METHODICAL APPROACH TO THE DETERMINATION OF THE ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF THE ECHINACEA PURPUREA AND MONARDA FISTULOSA TINCTURES AS A QUALITY CRITERION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR COMPOSITION AND LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

Aim. The aim of the study was to develop the methodical approach to determine the antioxidant activity of the tinctures of Monarda fistulosa herb and flowers and roots of Echinacea purpurea, as well as to develop their technology in  laboratory conditions.
 Materials and Methods. The following methods were used: analysis, synthesis, systematization, and comparison for processing of published scientific data on antioxidant activity; method for measuring the particle size of raw herbal materials; maceration and remaceration methods for obtaining the tested tinctures; DPPH test for the valuation of the antioxidant activity of the developed tinctures.
 Results and Discussion.
 The methodical approach to determining the antioxidant activity of the tinctures of Monarda fistulosa herb and flowers and roots of Echinacea purpurea was elaborated, the essence of which consisted in the selection of the appropriate dilution of the tinctures. Tinctures were prepared with the help of maceration or/and remaceration in laboratory conditions. The ratios of herbal raw materials (HRM) to the final tincture were close to ratios that are widely employed in the pharmaceutical industry, namely 1 to 5 and 1 to 10. The coefficients of alcohol absorption for the roots of Echinacea purpurea (size 2-5 mm), flowers of Echinacea purpurea (size 1-3 mm), herb of Monarda fistulosa (size 0.5-3 mm) were measured. They were measured as 1.2, 2.25, and 5.0 ml/g, respectively, for 70% ethanol. The studies revealed that Echinacea purpurea tinctures are a valuable source of antioxidant compounds. The antioxidant activity of these tinctures was 254.8-815.8 mg rutin-equivalents in 1 L of the tinctures or 1.12-4.43 mg rutin-equivalents in 1 g of the HRM depending on the part of the plant, particle size and extraction type. The antioxidant activity of the tinctures of the Monarda fistulosa herb was equal to 2203.6 mg eq-rutin/L and 20.3 mg eq-rutin/g for the tincture and HRM at a ratio of 1 to 9.5 and 2119.4 mg eq-rutin/L and 9.7 mg eq-rutin/g for the tincture at a ratio of 1 to 4.5.
 Conclusions. The approach to the determination of the antioxidant activity of the tested tinctures was elaborated, namely the dilutions of the tinctures were established for the analytical procedure of the determination of the antioxidant activity. Our studies demonstrated that tinctures of Echinacea purpurea contained compounds with antioxidant activity. The tinctures of Monarda fistulosa herb are very rich in compounds with antioxidant properties. The laboratory technology of six tinctures was elaborated. Further studies will be directed at laboratory studies on microorganisms and animals.