparative, and analgesic effects. In addition,
a liniment based on a homeopathic mother
tincture of Juglans regia L. with the addition of
white beeswax, prepared extemporaneously,
has been formulated for the treatment of
certain skin diseases.
A positive effect and the adaptive
mechanism of action of the lipid extract from
seeds of Schisandra chinensis on the state
of the prooxidant-antioxidant balance in
cellular membranes have been demonstrated,
using erythrocyte membranes as a model.
In addition, the high biological activity of
Seabuckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides buds
has been revealed, indicating their value as
a biologically active medicinal raw material
for the development of new, multifunctional,
therapeutic, and preventive phytotherapeutic
agents. Seabuckthorn buds, in comparison
with birch buds, which are already used as
medicinal raw materials, accumulate two to
five times higher levels of essential vitamins
(ascorbic acid, carotenoids) and flavonoid
compounds (catechins, anthocyanins,
leucoanthocyanins). These compounds
potentiate their functional biological activity,
thereby determining the prospects of this raw
material for the development of therapeutic
and preventive phytotherapeutic agents,
as well as medicinal phytopreparations
with antioxidant and immunostimulatory
properties.
Analytical work has been conducted on
medicinal plant species from the world’s
flora to expand the raw material base
and utilize them in the development of
multifunctional therapeutic and preventive
phytotherapeutic agents. An informational
screening of the flora of Ukraine regarding
the presence of plants with medicinal
properties revealed that, in the creation of
such phytotherapeutic products by leading
companies (particularly the US company
NSP), more than 150 plant species, three
medicinal fungus species, and over 50
tropical species are used. The vast majority
of these plants are cultivated in Ukraine,
including Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh)
Nutt., Vitex negundo L., Stevia rebaudiana
(Bertoni) Bertoni, Eleutherococcus senticosus,
Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, and others.
Conclusions
The genetic resources of medicinal,
edible, and aromatic plants represent a
crucial strategic basis for the effective and
sustainable development of not only the
pharmaceutical sector and agriculture, but
also of other areas of the economy and social
sphere in Ukraine, Europe, and worldwide.
In Ukraine, research has been conducted for
Plant Introduction • 108 53
Medical botany in the system of botanical gardens of Ukraine
over 100 years on the study, conservation,
and formation of collections encompassing
the global diversity of evolutionarily and
genetically related cultivated and wild plants,
particularly medicinal and aromatic species,
which constitute potentially valuable material
for breeding programs.
Today, current realities require the
laboratory team to focus its efforts on
addressing several critical tasks that will
facilitate the practical application of completed
developments, as well as the conservation and
enrichment of the “Medicinal Plants” collection.
In this context, the study of the potential
for comprehensive utilization of plants
(particularly their multifunctional properties,
including antioxidant, antimicrobial, immuno-
stimulatory, radioprotective, antimutagenic,
and other activities) becomes significant.
The Laboratory of Medical Botany of the
M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of
the NAS of Ukraine can rightly be regarded as
a center uniting botanists, pharmacologists,
and clinicians for the study of medicinal plants
of Ukraine’s flora and introduced species.
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Медична ботаніка в системі ботанічних садів України
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рослин за рахунок відбору, залучення рослин флори України та інтродуцентів – цінних джерел
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можливостей їх поліфункціонального використання; пошук та вивчення рослин з противірусними,
імуностимулюючими, радіопротекторними, антимутагенними, інсектицидними, тощо
властивостями; введення в культуру перспективних видів; пошук і використання нетрадиційних
рослин - потенційних джерел біологічно активних сполук як лікарських, харчових, технічних, тощо;
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| spelling | oai:ojs2.plantintroduction.org:article-16812026-02-15T12:55:18Z Medical botany in the system of botanical gardens of Ukraine Медична ботаніка в системі ботанічних садів України Dzhurenko, Nadiia Palamarchuk, Olena Sokol, Oksana Ledenеv, Sergiy The study analyzed the historical background and the formation of medical botany as a new scientific discipline at the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine. Throughout its entire period of existence (as a department and later as a laboratory), the Medical Botany division has functioned as a center for consolidating the efforts of botanists, florists, resource management specialists, iatrochemists, pharmacologists, clinicians, and other relevant experts from Ukraine. The coordinated work of these specialists has focused on the conservation and enhancement of biological resources, as well as the advancement and institutional development of phytotherapy in Ukraine. The primary scientific direction of the Laboratory of Medical Botany is the mobilization of Ukraine’s medicinal plant resources for disease prevention and enhancing human performance under conditions of ecological stress. This requires targeted research aimed at: forecasting prospects for enriching the raw-material base of medicinal plants through the selection and inclusion of native Ukrainian flora and introduced species that represent valuable sources of biologically active compounds; conducting morphological and phytochemical studies of medicinal plants to determine the potential for their multifunctional use; identifying and investigating plants with antiviral, immunostimulatory, radioprotective, antimutagenic, insecticidal and other biologically active properties; introducing promising species into cultivation; searching for and utilizing unconventional plants as potential sources of biologically active compounds for medicinal, nutritional, technical and other applications; ensuring waste-free technologies for processing medicinal plant raw materials through the use of secondary resources to obtain complex biologically active substances; developing therapeutic and prophylactic products of special purpose, as well as phytopreparations with a broad spectrum of physiological activity; conserving rare and endangered species; and promoting medicinal plants through educational and outreach activities.The plants of the collection fund are organized according to a systematic principle, taking into account their pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, choleretic, diuretic, immunostimulatory, sedative, antispasmodic, hemostatic, and other activities, which are determined by the content of biologically active compounds (carbohydrates, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, volatile organic compounds, and others). In 2015, the Collection of Medicinal Plants was designated as a national heritage object. Проаналізовано історичні аспекти зародження нового наукового напряму медичної ботаніки в Національному ботанічному саду імені М.М. Гришка НАН України. Впродовж всього періоду існування (відділ, лабораторія) медичної ботаніки виконує роль центру консолідації сил ботаніків, флористів, ресурсознавців, ятрохіміків, фармакологів, клініцистів та інших профільних фахівців України, зусилля яких спрямовані на виконання завдань по збереженню і примноженню біологічних ресурсів і розвитку фітотерапії в Україні. Пріоритетним науковим напрямком лабораторії медичної ботаніки є мобілізація лікарських рослинних ресурсів України для профілактики, підвищення працездатності організму людини в умовах екологічного неблагополуччя, що вимагає цільових досліджень спрямованих на: прогнозування перспектив збагачення сировинної бази лікарських рослин за рахунок відбору, залучення рослин флори України та інтродуцентів – цінних джерел біологічно активних сполук; морфолого-фітохімічне дослідження лікарських рослин з визначенням можливостей їх поліфункціонального використання; пошук та вивчення рослин з противірусними, імуностимулюючими, радіопротекторними, антимутагенними, інсектицидними, тощо властивостями; введення в культуру перспективних видів; пошук і використання нетрадиційних рослин - потенційних джерел біологічно активних сполук як лікарських, харчових, технічних, тощо; забезпечення безвідходних технологій переробки лікарської рослинної сировини з використанням вторинних ресурсів для одержання субстанцій з комплексом; розробку лікувально-профілактичних продуктів спеціального призначення та фітозасобів з широким спектром фізіологічної дії; збереження рідкісних і зникаючих видів; популяризацію лікарських рослин та просвітницько-освітню роботу. Рослини колекційного фонду розміщені за систематичним принципом з ураховуванням їх фармакологічних властивостей: протизапальних, жовчогінних, сечогінних, імуностимулюючих, седативних, протиспазматичних, кровоспинних, тощо, які визначаються вмістом біологічно активних сполук (вуглеводи, алкалоїди, глікозиди, флавоноїди, леткі органічні сполуки та інші). З 2015 року колекції “Лікарські рослини” надано статус об’єкту, що становить національне надбання. M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine 2025-12-30 Article Article application/pdf https://www.plantintroduction.org/index.php/pi/article/view/1681 10.46341/PI2025023 Plant Introduction; No 108 (2025); 46-54 Інтродукція Рослин; № 108 (2025); 46-54 2663-290X 1605-6574 en https://www.plantintroduction.org/index.php/pi/article/view/1681/1580 Copyright (c) 2025 Andriy Novikov http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 |
| spellingShingle | Dzhurenko, Nadiia Palamarchuk, Olena Sokol, Oksana Ledenеv, Sergiy Медична ботаніка в системі ботанічних садів України |
| title | Медична ботаніка в системі ботанічних садів України |
| title_alt | Medical botany in the system of botanical gardens of Ukraine |
| title_full | Медична ботаніка в системі ботанічних садів України |
| title_fullStr | Медична ботаніка в системі ботанічних садів України |
| title_full_unstemmed | Медична ботаніка в системі ботанічних садів України |
| title_short | Медична ботаніка в системі ботанічних садів України |
| title_sort | медична ботаніка в системі ботанічних садів україни |
| url | https://www.plantintroduction.org/index.php/pi/article/view/1681 |
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