Laboratory of Diversity and Bioactivity Assessment of Fungi and Plants
In 1981, with funding from the USSR State Committee for Science and Technology, the Botany Chair at YSU established a laboratory scientific group, which was renamed the Laboratory of Diversity and Bioactivity Assessment of Fungi and Plants in 2025.
The laboratory's research areas include:
• diversity of fungi and plants
• antifungal effects of plant extracts
• medicinal mycology
• biotechnology
• pharmaceutical biochemistry
• phytopathology
• fungal resistance
• airborne mycobiota
• biodegradation
• karyology
The main scientific directions in the laboratory are:
Studies and monitoring of the diversity of fungi and plants in the Republic of Armenia, particularly in specially protected areas. Multifaceted monitoring studies of macroscopic fungi and plants registered in the Red Book of Armenia allow for the review of the species' risk categories and the possibility of making changes in the planned new publication of the Red Book of Armenia.
Research on mushroom and plant species with widespread presence in Armenia, examining their potential pharmacological activities. This involves collecting samples from different floristic regions and evaluating the antifungal and antioxidant activities of their secondary metabolites.
Artificial cultivation of medicinal mushrooms, focusing on those of significant practical importance in medicine.
Conducting systematic research to monitor and control the spread of harmful fungal infections and non- infectious diseases. This includes the timely detection of fungal diseases in humans, animals, and plants, enabling effective control and treatment measures.
Investigating the karyology of different plant genera in Armenia, contributing to a better understanding of evolutionary development and taxonomic affiliations based on geographical location.
Assessing the fungal resistance of polymer wastes from various sources and studying the factors influencing biodegradation. Identifying micromycetes with high biodegradation activity is a key aspect of this research.
Studying the presence of mold fungi in the environment surrounding people, as they can have a toxic effect and cause various allergic reactions, as well as contribute to the occurrence of mycoses, increasing various somatic diseases already existing in people. To prevent this, the study and analysis of the air mycobiota in closed spaces of various purposes is carried out.
Staff:
12. Elen Khachatryan
13. Ilona Arakelyan
Top 5 Publications (Scopus, Web of Science 2019-2024):
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.
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. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34332-2_3
Nanagulyan, S., Margaryan, L. Mycobiota of Armenia. In: Fayvush, G. (eds) Biodiversity of Armenia. Springer, Cham. - 2023. - 143-164. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34332-2_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. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34332-2_6
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. DOI:10.3934/biophy.2023002
Contacts
Head of Laboratory:
Professor, Dr. Siranush Nanagulyan
Tel.: 45-05 (inner line)
E-mail: snanagulyan@ysu.am
