Early flowering plants (ephemers and ephemeroids) are an important component of the biosystem of steppes and deserts. These species form perennial pasture communities, for early grazing. The present work was conducted to evaluate the floristic checklist and ecological uniqueness of early flowering plants of Central Kazakhstan, in the forest-steppe regions of Em-Bulak region and Edige mountains, during 2021 and 2022. A total of 26 species of ephemers and ephemeroids were recorded, which belong to 16 families: Liliaceae – 3 species, Asteraceae – 3 species, Ranunculaceae – 3 species, Rosaceae – 3 species, Brassicaceae – 2 species, Boraginaceae – 2 species, the other families are represented by one species. According to ecomorphological characteristics: 8 species (31%) belong to the xerophyte group, 6 (23%) to the xeromesophyte group, 7 (27%) to the mesoxerophyte group and 5 (19%) to the mesophyte group. Also, as a result of our research we found two species of plants which are included in the Red Book of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill. and Tulipa patens Agardh. ex Schult. f. The data obtained can be used for environmental monitoring and issues of rational nature management of wild plants of Central Kazakhstan.

Balanced nutrition is crucial for healthcare workers’ health and performance. Despite extensive knowledge of healthy eating, they face organizational and behavioral barriers leading to suboptimal diets. This study aimed to compare anthropometric status and dietary intake among male physicians, female physicians, and nurses in primary healthcare, and to identify deficiencies or excesses of key nutrients. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in six clinics in Karaganda (2023–2024), involving 202 participants (22 male physicians, 67 female physicians, and 113 nurses). Body composition (weight, fat percentage, muscle mass, bone mass, metabolic age) was assessed via Tanita BC-418MA bioelectrical impedance. Dietary intake was measured using repeated 24-hour recalls for proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Statistical analysis included nonparametric methods (Kruskal–Wallis, Dunn’s test) and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results showed insufficient intake of proteins, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins B₁, B₂, PP, and C. Sodium intake was excessive in all groups, whereas iron deficiency was observed only in women. Male physicians had higher body weight, muscle mass, and bone mass than female groups, but there were no significant differences in BMI, metabolic age, or overall dietary composition among the groups. Female physicians consumed slightly more vitamin C than nurses. In conclusion, gender and professional role minimally influenced dietary patterns among primary healthcare workers. Despite mostly normal BMI values, the pervasive lack of essential nutrients, coupled with high sodium and fat consumption, emphasizes the need for institutional measures such as structured schedules and healthier food options.

Cemeteries are often overlooked in ecological studies, yet they represent unique urban microhabitats that contribute to the preservation of diverse plant species, including those adapted to various ecological niches. This study aimed to assess the species composition, ecological classifications, and abundance of vascular plants in the cemetery and surrounding areas to explore cemeteries’ role in conserving plant ecobiomorph diversity in arid climates. This study identified 79 plant species from 23 families within the cemetery compared with 31 species from 11 families in the surrounding area. The plant community in the cemetery was dominated by mesophytes, suggesting favorable and stable conditions for plant growth, while xerophytes were more common in the surrounding areas, indicating harsher, drier conditions. The diversity of plant life forms, including perennial herbs, shrubs, and trees, was significantly higher within the cemetery, indicating a more complex and resilient ecosystem. Our study demonstrates that cemeteries act as vital refuges for plant biodiversity. They offer significantly higher species diversity and more complex ecosystem structures compared with the surrounding areas. These findings emphasize the critical role cemeteries play in urban biodiversity conservation, particularly in increasingly arid environments.

Pozdnyakova Y, Omarova G, Murzatayeva A, Tankibaeva N. 2022. Biodiversity of wild spice plants of the Central Kazakhstan region and their medicinal potential. Biodiversitas 23: 4609-4625. The Central Asian region stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to the border of western China in the east. Central Kazakhstan occupies the space of steppe and semi-desert zones within the Turgay Plateau in the west and the Kazakh Uplands in the center and in the east. Due to the remoteness of the steppes of Central Kazakhstan from the oceans, the climate in the region is extremely continental and arid. Due to this, the diversity of plant species is quite small. In this work, we have studied the biodiversity of wild herbs growing in the climatic conditions of Central Asia. We also assessed the prospects of the found plant species as medicines. This study took place as part of the traditional summer practice of biology students in the period July-August 2019. The main method used in the field research was route reconnaissance. As a result of field research, 40 wild spice plant species belonging to 17 families were found. Among them, the most numerous are the families Lamiaceae - 9 species, Brassicaceae - 6 species, Apiaceae - 5 species, Asteraceae - 4 species, the families Rosaceae and Fabaceae - 2 species of herbs. All of these species are mentioned in a number of old recipes and can be revived and re-recommended for widespread use. A critical assessment of the literature on the medicinal properties of the studied spices irrefutably shows that they have enormous health potential. Based on the data obtained, it can be concluded that wild spice plants growing in the territory of Central Kazakhstan have a wide range of taste diversity and prospects for successful commercial exploitation.

Parental perceptions of healthy eating often diverge from children’s actual diets, but this gap is poorly documented in Central Asia. We examined how parents’ priorities for key food groups relate to nutrient intakes in 390 urban children aged 1–6 years in Central Kazakhstan. In a cross-sectional study, parents completed a 24 h multiple-pass dietary recall and rated the importance of fats and sweets, meat and fish, dairy, vegetables and fruits, and bread and potatoes on 5-point scales. Nutrient intakes were calculated using software, compared with national DRIs, and analyzed using rank-based tests and Spearman correlations. Parents reported near-ceiling priority for restricting fats and sweets and consistently high priority for bread and potatoes, whereas vegetables, fruits, meat/fish, and dairy were rated moderately important, with dairy under-prioritized in 1–2-year-olds. On the recalled day, median intakes of fat, dietary fiber, vitamin C, and calcium were below national recommendations at all ages, and median intakes of iron, thiamine, and niacin were particularly low at 3–4 years, while sodium intake exceeded recommended levels; the 3–4-year group showed the most pronounced clustering of shortfalls. Prevalence estimates indicated that most children had intakes below recommendations for dietary fiber and calcium and above recommendations for sodium, underscoring population-wide nutritional imbalance. Across all scales, parental priorities showed only weak, non-significant associations with nutrient intakes (|r| < 0.11). These findings indicate a perception–intake gap and support interventions that ensure adequate fats, fiber, vitamin C, calcium, and bioavailable iron in preschool diets.

A high-fat, high-sugar diet (HFHS) is known to exacerbate oxidative stress and behavioral dysfunctions, increasing susceptibility to cognitive decline. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Stevia rebaudiana and Stachys sieboldii on lipid peroxidation and behavioral alterations in rats fed an HFHS diet. Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups: a control group on a standard diet, an HFHS group, and two experimental groups receiving HFHS supplemented with either Stevia or Stachys for 30 days. Behavioral responses were assessed using the Open Field Test, and oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, conjugated dienes, ketodienes, and Schiff bases) were measured in brain homogenates. Stevia significantly reduced oxidative stress markers by 30–51%, whereas Stachys decreased hyperactive locomotor behavior by 63–68%. Correlation analysis revealed strong associations between lipid peroxidation and behavioral parameters. These findings suggest that Stevia is more effective in reducing oxidative stress, while Stachys better regulates excessive locomotion. Both plant-based supplements exhibit neuroprotective potential, with distinct mechanisms of action, supporting their use as dietary interventions to mitigate the effects of an HFHS diet on brain function.