People have become aware of antibiotics. Since 1943, they have entered mass production and widespread medical use. However, along with the benefits, many unpleasant factors of their negative impact on the body were discovered (allergic reactions, upset intestinal microflora, a decrease in natural immunity to the minimum limit, and others).

The question arises: do not there really exist natural antibiotics in nature, such that are created by the living organisms themselves and do not have such a powerful destructive effect along with a therapeutic effect? It turns out there are. And relatively recently they were discovered and called phytoncides.

Concept

These groups of substances are volatile compounds of various chemical natures that are found in plant organisms. If we consider the term itself, then it consists of two components: phyton - "plants" and caedo - "to kill". Hence, the biological meaning of these compounds becomes clear - they are capable of inhibiting other plants.

However, after more thorough research, it became clear that they destroy not only them, but also microorganisms, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and some viruses. Thus, phytoncide is a targeted action that forms in natural conditions.

Chemical nature

To determine the chemical structure of these substances, many experiments have been done. However, little is known to date. The fact is that phytoncide is a whole complex of volatile compounds. So, for example, this can include those contained in plants:

• glycosides;
• terpenes;
• flavonoids;
• phenolic compounds;
• catechins;
• anthocyanins;
• phenolic acids;
• constituents essential oils.

In structure, these are complex organic components, whole combinations with each other. The properties of phytoncides are quite definite - a depressing effect on living organisms of a microscopic structure, as well as on some types of plants.

History of discovery and study

For the first time, they started talking about such compounds as phytoncides only since 1928 thanks to the works of BP Topkin. It was he who first conducted simple experiments with onion pulp gruel, which showed how destructive it is on ciliates, bacteria and fungi.

Although it has been known since ancient times that there are a number of medicinal plants that have antimicrobial, bactericidal and therapeutic, restorative effects. Echinacea, maral root, onion, garlic, blueberries, conifers and others are the plants that have been used to treat colds and other diseases since development. human civilization... Of course, no one could scientifically explain why this good healing effect was explained.

But over time, it became technically possible to isolate and study the components that are responsible for this. So they were called phytoncides. The term itself was proposed by their discoverer, B.P. Topkin, in the same year 1928. Later, a number of scientists made conclusions about the properties that these substances possess. It became clear that phytoncide is of origin. In 1937, G. Molish studied the phenomenon of allelopathy (the depressing effect of some species of creatures on others by means of chemical action with natural ingredients). In fact, his work boiled down to the study of the properties of phytoncides.

A number of scientists (Grummer, Winter, Grodzinsky) experimentally examined the phenomenon of allelopathy in laboratory conditions. But the result was the conclusion that under artificial and natural conditions, the effect is much different in effectiveness. They even started talking about the lack of ecological significance of phytoncides. However, these views are not supported by all. For example, in Japan, China, Russia, great importance is still given to medical procedures, which are based on plants. Phytoncides help fight a number of diseases, and the effect should be carried out precisely in natural conditions (grass fields, gardens, and so on).

Significance for animals and humans

What do plants and phytoncides primarily affect if we talk about human and mammalian organisms?

1. Reduce the quantitative content of microbes in the air up to 250 times per 1 m 3. Therefore, walking in the forests where similar plants grow (conifers, oak groves, deciduous) improve the condition of the lungs, normalize work respiratory system... They are very useful for patients with tuberculosis and other diseases in this area. Good bronchodilator effect in linden, thyme, birch.
2. It is oak groves that have the ability to normalize high blood pressure, therefore, such treatment is indicated for hypertensive patients.
3. Many herbs containing phytoncides and vitamins strengthen the immune system, act as a sedative, normalize sleep and mental state (lemon balm, oregano and others).
4. For hypotonics, lilac and poplar substances are recommended to increase pressure.
5. Many phytoncides have a vasodilating effect, due to which they relieve headaches, cramps (peppermint).
6. These compounds ionize the air, precipitate dust molecules, cleanse and decontaminate the environment. Accordingly, they improve the general atmosphere for the normal development of living beings.
7. A number of plants help fight colds, infections and viral diseases(onions, garlic, raspberries, blueberries, radishes, mustard and others).

Thus, the importance of phytoncides for animals and humans is important. With the help of them, you can save yourself from the use of strong antibiotics synthesized artificially, prevent the formation of the consequences that they entail. Of course, the action of phytoncides will not be as fast, but it will be softer, more gentle and effective.

Action on plant organisms

Many studies, including the experience of hardened gardeners and gardeners, have shown that different plants are not equally able to coexist next to each other. So, for example, they act negatively on each other:

• grapes and cabbage;
• legumes and onions, spinach, garlic;
• peas and tomatoes;
• cabbage and potatoes;
• parsnips, horseradish, celery and cabbage;
• potatoes and melons;
• peas and gladioli.

Therefore, phytoncides and other volatile compounds produced by plants can inhibit the growth and development of each other, and often, on the contrary, help in this. Successful fruit and vegetable growing is based on such combinations.

Garlic phytoncides

The main component of the chemical composition of the phytoncides of a plant such as garlic was named allicin. It is this compound that gives a pungent specific smell. His merit belongs to the destructive effect on different types bacteria, fungi.

Garlic phytoncides have been used since antiquity in different civilizations and countries. This plant protected from diseases, protected the house from vampires, treated gastrointestinal diseases. For some peoples, garlic was even a symbol.

Today there are alcoholic extracts of this plant, medicines based on it. The harmful effects on E. coli, many types of microscopic fungi, Koch's bacillus, cholera and typhoid bacteria have led to the widespread use of garlic.

Onion phytoncides

Along with garlic, onions have been used to treat many diseases since ancient times. In addition to phytoncides, it includes:

• vitamins;
• organic acids;
• minerals;
• essential oil.

All components in combination make the onion a very valuable plant for food and medical purposes. Also, extracts and gruel from it accelerate the healing and tightening of wounds.

Onion phytoncides are part of the essential oil, which has a pungent characteristic odor, when it gets on the mucous membranes of the eyes, they cause irritation and tearing. They are able to defeat bacilli: cholera, tuberculosis, dysentery, Staphylococcus aureus.

In a harmonious combination, phytoncides of onion and garlic are able to fight colds, purify indoor air from microbes and improve people's health.

Essential oils are a source of phytoncides

Essential oils are one of the main substances containing various phytoncides. They are part of many (almost all) plants, only in different quantities. There are representatives of the flora, which are very rich in these compounds, and, consequently, in phytoncides. For example, mint, lemon balm, tree needles, tomatoes, onions and garlic, mustard, horseradish, bird cherry, radish, currant and others. There are those in which the content of essential oils and phytoncides is minimal - these are cucumbers, persimmons, bananas. Also, the places of localization of essential oils are not the same in plants. Some have more of them in the leaves, others - in the roots or stem.

Conifers and their benefits

Phytoncides of trees are the main air cleaner on the streets. Conifers are especially useful in this regard, since their resin and essential oils contain a large amount of these compounds. Pines, spruces, larch, fir, cedars - walks in the forests where they grow have an extremely positive effect on the work of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems.

In China and Japan, methods of treating sick people are used precisely through the influence of air containing phytoncides of coniferous trees. This is yielding positive results.

The names of medicinal plants

The listed phytoncides emitting are far from the entire list. In addition to those named, these include:

• lavender;
• bison;
• myrtle;
• ylang-ylang;
• all citrus fruits;
• orchid;
• cypress;
• Walnut;
• tulips;
• forget-me-nots;
• calendula;
• chamomile;
• succession;
• celandine;
• lily of the valley and many others.

The use of extracts of these and other plants is the basis of alternative and traditional medicine.

Phytodesign

Phytoncid is a source of freshness, purity and benefits of air. Therefore, there is such a direction in landscape construction as phytodesign. It implies planting a quantity of phytoncide-containing plants that is able to cope with air pollutants and maintain it in a decent condition. That is, phytodesign is a way to improve the ecological state. the environment, improve people's health and prevent the development of massive microbial diseases.

Phytoncides - organic, biologically active substances formed by plants that kill or suppress the growth and development of microorganisms, which play an important role in plant immunity and in the relationship of plant and animal organisms in their natural communities. Phytoncides are produced by both lower and higher plants. Biologically, antibiotics are drugs obtained in one way or another from phytoncides. The chemical nature of phytoncides is diverse, they can belong to different groups of compounds - tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, organic acids, etc.

There are volatile fractions of phytoncides released by the aboveground parts of higher plants into the atmosphere, underground parts into the soil, and aquatic plants into the water. Plants also contain non-volatile phytoncides

Volatile phytoncides bring vigor and health to a person. They are present in the air we breathe in the forest or on the banks of rivers, lakes and seas. Everyone knows that it is necessary to ventilate the room where we live, work, and relax more often. It is necessary to spend more often and as much time as possible outdoors in the forest, in meadows, near water bodies. Residents of large cities are more isolated from nature, so the lack of phytoncides can be very much felt. Sometimes this can cause a decrease in the body's resistance and the development of diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, tuberculosis.

One hectare of coniferous forest emits about 4 kg of volatile organic substances into the atmosphere per day, and a hectare of deciduous forest - about 2 kg. Phytoncides play the role of one of the many factors that "regulate" the composition of the air microflora. One cubic meter of forest air contains 150-300 times less germs than the same volume of city air.

Volatile phytoncides increase the concentration of negative ions in the air (for example, in the forest, their content is 5-10 times higher than in the air of large cities), which have a beneficial effect on humans, and reduce the amount of positive ions. They ionize oxygen in the air, increasing its biological activity, and increasing the efficiency and economy of cell energy. In addition, they contribute to the settling of dust particles, reduce the electrical indicator of air pollution and neutralize the microorganisms present in it.

Volatile phytoncides can be absorbed by the lungs, supplying vitamin-like and hormone-like substances necessary for the body, as well as components used to build biological complexes. Everyone knows the effect of volatile substances in the air of a pine forest and an oak forest on the general well-being of a person and on his nervous system.

Phytoncides also have pronounced prophylactic properties. It has been established that people who permanently live in forest areas suffer from acute respiratory diseases 2-4 times less than city dwellers.

By clearing the air from bacteria, phytoncides thereby contribute to the prevention of diseases. However, their disinfecting properties are manifested not only in this. Volatile phytoncides of herbaceous elderberry, tansy, bird cherry scare away rodents and insects, which are carriers of pathogens. Eucalyptus trees keep mosquitoes away. Blackroot (smelling of mice) and black elderberry scare away mice and rats.

At the same time, it is necessary to know that phytoncides of some plants, their high concentration can cause some deterioration in well-being. Volatile substances of wild rosemary (blueberries often grow next to it) in large quantities cause dizziness and are intoxicating. On hot, dry and calm days, when the concentration of emitted aromatic substances is especially high, in a coniferous forest, the well-being of patients with cardiovascular diseases may deteriorate.

Most fresh vegetables and fruits containing phytoncides have more than just nutritional value, but also healing properties. Everyone knows well - onions, garlic, red chillies, horseradish, cabbage. Also apples (especially Antonovka), black currants, strawberries, raspberries, citrus fruits, and almost all others. For example, onion and garlic phytoncides kill many types of pathogenic microbes, help cleanse tissues and help them heal faster when applied externally in the form of gruel.

It should be borne in mind that the activity of phytoncides is associated with the life and development of plants, it is different depending on the season and stages of vegetation, climatic and other conditions. Phytoncides of many plants retain their activity for a long time, they are resistant to high and low temperatures.

These substances are used in medicine for the treatment of pulmonary and gastrointestinal diseases, wounds, ulcers and some skin diseases

Eating fresh vegetables and fruits helps cleanse the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract from pathogenic microbes.

Phytoncides should not be identified with essential oils, because they are common to all plants, not just essential oils.

The phytoncidal properties of plants were discovered back in 1929 by the Soviet scientist V.P. Tokin. Since then, the doctrine of: phytoncides has been constantly evolving.

All plants contain non-volatile substances with phytoncidal properties. They are formed in protoplasm plant cells and in tissue juices. Some plants also release volatile phytoncides (for example, mint, oregano, chamomile, sage and many others). If in the summer we go out into a garden, field or forest, then we will find ourselves in the world of phytoncides. They surround us, purifying the air from the contained microorganisms, among which there may be pathogenic for humans. So, in one cubic meter of forest air there are 150-200 times fewer microbes than in the same volume of city air. Thus, phytoncides of plants, helping to cleanse the air from bacteria, thereby contributing to the prevention of diseases. However, the disinfecting properties of phytoncides are manifested not only in this. Volatile substances of phytoncides of some plants (for example, herbaceous elderberry, tansy, bird cherry) scare away rodents and insects, which, as is well known, can be carriers of pathogens.

Phytoncides reliably protect plants from a variety of attacking bacteria, fungi and viruses and, therefore, from diseases that they can cause. As a result, bacterial diseases are less common in plants.

Phytoncides and flowers, and leaves, and plant roots are distinguished. A kind of chemical environment is created around it, which serves as a reliable protection for the plant against pathogenic microbes, in addition, it affects the development of neighboring plants (inhibits or stimulates their development). It is well known that not all plants get along with each other. Grapes, for example, do not tolerate the close proximity of radish, cabbage, laurel. If you put a bouquet of tulips and forget-me-nots next to each other, then the flowers wither quickly, as they say a depressing effect on each other. Conversely, plants can speed up the growth of their neighbors, for example, beans speed up the growth of corn. Rowan and linden, birch and pine grow well nearby.

We got acquainted with some facts of the powerful bactericidal, protistocidal and antifungal action of phytoncides. At first, the bactericidal power of phytoncides, the rate of spread of volatile phytoncides in the air, the speed of their penetration through the surface layers of cells, etc., seemed incredible to many. Let us recall the tubercle bacillus. In dried sputum, this microbe remains viable from 3 to 8 months; such proven antiseptics as carbolic acid in 5% solution or mercuric chloride in 0.5% solution kill the tubercle bacillus only after 12-24 hours. Within 10-30 minutes, this microbe does not die in a 10-15% solution of sulfuric acid. Of course, it is surprising that such a persistent microbe is killed outside the body in the first five minutes by phytoncides ... of garlic!

Is there something mysterious, supernatural in this? While the phenomenon is not fully solved, it seems mysterious. But this is no more mysterious than, let's say, the effect of hydrocyanic acid or hashish on the human body or the role of vitamins in the body, etc. For millennia, no less mysterious facts with onions were known before the discovery of phytoncides, only these facts became familiar and did not stop at attention to yourself.

Are the tears a housewife sheds when she chops an onion any less mysterious than the speed at which bacteria are killed by onions? The "cry" of the hostess is caused by the fact that the volatile substances of the onion spread extremely quickly and cause a response - the release of tears. Or remember the speed of action of mustard plasters. We are not surprised by these ordinary facts. The news of the rapid action of phytoncides at first aroused doubts even among highly qualified chemists. Meanwhile, it is just chemists who will have to remove the veil of secrecy that envelops new chapter science - phytoncides, remove in the interests of theory and practice of health care, veterinary medicine, plant growing and many other areas of human activity.

Scientists have conducted many experiments in the last decade to find out the chemical nature of phytoncides, and yet we must assume that we are only at the very beginning of research in this area.

I was more fortunate with bactericidal drugs - penicillin and gramicidin. It is no exaggeration to say that a whole army of chemists is attacking the mold fungus - penicillium and the microscopic soil bacterium bacillus brevis, from which gramicidin is obtained. The phytoncides of these organisms have been isolated in crystalline form, and the chemical nature of these medicinal substances has been determined with great certainty. Gramicidin turned out to be a substance belonging to the so-called polypeptides (substances close to proteins). These are, so to speak, scraps of protein, which include amino acid residues - valine, leucine, ornithine, phenylalanine and proline. The chemical nature of penicillin is also known. These are huge achievements of science.

The chemistry of phytoncides of higher plants, and especially their volatile fractions, is much less developed. Soviet scientists are pioneers in the study of the chemistry of phytoncides in higher plants. Detailed work has been carried out with regard to onion and garlic phytoncides. IV Toroptsev and IE Kamnev isolated a bactericidal preparation from garlic in the form of powder and solutions. TD Yanovich obtained a garlic extract - sativip, which attracted the attention of many doctors.

American scientists in 1944-1945 extracted the bactericidal drug allicin from garlic and suggested its chemical nature.

In 1948, in Switzerland, they artificially created (synthesized) the active bactericidal substances of garlic.

At least ten more attempts by chemists are known different countries find out the exact composition of garlic phytoncides. So far, however, this work has not yet been completed with complete success. More than ten drugs were created from garlic, but each of them differs from each other in chemical composition and in its effect on microbes, and all of them are inferior in their antimicrobial power to the natural tissue juice of garlic and its volatile phytoncides.

The chemical composition of the phytoncides of garlic and onions is still unknown. It was found only that the active bactericidal substances are not of a protein nature. According to IV Toroptsev and IE Kamnev, the phytoncides of garlic are close in their chemical nature to glucosides - substances widespread in the plant world. A substance has been isolated from garlic that suppresses bacteria at a dilution of 1: 250,000. It is called alliin. It is an oily liquid, soluble in alcohol and ether, but poorly soluble in water. It consists of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and sulfur. Chemists write like this:

To think, however, that this is the phytoncide of garlic, is wrong. At best, it is one of the components of a complex complex of substances that is a phytoncide.

Phytoncides in their composition can be more complex. In any case, it is known that phytoncides of garlic and onions are not just one compound: they can also be a complex of substances. The juices of garlic and onion, which are non-volatile at room temperature, differ in composition from the volatile phytoncides of the same plants. Least known is the chemistry of volatile phytoncides. Although we have only more or less reasonable guesses regarding the composition of phytoncides, one thing is clear: the chemistry of phytoncides of different plants is very different. We judge this by their different biological effects on micro- and macroorganisms 1.

1 (Macroorganisms are understood as all plants and animals, except microbes.)

However, plant antimicrobials can be very simple compounds. Thus, R. M. Kaminskaya isolated the phytoncidal substance C 11 H 18 from juniper. It kills E. coli, the causative agents of typhoid and paratyphoid fever A and B, the causative agent of diphtheria, dysentery bacillus. Natural juniper phytoncides, however, are unlikely to consist of this substance alone.

The study of the composition of volatile phytoncides led to a tempting idea: to compare them with the essential oils of plants. In the early years of research, the author was convinced of the need to identify volatile phytoncides with essential oils. Subsequently, it turned out, however, that volatile phytoncides and essential oils cannot be identified, although they may be associated with them in origin.

Many experiments in our and other laboratories have convinced us that not only essential oil plants, but also plants that do not contain essential oils, have excellent phytoncidal properties; wounded oak leaves, for example, kill various microbes very well from a distance.

Some essential oil plants have a very weak ability to kill microorganisms. So, phytoncides of the leaves of all known geraniums are very bad, only for hours, they kill the simplest single-celled organisms. By the way, it is absolutely not necessary that the plant substances that have a smell have phytoncidal properties.

How are essential oils obtained?

The main method is the distillation of essential oils with water vapor. We need to get, for example, essential oil from eucalyptus leaves or from the peel of a lemon fruit. We will prepare raw materials. Grind it and expose it to hot steam. Essential oil, contained in microscopic particles in special containers called glands, emerges and is extracted by steam. The oil is collected in special vessels, sometimes purified with chemicals and distilled again with hot steam. It turns out an oily liquid, almost insoluble in water; on paper she, like sunflower oil, leaves a stain.

Let us now assume that in a plant, for example, in black currant, volatile phytoncides and essential oil are the same aggregates of substances. In order to understand the chemical nature of volatile phytoncides, the just described method for distilling essential oils should be recognized as very bad: under the action of hot steam, some of the constituents of volatile phytoncides change.

Distillation of essential oils is carried out not only from fresh, but also from dried material.

What is left of the natural, naturally occurring volatile phytoncides?

After all, there are plants (onions and others) that, in the first minutes after grinding, consume almost all of their volatile phytoncides. It is clear that scientists, distilling essential oils from such plants, do not get natural phytoncides, but some highly modified products.

Scientists, through ingenious and painstaking experiments, have convinced themselves that volatile phytoncides and essential oils are not necessarily the same substances. Let's talk about one such study on black currant leaves.

A thin metal needle or a sharply sharpened wooden needle manages to remove all glands with essential oils. To completely remove traces of essential oil, you can wipe such a sheet with blotting (filter) paper. If such a sheet is rubbed between the fingers, then the smell of essential oil will not be detected. And such a leaf without traces of essential oil still continues to emit volatile phytoncides and kill microbes at a distance.

And on other plants it has been proven that phytoncides and essential oils, even in essential oil plants, are different groups of substances.

So, it is quite clear that the received different ways essential oils, of course, are not the collection of substances that are secreted by a living plant. It is no coincidence that essential oils are poisonous to the plants from which they are isolated. Thus, plants anise, rosemary and lavender die from the vapors of their own essential oils.

In the same way, bactericidal principles obtained in various other ways from lower and higher plants can hardly be fully identified with the totality of bactericidal substances that are produced during the life of the plant. All these are more or less "disfigured" phytoncides. It is all the more interesting to recall some data on the bactericidal properties of plant essential oils. These properties have long been known, but they have not been given the importance that they have.

The bactericidal properties of eugenol, vanillin, rose, geranium and other oils were known. In Russia, in the 80-90s of the last century, sterilization of catgut (thread of animal origin used in surgery) with essential oils of coniferous plants was used. In the author's laboratory, numerous experiments have been carried out to find out whether essential oils act on microorganisms at a distance, that is, whether microorganisms are killed by the vapor of essential oils.

Experiments have shown that vapors of essential oils successfully kill microorganisms. Vapors of the essential oil of the oregano plant stop the movement of ciliates for 1.5-2 minutes. Vapors of gray wormwood essential oil kill ciliates in 30-60 seconds; Bogorodskaya grass - after 1-1.5 minutes; snakehead and hyssop - in the first seconds. Vapors of essential oils from some plants kill typhoid and dysentery microbes.

A lot of interesting things have already been discovered about the chemistry of phytoncides. Most of all, the scientists of Kiev B. E. Aizenman, S. I. Zelepukh, K. I. Beltyukova and others, headed by the famous Ukrainian microbiologist Academician Viktor Grigorievich Drobotko, worked hard.

As you might expect, in most cases phytoncides are not just one substance, but a set of substances specific to each plant.

Antimicrobial properties are possessed by substances that are often found in plants and have long been known to science - tannins, alkaloids, glucosides, organic acids, balsams, resins, hydrocyanic acid and many others. But, as already mentioned, phytoncides are most often a complex complex of chemical compounds.

Here are some examples.

The main active principle of bird cherry phytoncides is hydrocyanic acid, but, in addition, there are benzoic aldehyde and unknown substances.

It would seem that the phytoncidal properties of oak leaves can be easily explained by the fact that tannins are always present in their tissue sap. These substances actually inhibit growth and kill many bacteria. In fact, the phytoncides of oak leaves are far from only tannins. Tannins have almost no volatility, while Oak leaves kill many bacteria at a distance.

Interestingly, in most cases phytoncides are not proteins or nucleic acids.

There are many mysteries in the chemistry of phytoncides. When some plants die, they gradually lose their phytoncidal properties, while others retain them for a long period.

The mysterious phenomenon of exceptional "survivability after death" of some trees is surprising. Larch lives for 400-500 years, and after death its wood remains for hundreds and even thousands of years. In the State Hermitage Museum in Leningrad there are log houses of burial vaults, chariots with wheels woven from the roots of larch trees. These products have lain for over 25,000 years, and bacteria and fungi have not touched them. Why? Are not involved in this mysterious phenomenon phytoncides?

We will not go further into the field of chemistry. It may happen that some plants in the composition of phytoncides contain substances that are still unknown to chemistry. So think, in particular, about some components of garlic phytoncides. However, let's not engage in unnecessary prophecies: we must patiently wait for the results of research and be imbued with respect for the work of chemists, which is often heroic. Let impatient people demanding a quick answer about the chemical composition of phytoncides know that chemical composition plants are sometimes extremely complex. The history of science shows that it took many years, even decades, to determine, and even incomplete, the chemical composition of the essential oil of some plants. Chemists researching phytoncides will do a lot of useful things for medicine, veterinary medicine and agriculture.

Before the beginning of this chapter, we remembered the wonderful words of our great natural scientist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov: "Facts are the air of a scientist." This sounds like a commandment for our and all future generations of scientists. You can be completely calm and the author and the reader for the accuracy and abundance of facts obtained by many researchers in the field of phytoncides. The reader's thought may legitimately rush to get answers to many of the questions that have arisen related to understanding the role of phytoncides in nature itself, with the inception of the discovery of phytoncides for science, medicine, and industry. We will try to answer some of these questions soon, but the central biological question - about the importance of phytoncides for the life of plants themselves - we will touch upon, however, not soon, at the end of the book, when we have much more facts about the properties of phytoncides than we have it now.

If phytoncides were found only as an exception, on one or two plants, they would not be of particular biological interest.

How can one explain such a generous extravagance of the plant world? Let's jump ahead and first state one very important assumption, making an attempt to explain why phytoncidal properties appeared in the course of plant evolution and what is their role in nature.

Any plant, be it a mold or a birch, a bacterium or an oak, in the course of its life, produces substances - phytoncides, which, along with numerous other adaptations, help it to fight against bacteria, fungi and certain multicellular organisms that may be harmful to it. Phytoncides and, figuratively speaking, the plant sterilizes itself.

Thus, by phytoncides, we will agree to mean plant substances of various chemical natures that have properties to inhibit the development or kill bacteria, protozoa, fungi and other multicellular organisms and organisms that are important in protecting plants from diseases, that is, playing an important role in natural resistance to contagious diseases.

Phytoncides.

Many higher plants produce protective substances with antibiotic effects, not only through direct contact, but also from a distance.

Phytoncides(from the Greek φυτóν - "plant" and Latin. caedo - "I kill") - biologically active substances formed by plants that kill or suppress the growth and development of bacteria, microscopic fungi, protozoa.

Phytoncides are a natural defense of plants in cases of injury.

These substances were discovered by the Soviet biologist B.T. Tokin and named them phytoncides. Subsequently, it was found that antibiotic substances are produced by various bacteria, algae, and animals. Tokin discovered 282 species of higher plants, the volatile phytoncides of which have an antibiotic effect.

It has now been established that the phytoncidal effect to one degree or another is possessed by all plants... The phytoncidal activity of different plants is not the same and depends on the type of plants, the place and conditions of growth, the phase of the growing season, and methods of using the plant mass.

Many phytoncides have been isolated in pure form, their structure is known, and some are already being synthesized. In this regard, much attention is paid to the mechanism of their action. The initial assumption that phytoncides have much in common with essential oils turned out to be inaccurate, since a significant amount of phytoncides was obtained from non-essential oil plants. In most cases, phytoncides seem to act with the whole molecule; some drugs are active as a result of the formation of hydrocyanic, benzoic and other acids.

Phytoncidal properties a number of plants are predominantly due to any "main" group of chemicals (or even one substance): tannins, alkaloids (for example, the steroidal glucoside alkaloid tomato, obtained from tomato leaves), organic acids, quinones (for example, juglone, 5-hydroxy- 1,4-naphthoquinone isolated from walnut, or 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone - from garden balsam), glucosides, essential oils, balms, resins, etc.

In some cases, for example in cherry laurel, the chemical composition of phytoncides is very close or coincides with the composition of the essential oil of this plant, but essential oils and phytoncides cannot be equated. So, the production of phytoncides is also characteristic of plants that do not belong to essential oils (for example, oak, molds, etc.); on the other hand, the phytoncidal properties of plants rich in essential oils (for example, black currant) are not due to the essential oil (it has no effect on microorganisms on the plant).

In some cases, phytoncides are formed in a plant from inactive substances as a result of rapidly occurring chemical reactions. It has been established, for example, that garlic contains an inactive substance alliin, which, under the influence of the allianase enzyme, can quickly convert into allicin, which has phytoncidal properties. It was found that volatile phytoncides of rosehip fruits are formed when they are injured, when the agluconic fraction of flavone glucosides contained in the fetus interacts with ascorbic acid.

In most cases, the effect on the bacterial flora of phytoncides isolated in pure form is lower than the effect on this flora of a plant containing this phytoncide. This suggests that plants most often contain several phytoncides. In addition, it has been proven that the activity of phytoncides in different plants is directly related to the content of various alkaloids, glucosides, essential oils, saponins, organic acids, enzymes, etc. chemical substances plants can be revitalized. Any phytoncide has antibiotic properties.

Many of the phytoncides have a beneficial effect on the animal organism. For example, some of them contribute to education ascorbic acid in the tissues.

In large doses, phytoncides are poisonous to animals. In some cases, toxicity is caused by the phytoncides themselves, and in others, by other substances that come along with alkaloids, glucosides, etc.

In the quantities in which they are found in plants, they are practically harmless.

Phytoncides of forest plants have provitamin properties. The special importance of phytoncides is that they help to attract the natural forces of the body.

Great importance have special phytoncidal preparations obtained from plants, for example imanin- an antibacterial drug made from the plant St. John's wort, etc. Such special stable drugs with a constant effect are essential. This property is not always possessed by natural phytoncides, the activity of which depends on the growing conditions of the plant, its collection, storage, etc. For example, burnet roots harvested in autumn are more effective than those harvested in spring.

Phytoncides are used in medicine, agriculture, Food Industry. For example, eucalyptus phytoncides - for purulent surgical diseases (the use of phytoncides in this case gives nice results, since along with the effect on the microflora, phytoncides stimulate tissue regeneration). The drug imanin is used in the treatment of wounds, burns, etc. Phytoncidal preparations from pine needles and some other plants are used in gynecology. Phytoncides contained in plant or fragrant substances, resins, balms can be used to clean the air from pathogenic microorganisms both in homes and in public places.

The most powerful phytoncides are possessed by: calamus, thistle, wormwood, juniper, horsetail, linden, plantain, angelica, Abraham's tree, eucalyptus, basil, St. John's wort, centaury, tansy, burial ground, violet, poplar (leaves and buds). These plants keep phytoncides dry. The use of extracts from these plants is of great interest for cosmetics.

At the same time, for cosmetology, the phytoncidal effect of essential oils, resins, resinous substances, balms, etc. is of particular interest.