THE DEGREE OF RESEARCH ON ALKALOID CONTENT IN SPECIES OF THE FAMILY AMARANTHACEAE
Abstract
Many species of this family are of great importance in animal husbandry as forage plants, particularly in desert zones, while others serve as sources of fuel. In this context, Haloxylon is of non-negligible value, specifically functioning as a sand stabilizer. The seeds of certain representatives contain edible fatty oils, whereas others have been found to yield essential oils, coloring agents, and other substances. In folk medicine, an infusion of Dysphania graveolens is administered as a carminative and stomachic remedy, as well as for the treatment of headaches, asthma, colds, and various other ailments. Among the Amaranthaceae family, valuable alkaloid-bearing plants have been identified, such as Anabasis aphylla L. Its primary alkaloid, anabasine, was one of the first domestic alkaloids to find widespread application in agriculture as an insecticide for various industrial, vegetable, fruit, and other crops. Additionally, the alkaloid salsoline, an isoquinoline derivative, was isolated from Salsola richteri Karel. This alkaloid has been successfully utilized in therapy as an antihypertensive drug to lower blood pressure. During expeditions aimed at identifying alkaloid-bearing plants of Uzbekistan, 160 species of this family were analyzed for their alkaloid content. Among them, 139 plant species were found to be alkaloid-bearing to varying degrees. Specifically, individual alkaloids were isolated from 14 species, the total alkaloid content was determined for 19 species, and for the remaining species, only preliminary qualitative analyses were conducted to confirm the presence of alkaloids. As a result, potential sources of alkaloids were identified among species of the genera Atriplex L., Chenopodium L., Salsola L., and others.
References
- Takhtajan, A.L. System and Phylogeny of Flowering Plants. Moscow-Leningrad, 1966.
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