Laboratory of Botany and Mycology

In 1981, with the funding of the USSR State Committee for Science and Technology, a laboratory scientific group was created attached to the Chair of Botany of Yerevan State University, which was later renamed the Botany and Mycology Laboratory.

The field of laboratory research includes:

• diversity of fungi and plants,

• medical mycology,

• biotechnology,

• pharmaceutical biochemistry,

• phytopathology,

• fungal resistance,

• antifungal effect of herbal decoctions,

• air mycobiota,

• biodegradation,

• karyology.

The main scientific directions operating in the laboratory

Studies and monitoring of the diversity of fungi and plants are carried out in the territory of the Republic of Armenia, particularly in specially protected areas. The comprehensive monitoring studies of macroscopic fungi and plants registered in the Red Book of the Republic of Armenia provide an opportunity to review the danger categories of the species included in the book and to make changes in the planned new edition of the Red Book of the Republic of Armenia. 

Fungi species and plant species with a wide spread in Armenia and potential pharmacological activity, which are collected from different floristic regions of Armenia, are studied. Antifungal and antioxidant activities of secondary metabolites of fungi and plants are evaluated. Evaluation of the quantitative and qualitative composition of phenolic compounds and carotenoids is carried out.

Some herbs that are widely used in medicine and of great practical importance are cultivated all over the world artificially.

To control the spread of harmful infectious and non-infectious diseases, systematic research is carried out, which makes it possible to detect fungal diseases of humans, animals, and plants in time and to take the necessary measures of control and treatment.

Karyological studies of different genera of plants growing in Armenia are being investigated, which provides a better understanding of the evolutionary development and taxonomic affiliation of species according to geographical location.

Assessment of fungal resistance of polymer wastes of different origins and study of factors contributing to biodegradation are carried out. Micromycetes with high biodegrading activity are identified. 

The presence of fungi in the environment surrounding a person can have a toxic effect and cause the development of various allergic reactions, as well as contribute to the occurrence of mycoses, increasing various somatic diseases that already exist in people. For its prevention, the study and analysis of air mycobiota in closed spaces of various importance are carried out.

Partnerships

The laboratory cooperates with the following institutions:

• University of Vienna, Austria,

• Charles and Franz University of Graz, Austria,

• Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, Center for Biology,

• RA NAS Institute of Botany named after A. L. Takhtajyan,

• "Armbiotechnology" scientific production center of RA NAS,

• RA NAS Zoology and Hydroecology Scientific Center,

• RA NAS Hr. Buniatyan Institute of Biochemistry,

• RA NAS G. S. Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems,

• Matenadaran named after Mesrop Mashtots,

• Armenian Tree Project.

Staff

1. Nanagyulyan Siranush 

2. Eloyan Inessa 

3. Shahazizian Iren 

4. Margaryan Lusine 

5. Adamyan Ruzanna 

6. Soghoyan Eva 

7. Gevorgyan Vahagn 

8. Petrosyan Aida 

9. Mkrtumyan Margarita 

Top 5 publications (Scopus, Web of Science 2018-2023):

1. Siranush Nanagulyan, Narine Zakaryan, Nune Kartashyan, Renata Piwowarczyk, Łukasz Łuczaj Wild plants and fungi sold in the markets of Yerevan (Armenia) // Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2020, 16 (1), 1-27.
2. George Fayvush, Lusine Hambaryan, Iren Shahazizyan, Arsen Gasparyan, Astghik Poghosyan, Siranush Nanagulyan, Anahit Ghukasyan, Alla Aleksanyan, Jacob Koopman & Helena Więcław. Flora of Armenia. In: Fayvush, G. (eds) Biodiversity of Armenia. Springer, Cham. - 2023. -  93–142. 
3. Nanagulyan, S., Margaryan, L. Mycobiota of Armenia. In: Fayvush, G. (eds) Biodiversity of Armenia. Springer, Cham. - 2023. -  143-164.  
4. George Fayvush, Karen Aghababyan, Alla Aleksanyan, Marine Arakelyan, Arsen Gasparyan, Mark Kalashian, Lusine Margaryan & Siranush Nanagulyan. Biodiversity Conservation Problems. In: Fayvush, G. (eds) Biodiversity of Armenia. Springer, Cham. - 2023. -  283–321. 
5. Ginovyan M., Hovhannisyan S., Javrushyan H., Sevoyan G., Karabekian Z., Zakaryan N., Sahakyan N., Avtandilyan N. Screening revealed the strong cytotoxic activity of Alchemilla smirnovii and Hypericum alpestre ethanol extracts on different cancer cell lines // AIMS Biophysics, 2023. 10(1):12–22.