MEDICINAL SUCCULENT PLANTS IN THE COLLECTION OF THE NIKITA BOTANICAL GARDEN

Abstract

Succulent plants are of a special interest for Russian botanical gardens’ collections, many of them are meant to be used not only in phytodesign but in pharmacy while drug manufacturing. The analysis of a species composition of the Nikitsky botanical gardens’ collection of officinal succulents is among high-priority tasks as it will highlight that advanced species for research and growth and development special aspects’ study in the introduction conditions, bioactive substances’ content in them and replenish the collection with new taxons, that are notable not only decorative characteristics but for officinal properties. The officinal succulents Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f., Aloe arborescens Mill., Sansivieria trifasciata Prain, Opuntia ficusindica  (L.) Mill., Pereskia aculeata Mill., Selenicereus grandiflorus (L.) Britton & Rose, Crassula ovata (Mill.) Druce, Kalanchoe daigremontiana Raym. Hamet & H. Perrier, with the complex of bioactive substances and a wide range of a human exposure, are exposed in the collection of the Nikitsky botanical gardens. They deserve a general pharmaceutical application while drug and cosmetic products’ manufacturing. The collection of the succulents in the Nikitsky botanical gardens was started to form in the years of 1812-1824. The total area of a new greenhouse, that was opened in 1996, is 960 square meters. The main part of the succulent collection of 985 taxons, including 87 subspecies, 38 subvarieties, 70 forms, 13 cultivars, is contained in it. Many plants are presented in the open field exposition with the total area of 1,240 square meters.