STUDY OF THE DYNAMICS OF ACCUMULATION OF SOME CAROTENE AND XANTHOPHYLLS IN POLYGONUM AVICULARE ON THE TERRITORY OF ORENBURG

Osinkina Tatyana Vladimirovna

The article is devoted to the study of the accumulation of carotenes in knotweed (Polygonum aviculare L.), which has pronounced biological activity, in areas subject to systematic technogenic impact. The research materials were leaves and shoots of knotweed (Polygonum aviculare L.) of the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). The content of pigments in the samples was determined by direct spectrophotometry using the specific absorption value of carotenes and xanthophylls in n-hexane. The purpose of the work is to study the dynamics of the accumulation of some carotenes and xanthophylls in knotweed (Polygonum aviculare L.) on the territory of Orenburg. Trace amounts of ζ-carotene, neurosporin and violoxanthin were recorded in all vegetative tissues of knotweed, collected in July-August. The territory of the city of Orenburg - Dzerzhinsky district with a minimum level of carotenes and xanthophylls throughout the entire period of analysis was established. It was shown that the content of ζ-carotene and violoxanthin was significantly correlated in July (r=0.92) and August (r=0.97). This could indicate the launch of epoxidation reactions under the action of the enzyme epoxidase, leading to the formation of certain amounts of the rather rarely fixed hydrocarbon ζ-carotene and xanthophyll - violoxanthin. Considering the high biological and pharmacological activity of knotweed, a decrease in the level of intermediate metabolites may indicate a likely decrease in the protective properties of the plant from oxidative stress and, consequently, a deterioration in the adaptive mechanisms and medicinal properties of the plant in areas with unfavorable weather conditions and increased technogenic load.

Keywords:carotenes, xanthophylls, knotweed, pigments, individual compounds, anthropogenic load, ζ-carotene, neurosporin, violoxanthin