Phytoncidal plants. Plants and microecology of housing Japanese indoor plants with an increased amount of phytoncides
We spend most of our lives indoors, so it is very important to take care of its environmental well-being. It is known that many indoor plants improve not only the aesthetic design of premises, but also their hygienic condition. They moisten the atmosphere, release phytoncides into it, destroying microbes, and some plants even absorb harmful radiation and fumes that fill modern apartments. These properties of indoor plants are especially important for housewives who spend a lot of time in the kitchen. In other rooms of the apartment, the air is also polluted: various solvents contained in paints, adhesives, plastics and finishing materials, tobacco smoke, bacteria and numerous allergens that have a harmful effect on the body are found in it. The ecological condition of our homes is also influenced by numerous technical devices. Research shows that the concentration of toxic substances in apartment air often reaches such a degree that people develop upper respiratory tract diseases, bronchitis, and allergic conditions. American scientists have found that thousands of people fall ill every year from diseases resulting from the influence of toxic substances in the air of residential buildings and institutions in the United States.
Many indoor plants are successfully used to clean and improve indoor air. In enclosed spaces they are able to fight viruses and other pathogens. For example, thanks to the phytoncides it secretes, common myrtle reduces the number of pathogenic microorganisms by half, and crested chlorophytum cleanses the air of microbes by 88% in 24 hours! In addition, this plant absorbs many harmful substances, purifying the air better than many air purifiers. It is no coincidence that scientists have proposed chlorophytum to purify the air in spacecraft.
Chlorophytum has been grown indoors for 200 years. This plant has beautiful curved leaves with a white and cream stripe. In spring and summer, first small flowers appear on thin shoots cascading down, and then leaf rosettes appear, which look very impressive in a hanging basket. Chlorophytum grows quickly, rarely gets sick, is unpretentious, but loves sunlight.
Asparagus reduces the number of harmful microorganisms by half, krasulla - almost three times. Ficus, willow, white-spotted begonia, geranium, and modest aglaonema have a special antimicrobial effect (despite its modest appearance, it effectively kills streptococci). Monstera, spurge, cyperus, and small-flowered chrysanthemum are also considered good phytoncidal flowers. If you “settle” eucalyptus and myrtle or figs in a room, then not only germs, but even flies and mosquitoes will not remain in the room. Ivy copes well with toxins and other aliens from the street, different kinds ficus, philodendron and common agave (aloe). Eucalyptus trees (ball, twig and ash) are ideal for killing viruses.
Dracaena and dwarf date palm It is recommended to place it near the computer, as these plants absorb xylene emitted by monitors. It is also believed that cacti should be placed near computers, as they are able to absorb harmful radiation. It is useful to grow scindapsus in a room where people smoke - it actively absorbs nicotine along with carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide. Philodendron (plant with large leaves bizarre shape), as well as Dieffenbachia and anthurium have a beneficial effect on water and gas exchange, reducing air dryness. Ferns also perfectly humidify the air, which is especially important in winter when the heating is on. In addition, ferns neutralize formaldehyde released from new furniture and carpets. Cereus and codiaum can restore the ionic composition of air.
Roses and orchids heal the atmosphere around them; moreover, they bloom beautifully and smell pleasant. The air in the room will be significantly purified in just three weeks if you decorate the windowsill with indoor grapes.
Sansevieria (also called pike tail). This plant can be compared to the real one oxygen installation. It works especially productively during the daytime. Everyone knows a coffee tree perfectly ozonizes the air. Prickly pear and aloe fight well against various fungi, and krasulla can reduce their numbers by seven times.
By the way, in order to make the air in your home cleaner, it is not at all necessary to turn your apartment into an impenetrable jungle. 5-6 plants at least half a meter high are enough. And of course, you need to select them taking into account your needs.
Indoor plants can also be used to treat certain diseases. For example, rosemary officinalis helps with chronic bronchitis, emphysema, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, bronchial asthma, etc. If there is an increased tendency to diseases of the upper respiratory tract and lungs, it is also useful to place it in the room where most of the time is spent. indoor lemon, white-spotted begonia, pelargonium, white oleander, spring primrose, ficus elastica or home geranium. The air saturated with phytoncides of these plants will benefit and healthy people: the functional activity of the body will increase, its protective forces will increase.
Laurus nobilis helps with spastic conditions. People with increased nervous excitability are recommended to grow oregano, snakehead, lavender, lemon balm, and monarda in the house, which have a calming effect.
Geranium relieves insomnia, neuroses and some other diseases of the nervous system, and reduces blood pressure. By the way, geranium juice has phytoncides equal in strength to the phytoncides of onion and garlic. To obtain 50 g of fresh geranium juice, collect 150 g of leaves of this plant, fill them with fresh drinking water (settled, since chlorine destroys geranium phytoncides) and leave for 2 hours. Then the leaves are passed through a meat grinder and the juice is squeezed out through double gauze. You can also use a juicer. Store the juice in a glass or earthenware container in the refrigerator, but no more than two hours, as it quickly loses its properties. healing properties.
Peppermint phytoncides have a vasodilating effect. This plant promotes concentration, so experts advise placing a pot of mint on your desk.
At home, you can grow some coniferous plants, for example, araucaria, cypress and cypress, yew, pine (Himalayan, Weymouth and others), juniper, cryptomeria, thuja and arborvitae, etc. Their phytoncides have a beneficial effect not only on the respiratory tract, but also on nervous system. They fill the apartment with negatively charged ions, which are very useful for diabetics, people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, and also for those who suffer from frequent headaches. In addition, the negative ions released by coniferous plants neutralize the harmful effects household appliances. Spruce and pine perfectly fight the smallest dust that cannot be collected with a vacuum cleaner, and cypress and juniper are excellent noise absorbers: if you cover the entire window with them, the sounds coming from the street will become 30% quieter.
To grow these plants in an apartment with central heating, you need a cool room, since coniferous indoor plants do not tolerate high temperatures and dry air in winter. They do well in cool rooms with plenty of light and air. In summer they need abundant watering, in winter they are watered very rarely, at the same time preventing the soil from drying out.
You can grow real cedar at home, but in miniature. To do this, they use a special bonsai technique, invented by the Japanese in ancient times. It consists of artificially slowing down plant growth. Their crown shape and branch structure are the same as big trees, and in size they do not exceed ordinary indoor plants.
Figs (fig trees) are also grown at home, which under good conditions can produce several kilograms of tasty, nutritious dietary fruit. Thanks to its beautiful foliage, figs become a true decoration of the home.
Plants such as aloe and Kalanchoe are excellent home doctors.
Aloe juice contains a mixture of various anthraglycosides, a significant amount of a resinous substance of complex composition, phytoncides, vitamins, bitterness, enzymes, and traces of essential oil. It has a laxative, bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect against various microbes. Fresh aloe juice is an effective remedy for treating various wounds, burns and other skin injuries. Aloe juice syrup with iron is prescribed as a general tonic. Biostimulated aloe juice is used in various medicinal mixtures. To prepare biostimulated aloe juice, cut off the lower or middle, well-developed leaves, wash with boiled water, allow to dry, and then place in a sealed container in a dark, cool place with a temperature of 4-8 ° C for 2 weeks. Then the leaves are ground in a meat grinder and the juice is squeezed out.
To prepare a general strengthening mixture, take 150 g of biostimulated aloe juice, mix with 250 g of honey and 350 g of Cahors. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day before meals. To prepare an aqueous infusion, biostimulated leaves are passed through a meat grinder, water is added in five times the amount, infused for an hour, heated to a boil and, after boiling for 2-3 minutes, filtered. Used in the form of lotions for various skin diseases, for rinsing the mouth and throat during inflammatory processes, and drink 1 teaspoon 2-3 times a day for gastrointestinal diseases.
Lotions made from fresh juice of biostimulated aloe leaves (2-3 times a week for 10 minutes) are an effective remedy that tones the skin, prevents the appearance of wrinkles and eliminates inflammation and irritation.
Evaporated aloe juice - sabur - has been used for chronic constipation for a long time, 0.1-0.3 g per night. The laxative effect occurs after 8-10 hours.
However, it should be borne in mind that aloe preparations can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor. They are contraindicated for inflammation of the liver, bladder, uterine bleeding, hemorrhoids, severe cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, acute forms of gastrointestinal disorders and in the last months of pregnancy.
Kalanchoe pinnate juice stimulates the restoration of damaged tissues, has antiviral activity, has an anti-inflammatory effect and is therefore used for wound healing. Kalanchoe juice is also effective for tonsillitis, periodontal disease, and stomatitis. To obtain juice, the washed leaves and stems are kept in the refrigerator for up to 7 days, the juice is squeezed out and, if necessary (for example, for long-term storage) are sterilized or diluted with alcohol (vodka) to a strength of 20%.
All of the above indoor plants, as well as many others, can be successfully used to improve the ecological situation of your home. However, before you start growing a new flower on the windowsill, you should make sure that no one in your household is allergic to its aroma. You should not take it into a house where there is Small child, plants with poisonous leaves - boxwood, oleander, dieffenbachia. It is interesting that phytoncides are released not only by living plants, but also by dried flowers, so compositions using echinacea, lavender, lemon balm, and snakehead not only create coziness, but also highlight essential oils, beneficial to human health. Essential oils of plants and herbs regulate emotions and physical reactions, strengthen the body's defenses against infectious diseases, and can stimulate the formation of leukocytes in the blood. Different essential oils have connections with specific organs of the body.
Geranium oil activates the adrenal cortex, which helps normalize the body's hormonal balance, reduces the manifestations of premenstrual syndrome, and helps with menopausal disorders. With its help you can cope with sudden mood swings, tension, fussiness, and depression.
Elena Doskach
The air environment in our premises is far from ideal. In addition to ordinary dust, the air has a high content chemical compounds, which emit building materials, furniture, not to mention exhaust gases.
In addition, the air environment contains pathogenic microorganisms, such as: Streptococci, staphylococci, sarcina (Escherichia coli, molds.
Getting into favorable conditions, these microorganisms cause various respiratory, intestinal diseases, as well as allergies.
According to research, the content of harmful microorganisms in kindergartens often exceeds the norm by 2-3 times.
What can be done to somehow neutralize the harmful effects of these microorganisms?
You can improve the air environment of indoor spaces by using certain plants for landscaping.
Everyone knows that some plants secrete phytoncides.
Phytoncides– these are volatile substances that can suppress the activity of harmful organisms.
Academician N. G. Kholodny called phytoncides atmospheric vitamins, because they are needed in very small quantities and act like vitamins. Some plants also serve as a filter. harmful substances, acting as a “green liver”. In addition to the fact that plants purify the air poisonous gases: formaldehyde, phenol, benzene, but also feed on them, converting them into sugars and amino acids. Along with plants whose volatile substances have pronounced phytoncidal properties, there are plants whose volatile substances have a healing effect on the human body.
All these plants can be combined into 3 groups:
1 group– phytoncidal plants that have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal activity. They suppress the vital activity of streptococci, staphylococci, sarcinoids, and mold fungi.
Plants of group 1:
Aloe, Dieffenbachia, Rhoicissus, Begonia, Kalanchoe, Sansevieria, Bryophyllum, Coleus, Crassula, Geranium, Euphorbia, Thuja, Hibiscus, Ivy, Ficus
It is necessary to take into account the specificity of the action of plant volatiles. For example, volatile substances begonias active against staphylococcus and, especially, mold fungi, but neutral against sarcina (intestinal bacteria). If the room is dark and damp, then there is an increased content of mold fungi in the air. In such rooms it is recommended to grow primarily begonia, which is also shade-tolerant. In addition, the following can adapt to these conditions: myrtle, laurel, monstera, ivy, lemon, ficus. Kalanchoe acts on staphylococcus and sarcina. Thuja active against diphtheria and whooping cough pathogens. Ivy, coleus– regarding Sarcina.
2nd group- plants that have medicinal effects. They increase immunity, improve cardiac activity, calm, and have anti-inflammatory effects.
Plants of 2 groups:
Monstera– has a beneficial effect on people with nervous system disorders, eliminates headaches and heart rhythm disturbances.
Geranium fragrant– has a calming effect, helps with insomnia and various neuroses.
Spurge– has a sedative effect.
Lemon– improves heart function, lowers blood pressure, improves general condition.
In aerophytotherapy, these plants are used as a bronchodilator, antispasmodic and sedative.
For 10 years, Novosibirsk doctors from the Novosibirsk Medical Academy conducted an experiment in preschool institutions - they tested the effect of phytoncidal plants on the health of children.
It turned out that the phytoncidal radius of action of myrtle extends to 5 meters. At this distance, microbes are not viable.
However, myrtle does not tolerate dry air, especially in winter - its leaves fall off.
3 group– plants whose filters absorb harmful gases from the air: formaldehyde, phenol, benzene, hexane.
Plants of 3 groups:
Ficus, cissus, chlorophytum.
Chlorophytum cleans the air much better than special technical devices. For example, to clean an average-sized apartment from harmful gases, approximately 10 chlorophytums will be required.
An assortment of plants with high phytoncidal activity that heal the body, are easy to care for and easy to propagate has been developed especially for kindergartens. Certain plants should be placed in certain rooms.
Plants of all 3 groups are suitable for playrooms.
In nurseries and junior groups exclude poisonous (albeit useful): spurge, dieffenbachia, alocasia, since children do not yet realize the danger that a completely harmless-looking plant poses (milky and poisonous juice can cause allergies or even severe burns). Plants with thorns are also not recommended for placement in younger groups. But in older groups, where children already know about the danger that can come from flowers, phytoncidal plants, even those containing poisonous juice, can be placed. It is necessary to explain to children what kind of plant this is and how to handle it.
In game rooms Where children spend most of their time, there is an increased amount of dust, which means there is a high contamination of spore cultures: mold and bacilli. Often, dust-laden air is the cause of poor health. You can also avoid these troubles with the help of plants.
For example - Cyperus. This plant increases air humidity, which helps dust settle. Cyperus loves water very much and happily evaporates it into the air, so the pot with this plant is constantly kept in a tray with water. TO a good humidifier also applies hibiscus(Chinese rose).
In the reception area It makes sense to install plants with a strong antimicrobial and tonic effect. For example, myrtle, thuja, sansevieria. They perfectly disinfect the air and even kill the diphtheria bacillus. In this case, the child, before entering the group, will naturally cleanse himself, thanks to the biologically active substances of plants.
Rules for caring for plants
When purchasing plants, you must first find out how much light they need.
Photophilous, air t is not less than 15.
Aloe, geranium, Kalanchoe, coleus, peperomia, crassula.
Less demanding on light, t not lower than 20 – 25.
Begonia, Dieffenbachia, Sansevieria.
Shade-tolerant, cold-resistant.
Cissus, ivy, epipremnum.
It is important not only to place the plants correctly, but also to properly care for them. Particular attention should be paid to watering. You need to water not every day, but as needed. Some plants will tolerate drying out of the earthen coma without any problems (aloe, Kalanchoe, Crassula), others will immediately shed their leaves and may even die (myrtle).
It is equally important to spray the plants. In winter, during the heating season, air humidity decreases sharply, and dry air is as destructive for some plants as dry soil. If you have myrtle, lemon, or laurel growing, then it is advisable to place them away from the radiator and spray them with cold water at least twice a day. Spraying is also good because it prevents the appearance of pests, since dry air promotes the spread of whiteflies and spider mites. If pests have already appeared on the plants, then they should be combated not with pesticides, but by daily spraying the inside and outside of the leaves. If there are a lot of pests, a cold shower is effective. To do this, place the plant in a bath, cover the ground with film, apply soap foam to the leaves, and after 10 minutes rinse it with water.
If you do this regularly for a week, the plant will get rid of mites, whiteflies, and aphids. You can fertilize indoor plants at any time of the year, but only healthy ones.
In conclusion, I would like to wish you not to clutter the room with many pots, jars, and bowls with plants (sometimes stunted). It is more rational to have 2-3 well-groomed, healthy plants, which create a more comfortable atmosphere in the room and better purify the air.
Attach a label with the name to each pot with a plant. The title must be correct and literary. You should not memorize colloquial names of plants in your child’s memory, such as “birch”, “Vanka - wet”, “pike tail”, etc.
Be healthy!
The flora that surrounds us is the greatest miracle and a generous divine gift, supplying natural phytoncides to protect against the effects of harmful microbes. And not only our physical health, but also the psycho-emotional component depends on how carefully we treat nature. Let's take a little closer look at how, where and when healing phytoncides are formed around us.
Natural phytoncides - form, quality, properties
Quite unnoticed in our world, in addition to plants, animals, insects and other creatures that we distinguish with our eyes, there is also an invisible microcosm, which is hordes of all kinds of bacteria and various microorganisms. And these microorganisms are invisibly nearby, in almost everything that surrounds us.
Even in such a seemingly harmless object as a lump of earth, almost 1.5 million microbes and bacteria live! And this microcosm can be conditionally divided into one that harms others, exists neutrally relative to them, and, finally, one that has a beneficial effect on the entire life activity of the planet. We already talked about the ratio of beneficial and harmful microbes when we considered the concept of using EM technologies in the garden.
Phytoncides and their effect on microorganisms
So, let’s say, “positive” microorganisms tirelessly and constantly cleanse the planet of various rot, unnecessary or diseased tissues. For example, take fallen leaves, which quickly decompose and become part of the same earth. All this happens not without the help of bacteria - it is they who significantly speed up the process of its processing, which frees up space from a mountain of already unnecessary foliage.
But “negative” microorganisms become the causes of all kinds of diseases, and it is necessary to protect ourselves from them. Animals have their own immunity to such microbes, protecting them from disease. What about plants? They also have their own defense system against harmful microorganisms and have, so to speak, antimicrobial properties.
This is expressed in the release by the plant of certain volatile substances into the atmosphere, which are capable of acting at a distance, or by the properties of the plant tissues themselves, where the antimicrobial effect occurs upon direct contact of the plant tissue and the pest. At the same time, plants help not only themselves, but also the entire world around them.
Such “useful” properties of plants have been noticed and used by humans for their own purposes for a very long time. All “greens” exhibit their disinfectant properties differently, and many human professions have used them for their own purposes. For example, plants such as hops, oregano, and wormwood counteract the development of putrefactive microbes, which was used by brewers and cooks. But thyme and tarragon have some preservative properties, which were successfully used by hunters who covered their prey with them.
Such antimicrobial substances secreted by the plant world are called “phytoncides”. Their existence was deduced and proved by the Russian scientist B.P. Tokin, from whom they got their name: “phyto” - plant, “cido” - I kill, a mixture of Greek and Latin languages.
The release of phytoncides in different plants occurs differently: in aboveground plants - into the air, in underground plants - into the ground, and in aquatic plants, respectively, into the reservoir. And the concentration of released phytoncides can be varied even in the same plants - it depends on the environmental conditions, the quality of the soil, and the state of the crop itself. For example, the fungicidal properties of clematis on rich fertile soils are much higher than on poor ones.
What plants produce phytoncides?
As already mentioned, a plant can secrete phytoncides either as a volatile substance or as damaged plant tissue. By the way, it is not necessarily injured leaves that can release medicinal phytoncides; it is the strength of a healthy leaf. For example, an oak leaf actively and successfully destroys ciliates if they suddenly land on the leaf.
But the strongest enemies of Staphylococcus aureus are bird cherry and linden. Poplar and birch trees are recognized as the fastest in destroying microbes. Therefore, it is not for nothing that forests are called the “lungs” of the globe - they not only release oxygen, but also literally clean the surrounding air, killing all harmful and dangerous microbes. A person, inhaling this air, also cleanses his lungs. After all, every year, thanks to the “greens,” 490 million tons of volatile disinfectants end up in the atmosphere!
It is a mistake to think that only some plants emit phytoncides; in fact, all plants emit volatile phytoorganic secretions, because their appearance is a natural reaction of the immune system. Volatile phytoncides released by plants, trees, and other crops protect the whole world from harmful bacteria and microbes.
They work effectively not only in close proximity, but also at a distance. And their activities can be easily verified using the simplest examples. For example, the most harmless thing is a bouquet of fresh lilies or bird cherry branches. They release their aroma, but if you leave them in a vase indoors, after some time a person will start to have a headache. This is what reveals the effect of phytoncides.
And if finely chopped leaves of the same bird cherry are placed under some kind of impenetrable cap, and a fly is placed there, then you can be sure that after a certain number of hours the insect will be dead, poisoned by phytoncides. The same thing will happen if you place a mouse under a hood - it will be poisoned before it suffocates from lack of air. In general, it is better to scare away rodents with elderberry branches; they really don’t like its smell.
The same natural phytoncides that exist in the tissue, in the sap of the plant, are released upon direct contact with microbes and bacteria. Therefore, the sap of many trees is disinfectant and antimicrobial.
The presence of phytoncides in the world is a salvation, but the number of plants on the planet needs to be monitored, increasing their number - planting new forests, planning plantings, and engaging in urban gardening, which is especially important. The presence of the simplest, most basic colors is also important in the apartments. For example, geranium and begonia reduce the number of harmful microorganisms in an apartment by 43%, and chrysanthemum by as much as 66! But some “overseas” plants are also useful - these include myrtle and eucalyptus.
Plants also have one more important quality - the ability, when exposed to the sun, to release electrons from the surface of the leaf, that is, to ionize the surrounding air. The ionization of air that occurs improves its quality, which means it has a beneficial effect on the general condition of a person. The degree of ionization plays an important role here. After all, for example, it has been proven that the most healing air is mountain air. It is in it that there are about 20,000 negative ions per cm³, while in industrial areas their concentration ranges from 100 to 500 and not thousands, but just pieces!
Forests are the planet’s protective belt from harmful microorganisms
Pine is one of the most famous “phytoncidal” plants, and people have been using it for a very long time. One has only to remember the countless number of sanatoriums, boarding houses, and hospital complexes built in pine forests. By inhaling pine air, a person’s lungs, like his entire body, are, to one degree or another, cleansed of various microbes. And the risk of catching a cold practically disappears. Coniferous forest releases about 5 kg of volatile phytoncides per day.
Juniper is also a fairly strong disinfectant plant, and in terms of the amount of phytoncides it produces, it probably takes first place. Juniper forests become a source of about 30 kg of volatile substances every day. This is about 6 times more than all other conifers. What can we say about deciduous forests, which produce 15 times less phytoncides under comparable conditions? But this plant is too sensitive to the environment - its pollution threshold is exceeded (for example, industrial production city), then the juniper simply dies. That is why he is a rare visitor near cities.
The deciduous forest releases 2 kg of healing phytoncides every day. But, despite the fact that, in comparison with coniferous forests, this seems to be not enough, this is far from the case. Deciduous forests also successfully fight microorganisms, purifying the air. For example, in a sterile operating room, the presence of harmless microbes is allowed in an amount of 500 per cubic meter. And in a birch forest, you can count only 450 microbes in one cubic meter. Oak also acts as a powerful orderly for the surrounding world, keeping bacteria and germs away. But maple can not only kill bacteria, but also absorb harmful formations, such as benzene.
All this speaks of the extremely positive impact of forests on the health of the entire planet and humans in particular. That’s why it’s so important to go out into nature – where there are flowering meadows, fields, forests. They will help cleanse and heal the body.
Natural phytoncides that enter the human body through the lung systems, as well as through the skin, have a negative effect on the bacteria located there, inhibit disease processes, kill microbes, inhibit the aging process, and exhibit anti-infective properties.
Phytoncides also have a beneficial effect on the digestive system and normalize blood pressure. But not only. Separately, it is worth noting the positive effect of inhaling phytoncides on the human psyche.
The healing effect of forests on humans can be seen in the following examples - people who live in forest areas have healthier respiratory organs, lungs, and cleaner airways.
In the real world, where technology, industry, and progress come first, man deprives himself of such natural sources of health and good mood as nature. Healing, cleansing forest and field air, which naturally helps a person get healthy and keeps his body in order. Less and less time is allocated for this. Therefore, it is so important to pay attention to at least abundant landscaping in cities: planting flower beds, improving lawns, creating public gardens and parks, planting shrubs and trees along the roads. And, of course, we shouldn’t forget about own apartment, there should also be green friends in it to not only disinfect the air in the room, but also give joy with their appearance. What is important to us in plants is not only their natural phytoncides, but also their aesthetic appearance, right?
Baturin Ilya
Purpose: to study the phytoncidal activity of some types of indoor plants based on their effect on microorganisms.
Objectives: - study material about the phytoncidal properties of plants, including indoor plants;
Determine the degree of phytoncidal activity of some types of indoor plants by their effect on microorganisms, identify plants with the greatest phytoncidal activity;
Subject of research: the influence of tissue juices and volatile fractions of different types of indoor plants on the culture of ciliates.
Object of interest: some types of indoor plants; culture of simple organisms (ciliates).
Download:
Preview:
RUSSIAN SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL PROGRAM FOR
YOUTH AND SCHOOLCHILDREN “STEP INTO THE FUTURE”
CITY SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE
SCHOOLCHILDREN “STEP INTO THE FUTURE, JUNIOR!”
Head: Elena Aleksandrovna Petrova, biology teacher of the first qualification category, MAOU “Secondary School No. 5”, Ust-Ilimsk, Irkutsk region
Russian Federation
Irkutsk region
Ust-Ilimsk city
year 2012
Introduction _____________________________________________________________________ _3_
1. Literary reference.
1.1Indoor plants in human life __________________________________________ _4_
2. History of the discovery of phytoncides_________________________________________________ _5_
3. General information about phytoncides ________________________________________________ _6_
4. Phytoncidal properties of indoor plants_____________________________________________8
5.Therapeutic effects of volatile plant emissions on humans _________________________________9
Introduction.
Since ancient times, man has sought to decorate his home with plants. Interior landscaping arose as an element of human culture that meets his aesthetic needs. Man felt himself to be one with nature, and he turned to it for healing, bringing a piece of living nature into his home. This desire was intuitive. Currently, a scientific approach to interior gardening involves a combination of aesthetic perception of the beauty of form, color of flowers and leaves of plants with another, useful function plants, which has been known for a long time: living plants improve the composition of the air and purify the atmosphere.Working with literary sources, we found out that most plants, including indoor plants, have bactericidal and protistocidalproperties, i.e. capable of causing the death of bacteria and single-celled organisms. Phytoncidal properties have been identified in more than 40 species of indoor plants. Modern people, including schoolchildren, spend a significant part of their time indoors, whereThe air is saturated with microorganisms, including pathogens.Therefore, knowledge on this topic allows you to choose for landscaping classrooms, offices, living rooms types of indoor plants that can help improve the indoor air quality.
Purpose: to study the phytoncidal activity of some types of indoor plants based on their effect on microorganisms.
Tasks: - study material about the phytoncidal properties of plants, including indoor plants;
Determine the degree of phytoncidal activity of some types of indoor plants by their effect on microorganisms, identify plants with the greatest phytoncidal activity;
Subject of research: the influence of tissue juices and volatile fractions of different types of indoor plants on the culture of ciliates.
Object of interest: some types of indoor plants; culture of simple organisms (ciliates).
- Literary reference.
- Houseplants in human life.
The concept of “houseplants” includes all varieties and hybrids that humans have managed to achieve as a result breeding work select and remove over centuries. And the history of indoor floriculture began back in the 13th century. Winter 1240 The Dutch King William arrived in Cologne, and a magnificent reception was held in his honor in a room decorated with flowering trees and shrubs. It was the very first winter garden in Europe, skillfully created by the outstanding gardener Albert Magnus. However, the unusualness of the spectacle contributed to the fact that Magnus was accused of witchcraft. Nevertheless, the first experiment in creating winter gardens was successful and found support.
Peter I built a small pavilion in Peterhof and kept citrus fruits in it. They were delivered with great difficulty on sailing ships.
The first indoor plants were the most unpretentious specimens of bulbous and tuberous plants. IN Botanical Garden Since the time of Peter the Great, St. Petersburg has had a special department where you can purchase any plants on display and get advice on growing them.
Green plants have become an integral part of people's lives; their images can be found on coats of arms, banners, fabrics, paintings, dishes and other objects. With the help of indoor plants, the deficit in human communication with nature is compensated, which occurs not only in adults, but also in children, as a result of being busy at school in lessons and at home in front of the TV or computer screen. What a person experiences at the level of sensations, scientists call “videoecology” - this is a field of knowledge that clarifies the relationship between people and what is in front of their eyes. Video ecologists claim that a person’s eyeball periodically at some moments searches for something to “catch on to” in order to rest a little. Such an object that has a beneficial effect on the eyes and, accordingly, on the nervous system are indoor plants.
Humanity has long used plants as living filters.Indoor plants are able to neutralize harmful substances and gases that enter tissues along with carbon dioxide.
The importance of indoor plants is multifaceted. Many of them are capable of saturating the air with aromatic phytoncidal substances that kill pathogenic microbes and have a beneficial effect on human life. Some can help get rid of the disease. Plus, indoor plants are simply beautiful. As John of Kronstadt said: “Flowers are the remains of heaven on Earth.”
2. History of the discovery of phytoncides.
Phytoncides (from Greek. phyton – plant and lat. caedo - kill) biologically active substances produced by plants that kill or suppress the growth and development of microorganisms. 1
Phytoncides (from Greek. phyton – plant and lat. caedo - kill), formed biologically active substances that kill or suppress the growth and development of microorganisms; play an important role in plant immunity and in the relationships between organisms in biocenoses. (New illustrated encyclopedia, Moscow Book World LLC scientific publishing house. 2
The ideological father of all research on phytoncides of lower plants and bacteria is the famous Russian biologist I.I. Mechnikov is one of the founders of modern medicine. The doctrine of phytoncides represents a special page in medicine, in the history of aromatherapy.
Volatile phytoncides of higher plants were first discovered in 1928-1930. A.G. Filatova and A.E. Tebyakina. The essence of the main discovery, which turned out to be the initial one in the consciousness of the biological doctrine of phytoncides, was that higher plants, when wounded, produce volatile antimicrobial substances.
The term phytoncides itself was proposed by the Russian scientist B.T. Tokin in 1934 to designate volatile substances with antimicrobial properties that are released by plants. In 1928, B.P. Tokin described an interesting observation: if a pulp of crushed onion or garlic is applied to a glass slide, and next to it is a drop of water in which ciliates float, then in a few minutes the cells will die. Similar experiments were carried out with many plants and various microorganisms, and the result was repeated to one degree or another.
In addition, B.P. Tokin drew attention to the fact that food products, prepared in oriental bazaars, in unsanitary conditions, do not cause outbreaks of infectious diseases. The scientist suggested that the abundance of oriental spices somehow protects food from spoilage. He examined the substances contained in spices and discovered that the antiseptic effect was provided by volatile components. He proposed to call these “volatile plant poisons” phytoncides.
In relation to higher plants, numerous evidence of the role of phytoncides in their immunity was obtained in experiments of the school of D.D. Verderevsky. Interesting observations were made by M.N. Khanin, A.F. Prokopchuk, L.A. Nikolaeva, L.V.Krivolazova, Yu.I. Smetanin - employees of the Kuban Medical Institute. Phytoncidal properties were initially discovered only in a few plants, but as they were studied, their range expanded.
___________________________
1 Encyclopedia of Wildlife, volume 9, page 129
2 Great Russian Encyclopedia", 2005, p. 87
According to Academician V.G. Drobatko, about 85% of higher plants have them.
The antimicrobial properties of phytoncides determined big number research on their use in medicine, veterinary medicine, plant protection, storage of fruits and vegetables, in Food Industry and etc.
The heyday of the study of phytoncides occurred between 1950 and 1980. During these years, extensive research was carried out in the USSR on the antiviral, antibacterial, immunotropic and other effects of substances isolated from plants using extraction and other methods.
3. General information about phytoncides.
From a chemical point of view, phytoncides are a complex
gaseous and easily evaporating compounds, which may include both inorganic and organic compounds: simple connections such as strong acid and ammonia, saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, volatile formaldehydes, alcohols, low molecular weight ethers fatty acids, resins. Thus, phytoncidal complexes have a complex chemical composition, which determines the specificity of their action on different groups of microorganisms.
Plants produce phytoncides in order to provide themselves with protection from bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that can cause various diseases. The amount of phytoncides secreted by a plant changes during ontogenesis and increases when the plant is wounded. According to Professor B.P. Tokina’s plant “sterilizes itself” with the help of phytoncides. In a healthy plant, phytoncides are also involved in various metabolic processes.
Phytoncides of different plant species differ in their composition and action. The protective role of phytoncides is manifested not only in the destruction of microorganisms, but also in the suppression of their reproduction, in stimulating the vital activity of microorganisms that are antagonists of pathogenic forms for of this plant, in repelling insects, etc. There are phytoncides contained in plant tissues in dissolved form, and volatile fractions of phytoncides released into the atmosphere, soil, and water (in aquatic plants). Volatile phytoncides are able to exert their effect at a distance, for example, phytoncides of oak, eucalyptus, pine leaves, etc. In addition, volatile phytoncides cause the appearance of negative ions in the air and reduce the content of heavy positively charged ions in it, which has a good effect on human well-being and health
Active phytoncides are contained in onions and garlic: vapors and extracts from them kill Vibrio cholera, diphtheria bacillus, and pyogenic microbes. By birth Latin name garlic - allium - its active principle is called allicin. Once you chew garlic for a few minutes, most of the bacteria living in the oral cavity die. The use of plants with a high content of phytoncides helps to get rid of microbes from the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract. The bactericidal properties of plants are used in the prevention and treatment of many diseases, in particular of the upper respiratory tract.
Usnic acid, a phytoncide from the usnea lichen, inhibits tuberculosis bacteria.
Many phytoncides are released from plants in a gaseous state. The leaves of currant, walnut, oak, alder, and yellow acacia emit hexenal, which in very small concentrations kills protozoa.
The resistance of potatoes and carrots to fungal diseases is determined by the phytoncide they contain - chlorogenic acid. The disease “snow mold” on cereals, caused by the fusarium fungus, destroys the phytoncide benzoxazoline, which is formed in the tissues of cereals when damaged. Phytoncides of onions, garlic, and bird cherry kill the late blight fungus that affects potatoes (potato rot). Phytoncides of mustard, horseradish, and eucalyptus have a detrimental effect on bacteria, causing disease cotton It is useful to plant garlic bulbs between garden strawberry beds. Garlic phytoncides will prevent you from getting sick tender plant gray rot. It is interesting that phytoncides have a much stronger effect on pathogens of human and animal diseases than on pathogens of plants that have already adapted to their direct action. Thus, phytoncides of orange and lemon are 40 times more likely to kill the dysentery bacillus, which causes serious illness in humans, than the bacterium that infects lemon trees.
Scientists have calculated that the Earth's plants annually release into the atmosphere about 490 million tons of phytoncides, volatile substances that kill or suppress the growth and development of microorganisms.
However, phytoncides should not be considered only as specific protective substances. They can take part in thermoregulation and other life processes of plants. Being one of the factors of plant immunity, phytoncides play an important role in the relationships between organisms that make up biocenoses. The works of N. G. Kholodny, A. A. Chesovennaya and others. It has been proven that phytoncides play an important role in allelopathy, i.e. in the chemical interaction of plants in phytocenoses. It has been established that plants of one species inhibit or, conversely, stimulate the germination of pollen, growth and development of plants of other species. For example, wheatgrass and oat phytoncides stimulate the germination of alfalfa pollen, while timothy grass phytoncides inhibit this process.
Phytoncides are also released by microorganisms and lower fungi. They are called antibiotics. Many potent medicines are prepared on their basis.
4. Phytoncidal properties of indoor plants.
Academician N. G. Kholodny suggested that volatile substances released by higher plants and found in the air around us are “atmospheric vitamins” or “vitamin-like substances” that can be absorbed human lungs and have a beneficial effect on his body. Everyone knows the effect of volatile substances in the air of a pine forest and oak forest on a person’s general well-being and on his nervous system. From this point of view, landscaping cities, workshops and areas of factories, and residential premises by selecting plants whose phytoncides act most favorably is of great health value.
It is known that a hectare of deciduous forest releases 2 kg of volatile phytoncides per day in summer, 5 kg of coniferous forests, and 30 kg of juniper forests - 30 kg of volatile substances harmful to microorganisms. Indoor plants also release phytoncides and purify the air from the microorganisms it contains. For example, begonias and geraniums reduce the content of microflora in the surrounding air by 43%, cyperus - by 59%, and small-flowered chrysanthemum - by 66%.
Research is currently underway to select types of indoor plants that have bactericidal and protistocidal properties that can cause the death of bacteria and single-celled organisms. Phytoncidal properties have been identified in more than 40 species of greenhouse plants. Scientists have compiled an assortment of indoor plants of tropical origin that can be used for preventive and therapeutic purposes at home and in crowded places: in kindergartens, schools, medical and other institutions, which can be combined into 3 groups:
Group 1 - plants whose volatile secretions have pronounced antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activity against airborne microflora. (Sansevieria three-striped, dieffenbachia spotted, scindapsus variegated, cissus antarcticus, tetrastigma Voignier, pelargonium (geranium) fragrant, Coleus Bloom, evergreen pyramidal cypress, common oleander, evergreen boxwood, ficus Benjamin).
Group 2 - plants whose volatile secretions improve cardiac activity, increase immunity, and have calming, anti-inflammatory and other therapeutic effects.
(Attractive monstera, fragrant pelargonium (geranium), Sambac jasmine, common myrtle, lemon).
Group 3 - phytofilter plants that absorb harmful gases from the air. For example, the indoor plant spathiphyllum is able to absorb acetone, nephrolepis and ficus plants absorb formaldehyde. The same group of plants includes: chlorophytum crested, ficus Benjamin, cissus Antarctic.
In the late 1970s - 1980s. a direction emerged called phytodesign. Its founder, A.M. Grodzinsky gave it the following definition: “Phytodesign is the use of plants to improve the habitat in artificial systems.” The objectives of phytodesign are: cleaning and improving indoor air, humidifying, ionizing and enriching it with substances that have a beneficial effect on human health, as well as creating a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing environment.
To improve the indoor air quality, plants with high phytoncidal activity are used. The most phytoncidal active are the following: chlorophytum crested, violets, dracaenas, yucca, monstera, Arabica and Arabian coffee, Kalanchoe, hibiscus, lemons and others.
It is noteworthy that most indoor plants are of subtropical and tropical origin, so their peak production of phytoncides occurs in the winter-spring period. This is very valuable because... It is at this time that the incidence of acute respiratory diseases is especially high.
When studying the phytoncidal activity of plants during the day, it was found that it is maximum during the day and minimum at night. There is evidence that the intensity of phytoncide production is related to the intensity of respiration - in the dark, plants practically do not emit phytoncides. The release of phytoncides is also affected by the composition of the soil and air temperature - poor nutrition and lower temperatures reduce the release of volatile substances by plants. In addition, some authors note that temperature has the greatest influence on the quantitative content of phytoncides. Increasing it from 15 degrees to 20 leads to a significant increase in the amount of phytoncides in the air. An increase in air humidity negatively affects the release of volatile phytoncides, but moisture deficiency in dry times reduces phytoncidal activity. Changes in illumination only slightly affect the content of volatile phytoncides.
5.Therapeutic effects of volatile plant secretions on humans.
The champion among flowers is chlorophytum. This plant alone is enough to reduce the effects of nitrogen oxides in a room where a gas welder has been working for several hours. To absorb formaldehyde released by thermal insulation from synthetic materials, in an average-sized apartment you will need 40 chlorophytums. The same number of plants almost completely cleared the air of pathogenic particles in a 20-meter living room. Moreover, the cleansing properties of flowers are noticeably enhanced if placed in flower pots Activated carbon.
Chlorophytum also has a significant bactericidal effect. Specialists from the All-Russian Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (VILAR) found that within 24 hours this flower almost completely cleanses the air of harmful microorganisms.
This plant is unpretentious, it grows well both in cool rooms, at a temperature of 10-12 degrees, and in rooms with central heating. It is quite light-loving, but also tolerates darkening. In summer, chlorophytum requires abundant watering and in a large pot can produce so many shoots that it seems as if the plant has spread a green curtain around itself.
Another widespread plant that produces biologically active substances (citranella and geranium oils, as well as menthol and turpentine, which kill streptococci and staphylococci) is indoor geranium, or pelargonium. That's why it is recommended to keep this flower in the bedroom. Inhaling these healing compounds, a person calms down, which is very important for stress, neurosis and insomnia.
Pelargonium is a light-loving plant, feels good in a sunny window, it needs light and fertile soil. In winter, the flower is watered moderately and pruned in February-March. The removed apical stems are used as cuttings: they are slightly dried and planted in boxes.
Another phytoncidal plant for rooms is the elegant variegated dieffenbachia. It purifies the air of living rooms from toxins, so its place is in living quarters whose windows overlook a noisy highway or a large plant or factory.
In the room, Dieffenbachia must be placed in a well-lit place (but it does not tolerate direct sunlight). The flower loves warmth, intensive watering and spraying with soft water at room temperature. If there is a lack of moisture, the plant stretches in length and sheds its lower leaves; as it grows, the top must be pinched. Dieffenbachia should be replanted with caution: its juice can burn the mucous membranes.
Indoor plants such as ficus, ivy, dracaena, and aglaonema also have phytoncidal properties.
Ficus is a houseplant with large leathery leaves. Grows well in very bright rooms, but not in direct sunlight. In autumn or winter, ficus often sheds healthy green leaves. Most often this occurs due to overwatering. Therefore, experienced gardeners advise not to water the plant in winter, but only spray the leaves.
Numerous varieties of common ivy grow well in cool rooms. Ivy is shade-tolerant; he needs support to grow. In spring, it is necessary to trim the shoots; it is also advisable to regularly spray the plants and wash the leaves.
Among the most unpretentious useful plants also applies dracaena Most often grownfragrant dracaena- a large plant with light green leaves, wavy along the edges. More decorativevariegated dracaenas, but they need more heat, high humidity air and a bright location, while a regular plant takes root well in semi-dark places.From time to time, the dracaena should be bathed in the shower, removing dust from it.
Aglaonema is a plant with leathery, patterned leaves. It is not demanding of light, is heat-loving and winters well in a room with central heating. In summer, the plant is watered abundantly; in winter, watering is reduced. Small red berries may appear after flowering, but these fruits are poisonous.
Laurel laurel, an evergreen shrub with leathery, fragrant leaves, is now extremely rare in rooms, but in vain: the substances it secretes kill viruses and bacteria, including the tuberculosis bacillus. It is especially useful to keep this plant for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, spasms of the intestines and biliary tract. Laurel is light-loving and grows well only in a sunny window. The plant is easy to trim and is usually given a spherical shape. Until late autumn, laurel can live on outdoors.
And finally, another group of useful, phytoncidal plants - cacti and other succulents, especially those with long needles, come from Peru, Chile and the mountainous regions of Mexico. According to experts, these plants not only kill microbes, but also reduce harmful ionization of the air, protecting us from electromagnetic radiation. The place for these flowers is near the TV and computer monitors. For normal growth, they need a lot of warmth and light, but they need to be accustomed to direct sunlight gradually.
With the help of flowers you can also increase air humidity. Flowers that need a lot of moisture usually return it through their leaves. These are violets, cyclamen, various ferns.
6.Prevention of respiratory diseases.
The incidence of acute respiratory diseases in children and adults currently remains high. This problem is especially acute in children's organized groups. When even practically healthy children stay in enclosed spaces for a long time, the overall contamination of the air with microorganisms increases.
Some plants serve as a filter for harmful substances, acting as a “green liver”. They can accumulate most pollutants from the atmosphere, especially compounds of sulfur, nitrogen, carbon, formaldehyde, phenolic compounds, some metals, and use them as a source of macro- and microelements for building a number of structural and functional systems. In most cases this is tropical plants, having increased air-purifying ability due to environmental and biological abilities:
Fast-growing plants with a large number of stomata on the leaves, for example, ficus benjamina;
Plants that reproduce vegetatively with the help of “babies”, for example, Chlorophytum crested.
Plants are epiphytes that have special aerial roots, for example, some orchids, or special scales - trichomes on the leaves, for example, some bromeliads.
Ficuses effectively purify the air in the apartment from toxic formaldehydes, and they not only bind toxic substances, but also feed on them, converting them into sugars and amino acids. It has also been established that ficus plants successfully filter other toxic substances from the air, for example, benzene evaporation products, trichlorethylene, and pentachlorophenol.
Chlorophytum is a well-known unpretentious houseplant. It is believed that it purifies the air much better than special technical devices. The results confirmed that chlorophytum has a pronounced ability to absorb gases. It was found that one medium-sized plant with ampelous shoots ending in children with aerial roots can completely neutralize the primary concentration of xenobiotics toluene and benzene (437 - 442 mg/m 3) after 216 hours.
Experts from the World Health Organization list electromagnetic and ionizing radiation from displays, electrostatic fields, noise, as possible risk factors. ultraviolet radiation screen. Plants can discharge static electricity. For example, if you bring an electrified ebonite stick to a plant, a discharge will occur. Employee of the Institute of Human Ecology and Hygiene and the Environment Ph.D. L.M. Teshkeev is recommended for removal static electricity Regularly wet-clean your workplace, use plants or place it on your desk small aquarium. The significance of the widely advertised cactus for these purposes should be clarified. The cactus does not absorb radiation - it does not need it!!! The electromagnetic field that a computer, as well as any electrical household appliances, creates around itself is much more familiar to us than to a cactus. However, as physicists explain, the needles - “receivers” of the cactus can take on “charges” of the electrostatic field, but in this case the needles must be wet. However, frequent watering and spraying will harm the cacti!
Overall, I think the number of plants in our school should be increased, especially on the third floor. This will lift the mood of students, increase academic performance and productivity.
7. Obtaining a culture of protozoa (ciliates) necessary for research.
Initially, it is necessary to obtain a culture of Bacillus subtilis, which is food for ciliates. To do this inIn a clean bowl, add a little meadow hay (without flowers) at the rate of 100 g per 1 liter of water and boil it for 15-20 minutes until a strong infusion is obtained. When it cools down, it must be filtered using a funnel and cotton wool. Then cover the jar with the filtered infusion with gauze. After a couple of days, a bacterial film will appear on the surface, due to which the ciliates will feed.
To obtain a culture of ciliates, a culture of ciliates, which can be taken from a natural reservoir, must be added to the previously obtained infusion with Bacillus subtilis bacteria. To do this, first fill a test tube with water from the bottom layer of the pond, which must be examined under a microscope. If the sample contains other ciliates in addition to the shoe, it is necessary to dilute the water taken from the pond clean water until only shoes remain in it. The top of the jar should be covered with a piece of gauze, folded in half, so that cysts of other protozoa do not get into it. After five to seven days, the ciliates will begin to multiply abundantly, and they can be examined under a microscope at a magnification of 30-40 times. Initially, various ciliates develop in the hay infusion, but gradually slipper ciliates begin to predominate.
In addition to the method described above for obtainingciliate cultures, we tried to obtain a culture of these protozoa by adding water from an aquarium to a cooled decoction of hay. “Old” water, in which almost no decay processes occur, is unsuitable for planting a crop. Water should be taken from aquariums with regular partial water changes. From the same aquariums it is useful to collect rotten leaves and stems of plants, squeezing them into a nutrient medium large quantities ciliates. The mixture of the decoction with aquarium water should have the color of thick tea.
For the development of the culture, minimal light and a temperature not higher than 18-20°C are required. Strong light and heat accelerate the decay process, and in an incubator jar it should occur at a slower pace.
1-2 days after planting the culture, the water in the jar becomes very cloudy and begins to emit a putrid odor. Gradually, the smell disappears, and after 5-6 days, clusters of ciliates appear in the upper layers of water, which are richest in oxygen.
7.1. Effect of tissue sapsome types of indoor plants for the culture of ciliates
We used a variant of the method for determining the phytoncidal activity of plant extracts developed by B.P. Tokin. In this case, the activity of phytoncides included in the plant tissue sap is determined.
Equipment: leaves of indoor plants with petioles, microscope, mortar and pestle, pipette, slides and coverslips, a vessel with a culture of ciliates, cloth for wiping the microscope and slides, pure water for washing, stopwatch.
Completing the work: preparing equipment for work: we obtained tissue juice from plants by preparing a slurry, grinding the leaves of plants using a pestle and mortar.Squeeze out a few drops of the juice of the plant under study through cheesecloth.
Drops with a culture of ciliates were applied to a glass slide and the activity of the ciliates was observed under a microscope. Then they applied drops of plant juice next to the drop with ciliates, and connected the two drops. We observed changes in the activity of ciliates until they died, noting the time using a stopwatch. The experiments were carried out twice. The data was entered into a table. (Annex 1)
Plant phytoncidity is calculated using the formula: A=100:T,
where A – phytoncidal activity (%); T is the time of death of microorganisms (in minutes). Examples of calculations are presented in Appendix 2.
Conclusion: different types indoor plants exhibit different phytoncidal activity of cell sap. The highest activity of tissue sap phytoncides can be noted in tiger begonia, zonal geranium, chlorophytum crested, and Kalanchoe. Of the studied species of indoor plants, fuchsia and ficus Benjamin showed the least phytoncidal activity. Many species of phytoncidal-active indoor plants that we have identified coincide with the literature data.
7.2. Definition remote phytoncidal activitysome types of indoor plants.
In this case, the influence of the volatile fraction of phytoncides on protozoa is determined. For the study, we took plants that, according to the results of the previous experiment, showed the greatest phytoncidal activity: chlorophytum crested, zonal geranium, tiger begonia, Kalanchoe.
The leaves of these plants were crushed in a mortar to a paste.A drop of water with protozoa (ciliates) was placed on a glass slide and, at a distance of a few millimeters from it, a pulp from the plant under study was placed. Changes in the mobility of ciliates were observed under a microscope. They recorded the time during which they all stopped moving. The data was entered into table 2 (Appendix 2).
Conclusion: exposure time to protozoa has increased; volatile phytoncides immobilize ciliates at a distance, but more slowly. The phytoncidal activity of the volatile fraction of the studied plants did not completely coincide with the phytoncidal activity of the cell sap of the same plant species. The highest activity of volatile phytoncides can be noted in geranizonal and Chlorophytum crested, the lowest (of the studied species) - in geranizonal (Appendix 3).
Conclusion.
We determined the phytoncidal activity of some types of indoor plants, studying the influence of phytoncides of cell sap and volatile fraction on the culture of protozoa (ciliates). The basis was a version of the method for determining the phytoncidal activity of plant extracts developed by B.P. Tokin.
We found that Different types of indoor plants exhibit different phytoncidal activity of cell sap. The highest activity of tissue sap phytoncides can be noted in tiger begonia, zonal geranium, chlorophytum crested, and Kalanchoe. Of the studied species of indoor plants, fuchsia and ficus Benjamin showed the least phytoncidal activity. Many types of phytoncidal-active indoor plants we identified coincide with literature data.
By determining the activity of phytoncides of the volatile fraction of the most phytoncidal active plants (based on the results of our research), we found thatthe time of exposure to protozoa has increased; volatile phytoncides immobilize ciliates at a distance, but more slowly. The phytoncidal activity of the volatile fraction of the studied plants did not completely coincide with the phytoncidal activity of the cell sap of the same plant species. The highest activity of volatile phytoncides can be noted in Geranizonal geranium and Chlorophytum crested, the lowest (of the studied species) - in Geranizonal geranium.
A study we conducted at school No. 5, where we study, showed that the majority of phytoncidal plants are found in elementary school classrooms. This indicates that children in grades 1-4 are more protected from acute respiratory and other infectious diseases than secondary school students.
We found that there are very few phytoncidal plants on the second and third floors, and in some offices there are none at all (rooms No. 311, 313, 303, 217, 218, 304). But this is where they will come in handy, since there are classrooms with a large information load - mathematics, history, Russian language, computer science. There are many plants in rooms No. 209 (Russian), but few plants with pronounced phytoncidal activity. There are no plants at all in computer science classrooms, although they are needed there most of all, because these classrooms have computers.
There are especially many plants in the biology, geography, foreign language, which indicates that these offices have a good environment.
A study of the degree of ecological state of the air environment of school classrooms showed the need for additional landscaping with phytoncidal plants. The percentage of phytoncidal plants to the total number of plants in the school is 27%.
Based on the results obtained, the following recommendations can be made: when landscaping premises, especially classrooms and apartments, it is necessary to take into account not only the decorativeness of indoor plants, but also their phytoncidal activity, as well as the ability to absorb harmful substances from indoor air and humidify the air due to increased transpiration. In addition, when selecting types of indoor plants, it is necessary to take into account, for example, the toxicity of some plants and the ability to cause allergies.
The most valuable plants for indoor landscaping are:
Chlorophytum, different types of begonias (including tiger begonia), zonal geranium,Kalanchoe (bryophyllum Degremona), variegated dieffenbachia, etc.
Work on this topic will continue. It is planned to study the phytoncidal activity of previously taken plants to compare the phytoncidal properties in winter and summer, and also to study phytoncidal properties other plants.
Using the results obtained, we recommend:
Use plants that produce phytoncides (chlorophytum, pelargonium, dieffenbachia, lemon, dracaena, monstera, etc.) for landscaping offices and floors.
Ventilate rooms more often where there are few indoor phytoncidoactive plants
Every Saturday, carry out general cleaning of offices
Carry out wet cleaning in offices thoroughly, using detergents
To bring to the consciousness of every middle and senior student the need to have replaceable shoes
In health corners, distribute recommendations on the use of indoor plants for aesthetic and health-saving purposes.
Bibliography.
- Antadze L.V. Phytoncidity of leaves of evergreen plants throughout the year // Materials III Council "Vatoncides in medicine, agriculture and food industry" (Kyiv, June 22-25, 1959). Kyiv, 1960. pp. 21-23.
- Blinkin S.A., Rudnitskaya T.V. Phytoncides are around us. M., 1981. 185 p.
- Vederevsky D.D. Phytoncidal characteristics of plants are the most important factor of specific immunity to infectious diseases // Materials of the IV Meeting. on the problem of phytoncides (Kyiv, July 3-6, 1962): Abstract. report Kyiv, 1962. pp. 16-18.
- V. On the phytoncidal activity of some greenhouse plants // Materials of the VIII Meeting. “Vatoncides. Role in biogeocenoses, significance for medicine.” (Kyiv, October 16-18, 1979). Kyiv, 1981, pp. 95-97.
- Tsybulya N.V. Effect of volatile secretions of the common myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) on air bacteria depending on the season and leaf area // Siberian Biol. magazine 1993. No. 5. pp. 91-93.
- Tsybulya N.V., Kazarinova N.V. “Phytodesign as a method of improving the human environment in enclosed spaces” // Plant resources. 1998. No. 3. pp. 11-129.
- Encyclopedia traditional methods treatment.
Appendix 1. 3 min.
Appendix 2.
Geranium fragrant
10 sec. - active
2 minutes. 5 sec. – slow
2 minutes. 35 sec. – partially died (12-died, 3-alive)
3 min. 25 sec. - everyone died.
A = ≈ 30.7
Chlorophytum crested
Observing the movement of protozoa:
25 sec. – active
30 sec. - slowly
1 min. 40 sec. – active
3 min. - everyone died.
A = 100/3 33.3
Crassula
Observing the movement of protozoa:
30 sec. – active
1 min. 10 sec. - slowly
1 min. 30 sec. – 11 dead, 3 alive
3 min. - everyone died
A = 33
Appendix 3
...a drop of culture liquid (cleaned ciliates) is placed. Next, a smaller drop of plant juice is added to them (the juice is prepared immediately before the experiment: a freshly picked leaf of the plant under study is kneaded in a mortar):
...and the time is recorded on the stopwatch:
- increasing traffic activity
- slow down
- death of protozoa
Knowing the time of death of the protozoa, phytoncidal activity can be calculated using the formula:
A = ,
where A is phytoncidal activity, and T is the time of death of the protozoa
To determine the death of protozoa, you will need a magnifying glass or microscope:
Under a microscope, protozoa look like this:
All photographs used in the work were taken by the author.
Scientists have long thought about methods and means of plant protection. And not out of idle curiosity. A thorough study of this pantry of nature led to the discovery of volatile compounds, the so-called phytoncides, which the plant world releases into the environment to protect against bacteria, fungi, birds, insects and animals.
Many phytoncides have been isolated in pure form, and their chemical nature has been established. It turned out that some plants have phytoncides - organic acids, others - essential oils, amino acids, and alkoids.
Since ancient times, man has felt his inextricable connection with nature. He not only enjoyed inhaling the smell of leaves and the aroma of flowers, but also felt a surge of vigor and strength. Since ancient times, people have known that many plants can heal, and they turned to them for help.Therefore, man intuitively sought to bring a piece of living nature into his home. And in our time, scientists have found that many indoor plants that decorate apartments and offices serve as air “cleaners.”
They enrich the room atmosphere with oxygen,saturate with aromatic substances and phytoncides,have a detrimental effect on the growth and reproduction of many pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, the volatile substances they release have a beneficial effect on the human body, and some of them are capable of neutralizing harmful substances and radiation.The correct selection of plants that produce phytoncides can completely improve the atmosphere in the room.
One of the most useful indoor plants is chlorophytum ( Chlorophytum ). To purify the air in a room of about 20 square meters 6 plant specimens are enough.
Common ivy, spathiphyllium, dracaena, and chamedorea also have the ability to absorb formaldehyde and other toxic substances.
Chamaedorea ) It is especially recommended for houses located near highways, since it neutralizes the evaporation of harmful substances contained in exhaust gases - benzene, trichlorethylene.
The same function is performed by ficus ( Ficus ) . In addition to saturating the air with oxygen, moisturizing and removing toxins, it releases phytoncides that suppress the activity of microorganisms. The gloss of its leaves traps a lot of dust, and when washing or wiping the leaves it is easily removed. Since ficus produces oxygen during the daytime and absorbs it at night, it is not recommended to place a pot with this plant in the bedroom, and especially in the nursery. Its ideal habitat is a kitchen or rooms with windows overlooking an industrial area or highway.
Indispensable in the presence of chronic diseases asparagus ( Asparagus ) . By its presence, it helps accelerate the healing of bone fractures and skin damage, and improves skin elasticity. It is useful for various pulmonary diseases, as it strengthens the lungs. Asparagus is destructive to many pathogenic bacteria. In addition, it absorbs heavy metals from the air.
For people suffering from chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchial asthma, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, it is simply necessary to plant medicinal rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) , phytoncides of which are therapeutic therapy for these diseases.
Myrtle and euonymus, eucalyptus and Kalanchoe Thanks to their antibacterial properties, they help improve immunity and prevent the development of colds. Groups of 4-5 of these plants have an effective effect even at a distance of about 1.5 - 2 meters from them.
Have cleansing properties conifers, philodendron, syngonium, peperomia, everflowering begonia, epipremnum pinnate, nephrolepis, tradescantia.
If you work at a computer, near an air conditioner, a printer, or a copier, you probably feel very tired by the end of the day, and sometimes weak and have a headache. Dead air processed by technology does not contain negative ions, phytoncides and living aromas. Place a small conifer next to you. It can bearaucaria, cryptomeria, juniper, cypress, cypress .
Scientists have found that from phytoncides secreted dracaena, amaryllis, hippeastrum agapanthus, zephyranthes , some strains of bacteria die faster than garlic.
Experts recommend chlorophytum, ivy, aloe and sansevieria as effective air purifiers, and for one person they recommend having 10 plants of chlorophytum crested, 4 geraniums, one each of lemon, philodendron or other vines, and several cacti.
Flowers with a bright red or yellow-orange color will drive away sleep in the morning and give you a good mood for the whole day.
