Three Little-known Medicinal Plants Growing in the State National Natural Park "Tarbagatai" (Republic of Kazakhstan): Their Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology

Abstract

The review article presents the results of studying plants growing on the territory of the State National Natural Park Tarbagatai, on the basis of which it will be possible to develop new medicines. In recent years, the popularity of herbal medicine, despite a great success in the creation of chemical drugs, has been growing. Interest in natural healing substances and drugs created on their basis is increasing due to both the unique properties of herbal remedies and rapidly developing research technologies in biology, medicine, and the production of drugs. The analysis and structuring of literature sources contain some information about herbal medicines, such as Corydalis ledebouriana Kar. et Kir., Malus sieversii, and Daphne altaica Pall. were carried out. They were grown in Asian countries, mainly in China and Kazakhstan. Many Corydalis species are rich in alkaloids that have a positive effect on the central nervous, digestive, cardiovascular, and pituitary-adrenal systems. Malus sieversii has a high antioxidant activity, it can inhibit cancer cell proliferation, reduce lipid oxidation, and lower cholesterol levels according to in vitro studies of animals, which may explain their roles in reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Daphne have a wide range of pharmacological activity, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV, hypocholesterolemic, neurotrophic, anti-fertile, skin irritant, nematocidal activity, and pesticide activity. Phytopreparations have some advantages such as low toxicity with sufficiently high efficiency, a wide range of therapeutic action, complex organ protective effect, harmonizing effect on all organs and systems of the body, the minimum number of side effects, relative cheapness compared to synthetic drugs, and the possibility of cooking at home. Phytotherapy has some applications such as primary and secondary preventions of various diseases, health improvement, and rehabilitation of the general population under the influence of negative environmental factors, as a means of increasing the adaptive reserves of a healthy body in sports medicine.