Ethnobotanics of Certain Medicinal Plants of Bukhara Region (Uzbekistan)

The article presents data on the ethnobotanical characteristics of 12 species of medicinal and food plants in the Bukhara region, where the climatic conditions are specific, hot and dry. These plants were used by the local population in ancient times and now as food and natural remedies. As a result of the study, data on the use of medicinal plants in food were collected on the basis of surveys of rural residents, housewives and elderly people of the city of Bukhara and the region. It is worth noting that due to the demand of the modern era, the study of the nutritional and therapeutic aspects of medicinal plants that grow naturally, their scientific and practical significance, deter-mines the possibility of their use in folk medicine.


Introduction
Uzbekistan is located in the north of Central Asia, the main part of its territory is occupied by the Pamir-Alai, Tianshan Mountains and the Kyzylkum steppe. The plants of Uzbekistan consist mainly of single-and perennial therophytes. The predominance of therophytes in the vegetation cover corresponds to the vegetation cover of Central Asia [1].
The territory of the Bukhara region, located in the desert zone, includes natural and artificial ecosystems (desert, outlier mountains, tugai, reservoirs, cultivated areas, settlements). Here, due to the influence of the anthropogenic factor, the synanthropic flora was formed, and at present, the processes of its further adventization are taking place [2].
Foaming from plants with a useful property has been known since ancient times. Especially the use of medicinal plants is associated with the name of the Great Physician Abu Ali Ibn Sina. Ibn Sina cited data on almost 1000 types of medicinal plants in his work "Canons of Medicine", and also recommended some of them to be used as a food treatise [3]. Ibn Sina used more than 450 medicinal plants in the Bukhara region to treat patients throughout his life. Research on medicinal plants of Uzbekistan by K. Khadjimatov and O. K. Khadjimatov can be seen in their works [4] [5]. Scientific research of scientists is related to the use of medicinal plants in folk medicine and modern medicine. Information about these medicinal plants used as food is also provided [1].
The latest information about the modern flora of the Bukhara region can be found in the works of H. K. Esanov  Object and methods of research: The study was conducted in 2019-2021 in the Bukhara region. As a result of scientific research, more than 700 herbarium samples were collected. Herbarium samples are identified with such scientific sources as "Flora of Uzbekistan" [12], "Determinant of plants of Central Asia" [13], Cadastre of flora of Uzbekistan: Bukhara region [14] and H. Q. Esanov [11]; [15] Data from the results of the study on the use of medicinal plants in food were collected on the basis of interviews with residents, housewives and elderly people of the city of Bukhara and 9 villages of the region. In the Bukhara region, 12 types of medicinal plants that are widely used in food were analyzed. Since ancient times, the local population was engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding and handicrafts, so a lot of physical labor was involved. Physical labor requires the consumption of high-calorie food by the body. For this reason, a lot of meat and fat products were consumed as part of the diet of the majority of the population. Due to the hot climate (temperature +40˚C + 45˚C) in the region of California in the summer, the body's need for high-calorie products (meat, protein, lipids) decreases. Therefore, local residents often eat food and dishes made from plants in the summer season. This makes it possible to easily digest food in the body. Some medicinal plants used for food by local residents of the Bukhara region are given (Table 1).  It is known as "natural antibiotics" with non-toxic side effects [16] [17]. Portulaca oleracea has different names in various ethnic groups in Nigeria. It is known as "Ntioke", "Ntilimoke", "Ntiike" or "Idiridi" in Igbo; "Esan omode" or "Papasan" in Yoruba; "Babbajibji" or "Halshen saniya" in Hausa and "Eferemakara" in Efik [18] [19]. In Uzbekistan, this plant is called "semiz ot". Portulaca oleracea has been widely used in Uzbekistan as a medicinal and food remedy since ancient times. Local elderly people noted that the seeds of this plant have the property of purifying the human body. For this reason, the population noted the use of mainly leaves and seeds of the plant as a medicinal and food product.
It is also used in the treatment of diseases such as impotence, depression, eye inflammation, diabetes, dysentery, asthma, liver and kidney diseases, urination disorders (cystitis and urethritis), hemorrhoids, headache, as a natural antioxidant (anti-inflammatory agent against snakes and insect bites) released by the body from this plant [24].
Portulaca oleracea-is consumed by the local population by preparing various food products (somsa, bichak, dumplings, manti). When preparing a dish from this plant, its leaves are collected, crushed and cooked with the addition of onions, eggs, and various spices [4] (Figure 1 and Figure 2).
In the Bukhara oasis, species such as Spinacia turkestanica, Mentha longifolia and Portulaca oleracea are widely used as food. Local residents use the leaves of plants such as Atriplex tatarica, Spinacia turkestanica, Chenopodium album and Chenopodium rubrum to prepare various dishes such as somsa, manti, bichak.  Capsella bursa-pastoris is a very common cosmopolitan species. It has been used by humans as a vitamin food and medicinal plant since ancient times. Capsella bursa-pastoris grows in the far north and in all regions except the steppe zones, among crops such as weeds in meadows, roadside areas, populated lands, fields and arable land.
Atriplex tatarica from the peeled seeds cook porridge, the taste is vaguely reminiscent of buckwheat, prepare pancakes, mashed potatoes, tortillas, casseroles, bake bread. Bread is also baked with dried leaves, ground into powder. Young leaves (scalded with boiling water to remove the bitterness) and dried can be put in soup, borscht, salad. The useful properties of quinoa allow recipes to make curative, and food nutritious for the human body [25].
Since Capsella bursa-pastoris contains a lot of vitamins and is an appetite  stimulant, it is used in daily consumption by the local population. From this plant, the local population also prepares various national dishes in early spring, such as somsa and green dumplings. These dishes are served as the main dish on the holiday table on the day of Navruz. Dishes from this plant are used to increase immunity, strengthen strength, meet the body's need for vitamins and treat various diseases (internal bleeding, diseases of the urinary tract and liver) ( Figure 4).

Conclusion
As a result of scientific ethnobotanical research conducted in the Bukhara region, the local population introduced 12 types of food crops and medicinal plants. It is established that these plants have a high nutritional value with medicinal properties. Their specific biological properties increase the body's immunity, ensure the intake of vitamins in the body. These types of medicinal plants in Uzbekistan increase the body's resistance to various diseases, especially in the hot climatic conditions of Bukhara.