Medicinal Ingredients Research Articles

Modified biochar activated by traditional Chinese medicine extract and its removal of tetracycline

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used during the outbreak of Covid-19 in the past few years, causing waste of resources and environmental pollution. This paper will convert TCM into porous carbon-based materials through pyrolysis technology, and then combine it with TCM extract activator to synthesize a new type of adsorbent. The two main ingredients of Chinese patent medicine “Lianhua Qingwen Capsules”, Honeysuckle and Forsythia suspensa, will be used as raw materials. After the two herbs are crushed, the leachate is extracted, and the remaining residue is collected. The dried residue is activated and carbonized at high temperature to generate biochar. Further, the biochar will be soaked in TCM extraction liquid to load active ingredients. The adsorption mechanism of tetracycline (TC) by TCM biochar was explored based on the adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm fitting results. The microstructure, surface functional groups and crystal structure of TCM biochar will reveal the material properties of the adsorbent. The results show that compared with biochar without extract activation, the adsorption effect of combined biochar (BC-C) with the proportion of “Lianhua Qingwen Capsules” is greatly improved. BC-C has richer surface functional groups through TCM extract loading, which provides superior TC adsorption capacity (36.92 mg/g). The adsorption process of TC by TCM biochar follows the pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetic model and Freundlich adsorption isotherm model. The adsorption mechanism mainly involves pore filling, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction and π-π interaction.

Correlations between tanshinones and soil factors of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma from different producing areas

Soil nutrients and inorganic elements affect not only the growth and development of medicinal plants but also the formation and accumulation of active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicines. The content of tanshinones and 28 inorganic elements in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma samples from 18 producing areas in 6 provinces was determined, and 35 physical and chemical properties of the corresponding soil samples were determined. The enrichment characteristics of inorganic elements in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were analyzed. The correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis were performed to screen out the main soil factors affecting the content of tanshinones in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. The results showed that the content of tanshinones in the samples from different areas varied significantly, being the highest in the samples from Shandong, the second in the samples from Henan, and low in the samples from Shanxi and Sichuan. K, Mg, Ca, and Na were rich in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma samples, among which Na and K had the highest enrichment coefficients. The results of correlation and regression analyses showed that soil K, Na, Ti, and total nitrogen were the main soil factors affecting the tanshinones in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Specifically, the content of tanshinones was positively correlated with Ti and negatively correlated with Na, K, and total nitrogen in the soil. Therefore, during the planting of Salvia miltiorrhiza, the land should be selected with full consideration to the salinity and saline land should be avoided. Secondly, the application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers can be appropriately reduced, and water-soluble elemental fertilizers for S. miltiorrhiza should be developed.

Investigating the Status of WHO VigiAccess Adverse Drug Event Reporting and Exploring its Potential for Application Using Anti-Obesity Agents as Examples

Objectives: This study reviewed the status of adverse event (AE) reporting in VigiAccess using anti-obesity agents as examples and explored the possibility of its use and future challenges.Methods: AE reports related to some representative drugs among herbal medicines (HMs), complex HM prescriptions, ingredients of supplements, and over-the-counter and prescription medicines were investigated using VigiAccess on February 1, 2024.Results: AE reports on prescription drugs were overwhelmingly higher than those on HMs or supplements. Although most reports were submitted from North America, reports on <i>Ephedra sinica</i> and green tea extract (GTE) were more from Asia and Europe, respectively. The female population reported more, and the difference in the sex ratio was the smallest for <i>Ephedra</i> spp. The age group was concentrated on young adults, but many older patients reported GLP-1 receptor agonist-related AEs. Symptoms related to the gastrointestinal and nervous systems were most commonly reported, but mental and cardiac disorders were common in <i>Ephedra</i>-type HMs. Hepatobiliary disorders are also commonly found in GTE-related reports.Conclusions: VigiAccess was useful for easily checking the global status of AE reporting for prescription drugs. However, several limitations were observed in using VigiAccess for HMs because of the few reports. Thus, it is necessary to increase the number of reports by education and to promote AE reporting among HM prescribers and users. The full range of HMs should be included in the pharmacovigilance system, and the coding and classification of HMs should be revised.

Correlation analysis of secondary metabolites and disease resistance activity of different varieties of Congou black tea based on LC-MS/MS and TCMSP

To investigate the correlation between the difference of secondary metabolites and the disease-resistance activity of different varieties of Congou black tea. Among a total of 657 secondary metabolites identified, 183 metabolites had anti-disease activity, 113 were key active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), 73.22% had multiple anti-disease activities, and all were mainly flavonoids and phenolic acids. The main enriched metabolic pathways were phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, flavonoid biosynthesis, and metabolic pathways. Flavonoid and phenolic acid secondary metabolites were more correlated with anti-disease activity and key active TCM ingredients. Conclusion: The types of JGY and Q601 Congou black tea of the relative contents show large differences in secondary metabolites. Flavonoid and phenolic acid secondary metabolites were identified as the primary factors contributing to the variation in secondary metabolites among different varieties of Congou black tea. These compounds also exhibited a stronger correlation with disease resistance activity.

FORMULATION AND TESTING OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY COMBINATION OF CALENDULA OIL AND SWEET ORANGE OIL WITH DPPH METHOD

Indonesia has many natural ingredients that can be used as primary ingredients for medicines with antioxidant effects. Calendula oil and sweet orange oil have the potential to be antioxidants. This study aimed to determine the stability of cream preparations based on stability test parameters and to determine antioxidant activity using the DPPH method. This study was conducted because the combination of calendula oil and sweet orange oil was tested for antioxidant activity and then formulated in cream dosage forms with ratio of 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1. Antioxidant activity tests were carried out using a combination of calendula oil and sweet orange oil and a cream preparation of a combination of calendula oil and sweet orange oil, which was tested for stability using the cycling test method. Based on the results of the study, the combination of calendula oil and sweet orange oil in a ratio of 1:1 and 1:2 had weak antioxidant activity, as can be seen from the IC50 value of 170.02 ppm, 150.43 ppm, whereas in a 2:1 ratio, it had moderate antioxidant activity because the IC50 value was 143.89 ppm. In the combination cream preparations of calendula oil and sweet orange oil, ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 had weak antioxidant activity. It can be seen from the IC50 value of each preparation, which was 188.85 ppm, 170.01 ppm, and 189.61 ppm. Keywords: Calendula Oil, Sweet Orange Oil, Antioxidant, Cream, DPPH

Spiral cone fiber SPR sensor for detecting ginsenoside Rg1

The conical fiber SPR sensor is easy to manufacture and has been used in biochemical detection research, but it has the problem of structural fragility. This article proposes a spiral cone fiber SPR sensor, which introduces a spiral structure on the 76µm fiber coarse cone, achieving good coupling of the core mode into the cladding mode, and improving the physical strength and practicality of the cone-shaped fiber SPR sensor. By modifying the target protein on the surface of the sensor gold film, specific detection of ginsenoside Rg1, an active ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine ginseng, was achieved. The detection sensitivity was 0.138 nm/(µm/ml) and the detection limit was 0.22µm/ml. The proposed spiral cone fiber SPR sensor provides a new scheme for the specific detection of active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine, which is structurally stable and physically strong.

Utilization of Plants as Traditional Medicine by the People of Momiwaren Village, West Papua

Momiwaren Village is one of the villages close to the Momiwaren Protected Forest Area. In line with regional development and technological advances, knowledge of the use of plants as medicinal ingredients is starting to disappear. For this reason, it is necessary to conduct research on how many types of plants are still used by the community as medicinal ingredients. The method used in this research is a survey method with interview techniques. The results of this research show that the people of Momiwaren Village still use plants as medicinal ingredients. There are 30 species from 22 families used by the community. If we look at the conservation status of the plants used, the types of plants used are still included in the naturally available (LC/DD) category, but there is one type of plant that is threatened with extinction and requires further silvicultural action so that this plant can be cultivated and not extinct from nature.

THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL ROLE OF HERBAL PRODUCTS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF GOUT (VATARAKTA): A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Introduction: Vatarakta is a Vata Vyadhi that occurs due to exacerbated Vata and Rakta Dosha by their causa-tive factors. It can occur in the whole body but since joints of the hand and foot are more affected it resembles gouty arthritis as described in allopathic science. Gout is a disease described in conventional medicine that has similarities to the Vatarakta. It is a type of inflammatory arthritis that is triggered by the crystallization of uric acid within the joints and is often associated with hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia can be caused by overproduc-tion of uric acid, or, more commonly by inefficient excretion by the kidneys. The clinical presentation of gout ranges from the typical episodic acute inflammation of the joint to chronic tophaceous gout, chronic polyarticular arthritis, urate nephrolithiasis, and interstitial nephropathies. Several herbal drugs are well known for their thera-peutic effects and lower toxicity and are important substances for new drug development. Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to explore and validate the efficacy of herbal medicines in the management of gout. This review aims to update some research findings regarding the biological activities of the herbal ingredients of Ayurvedic medicines used in gout and also to collect an adequate basis for the opti-mal integration of Ayurvedic medicines into the conventional health system (Allopath). Materials & Methods: Systematic literature searches were carried out and the available information on Vatarak-ta and gout was collected via electronic search and a library search for articles published in peer-reviewed jour-nals and locally available books. Literature searches were also carried out to find the biochemical effects of vari-ous herbs mentioned in the management of hyperuricemia and gout. Conclusion: It has been demonstrated that plant-derived biochemicals have a potential effect on gout. These ef-fects comprise XOD inhibitory action, uricosuric, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant effects, etc. During the analy-sis of the literature available in Ayurveda, Allopathy, and related other branches of health science it was found that integrative medicine would be the optimal strategy to develop more effective agents in the treatment of gout (Vatarakta) and a combination of therapies may be very effective in reducing both the effect and frequency of disease.

The near‐complete genome assembly of Reynoutria multiflora reveals the genetic basis of stilbenes and anthraquinones biosynthesis

AbstractReynoutria multiflora is a widely used medicinal plant in China. Its medicinal compounds are mainly stilbenes and anthraquinones which possess important pharmacological activities in anti‐aging, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidation, but their biosynthetic pathways are still largely unresolved. Here, we reported a near‐complete genome assembly of R. multiflora consisting of 1.39 Gb with a contig N50 of 122.91 Mb and only one gap left. Genome evolution analysis revealed that two recent bursts of long terminal repeats (LTRs) contributed significantly to the increased genome size of R. multiflora, and numerous large chromosome rearrangements were observed between R. multiflora and Fagopyrum tataricum genomes. Comparative genomics analysis revealed that a recent whole‐genome duplication specific to Polygonaceae led to a significant expansion of gene families associated with disease tolerance and the biosynthesis of stilbenes and anthraquinones in R. multiflora. Combining transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, we elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying the dynamic changes in content of medicinal ingredients in R. multiflora roots across different growth years. Additionally, we identified several putative key genes responsible for anthraquinone and stilbene biosynthesis. We identified a stilbene synthase gene PM0G05131 highly expressed in roost, which may exhibit an important role in the accumulation of stilbenes in R. multiflora. These genomic data will expedite the discovery of anthraquinone and stilbenes biosynthesis pathways in medicinal plants.

A fast and efficient method for screening and evaluation of hypoglycemic ingredients of Traditional Chinese Medicine acting on PTP1B by capillary electrophoresis

As a pivotal enzyme that regulates dephosphorylation in cell activities and participates in the insulin signaling pathway, protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is considered to be an important target for the therapy of diabetes. In this work, a rapid and efficient inhibitor screening method of PTP1B was established based on capillary electrophoresis (CE), and used for screening and evaluating the inhibition effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on PTP1B. Response Surface Methodology was used for optimizing the conditions of analysis. After method validation, the enzyme kinetic study and inhibition test were performed. As a result, the IC50 of PTP1B inhibitors Ⅳ and ⅩⅧ were consistent with reported values measured by a conventional method. It was found that the extracts of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bunge and Morus alba L. showed prominent inhibition on the activity of PTP1B, which were stronger than the positive controls. Meanwhile, on top of the excellent advantages of CE, the whole analysis time is less than 2 min. Thus, the results demonstrated that a fast and efficient screening method was successfully developed. This method could be a powerful tool for screening inhibitors from complex systems. It can also provide an effective basis for lead compound development in drug discovery.

Uji Aktivitas Antibakteri Ekstrak Etanol Daun Ungu (Graptophyllum pictum (L) Griff) terhadap Pertumbuhan Streptococcus sanguinis

Streptococcus sanguinis has strong adhesion with salivary pellicles which causes other oral bacteria to attach more and has contribution in causing caries and periodontal disease. S. sanguinis mediated the adhesion of S. mutans to dental pellicle receptors so inhibiting the interaction between S. sanguinis and S. mutans would prevent the risk of dental caries. Purple leaf (Graptophyllum pictum) is one of the medicinal plants or natural ingredients that are useful as antibacterials. The purpose of this study was to examine antibacterial activity of purple leaf extract against S. sanguinis. This experimental laboratory study with a pre-posttest control group design was conducted by dilution method on treatment groups, purple leaf extract with concentrations of 25%, 12.5%, 6.25% and 3.12%. Visual and spectrophotometer examination was observed before and after incubation.The result showed that purple leaf extract with concentrations of 6.25% and 3.12% and control + groups had not turbidity and decreased absorbance value. Furthermore, the One Way Anova parametric statistical test and also Post-Hoc Least Significant Difference showed that there were significant differences between the study groups. The purple leaf extract (Graptophyllum pictum L. Griff) had antibacterial activity against S. sanguinis. The antibacterial test for extracts that are dark in color can be continued using the TVC (Total Viable Count) method to provide a quantitative estimate of the concentration of bacterial cells in the sample in units of CFU/ml.

CDCS-TCM: A framework based on complex network theory to analyze the causality and dynamic correlation of substances in the metabolic process of traditional Chinese medicine

Ethnopharmacological relevanceTraditional Chinese medicine, with the feature of synergistic effects of multi-component, multi-pathway and multi-target, plays an important role in the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, etc. However, chemical components in traditional Chinese medicine are complex and most of the pharmacological mechanisms remain unclear, especially the relationships of chemical components change during the metabolic process. Aim of studyOur aim is to provide a method based on complex network theory to analyze the causality and dynamic correlation of substances in the metabolic process of traditional Chinese medicine. Materials and methodsWe proposed a framework named CDCS-TCM to analyze the causality and dynamic correlation between substances in the metabolic process of traditional Chinese medicine. Our method mainly consists two parts. The first part is to discover the local and global causality by the causality network. The second part is to investigate the dynamic correlations and identify the essential substance by dynamic substance correlation network. ResultsWe developed a CDCS-TCM method to analyze the causality and dynamic correlation of substances. Using the XiangDan Injection for ischemic stroke as an example, we have identified the important substances in the metabolic process including substance pairs with strong causality and the dynamic changes of the core effector substance clusters. ConclusionThe proposed framework will be useful for exploring the correlations of active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine more effectively and will provide a new perspective for the elucidation of drug action mechanisms and the new drug discovery.

Studies on the Benefits of Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica L) in Indonesia: A Review

Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica L.) is one of the most invasive weeds in the world which causes many losses in agriculture and plantations. To find added value from cogon grass, in many countries in the world, including Indonesia, various studies have been carried out on the aspects that can be utilized from this grass. In this article, the results of a study of published research articles on cogon grass that have been carried out in Indonesia by Indonesian researchers are presented. The results showed that there were at least 48 research articles on the cogon grass found. There are five benefits of cogon grass were found, namely as a source of allelopathic ingredients for weed control, a source of pharmacological medicinal ingredients, general health maintenance ingredients, a source of animal feed, and a source of energy.

Pengaruh Kualitas Pelayanan Terhadap Kepuasan Pelanggan Apotek Rafa Farma 2 Surabaya

A pharmacy is a type of retail business whose commodities or goods traded consist of pharmaceutical supplies, which include medicines and medicinal ingredients, as well as health supplies. A pharmacy is also a specific place where pharmaceutical work is carried out and distribution of pharmaceutical supplies and other health supplies to the public. Pharmacies have two uses, namely in providing health services and in business/competition. In line with the development of science and technology in the pharmaceutical sector, there has been a shift in the orientation of pharmaceutical services and the management of drugs as a commodity to comprehensive services (pharmaceutical care) in the sense of not only managing drugs but in a broader sense includes the implementation of providing information to support the correct and rational use of drugs, monitoring drug use to determine the final destination and the possibility of medication errors (Ministry of Health, 2014).

Functional and Therapeutic Potential of Cynara scolymus in Health Benefits.

Dietary supplements enriched with bioactive compounds represent a promising approach to influence physiological processes and enhance longevity and overall health. Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus serves as a functional food supplement with a high concentration of bioactive compounds, which offers various health-promoting benefits. Several chronic diseases have metabolic, genetic, or inflammatory origins, which are frequently interconnected. Pharmacological treatments, although effective, often result in undesirable side effects. In this context, preventive approaches are gaining increased attention. Recent literature indicates that the consumption of bioactive compounds in the diet can positively influence the organism's biological functions. Polyphenols, well-known for their health benefits, are widely recognized as valuable compounds in preventing/combating various pathologies related to lifestyle, metabolism, and aging. The C. scolymus belonging to the Asteraceae family, is widely used in the food and herbal medicine fields for its beneficial properties. Although the inflorescences (capitula) of the artichoke are used for food and culinary purposes, preparations based on artichoke leaves can be used as an active ingredient in herbal medicines. Cynara scolymus shows potential benefits in different domains. Its nutritional value and health benefits make it a promising candidate for improving overall well-being. C. scolymus exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, liver-protective, bile-expelling, antimicrobial, and lipid-lowering neuroprotective properties. Different studies demonstrate that oxidative stress is the leading cause of the onset and progression of major human health disorders such as cardiovascular, neurological, metabolic, and cancer diseases. The large amount of polyphenol found in C. scolymus has an antioxidant activity, enabling it to neutralize free radicals, preventing cellular damage. This reduces the subsequent risk of developing conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, these polyphenols demonstrate anti-inflammatory activity, which is closely associated with their antioxidant properties. As a result, C. scolymus has the potential to contribute to the treatment of chronic diseases, including intestinal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative pathologies. The current review discussed the nutritional profiles, potential benefits, and pharmacological effects of C. scolymus.

Physicochemical and structural evaluation of natural products as a potential source for viral disease treatment

This research article aims to investigate six selected medicinal plants of Achillea millefolium (Yarrow), Alkanet, Rumex patientia (Patience dock), Dill, Tarragon, and Sweet fennel including some principal chemical compounds of achillin, alkannin, cuminaldehyde, dillapiole, estragole and fenchone. The definitive roles of these medicinal plants in Omicron treatment have been investigated through quantum mechanics and molecular mechanic methods. However, given the unprecedented challenges faced should be given a fair amount of consideration for contribution during this pandemic. In this work, it has been investigated the compounds of achillin, alkannin, cuminaldehyde, dillapiole, estragole and fenchone as a probable anti pandemic Omicron receptor derived from medicinal plants. Anti-Omicron drugs through the hydrogen bonding through physico-chemical properties of medicinal ingredients bound to the database amino acids fragment of Tyr-Met-His as the selective zone of the Omicron have been estimated with infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods. A comparison of these structures has provided new insights for the design of substrate-based anti-targeting Omicron. Finally, five medicinal ingredients of achillin, alkannin, cuminaldehyde, dillapiole, and estragole bound to TMH have conducted to a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation for evaluating the absorbance of these inhibitor-active site complexes. Here, we used the network pharmacology, metabolite analysis, and molecular simulation to figure out the biochemical basis of the health-raising influence of medicinal plants. This research article peruses the drug ability, metabolites and potential interaction of some medicinal plants with Coronavirus-induced pathogenesis.

Network-based analysis identifies potential therapeutic ingredients of Chinese medicines and their mechanisms toward lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors around the world, which has the highest mortality rate among all cancers. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has attracted increased attention in the field of lung cancer treatment. However, the abundance of ingredients in Chinese medicines presents a challenge in identifying promising ingredient candidates and exploring their mechanisms for lung cancer treatment. In this work, two network-based algorithms were combined to calculate the network relationships between ingredient targets and lung cancer targets in the human interactome. Based on the enrichment analysis of the constructed disease module, key targets of lung cancer were identified. In addition, molecular docking and enrichment analysis of the overlapping targets between lung cancer and ingredients were performed to investigate the potential mechanisms of ingredient candidates against lung cancer. Ten potential ingredients against lung cancer were identified and they may have similar effect on the development of lung cancer. The results obtained from this study offered valuable insights and provided potential avenues for the development of novel drugs aimed at treating lung cancer.

Forsythoside A protects against Zearalenone-induced cell damage in chicken embryonic fibroblasts via mitigation of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin that exerts its toxic effects through various damage mechanisms such as oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), mitochondrial damage, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. At present, there are few studies on drugs that can rescue ZEA-induced chicken embryonic fibroblasts damage. Forsythoside A (FA) is one of effective ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine that plays a role in various biological functions, but its antitoxin research has not been investigated so far. In this study, in vitro experiments were carried out. Chicken embryo fibroblast (DF-1) cells was used as the research object to select the appropriate treatment concentration of ZEA and examined reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential, ERS and apoptosis to investigate the effects and mechanisms of FA in alleviating ZEA-induced cytotoxicity in DF-1 cells. Our results showed that ZEA induced ERS and activated the unfolded protein response (UPR) leading to apoptosis, an apoptotic pathway characterized by overproduction of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Caspase-3, and ROS and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. We also demonstrated that FA help to prevent ERS and attenuated ZEA-induced apoptosis in DF-1 cells by reducing the level of ROS, downregulating GRP78, PERK, ATF4, ATF6, JNK, IRE1, ASK1, CHOP, BAX expression, and up-regulating Bcl-2 expression. Our results provide a basis for an in-depth study of the mechanism of toxic effects of ZEA on chicken cells and the means of detoxification, which has implications for the treatment of relevant avian diseases.

Short Communication: Analysis of simple sequence repeats variations for the assessment of genotypic diversity in Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.

Abstract. Maruzy A, Susandarini R. 2024. Short Communication: Analysis of simple sequence repeats variations for the assessment of genotypic diversity in Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. Biodiversitas 25: 734-740. Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. is a perennial plant widely known as herbal ingredient in traditional and modern medicine, as well as in the cosmetics industry. This herbaceous species grows in various types of habitat, and is known for its morphological variations among populations, indicating the existence of genotypic variation. In this study, the assessment of genotypic diversity using simple sequence repeats (SSR) was carried out on C. asiatica accessions from 32 populations collected from eight mountains in Central Java. Representative individuals from four populations grow at different altitudes were sampled in each mountain. Amplification of genomic DNA using the SSR primer mCaCIR002 produced a single amplicon of 180 bp. The results of SSR analysis showed that there is high genotypic diversity in C. asiatica which is characterized by variations in the number of microsatellite repeats of (CT)10 to (CT)19. Variations in the number of repeats are mainly caused by insertions and deletions in DNA sequences at the positions 102-145. Haplotype analysis also showed high genetic diversity within and between populations of C. asiatica, indicated by the haplotype diversity of 1.00 in all populations. The haplotype network analysis indicated that there was no gene flow between the four populations at each mountain where C. asiatica populations grow. The results of this study provide evidence for the role of SSR as a suitable molecular marker for studying genotypic diversity at the intraspecific level, and confirming the morphological variability in this species.

Possibilities of reparative therapy in the treatment of patients with xerotic changes in the cornea

In recent years, in the treatment of patients with dry eye syndrome, drugs that, along with moisturizing, also have specific metabolic properties, due to the additional medicinal ingredients contained in them, deserve more and more attention. The article presents comparative data on the preparations of “artificial tears” and so-called keratoprotectors registered in Russia. In addition, a number of experimental and clinical studies by domestic authors evaluating the pharmacological and clinical effect of the new keratoprotector SPHERO®oko were reviewed. Much attention is also paid to the consideration of the original direction of SPHERO®oko application — its introduction into the corneal stroma (together with a dye) for cosmetic and functional keratopigmentation in the presence of extensive iris defects. The authors of the literature review, taking into account the results of numerous experimental studies and some clinical observations, believe that the use of SPHERO®oko has quite great opportunities in the complex treatment of xerotic changes of the cornea and conjunctiva. At the same time, it is of interest to continue the research on the possibilities of intrastromal administration of colored SPHERO®oko for keratopigmentation in the presence of extensive iris defects.