Plants from Bulgarian Botanical Gardens: Some Selected Species with Potential for Health Food and Medical Applications

Abstract

Bulgarian botanical gardens harbor more than 3600 plant species from across the world. Some of them are well-known plants widely used by humans, others are underutilized crops or little-known exotic species. The latter group constitutes a rich reservoir of plant resources whose potential to bring benefits to society is still untapped. The aim of this review is to describe the diversity of species and their potentially valuable secondary metabolites in three of the largest Bulgarian botanical gardens, with a focus on underutilized crops and medicinal plants that are typical of Bulgaria. With this, we aim to pave the way for future research on the most promising of these plants. The report includes currently available ethnobotanical data on the properties and composition of their bioactive components, known culinary or therapeutic uses, and nutritional profiles. We also outline the vast potential of these plants in providing healthy diets, as well as for performing future groundbreaking biomedical research. Finally, we present the approach that will be used to screen extracts from these plants for biological activity.

Keywords: botanical gardens; medicinal plants; secondary metabolites; underutilized crops.

Figure 1

Taxonomic groups represented in the Bulgarian botanical gardens. From largest to smallest groups: Eudicots, Monocots, Pinopsida, Pteridopsida, mosses, and lycopods.

Figure 2

Distribution of distinct plant families in the Bulgarian botanical gardens.

Figure 3

Bulgarian edible and medicinal species with their nutritional and medical benefits highlighted in this study. (A). Achillea millefolium L. (Common yarrow); (B) Allium siculum subsp. dioscoridis (Sm.) (K). Richt. (Bulgarian honey garlic); (C) Allium ursinum (Wild garlic); (D) Asplenium nidus L. (Bird’s nest fern); (E) Cercis siliquastrum L. (Judas tree); (F) Crithmum maritimum (Sea fennel); (G) Galium verum (Yellow bedstraw); (H) Geranium macrorrhizum L. (Bulgarian geranium); (I) Juniperus communis (Common juniper); (J) Lamium album (White dead-nettle); (K) Morus alba (White mulberry); (L) Morus nigra (Black mulberry); (M) Pelargonium roseum (Rose geranium); (N) Plantago major (Broadleaf plantain); (O) Portulaca oleracea (Purslane); (P) Rosa canina (Dog rose); (Q) Sambucus nigra L. (Elderberry); (R) Satureja montana (Winter savory); (S) Thinopyrum intermedium (Intermediate wheatgrass); (T) Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek).

Figure 4

Metabolite compounds from selected plants with potential medical applications. γ-muurolene (Achillea millefolium); Mangiferin (Asplenium nidus); Myricetin (Cercis siliquastrum); Catechin (Cercis siliquastrum); α-pinene (Juniperus communis); Ursolic acid (Plantago major); Germacrone (Geranium macrorrhizum); Linalool (Galium Verum); Coumarin (Galium Verum).

Figure 5

Future perspectives of the work on the plants from the botanical gardens.