The silver fir (Abies alba)
botany & Systematics
The Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) belongs to the family of Pine family (Pinaceae). It is an evergreen conifer and can reach heights of up to 60 meters.Their characteristic features are their flat, soft-looking needles with a silvery shimmering underside – hence the name. Silver fir.
In contrast to the spruce, the cones of the silver fir are upright on the branches and decompose on the tree, which is a typical botanical characteristic of the genus. Abies is.
Origin & spread
The silver fir is native to Central and Southern Europe. Their natural range extends to, among other places:
-
the Alpine region
-
the Black Forest
-
Parts of the Balkans
-
the Pyrenees
She prefers cool, humid climates as well as nutrient-rich, deep soils and is considered a long-lived, ecologically valuable forest tree.
Plant parts used
The following are primarily used in traditional applications and modern raw material extraction:
For polyphenol-rich extracts, in particular wood and bark They are used because these plant parts contain high concentrations of secondary plant compounds.
Significance in traditional botany
The silver fir has a place in European folklore and herbal medicine. long tradition, especially in the Alpine region. Historically, it was valued:
-
as a forest and protective tree
-
as a source of resins and extracts
-
in various traditional applications within the framework of folk medicine
Their use was always closely linked to regional knowledge and craftsmanship.
Secondary plant compounds of the silver fir
Polyphenols – plant-based active compounds
The silver fir is a natural source of polyphenols, a large group of secondary plant compounds that serve a protective function in plants – for example, against environmental influences.
Polyphenols are not vitamins or minerals, but bioactive plant compounds that are typically found in higher concentrations in bark and wood than in leaves or needles.
Lignans – a special group of polyphenols
The characteristic polyphenols of the silver fir include in particular Lignans.
What are lignans?
-
Lignans are secondary plant compounds
-
They are formed from phenylpropanoid building blocks.
-
They are found primarily in wood, bark and seeds before
In plants, lignans perform structural and protective functions, for example in the cell structure.
Lignans in the silver fir
The silver fir exhibits a species-specific lignan profile that distinguishes them from other conifers.These lignans are considered characteristic components of silver fir extracts and serve as indicators in raw material science. high-quality marker substances.