Histochemical Analysis of The Aerial part of Ferula songarica growing in the Territory of the Karaganda Region (Central Kazakhstan)

Abstract

Histochemical analysis of medicinal plants and raw materials is necessary to study the localization of various chemical substances and their metabolic products in plant tissues. The article presents the results of histochemical analysis of leaves, flowers, stems, fruits, and roots of Ferula songarica. Since ancient times, Ferula has been used in folk medicine by native people of Central Asia, Iran, China, India, etc. to treat various diseases. Aim. Identifying the localization of specific individual secondary metabolites in plant tissues of the aerial and underground parts of Ferula songarica grown in the Karaganda region. Materials and methods. Ferula songarica raw material samples were placed in Strauss-Fleming solution; the tissue cross-sections were sliced manually with a razor blade Histochemical reactions were carried out to detect and to identify essential oils, starch, phenolic acids, flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones, polysaccharides, and alkaloids. The methods of the State Pharmacopoeia of the Republic of Kazakhstan allowed revealing the localization of biologically active substances. Micropreparations were viewed with a Biomed-4 microscope and photographed with the Altamy Studio Program. Results. Light microscopic histochemistry allowed determining the localization of biologically active substances in the studied plant raw materials. The presence of phenolic acids, flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones, polysaccharides, alkaloids, and essential oils as well as the absence of starch were established. Conclusion. For the first time, the histochemical tests were applied to examine the localization of Ferula songarica tissues’ secondary metabolites. The results of the histochemical research can be used to authenticate, identify, and standardize the aerial and underground parts of Ferula songarica.