PRELIMINARY RESEARCH ON ARNICA MONTANA L. PROVIDED IN VITRO
DIANA ELENA MAFTEI 1, DANIEL IOAN MAFTEI 2, DAN – IOAN VÂRBAN 3 1. ”Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău, Faculty of Science, e-mail: diana.maftei@ub.ro;
2. ”Ion Borcea” Natural Sciences Museum Complex of Bacău, e-mail: daniel_ioan_maftei@yahoo.com;
3. University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj – Napoca, e-mail: dan_varban@yahoo.com
Arnica montana L. is a rare and valuable medicinal species. Arnica (mountain arnica) is a plant in the family Compositae, about 30-50 cm tall, with yellow flowers that bloom in June-July. The inflorescences are used (Arnicae flos) and they contain volatile oil (0.05-0.15%). Used externally as an anti-inflammatory, and in external bruises, sprains, arthritis, phlebitis and thrombophlebitis, venotonic, varicose veins, etc. Used internally, it causes gastrointestinal disorders and hypertension. The study aims at the in vitro micropropagation of this species, in view of repopulating some native habitats of this species in Eastern Romania. Further phytochemical and biometrical comparative studies will be accomplished on two genotypes of Arnica montana L.
