When did the Mesozoic era begin? Mesozoic era, Mesozoic

Doctors suggest the use of burdock as an additional medicine for diabetes. The whole plant is a unique healer. The roots, stem, leaves, and flowers have beneficial properties.

Beneficial properties of burdock

Contains a large number of biologically active compounds. The two main ones are arctigenin and arctin, which have a positive effect on the carbohydrate metabolism of patients with diabetes. These 2 components help regulate blood sugar and lower glycemic levels.

Burdock roots contain fatty and essential oil, glycosides, sitosterol, tannins, phytosterols, and most importantly for a diabetic, the polysaccharide inulin (about 40%). Inulin is an indispensable component in the treatment of diabetes. By influencing the functioning of the pancreas, it improves its insulin-producing function, due to which sugar levels return to normal.

Burdock leaves contain alkaloids, ascorbic acid, carotene, and vitamin P.

Multiple studies have shown that Burdock is an excellent healing plant for diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2. In addition to this disease, burdock is used for fungal diseases of the head and strengthens the hair roots. Ointment from this plant promotes the healing of wounds on the skin and has a disinfectant property. In combination with the series, it exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic effects. Infusions from burdock roots improve digestion and metabolism; have a choleretic and diuretic effect; relieve pain; used for diseases of the throat, gums, teeth; from osteochondrosis, cystitis, dropsy, enterocolitis. Burdock has a mild laxative effect for constipation. Treats cysts of various locations, improving lymph flow. Helps with joint diseases. Increases glycogen deposition in the liver. Burdock is also used as a prebiotic that supports the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria.

Recipes with burdock for diabetes

Add 1 tbsp to 500 mg of boiling water. spoon of dried burdock roots and boil for 30 minutes, strain. Take 3 times a day before meals, 50-60 milliliters.
Add 10-15 g of dried burdock roots and leaves to 200 mg of boiling water and boil for 5 minutes. Strain. Take 1 before meals dessert spoon 3 times a day for one month.
Dried blueberry leaves, flaxseed, bean pods, burdock roots, chicory roots are mixed in equal quantities, take 2-3 tbsp. spoons of the mixture and pour two glasses of boiling water. Cook for 10-15 minutes. Strain.

Take one glass after meals . This decoction is good for lowering blood sugar in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially in the initial stage of the disease.

Cold preparation method: pour one teaspoon of chopped burdock into 200 mg of water room temperature and leave for three hours. Drink in two doses, morning and evening.
Mix burdock and dandelion roots in equal proportions. Take two teaspoons of the mixture and add 200 mg of water, boil for 15 minutes. Strain. Use 3 times a day, 1 tbsp. spoon. It is useful for diabetes mellitus due to the content of insulin-like substances.
A healing remedy in the form of coffee is prepared from burdock roots. To do this, the roots need to be thoroughly washed, peeled and dried. You can use an oven for drying, with a temperature of no more than 45 degrees. Cut into pieces and lightly fry until brownish, grind to a powder. Brew in the same way as regular coffee: take about 2 tablespoons of the mixture for 1 glass. For taste and increase beneficial properties You can add low-fat milk, a slice of lemon, a little honey.
Roots in dough." Take 800 g of roots, 4 tbsp. spoons of flour, 6 tbsp. spoons of water, 3 eggs, spices and salt to taste. The roots are washed and boiled for 30 minutes, then cut into strips or circles. Add flour and eggs to the water and mix. Add spices, salt. Boiled and chopped roots are dipped in the resulting dough and fried over medium heat until a crispy crust is obtained.
Add 25-30 g of dried burdock to 1 liter of boiling water and leave for 25 minutes. Strain. Take after meals 4 times a day.
For constipation: add 30 g of burdock seeds to 300 mg of water and boil for half an hour. Strain. Drink 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day.

The roots are used V medicinal purposes for diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2 not only in boiled or infused form. It is recommended to take them raw.

Burdock is used to make cutlets, flatbreads, and pie fillings. You can also bake the roots over a fire.

For mastopathy, joint pain, and non-healing wounds, fresh burdock leaves are used as compresses.

Recipe for ointment for non-healing wounds and bedsores

Take 1 glass of vegetable oil, ( great option apply almond oil), add 80 g of fresh roots, previously washed and chopped. Let it brew in a warm place for one and a half days. Then simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes. Strain. Allow to cool, the ointment is ready for use.

Compress for joint pain, gout, rheumatism

Wash the leaves well and then dry them. Before use, they are carefully steamed and applied to sore spots. Can also be used for ulcers and festering wounds.

Burdock oil for hair loss

Chop the raw roots and add hot vegetable oil, preferably olive oil. Let it brew for about two weeks. Apply by rubbing this oil into the hair roots. It is also used for baldness.

Ointment for eczema

Take chamomile, fireweed, burdock roots and hoofed grass in equal proportions. To 2 glasses of water add 1 teaspoon of the mixture, 1 teaspoon of cow butter and a glass of boiled hay dust. Cook in a water bath until you get a sticky mass. Strain, squeeze and add glycerin. The mixture is ready for use.

Juice from fresh burdock leaves is used to disinfect wounds, bedsores, ulcers and burns. To treat boils, a paste is made from fresh leaves and applied as a compress. For allergies, baths with tinctures of leaves and roots added to the water are useful.

Pregnant and nursing mothers;
Taking diuretics;
WITH allergic reaction for the aster family.

You cannot self-medicate; the use of any new medications is discussed with your doctor.

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Since ancient times, this plant has been used by healers for medicinal purposes, when Aesculapians prepared potions with their own hands.

Plant properties

Medically, medicinal properties It is the roots of the plant that possess it. The leaves are also not devoid useful substances, but most of them are concentrated in the rhizome.

The main healing properties of the root are the following components:

saturated fatty acids;
tannins;
polysaccharides;
essential oils;
resins;
proteins;
proteins;
many vitamins;
trace elements – iron, zinc, manganese, boron, etc.

Medicinal properties of clover flowers

Of the polysaccharides, burdock root contains the most inulin, which helps stabilize metabolic processes in the human body, cleanse it of toxic substances, reduce cholesterol and enhance immune processes.

Basic properties and nature of application medicines prepared with burdock root:

properly prepared infusion of rhizomes of this plant used as a diuretic for pathologies of the gallbladder and kidneys;
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, antipyretic and analgesic properties, this plant perfectly treats colds and infectious diseases;
burdock root is an excellent assistant as a laxative and anti-inflammatory agent for intestinal motility disorders and hemorrhoids;
the substances contained in it improve the functionality of the pancreas, and therefore are widely used for metabolic disorders and diabetes mellitus, which often accompany each other;
compresses are used for skin pathologies - seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, allergies, etc. The product relieves itching, reduces flaking and reduces inflammation;
for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, burdock root can not only relieve inflammation, but also pain, regulate pH and bile production.

Means of application

IN folk medicine the same product can be used in several ways to treat different diseases:

The extract is sold in pharmacies, which is very convenient. Easy to take, sometimes recommended by doctors. It is quite difficult to prepare burdock root extract on your own, especially without the appropriate equipment.
Tincture. Easy to prepare yourself at home. To do this, it is recommended to use a thermos, which can contain all the beneficial substances inside the product.

Medicinal properties of the herb Galega officinalis

Recipe: 2 glasses of water, 20 grams of chopped fresh or dry roots (1 tablespoon). It is best to cook it overnight so that it can brew, and in the morning, strain the liquid and take it before eating, having previously heated it to an acceptable temperature.

You should not immediately start treatment with large doses. The first dose of the product should not exceed the volume of a tablespoon, gradually increasing it by a quarter of a glass. This type of root treatment is used to treat joint diseases, digestive system, diabetes mellitus and skin pathologies.

Decoction. It has a greater concentration of substances than the infusion, and is even used for cancer. For kidney stones and gallbladder, diabetes mellitus also use this type of plant treatment. Externally, decoctions are very useful for hair and skin diseases.

You can prepare a decoction using several methods. It is traditional to simply flood the roots with water and let them settle for small amount time. Then the infusion is brought to a boil, cooled and strained. But this method not entirely true.

It would be more correct to cook in a water bath, during which the roots are poured with already boiled water and slowly steamed, releasing their beneficial substances to the liquid.

In any case, 2 teaspoons of finely chopped roots in a ratio of 1 cup of water is enough. The standard dose is 1 tablespoon three times a day, after meals.

For a certain disease, the concentration of the preparation may be slightly different. In this case, it is better to follow a special recipe rather than the one provided here.

Folk recipes

Alternative therapy, which qualified doctors call traditional medicine, is replete with an abundance of recipes based on burdock roots. The latter treat various diseases:

joints. Basically, an ointment is used, for the preparation of which you need 3 tablespoons of exclusively fresh roots. You need to pour in half a glass of sunflower or olive oil (unrefined). The mixture should be infused for 24 hours, and then simmered over low heat for 10 minutes. After the obligatory straining, beeswax is added to the oil while it is hot - 1 teaspoon. Then it all cools down and becomes an ointment. Rub the product into the affected areas overnight and then wrap with a warm cloth;
prostate adenoma. An infusion prepared using the cold method is suitable: 1 glass of boiled water per 2 tablespoons of roots. The product is infused for 1 to 3 hours. After straining, you need to drink the infusion 0.5 cups, two to three times a day;
gastritis, ulcer. 1 tablespoon of roots is poured into 2 cups of boiled water and left for quite a long time - from 7 to 10 hours. Then it is filtered and taken exclusively before meals, a third of a glass per day;
pathology of the pancreas. A decoction is prepared from a tablespoon of root and 2 glasses of water. The root is first infused in cold water at least an hour, maybe a little more. Then only the substance is heated and boiled for 15 minutes. Drink the decoction only warm and after water - 3 times a day. It’s better to cook something new every day;
for a diuretic effect. Prepare a decoction of 2 tablespoons of roots per 0.5 liters of water. First, the plant is simmered in water for 25 minutes, after which it is boiled for 10 minutes. Drink the medicine 0.5 cups twice a day, adding a little honey of any kind;
pathologies of the liver and gall bladder. Pour 2 teaspoons of finely chopped roots into 0.5 liters of water and leave overnight. In the morning, boil and leave covered for up to 20 minutes. Then strain and drink 0.5 cups three times a day;
myoma. 1 teaspoon of crushed root is poured into a thermos. Fill the plant with 0.5 liters of water and leave for 7-11 hours. Take in small doses – 100 ml four times a day. The course of treatment is 1 month, and after a two-week break, repeat until complete recovery;
diabetes mellitus. To burdock root add chicory root, bean fruit leaves, flax seeds - all in the same ratio. Pour a tablespoon of this mixture into 1 glass of water and boil for a quarter of an hour. After cooling, drink half a liter three times a day.

Burdock root for hair

It is widely known that this plant helps strengthen hair. Has a positive effect on hair loss, for strengthening, beauty, shine and silky effect.

It is often used at home in combination with burdock oil according to the following recipe:

burdock oil – 1 teaspoon;
any honey – 1 teaspoon;
onion juice – 1 medium size piece;
burdock juice – 10 grams;
favorite shampoo.

Mix everything and apply evenly to hair. Then cover them with film and wrap them with a warm cloth. Leave in this state for an hour and then wash off. Those who use this method emphasize that it is better not to dry your hair with a hair dryer, but to comb it and let it dry naturally.

Contraindications

Like other plants that are used as traditional medicine, burdock should be used with caution. Allergies and individual intolerance to this plant are common to anyone, so an unpredictable reaction is quite likely. Absolute contraindications are only pregnancy and lactation period.

How to use linseed oil for medicinal purposes

Making your own burdock root

Not everyone knows exactly when it is necessary to harvest the roots of this plant. The most optimal period is autumn, and late at that. At this time, all useful substances descend to the root, as the plant prepares for winter.

Roots are dug from young burdocks - 1 year of life. They are easy to identify by their large and thick sheets. Old plants have lost most of their beneficial substances over the years, become woody and unsuitable for treatment.

Before drying, you should always thoroughly wash the extracted rhizome, peel it and cut it crosswise into several pieces. Large shoots are also cut lengthwise. You can store a supply of the plant for no longer than five years and only in jars.

Burdock (burdock) is unpretentious plant, which is widespread throughout the world. It can exist in different climatic conditions. Many people classify it as a weed and try to get rid of it.

Burdock is valued in medicine. It contains a huge number of unique medicinal substances that help in the fight against various diseases. Diabetes mellitus is one of them. The main components of the plant root that play a key role are:

Arctiginin and arctiin. The substances belong to the class of glycosides;
Essential oils;
Tannins;
Polyunsaturated fatty acids;
Inulin (polysaccharide);
Phytosterols.

The seeds of the plant contain up to 30% fatty oil. It is widely used in cosmetology. Burdock flowers and leaves are additionally rich in vitamins (C, A, E, PP) and minerals (potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus).

The rich composition determines the demand for burdock for type 2 diabetes. It contributes to a significant improvement in the patient's condition. Its use allows you to stop the progression of the disease.

Total on site former USSR There are six types of plants. Best suited for correcting carbohydrate metabolism:

Felt;
Large burdock (burdock).

A variety of folk remedies are prepared from raw materials that can help stabilize the patient’s well-being.

Burdock and diabetes

Burdock for diabetes is a unique, unconventional medicine that can actually help improve the patient’s condition. It all depends on the severity of the pathology and the correct use of natural medicines.

The main effects of burdock on type 2 diabetes are:

Decreased blood glucose concentration. This is possible thanks to arctiginine and arctiin. The substances take a direct part in the process of reducing the amount of sugar in the plasma;
Correction of lipid metabolism. Achieved due to the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the plant. They ensure proper absorption of lipids while minimizing the pathological processes associated with them;
Restoration of membranes of liver and pancreas cells. Fatty oils help stimulate the repair processes of the membranes of structures, which improves their functional activity.

One of the most important compounds in burdock for diabetes is inulin. This polysaccharide is directly involved in the processing of carbohydrates, enhances pancreatic function and increases insulin secretion.

Many patients with sweet illness suffer from overweight bodies. Burdock oil is one of the products that can partially solve this issue. The main thing is to use it regularly according to standard rules.

By using folk remedies for diabetes, the recipes for which will be given below, can eliminate or reduce the severity of the following symptoms:

Hunger;
Thirst;
Constant fatigue;
Poorly healing wounds on the skin;
Frequent urination.

Burdock is not a complete cure for diabetes. It helps stabilize carbohydrate metabolism, but does not guarantee quick achievement of the desired result. It has selective effectiveness, which must be taken into account when taking such an approach to treating the disease.

Additional properties

The ability to reduce blood sugar levels is not the only advantage of burdock. It also has a number of beneficial properties that can help diabetics. The most important of them are:

Anti-inflammatory;
Wound healing;
Calming;
Stimulating the work of the gastrointestinal tract.

Burdock root and seed oil is especially beneficial for patients who have dry skin. In diabetes mellitus, the functional activity of the dermis is impaired. It loses its elasticity. Trophic ulcers occur.

Preparations based on burdock root can prevent a kind of “diabetic” dermatitis. They contain a lot of polyunsaturated fatty acids and auxiliary components. They help strengthen hair and improve the condition of the skin.

The vitamins contained in burdock lead to a nonspecific strengthening of the immunity of a patient with type 2 or type 1 diabetes. There is an increase in the body's resistance to the effects of viral and bacterial agents.

All this confirms the high effectiveness of the plant for patients suffering from the “sweet” disease. The main thing is to know how to properly prepare folk remedies based on burdock.

Recipes

All parts of burdock can be used to reduce blood glucose concentrations. However, it is its roots that demonstrate the greatest effectiveness. They contain the maximum concentration of substances that have a beneficial effect on carbohydrate metabolism.

Below we will present popular and effective recipes for folk remedies based on burdock.

Decoction

A classic natural medicine that helps stabilize carbohydrate metabolism. To create it you will need the following ingredients:

Burdock root – 1 tablespoon;
400 ml water.

To prepare the medicine you need to take a few simple steps:

Cut the root into small pieces;
Fill it with water and put on fire;
Bring to a boil;
Boil for half an hour;
Let cool;
Strain.

You need to take the medicine 50 ml three times a day before meals. The course of such treatment is 14 days. Then you need to take a break. If necessary, therapy can be repeated.

Combined decoction

The principle of its operation is the same. To create it use:

10 g burdock root;
10 g of plant leaves;
200 ml water.

The cooking process consists of the following steps:

The raw materials are crushed;
Fill with water;
Cook in a water bath for 25 minutes;
Allow to cool;
Strain.

You need to drink 20–40 ml of liquid three times a day before meals. The course of therapy can last about 1 month. Between such periods of treatment, you need to take a break of 30–45 days to prevent the development of complications.

Water infusion with blueberries

Simple and quick recipe with good therapeutic results. To prepare the medicine you will need the following ingredients:

20 g chopped burdock root;
10 g blueberry leaves;
400 ml boiling water.

The drug creation process involves the following steps:

The raw materials are poured with boiling water;
Leave to infuse in a thermos for 4 hours;
Strain.

You need to take 100 ml of the infusion after meals. The course of treatment should not exceed 2 weeks.

Precautions

Burdock root is very effective for diabetes folk remedy. It cannot act as the main medicine, but it significantly increases the effectiveness of pharmacological drugs.

Because of this, before starting such therapy, you should definitely consult a doctor to adjust the dosage of medications.

The use of burdock for the purpose of correcting carbohydrate metabolism is contraindicated in patients in the following situations:

Individual intolerance to the product;
Pregnancy or breastfeeding;
Concomitant use with diuretic drugs.

To prevent the development of unpleasant complications, you should always discuss alternative therapy with your doctor.

Burdock (Latin name: Árctium) is an angiosperm plant from the Asteraceae family, which is used for folk medicinal purposes for diseases of various etiologies. In this article we will look at burdock for type 2 diabetes.

Plant

Attention! IN international classification diseases of the 10th revision (ICD-10), type 2 diabetes mellitus is designated by code E11.

Main active ingredients:

Polyacetylene compounds (in roots): sulfur-containing heterocyclic acetylene compounds;
Essential oil (in roots): with derivatives of benzaldehyde, acetaldehyde and pyrazine;
Inulin (in roots);
Triterpenes (in roots) and numerous minor compounds;
Bitter sesquiterpene lactone (in leaves) of germacranolide type: artciopicrin;
Lignan.

Useful properties

Burdock is a plant from the Asteraceae family that blooms only in its second year. Burdock grows throughout Europe and northern Asia. Today burdock is imported mainly from Eastern Europe. Burdock grows in village meadows, rubbish heaps, paths or woodland edges. In the first year, the chamomile family grows near the ground. The following year a stem appears that is up to 1.20 m tall.

The soft and spindle-shaped root is the edible part of the plant. For pharmacological purposes, mainly dried roots are used, but sometimes also leaves and fruits.

Roasted roots have also been used as a coffee substitute.

The roots are collected in the fall of the first or spring of the second year and dried. The extract is made with olive or nut oil. The leaves are collected during the first growing season. They are dried and crushed.

According to superstition, the plant is supposed to promote hair growth. In folk medicine, burdock has been used against various diseases and, at least in the cosmetic field, burdock root extract has great value. Burdock is well tolerated and has no side effects.

The plant is used for gastrointestinal disorders, gout, rheumatism, skin diseases, dehydration and other diseases.

The medicinal plant has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, which is caused by certain ingredients that can interfere with the production of inflammatory mediators. The plant's antimicrobial properties have also been proven.

In traditional herbal medicine, burdock is usually used locally as a root or leaf extract. Due to its anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties, the plant is used various types inflammation (acne, dermatoses, eczema, furunculosis, skin infections, itching, insect bites, psoriasis, inflammation and sores in the mouth and throat). The roots are traditionally used orally for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Limited clinical data suggests that the plant may have a mild hypoglycemic effect. However, burdock in Europe is used only as a body care cosmetic.

In Korea and China, the anti-inflammatory, diuretic and hypoglycemic effects of the plant are used. However positive influence burdock on kidney inflammation and diuretic effects have not been confirmed in scientific studies.

Burdock for diabetes

A recent study conducted by Professor Ahangarpour from the Health Research Institute showed that the plant can have a strong anti-diabetic effect and reduce blood sugar concentration. Other animal experiments have confirmed these effects.

The animals were divided into several groups. One group was healthy; in the other groups, diabetes was artificially induced and then treated various methods, including classical hypoglycemic drugs. All animals took sugar before and after taking the plant. The studies measured insulin, blood sugar, liver enzymes, leptin and blood lipids.

In animals that took burdock, cholesterol, insulin, leptin and HDL levels decreased. However, LDL and triglyceride concentrations increased.

Since ancient times, burdock root has been used in medicine. However, in modern herbal medicine the effectiveness of herbal remedies has not been sufficiently proven. The drug is used in the form of extracts, tinctures, powder or tea. Typically a cold infusion is used with approximately 2.5 g per cup, which can be administered over several hours. The use of burdock root extracts in cosmetics is especially popular. It is often used to make products for hair care and stimulating hair growth.

Application

Many people ask: how to take the plant? Burdock root is part of various medicines(powders, tablets and tinctures) which are offered against skin diseases and rheumatism.

Directions for use:

Tea and burdock juice: 2-6 g of root per hot water, strain and drink three times a day;
Decoction: add 2.5 g of finely chopped root to water, let it brew for several hours, then boil for 1 hour and strain;
Liquid extract (1:1 with 25% alcohol): take 2-8 ml, 3 times a day;
Tincture (1:10 in 45% alcohol): take 8-12 ml 3 times a day.

To make a burdock root tincture, you will need the root and leaves of the plant. They need to be crushed and mixed. After this step, it is recommended to place the product in a bath and add alcohol. Now let this mixture soak in warm place within two to four weeks.

Complications of diabetes

Diabetes can lead to a variety of extremely dangerous complications if left untreated. Acute and life-threatening complications:

Coma diabeticum (diabetic coma): blood sugar levels always increase significantly;
Hypoglycemic shock: blood glucose levels fall below a critical threshold;
Loss of consciousness.

However, the long-term effects can be just as dangerous as the “unpleasant” short-term side effects. Usually these complications do not appear until several years later. These serious complications include:

Diabetic retino-maculopathy (pathological changes in the inside of the eye leading to blindness);
Diabetic nephropathy (kidney failure);
Diabetic neuropathy with affected organs;
Diabetic foot syndrome;
Heart attacks.

Skin diseases depend on a wide variety of metabolic processes. Therefore, the collection of prescriptions should always be carried out on the advice of a doctor. The same applies to the therapeutic amount and dosage of drugs. Patients are interested: do burdock root medications help with complications? Treatment with the plant is not recommended as there is no clinical data on its effectiveness.

Nephropathy

Advice! Diabetics are recommended to use the medicinal plant only after consultation with the doctor. The drugs do not statistically significantly accelerate the healing of trophic ulcers. Also, herbal medications taken do not have a significant effect on glucose concentration.

It is necessary to use any (sweet or unsweetened) herbal remedies after consulting a doctor. The thoughtless use of a large number of herbs can cause more harm to the patient than good. If nonspecific symptoms occur, the patient should urgently seek medical attention. medical care to prevent possible complications which can occur in case of overdose. It is important to rinse your stomach and take activated charcoal.

The Mesozoic is an era of tectonic, climatic and evolutionary activity. The formation of the main contours of modern continents and mountain building on the periphery of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans is taking place; the division of land facilitated speciation and other important evolutionary events. The climate was warm throughout the entire time period, which also played an important role in the evolution and formation of new animal species. By the end of the era, the bulk of the species diversity of life approached its modern state.

Geological periods

Triassic period (252.2 ± 0.5 - 201.3 ± 0.2)
Jurassic (201.3 ± 0.2 - 145.0 ± 0.8)
Cretaceous period (145.0 ± 0.8 - 66.0).

The lower (between the Permian and Triassic periods, that is, between the Paleozoic and Mesozoic) boundary is marked by the Permo-Triassic mass extinction, which resulted in the death of approximately 90-96% of marine fauna and 70% of land vertebrates. The upper limit is set at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, when another very large extinction of many groups of plants and animals occurred, most often attributed to the impact of a giant asteroid (Chicxulub crater on the Yucatan Peninsula) and the subsequent “asteroid winter”. Approximately 50% of all species became extinct, including all flightless dinosaurs.

Tectonics and paleogeography

Compared to the vigorous mountain building of the late Paleozoic, Mesozoic tectonic deformation can be considered relatively mild. The era was characterized primarily by the division of the supercontinent Pangea into a northern continent, Laurasia, and a southern continent, Gondwana. This process led to the formation Atlantic Ocean and continental margins of passive type, in particular most of the modern Atlantic coast(For example, east coast North America). Extensive transgressions that prevailed in the Mesozoic led to the emergence of numerous inland seas.

By the end of the Mesozoic, the continents had practically taken on their modern shape. Laurasia was divided into Eurasia and North America, Gondwana into South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica and the Indian subcontinent, the collision of which with the Asian continental plate caused intense orogenesis with the uplift of the Himalayan mountains.

Africa

At the beginning of the Mesozoic era, Africa was still part of the supercontinent Pangea and had a relatively common fauna with it, which was dominated by theropods, prosauropods and primitive ornithischian dinosaurs (by the end of the Triassic).

Late Triassic fossils are found throughout Africa, but are more common in the south than in the north of the continent. As is known, the time line separating the Triassic from the Jurassic period is marked by a global catastrophe with mass extinction species (Triassic-Jurassic extinction), but the African layers of this time remain poorly studied today.

Early Jurassic fossil deposits are distributed similarly to Late Triassic deposits, with more frequent exposures in the south of the continent and fewer deposits towards the north. Throughout the Jurassic period, iconic dinosaur groups such as sauropods and ornithopods increasingly spread across Africa. The paleontological layers of the mid-Jurassic period in Africa are poorly represented and also poorly studied.

Late Jurassic strata are also poorly represented here, with the exception of the impressive Tendeguru Jurassic assemblage in Tanzania, whose fossils are very similar to those found in the paleobiotic Morrison Formation of western North America and date to the same period.

In the mid-Mesozoic, about 150-160 million years ago, Madagascar separated from Africa, while remaining connected to India and the rest of Gondwanaland. Abelisaurs and titanosaurs have been discovered among the fossils of Madagascar.

During the Early Cretaceous era, a part of the landmass that made up India and Madagascar separated from Gondwana. In the Late Cretaceous, the divergence of India and Madagascar began, which continued until the achievement of modern outlines.

Unlike Madagascar, mainland Africa was tectonically relatively stable throughout the Mesozoic. And yet, despite its stability, significant changes occurred in its position relative to other continents as Pangea continued to break apart. By the beginning of the Late Cretaceous period, it separated from Africa South America, thereby completing the formation of the Atlantic Ocean in its southern part. This event had a huge impact on the global climate by changing ocean currents.

During the Cretaceous, Africa was inhabited by allosauroids and spinosaurids. The African theropod Spinosaurus turned out to be one of the largest carnivores that lived on Earth. Among the herbivores in the ancient ecosystems of those times, titanosaurs occupied an important place.

Cretaceous fossil deposits are more common than Jurassic deposits, but often cannot be radiometrically dated, making it difficult to determine their exact age. Paleontologist Louis Jacobs, who has spent considerable time in field work in Malawi, argues that African fossil deposits "need more careful excavation" and are sure to prove "fruitful ... for scientific discoveries."

Climate

Over the past 1.1 billion years, Earth's history has seen three successive ice age-warming cycles, called Wilson cycles. Longer warm periods were characterized by a uniform climate, greater diversity of animal life and flora, the predominance of carbonate sediments and evaporites. Cold periods with glaciations at the poles were accompanied by a decrease in biodiversity, terrigenous and glacial sediments. The reason for cyclicity is considered to be the periodic process of connecting continents into a single continent (Pangea) and its subsequent disintegration.

Mesozoic era- the warmest period in the Phanerozoic history of the Earth. It almost completely coincided with the period global warming which started in Triassic period and it ended already in Cenozoic era small ice age, which continues to this day. For 180 million years, even in the subpolar regions there was no stable ice cover. The climate was mostly warm and even, without significant temperature gradients, although climatic zonation existed in the northern hemisphere. Large quantity greenhouse gases in the atmosphere contributed to the uniform distribution of heat. Equatorial regions characterized tropical climate(Tethys-Panthalassa region) with an average annual temperature of 25–30°C. Up to 45-50° N The subtropical region (Peritethys) extended, followed by the warm-temperate boreal zone, and the subpolar regions were characterized by a cool-temperate climate.

During the Mesozoic there was warm climate, mostly dry in the first half of the era and wet in the second. Slight cold snaps in the late Jurassic period and the first half of the Cretaceous, strong warming in the middle of the Cretaceous (the so-called Cretaceous temperature maximum), around the same time the equatorial climate zone appears.

Flora and fauna

Giant ferns, tree horsetails, and mosses are dying out. In the Triassic, gymnosperms, especially conifers, flourished. In the Jurassic period, seed ferns died out and the first angiosperms appeared (so far represented only by woody forms), which gradually spread to all continents. This is due to a number of advantages; angiosperms have a highly developed conducting system, which ensures reliable cross-pollination, the embryo is supplied with food reserves (due to double fertilization, a triploid endosperm develops) and is protected by membranes, etc.

In the animal world, insects and reptiles flourish. Reptiles occupy a dominant position and are represented a large number forms In the Jurassic period, flying lizards appear and conquer air environment. In the Cretaceous period, the specialization of reptiles continued, they reached enormous sizes. The mass of some of the dinosaurs reached 50 tons.

The parallel evolution of flowering plants and pollinating insects begins. At the end of the Cretaceous period, cooling sets in and the area of semi-aquatic vegetation decreases. Herbivores are dying out, followed by carnivorous dinosaurs. Large reptiles are preserved only in the tropical zone (crocodiles). Due to the extinction of many reptiles, a rapid adaptive radiation of birds and mammals begins, occupying the vacated ecological niches. Many forms of invertebrates and sea lizards are dying out in the seas.

Birds, according to most paleontologists, descended from one of the groups of dinosaurs. The complete separation of arterial and venous blood flows caused them to be warm-blooded. They spread widely over land and gave rise to many forms, including flightless giants.

The emergence of mammals is associated with a number of large aromorphoses that arose in one of the subclasses of reptiles. Aromorphoses: highly developed nervous system, especially the bark cerebral hemispheres, which ensured adaptation to living conditions by changing behavior, moving the limbs from the sides under the body, the emergence of organs that ensure the development of the embryo in the mother’s body and subsequent feeding with milk, the appearance of fur, the complete separation of blood circulation, the emergence of alveolar lungs, which increased the intensity of gas exchange and, as a result, - general level metabolism.

Mammals appeared in the Triassic, but could not compete with dinosaurs and for 100 million years occupied a subordinate position in the ecological systems of that time.

Scheme of the evolution of flora and fauna in the Mesozoic era.

Literature

Iordansky N. N. Development of life on earth. - M.: Education, 1981.
Koronovsky N.V., Khain V.E., Yasamanov N.A. Historical geology: Textbook. - M.: Academy, 2006.
Ushakov S.A., Yasamanov N.A. Continental drift and climates of the Earth. - M.: Mysl, 1984.
Yasamanov N.A. Ancient climates of the Earth. - L.: Gidrometeoizdat, 1985.
Yasamanov N.A. Popular paleogeography. - M.: Mysl, 1985.