Eurotium Cristatum Postfermentation of Fireweed and Apple Tree Leaf Herbal Teas

Fungi Eurotium spp. are the main biological agents that ferment the leaves of the Camellia sinensis tea bush to form a popular food product, postfermented tea. The fungus E. cristatum, stored in the collection of the Gause Institute of New Antibiotics under the number INA 01267, was isolated and identified from a briquette of Fujian Chinese tea. The species identification was carried out based on morphocultural characteristics and DNA sequencing. This study is aimed at determining the feasibility of making postfermented herbal teas using E. cristatum and to evaluate their quality. Autofermented herbal teas from Chamaenerion angustifolium (fireweed) and Malus domestica (apple tree) served as the starting material for this study. The change in the concentration of phenolic compounds, organic acids, sugars, and free amino acids was observed for herbal teas subjected to postfermentation with E. cristatum INA 01267. It was found that the E. cristatum INA 01267 strain does not have antimicrobial activity and does not form mycotoxins, which is an indicator of food safety.

Resources of birch trees and their productivity for honey collection in conditions of the Leningrad region

The Leningrad Oblast has a rich food base for bees on forest land. Still, currently, there is no regulatory basis for assessing the honey resources of birch forest land at the regional level. Therefore, forest areas with woody, shrubby or herbaceous plants as part of the woody, shrubby or herbaceous layer are used as a forage base for bees. The birch forests of the Leningrad region are the second largest in terms of the area covered. The research aims to carry out an inventory of honey resources and determine honey productivity for the primary honey plants under the birch canopy and forest edges. We used a proven survey methodology for counting plants of the understorey at the experimental sites. The study presented 71 species from 31 families of melliferous plants of blueberry, wormwood and herb-meadow birch forests. Significant melliferous plants under the birch canopy are Aegopodium podagraria L. (herb-twine and sagebrush birch, 57 kilograms/hectare); Vaccinium myrtillus L. (birch bilberry and acidic birch, 27 kilograms/hectare); Veronica chamaedrys L. (acidic birch, 24 kilograms/hectare). Rubus idaeus L. (107 kg/ha) has maximum honey production in the forest margins. The honey yield of Frangula Alnus Mill. and Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop is 50-60 kg/ha; the honey yield of Trifolium medium L. is 32 kg/ha. The evaluation of the birch woodlands showed that the studied components of the forest phytocenosis are characterized by a significant number of honey-bearing plant species that have a wide range of honey productivity.

Response of biotester Lepidium sativum to the effects of native herb extracts and phytoinvader Solidago canadensis

The effects of aqueous extracts from aboveground parts of Solidago canadensis L. as well as from dominant species of four main succession stages on the degraded forest soils of the Kemerovo region (Filipendula ulmaria, Chamaenerion angustifolium, Cirsium setosum, Poa pratensis) on the germinating capacity and speed of Lepidium sativum seeds were investigated. It was showed that Solidago canadensis and Filipendula ulmaria have the greatest effect on the reduction of germinating capacity of Lepidium sativum seeds.

Changes in the ground environment under the influence of fires in the territory of the State Natural Reserve «Olekminsky»

This paper discusses the chronology and cause of forest fires on the territory of the State Reserve “Olekminsky”. Forest fires on the territory of the reserve are low-level, caused by dry thunderstorms. The overgrowth of burnt areas occurs at the expense of specific groups of pyrophyte plants. For 2-3 years after the fires, Camenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop., Corydalis sibirica (L.) Pers., Plantago canescens Adams, Crepis tectorum L. and others were found. In waterlogged areas, Tephroseris palustris (L.) Reichenb appear and subsequently do not occur, and mosses: Marshantia polymorpha L., Ceratodon purpureum (Hedw.) Brid. It was found that the restoration of ground cover is mainly due to species characteristic only for intermediate stages: Lichens - Baeomyces carneus, Dibaeis baeomyces and Trapeliopsis granulosa, as well as Arctous erythrocarpa (Small) M. Ivanova, Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop., Calamagrostis obtusata Trin, Сarex spp., cereals and green mosses. More than 40 species of lichens participate in the formation of the ground cover of the studied larch forests, mainly bushy species of Cladonia, Stereocaulon, Peltigera. Forest fires of a natural nature occurring on the territory of the reserve are the main limiting factor affecting bio-resources and theirrestoration.

Использование микробных культур в технологии функциональных напитков

Чай является традиционным напитком для многих народов мира. В странах Востока помимо традиционных видов чая использовали напитки, полученные микробной ферментацией листьев чайного растения. Примером является китайский чай Хэй Ча и напиток, полученный ферментацией чайного экстракта – Комбуча. Микробные культуры, используемые для ферментации, придавали напиткам дополнительные функциональные свойства. Целью данного исследования было изучение микроскопических грибов, используемых в технологии чая Хэй Ча, и ассоциации бактерий и дрожжей напитка Комбуча с последующим изучением возможности их использования для получения ферментированных напитков. Из образцов чая Хэй Ча были выделены микроскопические грибы, идентифицированные как E. cristatum, из напитка Комбуча – бактерии рода Acetobacter и дрожжи рода Saccharomyces. Изучено влияние состава ферментированного сырья и режимов культивирования на рост и развитие выделенных микроорганизмов. Определенны оптимальные параметры ферментации и разработана технологическая схема получения готового ферментированного продукта на основе Chamaenerion angustifolium (кипрей узколистный). Показано, что используемые микроорганизмы не синтезируют микотоксины, обладают способностью к синтезу антиоксидантов и витаминов группы В и др. В напитках, полученных ферментацией экстрактов листьев Camellia sinensis (камелий китайская), Chamaenerion angustifolium (кипрей узколистный) было определенно содержание и состав биогенных аминов, аминокислот, фенольных соединений и антиоксидантов. Разработана рецептура напитков с использованием выделенных микробных культур, в состав которых в качестве дополнительных ингредиентов входят мёд, солодовое сусло, сок виноградный, мате, кофе. Безопасность продукта была подтверждена результатами микробиологического анализа. Полученные напитки имеют насыщенный цвет, приятный аромат, кисло-сладкий с фруктовыми оттенками вкус.

USE HERBAL PLANTS (CHAMAENERION ANGUSTIFOLIUM AND TANACETUM VULGARE) FOR MONITORING OF TERRITORIES POLLUTED BY FLUORINE-CONTAINING EMISSIONS

Specific features of fluoride accumulation by two species of herbaceous plants – Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub and Tanacetum vulgare L., were found at different distances from the aluminum smelter located in the Baikal region. The highest fluorine content was recorded at the distance of 3 km from the smelter: 433 mg / kg of dry weight in C. angustifolium, 306 mg / kg in T. vulgare. According to the level of accumulation of fluorine, the organs of C. angustifolium were arranged in the following order (as the concentration decreases): leaves> roots> stems ≥ flowers, for T. vulgare the another sequence was typical: roots> leaves> flowers ≥ stems. Calculation of the root barrier coefficient for different organs of C. angustifolium and T. vulgare indicates the existence of barrier mechanisms that prevent the entry of fluorine from the soil into the aerial part of plants. A feature of the accumulation of fluoride in the leaves of C. angustifolium is its active foliar absorption and barrier-free intake from the soil. It has been established that the rate of fluoride accumulation by the reproductive organs of both species is much lower than by the assimilation organs. The data obtained make it possible to recommend using C. angustifolium for monitoring air fluorine pollution, and T. vulgare – for soil fluorine pollution.