Active substances in plants
The therapeutic effect of plants is associated with the presence in their parts and organs of various biologically active substances, which when introduced into the human body produce a certain physiological effect. These biologically active substances have different chemical composition. By structure and principle of influence on the human body, they can be divided into main groups.
Alkaloids are natural complex nitrogen compounds of different chemical structure, contained in medicinal plants in the form of salts. The first open alkaloid was morphine( or morphine), named after Morpheus, the dream god. Later, other highly active alkaloids were isolated: strychnine, caffeine, nicotine, quinine, atropine, etc. They are still successfully used by medicine as the main pharmaceutical preparations. Properties of alkaloids are very extensive, drugs prepared on their basis have a tranquilizing and stimulating effect on the body, a vasoconstrictor and a vasodilator effect on the cardiovascular system, and also affect the muscular system in various ways. The most valuable suppliers of alkaloids are belladonna, periwinkle, tea, egg capsule, etc.
Glycosides are natural substances of a nitrogen-free nature. Unlike alkaloids, glycosides quickly break down when stored with enzymes contained in the plants themselves, as well as under the influence of such physical factors as temperature, humidity, etc. Therefore, when harvesting plants containing glycosides, this should be considered so that they do not losehis healing power. It is necessary to dry such plants quickly, avoiding sunlight, in order to immediately block the destructive activity of enzymes. In dry raw materials they are no longer dangerous.
There are several groups of glycosides: cardiac glycosides, anthraglycosides, saponins, bitter( or bitter glycosides), flavonopod glycosides.
Cardiac glycosides are found in lily of the valley, foxglove, goritsvete, so preparations made from these plants have a strong effect on the work of the cardiovascular system.
Antraglikozidy have a laxative effect and are found in rhubarb, cassia, aloe and some other plants. Bitter glycosides, or the so-called bitterness, are found in wormwood, gentian, dandelion, and gold. Preparations from these plants exert an exceptional effect on the human body: they increase appetite, intensify the peristalsis of the stomach, increase the secretion of gastric juice, promote maximum absorption of food and nutrients and vitamins contained in it.
A very valuable species of glycosides are saponins, which are found in plants of more than 70 families. Plants containing saponins are used in medicine as an expectorant( roots of primrose and cyanosis), diuretic and choleretic agent( St. John's wort).
Flavonoid glycosides have a unique ability to remove radioactive substances from the body.
Coumarins - are found in plants in pure form or in combination with sugars. In the largest number of coumarins are found in the plants of the families of umbellate, leguminous, rutovye and concentrate mainly in the roots. Many of them have such valuable properties as vasodilator, antispasmodic and antitumor.
Essential oils - fragrant, highly volatile substances, are contained in various plant organs, but mainly in leaves and flowers. Essential oils are easily distilled from plant material by steam and are essentially mixtures of various terpenoid-like substances. The most common essential oils are peppermint, valerian officinalis, creeping thyme, common oregano, lemon balm, bitter wormwood, medicinal sage, fennel. Essential oils have an anti-inflammatory effect, they also noted the presence of antiviral and antimicrobial activity. There are also expectorant and calming cough properties of vegetable essential oils, as well as the ability to stimulate the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Essential oils are widely used to improve, and sometimes to change the taste and smell of medicines( pink,
mint, coriander oil), in the food industry.
When preparing essential oil plants, it should be borne in mind that under the influence of oxygen, sunlight and moisture, essential oils oxidize, lose odor, change color and lose their valuable properties. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly observe the rules for collection, drying and storage of plants and preparations from them containing essential oils.
Essential oils
Essential oils are odoriferous, highly volatile substances that are produced in oil-forming glands, flakes and hairs of plants. Evaporation, they penetrate the shell of leaves, flowers and fruits of plants and cause their smell. The biological role of essential oils in plant life has not been completely clarified. It is known, however, that essential oils fulfill the function of from tractants, , that is, odors that attract insects, animals and birds, and repellents - repellent and repellent odors. Essential oils are characterized by a very complex composition: rose oil contains more than 200 organic substances, and mint - 100 components. Essential oils are produced by essential oil plants. This group combines single and perennial plants of different families: coriander, cumin, fennel, dill, anise( umbrella), mint, lavender, sage( labium), rose( rose-colored), pelargonium pink( geranium), tuberose( amaryllis) and others. These plants accumulate essential oils in various parts and organs. Umbelliferous cultures concentrate oils in fruits ( seeds);mint, geranium, basil - in green foliage;rose, lavender, tuberose - in colors and inflorescences; iris, angelica, vetiver - in the roots of and rhizomes.
Resins are close to essential oils and are often kept with them. These are thick liquids, sticky to the touch, possessing a characteristic aroma. Resins that do not dry out for a long time are called balsams. As an example, we can mention the resins contained in pine, rhubarb roots. Resins of many plants have a pronounced bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing effect. In medicine, resins are used for the preparation of plasters, tinctures
Tannins - got their name for the ability to tan the skin and make them waterproof. Tannins are found in most of the plants used in medicine and cooking and concentrate mainly in the bark, roots and rhizomes of plants such as, for example,
wormwood, tansy, St. John's wort, rhubarb, burdock large. Tannins are low in toxicity, plants that have them in their composition are used as anti-inflammatory, astringent antibacterial agents for gastrointestinal diseases, for rinsing the mouth and throat with inflammation of the mucous membranes in case of skin tissue disorders. What is their anti-inflammatory effect based on? Protein substances interact with tannins, and on the mucous membrane or at the site of tissue damage as a result of burns, abrasions, wounds, a protective shell is formed - a film that prevents the development and spread of the inflammatory process. In the case of wounds, tannic substances also have a hemostatic effect.
Vitamins are very complex in structure and physiological activity of substances, which are extremely necessary for the normal vital activity of the human body. Vitamins regulate the process of assimilation by the body of the basic substances entering the food: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and also play a major role in the metabolism process. With the deficiency of vitamins in the metabolism, failures occur, which can be detrimental to human health. Fatigue, loss of efficiency, lethargy and irritability, weakening the activity of all organs and systems of the body are just the most common signs of beriberi.
Of the 30 known natural vitamins, many are found in spicy and medicinal plants in easily digestible form. Especially valuable of those contained in plants are such rare groups of vitamins as( rutin), PP( nicotinic acid), E, F, K and a number of other more common vitamins.
In addition to the listed groups of biologically active substances, plants also contain other types of compounds that determine the medicinal properties of plants: organic acids, mucus, gums, fatty oils, phytoncides, pigments, enzymes, mineral salts, microelements.
Often, the therapeutic effect of plants is not associated with any one substance, but with their complex contained in the plant. In many cases, the use of any substance in its pure form does not give such an effect that it is possible to obtain by using the total extract from the whole plant, that is, when using the biologically active substance in combination with other elements.