The dynamics of the seasonal activity of exometabolites was studied for the lianas from the families: Araceae — Epipremnum aureum G.S. Bunting, Monstera deliciosa Liebm. var. borsigiana h Araliaceae — Hedera helix L. and Schefflera octophylla (Lour.) Harms. The antimicrobial activity of intact plants was evaluated by treating inoculated microbial test cultures Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. in Petri dished with the volatile emissions of plants. Antimicrobial action was measured in comparison with the reference using the scale of phytoncide activity. The species and seasonal specificity of antimicrobial activity of exometabolites of intact plant leaves was revealed. All the studied plants exhibited moderate seasonal activity against S. epidermidis. Long-term seasonal activity was detected for S. octophylla. Pronounced activity against E. coli was detected in the species H. helix, M. deliciosa var. borsigiana and S. octophylla, while antifungal action was detected in the species E. aureum and S. octophylla. Substantial antifungal and antibacterial activity against S. epidermidis was observed during intense growth during summer and in the autumn-winter period. These experimental data provide evidence of species-specific antimicrobial activity during different periods of seasonal development of plants against the test objects.
The paper continues multi-year integrated studies of the numerous taxons of tropical Begonia genus, which allowed us to evaluate the adaptive capacity of the representatives of this genus relying on the revealed morphological, rhythmological and biochemical features. The investigation of antimicrobial activity of intact plants and different fractions of plant extracts allowed us to distinguish several promising representatives of this genus exhibiting activity against a broad range of test microorganisms. The involvement of these plants within phytomodules in child care centers caused a substantial decrease in total microbial contamination of the air. The paper contains results of the experimental investigation of seasonal antimicrobial activity of 13 species, 8 hybrids. The phytoncide activity was measured by exposing the streak cultures of microbial test species bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis, Esсherichia coli and yeast-like fungi Candida albicans to the volatile emissions of plants. It has been established that 95% of begonias are distinguished by the pronounced activity against S. epidermidis bacteria, 48% against E. coli bacteria and 43% against fungi Candida albicans. The seasonal specificity of the antimicrobial action of begonias was detected: the growth of the colonies of S. epidermidis bacteria is inhibited to the highest extent during spring and summer, at the phase of intense growth, while the activity against E. coli is the highest during autumn and winter at the phase of moderate growth. The taxons with clearly pronounced, long-term and universal antimicrobial action to the studied test objects were revealed and recommended for practical planting in various types of indoor environments. The data obtained in the study may serve as the basis for further investigation of the chemical composition of volatile exometabolites by the example of the representatives of Gireoudia and Coelocentrum sections that have exhibited high antimicrobial activity against S. epidermidis and E. coli.
The effect of three phyto modules – different combinations of indoor plants with the pronounced phytoncide activity – on the qualitative and quantitative composition of microflora in the air and on a decrease in the risk of acute respiratory diseases (ARD) in children was studied during autumn and winter in 2018-2020 in child care preschool institutions. Sanitary descriptive, epidemiological, sanitary bacteriological and statistical methods were involved. Observation revealed higher attendance rate in the observation group, in combination with lower recorded incidence of disease in comparison with the reference group. The fraction of facultative microflora (FM) with respect to the total microbial count (TMC) was about 30 % in the rooms equipped with phyto modules, while the ratio was 60% in the rooms without plants. The degree of antimicrobial activity depended on the assortment of plants and on the total leaf area per unit room volume. The phytoncide effect of the plants was traced to the most remote point of the room under investigation – 3 m. A favorable factor was an increase in the relative air humidity from 26 to 40%.
In this paper, the houseplant Chlorophytum comosum is considered as one of the main plants in improving the quality of the indoor air environment, having phytoncidal, gas-absorbing and transpiring properties. Chlorophytum comosum is an unpretentious and shade-tolerant houseplant that moisturizes the air, increases the concentration of oxygen in closed rooms; volatile substances of leaves have long-term antimicrobial activity. This plant is also unique in air purification, from formaldehyde, which comes from furniture made of chipboard. The paper presents the results of an experimental assessment of the antimicrobial activity of the leaves of Chlorophytum comosum, as well as the relative humidity in the group cells of the observation group (where there were plants) and the control group (where there were no plants). The studies have shown that this houseplant has a number of positive properties that favorably affect the indoor air environment. When choosing the landscaping of premises, it is worth considering many factors that affect a persons well-being. It is recommended to place Chlorophytum comosum indoors in the form of a phytomodule (composition) both horizontally and vertically, regardless of sunlight.
Introduction. Due to the high prevalence of respiratory diseases in children attending pre-school educational settings, the problem of their prevention is especially important. Taking into account the fact that children spend between 6 and 8 hours a day in pre-school educational institutions, one of the risk factors of respiratory diseases is the microbial contamination of indoor air. The analysis of Russian and international scholarly literature revealed the positive impact of phytoncide properties of plants on the quality of indoor air and on the psycho-emotional state of a person, however, due to the lack of experimental evidence, the practices of using healing properties of plants in children's organized groups have not been widely adopted. The results of this study confirm that the rational placement of a certain range of plants in preschool classrooms can become a promising and low-cost direction in the structure of a health-saving approach in the modern system of preschool education. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of phytoncides of a particular range of plants and their placement in reducing microbial contamination of the air in pre-school education settings. Materials and Methods. To study the effect of phytoncide activity of plants the authors monitored the microbial contamination of air in preschool classrooms from two kindergartens in Novosibirsk, with the main focus on the leaf area of the established range of plants and conditions of their placement. For quantitative and qualitative analysis of air microflora composition we used standard differential-diagnostic nutrient media, methods of seeding and calculation of the proportion of total microbial count and facultative microflora. Air sampling points were located in the child's breathing zone (0.5, 1.5 and 3 m away from the plants at 0.8 m height). We monitored the effectiveness of phytoncide properties of plants on the risks of children's disease during the epidemiological rise based on attendance logs. The following theoretical research methods were used: formalization, generalization, comparison and system analysis. Results. It was found that phytoncides reduce microbiological insemination of preschool classrooms where a certain range of phytoncide plants were located. It was determined that the intensity of the phytoncide effect depends on the leaf surface area and their rational distribution, taking into account the effective radius of exposure. The study found a decrease in respiratory diseases among children at preschool educational settings where phytoncide plants were placed in the classrooms. Conclusions. The results of the study can be employed in recommendations for the use of a certain range of plants with pronounced phytoncide activity as one of the components of health-saving conditions in the modern education system.
Changes caused by contact with typical organic pollutants of urban atmosphere (formaldehyde, benzaldehyde, hydroperoxides) in the chemical composition of the leaves and shoots of woody plants are investigated. A decrease in quinic acid content and an increase in shikimic acid content were detected in the young shoots of Picea obovata Ledeb. and Picea pungens Engelm.. Investigation of changes in the chemical composition of shoots in contact with pollutants under laboratory conditions revealed that the contact with formaldehyde and hydroperoxide affects the biochemical cycle of quinic acid. High concentration of gaseous formaldehyde was found to cause an increase in the content of lactic acid in the leaves of Padus maackii (Rupr.) Kom.. In the leaves of Tilia cordata Mill. and Syringa josikaea Jacq. fil., high formaldehyde concentration caused a decrease in glycolic acid content and an increase in oxalic acid content, while after the contact with gaseous benzaldehyde this compound was detected in the leaves in rather high concentration, Analysis of the ligneous parts of plants from the territories with heavy air pollution revealed increased content of syringaldehyde, which may be a consequence of the oxidative degradation of lignin under the action of atmospheric pollutants.
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