| Abstract [eng] |
Title: Prioritisation of Medicinal Plant Species in Lithuania for Long-Term Conservation and Utilization. Aim of the study: To review the diversity and distribution of medicinal plants in Lithuania's natural ecosystems, to assess the range of medicinal plants used in Lithuania, and to compile an inventory of priority species for long-term conservation and utilization. Objectives: 1. To compile an annotated checklist of medicinal plants growing in Lithuania. 2. Development of criteria and an application scheme for the selection of priority species of medicinal plants. 3. Establish an inventory list of priority medicinal plants. 4. Based on the supply of a pharmaceutical/herbal trade companies, evaluate the assortment of medicinal plants used in Lithuania. 5. To analyze the distribution of priority species in Western Lithuania, conservation measures and related legislation and to identify gaps in in situ conservation. Methods: The qualitative approach used in the study involves data collection and analysis. The research method was selected and adapted according to the guidelines for planning and implementing systematic and active in situ and ex situ conservation of wild genera of cultivated plants at national level. The data collected were processed and organized using Microsoft Office Excel and IBM SPSS software. Results: The checklist consists of 830 species of medicinal plants growing in Lithuania. The priority list of medicinal plants in Lithuania consists of 136 species representing 52 families and 107 genera. In order to assess the most popular medicinal plants in Lithuania, an analysis of the range offered by 5 manufacturers of herbal products was carried out. An analysis of medicinal plant seed plots in Western Lithuania was carried out, based on the Order of the Minister of the Environment of the Republic of Lithuania „On the Approval of the Lists of National Plant Genetic Resources “. It was found that 44,1% of the priority medicinal plants are found in the approved seed plots. As only 5 species of medicinal plants meet the minimum condition of 5 populations from the approved medicinal plant seed plots in Lithuania, an analysis was also carried out of the mounds in Western Lithuania that could become potential medicinal plant seed plots. Based on the inventory of 9 species of mounds in Western Lithuania in 2023, it was found that 37.5% of the priority medicinal plant species are found in the territories of these mounds. Conclusions: 1. The checklist of medicinal plants growing in Lithuania includes 830 species. 2. The priority list of medicinal plants in Lithuania consists of 136 species representing 52 families and 107 genera. 3. 3 medicinal plant species are included in the list of protected species of animals, plants and fungi of the Republic of Lithuania. 4. Urtica dioica is the most used and valued medicinal plant on the market 5. About 52% of the priority medicinal plant species are also traded by companies in Lithuania. 6. An analysis of medicinal plant seed plots in Western Lithuania, based on the Order of the Minister of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania „On Approval of the Lists of National Plant Genetic Resources “, showed that 44.1% of the list of priority medicinal plants are found in these approved seed plots. 7. An analysis based on the data from the species inventory of 9 mounds in Western Lithuania in 2023 has shown that 37.5% of the priority medicinal plants are found in the areas of these mounds. 8. In the case of the seed plots of medicinal and aromatic plants included in the national genetic resources of the plants studied in Western Lithuania, a total of 5 species, i.e. 8.3%, meet the minimum condition of 5 populations. In the case of the mounds surveyed in Western Lithuania, a total of 19 species, i.e. 37.3%, meet this condition. 9. One way to address the gaps in in situ conservation is to include the nine mound sites in the lists of protected seed plots of the Republic of Lithuania. |
