Benefits of fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium L.) and biodynamic agriculture: a review of researches

Abstract

Quick rhythm of life, fast, inadequate food, contaminated soil and air - pose new challenges for people: how to stay healthy, how to help the earth recover from intense use to meet people's needs. It is only close and careful cooperation with nature, which can help to solve the emerging global problems related to both: human health and the ecology of the earth. At the moment, the idea of biodynamic farming is spreading around the world. This is the direction of organic farming. This farming system is based on the concept that soil, plants, animals and people live and work in a closed interaction circle. Livestock must be kept on biodynamic farms and a closed production cycle applied. The biodynamic farm itself is considered to be a living organism that seeks to minimize destruction in nature. The plant fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium L.) is widely used for the treatment of various disorders and illnesses in all the world. In modern medicine, this plant has recently been looking for alternatives to use it to produce effective preparations. Experimental studies show that Chame-rion angustifolium L. extracts have many pharmacological and treatment effects: antioxidant, antiproliferative, anti-in¬flammatory, antibacterial and anti-aging. Fireweed is rich in polyphenolic compounds. Oenothein B is the main polyphe¬nol in fireweed (14–23%), while it has flavonoids less than 2%. Fireweed also has essential oils (mostly linoleinic acid, 1-docosene, hexadecanoic acid, linolenic acid) and acts as an antibacterial agent. Fireweed accumulates a lot of phenols and can be used as a natural antioxidative source. Oenothein B is the most contributing factor of the antioxidative fireweed effect. [...]