Planta Med 2011; 77 - PL26
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282675

Biodiversity assessment of Veronica sp. in Romania for their characterization, preservation and sustainable use in pharmacognosy

MC Ichim 1, AC Raclariu 1, PP Paramon 1, ET Toth 2
  • 1NIRDBS/“Stejarul“ Research Centre for Biological Sciences, Alexandru cel Bun St., 6, Piatra Neamt, 610004, Romania
  • 2Targu Mures University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Gheorghe Marinescu St., 38, 540139, Targu Mures, Romania

Veronica is the most species-rich genus of Plantaginaceae family with about 500 species. The majority of the species are herbaceous annuals or perennials and they are very diverse from an ecological point of view [1]. Based on morphological and molecular analyses it was estimated that about 80 species of Veronica are found in Europe; about 40 species found in nine different subgenera are endemic to Europe and about 40 species have been reported in literature as being present in Romania [1, 2]. The genetic diversity and the chemical composition, useful for pharmacognosy [3] (V. officinalis, especially), of the Veronica species have encouraged different types of research to be carried out.

Our aim is to asses the biodiversity of the species from Veronica genus on the Romanian territory in order to contribute to the protection of their biodiversity. These studies will subsequently result in offering new Veronica species as alternatives to pharmacognosy and to long-term biodiversity reconstruction and sustainable use of these sources of pharmacologically active compounds. Different Veronica sp. have been identified have been identified in different types of habitats, including some NATURA 2000 sites, and distributed all across Romania: West (Timisoara, Arad and Hunedoara counties), South (Gorj and Valcea counties), Center (Mures, Cluj and Harghita counties) and North-East (Iasi, Neamt and Suceava counties). Have been identified 21 taxons, out of which 20 species and one sub-species. The most abundant Veronica species proved to be: V. chamaedrys L., V. officinalis L., V. beccabunga L., V. persica Poiret, V. spicata L. and V. spicata L. ssp. orchidea (Crantz) Hayek.

Acknowledgement: This study was supported by UEFISCDI/project 32151/2008.

References: 1. Albach DC et al. (2006) Mol Ecol 15: 3269–3286.

2. Ichim MC et al. (2010) Bulletin UASVM Agriculture 67(2): 482.

3. Crisan G et al. (2010) Farmacia 58(2): 237–242.