Problems of harvesting and using medicinal plant raw materials for food purposes

Today, not only in Russia, but also in economically developed countries, the problem of micronutrient deficiency in the population is particularly acute. Correction of the micronutrient status by consuming traditional foods rich in biologically active substances is undesirable, since this can lead to weight gain. The solution to the problem can be considered the use of food additives based on medicinal plant raw materials (MPR), which have recently been widely used in the food industry to create functional (FP) and specialized food products. More than half of the drugs are produced from plant materials. The world market of medicinal plants has a huge export potential and makes up about 40% of the total drug market. However, despite this, the production of MPR significantly lags behind the needs of various industries, including pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Resource science of MPR is an important national economic task, in connection with which there is a need to create an up-to-date regulatory framework for the procurement and use of MPR, including in food technologies. In order to confirm the effectiveness of the FPP based on the evidence base using medical methods, it is advisable for the Health Departments in the regions to organize and approve medical institutions that would be the basis for conducting clinical trials of the FPP that have certificates of conformity for safety indicators and protocols for analyzing the chemical composition and content of biologically active substances (BAS). Forestry Departments should resolve the issue of organizing tests of medicinal plant raw materials for indicators of the functional properties of raw materials, in particular, the content of biologically and physiologically active substances, which will allow developers and manufacturers to optimize the recipes and technologies of the FPP to ensure the effectiveness of the food product.