BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AND THEIR ROLE IN ECOSYSTEM STABILITY

Medicinal plants represent an important component of biological diversity and play a significant role in maintaining ecosystem stability. They are valuable not only as sources of biologically active compounds used in traditional and modern medicine, but also as essential elements of natural communities. The aim of this study was to analyze the biological diversity of medicinal plants and evaluate their ecological role in ecosystem stability. The study highlights the importance of medicinal plants in soil protection, pollinator support, nutrient cycling, biodiversity conservation, and ecological balance. The findings indicate that reduction of medicinal plant diversity may negatively affect ecosystem resilience and decrease the availability of natural medicinal resources. Conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants are therefore important for both environmental protection and public health.