Screening of medicinal plants in the Ulytau region and their general characteristics

Abstract

The article presents a screening of medicinal plants in the Ulytau region (Central Kazakhstan) and an analysis of their botanical and ecological characteristics. Field studies conducted in 2024–2025 in the Zhanaarka and Ulytau districts identified 502 species belonging to 315 genera and more than 40 families of higher vascular plants. The highest species diversity was recorded in the families Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Papaveraceae, and Campanulaceae. Analysis of life forms revealed the predominance of perennial herbaceous plants (65–70%), indicating the adaptive capacity of the flora under sharply continental climatic conditions. Annual and biennial species accounted for approximately 15% and 8–10% of the flora, respectively, whereas shrubs, trees, and vines were considerably less represented. The analysis of medicinal plant applications showed that about 400 species are used in folk medicine, around 180 species in official medicine, and from 10 to 120 species in Eastern medicine, experimental medicine, veterinary medicine, Western medicine, and homeopathy. The results confirm the high taxonomic and ecological significance of the medicinal flora of the Ulytau region and demonstrate its potential as a source of biologically active compounds for pharmacology and medicine.