Plant species used for infectious diseases: features of classification position and chemical composition

Species of medicinal plants are grouped into sets, each of which was used in folk or scientific medicine for a specific infectious disease. A total of 59 infections and species sets were taken into account. Increases in the occurrence, in such sets, of species belonging to certain families and species containing chemical compounds of certain groups (flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, phenols, lactones, coumarins, iridoids, xanthones) were studied. The mathematical-statistical Student's t-test was used. As a rule, in the set of species used for infectious diseases, the occurrence of some (from 1 to 12) families is significantly increased. 67 families are characterized by a significantly increased occurrence in at least one such set. Significant differences were noted between families in the number of infections with which they are associated through their affinity for the sets of plants used. It was also revealed that, as a rule, in the set of species used for infectious diseases, the occurrence of certain (from 1 to 8) groups of compounds was significantly increased. Significant differences were noted between infections in combinations of groups of compounds that were reliably related to the plant species used. Information about the considered patterns can be used to assess the prospects of plant species, families, and chemical compounds in the study of their antimicrobial and antiviral activity.