Biodiversity, ecological distribution and sustainable use of species of the genus Macrotomia (Arnebia)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Faculty of Postgraduate Medical Education, Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Turkestan, Kazakhstan

2 Kazakh National Medical University named after S.D. Asfendiyarov, Almaty, Kazakhstan

3 South Kazakhstan Medical Academy, Shymkent, Kazakhstan

4 Faculty of Natural Sciences, Zhanibekov University, Department of Biology, Shymkent, Kazakhstan

10.22124/cjes.2026.9794

Abstract

The Macrotomia (Arnebia) genus of the family Arnebiaceae occupies a unique position in traditional medicine and the pharmaceutical industry owing to its ability to accumulate biologically active naphthoquinone compounds, particularly shikonin. However, information on the biodiversity, ecology, population status, and medicinal potential of these species in southern Kazakhstan remains limited. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the morphology, ecology, population characteristics, and medicinal significance of Macrotomia ugamensis and Macrotomia euchroma in natural populations of the Tolebi, Kazygurt, and Tulkibas districts of the Turkistan Region, Republic of Kazakhstan, during 2025. Morphological characteristics, population parameters, soil physicochemical properties, and climatic conditions were investigated through field surveys conducted at 15 sampling sites using transects and permanent plots. Naphthoquinone compounds were extracted and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results demonstrated that M. ugamensis is confined to mountainous habitats above 1900 m a.s.l., characterized by mean annual temperatures below 9 °C and annual precipitation exceeding 350 mm, whereas M. euchroma predominates in warmer and drier foothill and plain ecosystems with temperatures above 13 °C. The total naphthoquinone content of M. ugamensis (15.7 mg/g extract) was significantly higher than that of M. euchroma (p < 0.001), and shikonin concentration was strongly positively correlated with altitude (r = 0.95). Populations of M. euchroma were sparse and fragmented, with densities below one individual per square meter in several surveyed locations. These findings indicate that the contrasting ecological requirements of the two species necessitate species-specific conservation strategies, while their declining populations highlight the importance of cultivation and ex situ conservation to ensure sustainable utilization.

Keywords

References

Abdurahmanov, D, Maxmudov, N, Yoqubov, D, Jumaniyazov, F, Jumayev, F, Kenjaeva, K & Xabiba, B 2025, Feature and impact of ecological balance in preserving biodiversity. Procedia Environmental Science, Engineering and Management, 12(3): 861–870.
Al-Assi, G, Amshawee, AM, Ganesan, S, Al-Hasnaawei, S, Javahershenas, R, Surya, CP, Sharma, R & Sinha, A 2026, Innovative eco-friendly nanocatalyst: CS-nps/mwcnt@cufe2o4@pd for sustainable A3 coupling in the synthesis of 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles. Journal of Organometallic Chemistry, 1053: 124114.
Bondar, T, Matvieieva, Y & Myroshnychenko, I 2015, Assessment of the social, ecologic and economic development of machine building enterprises. Economic Annals-XXI, 152(7–8): 40–44.
Chacón, J, Luebert, F, Selvi, F, Cecchi, L & Weigend, M 2019, Phylogeny and historical biogeography of Lithospermeae (Boraginaceae): Disentangling the possible causes of Miocene diversifications. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 141: 106626.
Coppi, A, Cecchi, L, Nocentini, D & Selvi, F 2015, Arnebia purpurea: A new member of formerly monotypic genus Huynhia (Boraginaceae–Lithospermeae). Phytotaxa, 204: 123–136.
Eshqarayev, UB, Jumaniyazov, F, Sadullaev, S, Aliyeva, Z, Obidov, M, Bekbanov, B & Salim, T 2025, Deforestation and biodiversity loss: Ecological consequences and restoration approaches. Procedia Environmental Science, Engineering and Management, 12(3): 961–967.
Farmanova, M, Khurshida, K, Abduganiyev, M, Omonov, B, Xamakulova, N, Isakhojaeva, N & Orzigul, E 2026, Educational strategies for improving ecological risk assessment literacy among stakeholders. Procedia Environmental Science, Engineering and Management, 13(1): 87–94.
Feng, J, Yu, P, Zhou, Q, Tian, Z, Sun, M, Li, X et al. 2020, An integrated data filtering and identification strategy for rapid profiling of chemical constituents, with Arnebiae Radix as an example. Journal of Chromatography A, 1629: 461496.
Fu, M-J, Wu, H-Y, Jia, D-R & Tian, B 2021, Evolutionary history of a desert perennial Arnebia szechenyi (Boraginaceae): Intraspecific divergence, regional expansion and asymmetric gene flow. Plant Diversity, 43: 462–471.
Gupta, K, Garg, S, Singh, J & Kumar, M 2014, Enhanced production of naphthoquinone metabolite (shikonin) from cell suspension culture of Arnebia sp. and its up-scaling through bioreactor. 3 Biotech, 4: 263–273.
Irmatova, AB, Bakiyeva, IA, Bozorova, SA, Qizi Doniyorova, FA & Nasirkhodjaeva, DS 2025, The influence of digitalization and artificial intelligence on human resources training. International Journal for Quality Research, 19(1).
Kala, CP 2000, Status and conservation of rare and endangered medicinal plants in the Indian Trans-Himalaya. Biological Conservation, 93: 371–379.
Kambarov, J, Boynazarov, O, Sharopova, N, Khudayberganov, K, Abduvaliyeva, Z & Matkarimov, I 2024, Management and planning of population sustainability in rural settlements based on geographical-economic variables (tourism, agriculture and handicrafts). Economic Annals-XXI, 211(9–10): 58–62.
Kumar, A, Shashni, S, Kumar, P, Pant, D, Singh, A & Verma, RK 2021, Phytochemical constituents, distributions and traditional usages of Arnebia euchroma: A review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 271: 113896.
Lal, M, Samant, S, Kumar, R, Sharma, L, Paul, S, Dutt, S et al. 2020, Population ecology and niche modelling of endangered Arnebia euchroma in Himachal Pradesh, India—An approach for conservation. Medicinal Plants – International Journal of Phytomedicine and Related Industries, 12: 90–104.
Liu, J, Zhao, C, Guo, L, Ma, S, Zheng, J & Wang, J 2020, The plant original identification of Inner Mongolia Arnebia radix based on morphology and DNA barcoding. Research Square, 2020: 6478.
Ma, S-J, Geng, Y, Ma, L & Zhu, L 2021, Advances in studies on medicinal Arnebiae Radix. Modern Chinese Medicine, 23: 177–184.
Madaripova, D, Mamirova, M, Kosimov, K, Askarova, F, Yuldasheva, M, Abdullayev, L, Mehmonov, F, Yokubjonova, X & Tolibova, KO 2026, Investigation of dietary sodium intake and its direct correlation with blood pressure in an urban adult population. Revista Latinoamericana de Hipertensión, 21(3): 223–229.
Maestre, FT, Salguero-Gómez, R & Quero, JL 2012, It is getting hotter in here: Determining and projecting the impacts of global environmental change on drylands. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 367: 3062–3075.
Mehar, K, K, KP, Sen, AP, Paliwal, RK, M, BK, Kalidhas, AM, Mohapatra, TK, Samrat, A & Jayabal, R 2025, Next-generation eco-omics: Integrating microbial function into predictive ecosystem models. Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry. (Article bab.70121.)
Meng, H-H & Zhang, M-L 2011, Phylogeography of Lagochilus ilicifolius (Lamiaceae) in relation to Quaternary climatic oscillation and aridification in northern China. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 39: 787–796.
Milićević, V, Franc, I, Banduka, ML, Zdravković, N & Dimitrijević, N 2025, Symbolic analysis of classical neural networks for deep learning. International Journal for Quality Research, 19(1).
Mohammad, AAS, Al-Ababneh, HA, Alnsour, IR, Al-Daoud, KI, Mohammad, SIS, Vasudevan, A, Kumar, A, Manoharan, T & Vasumathi, A 2026, Sustainable transport and Islamic finance: Driving the transition to a green economy. Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, 633: 773–784.
Park, I, Yang, S, Song, J-H & Moon, BC 2020, Dissection for floral micromorphology and plastid genome of valuable medicinal borages Arnebia and Lithospermum (Boraginaceae). Frontiers in Plant Science, 11: 606463.
Pote, XR, Doifode, VR, Patil, SD, Patil, PS, Marve, SR, Meghare, P, Yadav, LN, Kakade, NT, Puri, N, Pinjarkar, L, Smerat, A & Vairagade, VS 2026, Techno-economic evaluation and environmental impact analysis of sustainable energy systems using power to X technologies. Process Integration and Optimization for Sustainability, 10(2): 567–585.
Qasem, N, Marhoon, H & Abdul Malek, NF 2025, A graphene-based rectangular-notched UWB antenna with reconfigurable notch. International Journal on Engineering Applications (IREA), 13(3): 222.
Weigend, M, Gottschling, M, Selvi, F & Hilger, HH 2009, Marbleseeds are gromwells—Systematics and evolution of Lithospermum and allies (Boraginaceae tribe Lithospermeae) based on molecular and morphological data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 52: 755–768.
Weshah, S, Znaimat, A, Matarneh, A & Maqatef, AK 2025, Towards global change and food security through transformative accounting information systems: Insights from the Jordanian food sector. Economies, 13(12): 341.
Xu, H, Li, P, Ren, G, Wang, Y, Jiang, D & Liu, C 2021, Authentication of three source species of Arnebiae Radix using DNA barcoding and HPLC. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12: 14.
Xushmatov, N, Allaniyazova, M, Toreniyazova, V, Gaibnazarov, S, Makhmudova, G, Jumaeva, S & Bobojonov, O 2025, Water resource management technology for agricultural lands during drought. Procedia Environmental Science, Engineering and Management, 12(1): 97–104.
Zhu, G-L 1982, A study on the taxonomy and distribution of Lithospermum and Arnebia in China. Journal of Systematic Evolution, 20: 323–328.
Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 3
July 2026
Pages 829-836

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics