Medicinal Plant Materials Research Articles

Determination of the Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Artemisia vulgaris and Artemisia absinthium Growing in the Conditions of the Semey Region

BACKGROUND: The action of the main biologically active substances contained in medicinal products becomes obvious in combination with the action of macro- and micro-elements that determine the natural mineral composition of the plant. AIM: The objective of this study was comparative study of the composition of macro- and micro-elements of two representatives of the genus Artemísia L. on the example of Artemisia vulgaris and Artemisia absinthium and their antioxidant activity. METHODS: In this work, the following stages of the study were used: Gathering and preparation of medicinal plant (MP) materials; method of sampling the test material for analysis; determination of humidity; and determination of the quantitative composition by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic emission spectrometry ICP (AES-ICP). Determination of antioxidant activity was carried out by photometry. The accuracy of the analysis results was checked by the method of standard additives. Each sample was accurately analyzed in accordance with the recording of the instrument methodology. The necessary operating modes of the mass spectrometer were set in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. To verify the reliability (accuracy) of the analysis results of micro- and macro-elements of MP, the determination was carried out by two methods: ICP-MS with ICP and AES-ICP. RESULTS: It has been established that the indicators of the investigated MP do not exceed the permissible values for the content of residual moisture and ash. The presence of macro- and micro-elements in both objects of the study is also shown. Quercetin was identified in A. absinthium and A. vulgaris. CONCLUSION: The obtained results of qualitative and quantitative indicators of the content of macro- and micro-elements, such as potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, copper, iron, manganese, as well as an analysis of the antioxidant activity of samples of A. absinthium and A. vulgaris, allow us to conclude that the studied plants are promising as a component composition for creating preparations based on them.

In vivo wound healing potential of chitosan gel based silver nanoparticles synthesized from Martynia annua

A green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) incorporated chitosan gel for wound healing applications was developed using medicinal plant Martynia annua fresh leaves extract. The utilization of various medicinal plant materials for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles is considered a green synthetic technology as it does not require any harmful chemicals. The present study dealt with green synthesized AgNPs from M. annua followed by being incorporating into chitosan gel as a delivery system to evaluate their wound healing potential. Attrition of silver nitrate was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles using aqueous plant extracts. Watersoluble organic (or) phytochemical compounds present in the plant materials are responsible to reduce the silver ions to nano-sized silver nanoparticles. The green synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, particle size, zeta potential and cytotoxicity assay. Based on the result of cytotoxicity assay, AgNPs minimum inhibitory concentration of cytotoxicity was fixed incorporated into chitosan gel. The plain chitosan gel and AgNPs incorporated chitosan gel were used to evaluate the in vivo wound healing activity (excision) in Wister albino rats. After complete wound healing, rate of contraction, period of epithelization, histopathology of skin, antioxidant assays (Lipid Peroxidation (LPO), myeloperoxidase (MPO)), antiinflammatory biomarker study of CycloOxygenase (COX-2) were studied. Silver nanoparticles potentially accelerate the wound healing. The present research suggests that the synergistic combination of silver nanoparticle and chitosan is a promising strategy to address various wounds and has better wound healing capacity.

Comprehensive ethnopharmacological review on onion, garlic and ginger

It is a therapeutic aspect of medicinal herbs present in the kitchen for immediate treatment. Herbal plants can treat various diseases and ailments. It would be of great benefit in medical and surgical treatment. The promotion of the health system is easier, with medicinal plants than synthetic drugs. This study reviewed the medicinal properties of some of important spices generally found in every kitchen; onion, ginger and garlic. These commonly used spices are important in medicine due to the presence of many bioactive constituents and nutrients. Some chemical constituents of these medicinal plants have been reported in various literatures to contribute to the prevention and treatment of various diseases and ailments. In literatures, some of the documented properties of onion, garlic and ginger include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, rheumatologic, blood circulation and anticramp, anti-ulcer, anticholinergic, analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-stress, anti-cancer, immunity booster, anti-diabetic, regulation of blood pressure and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The use of these medicinal plant materials as potent neutraceuticals will aid the promotion of human health system in socioeconomic aspects.

Fabaceous medicinal plants used in tribal medicine in the Eastern Ghats of Peninsular India -A review

Tribal communities in the Eastern Ghats of peninsular India are considered to be forest inhabitant living inharmony with their surrounding environment. Their close association with nature has enabled tribal peopleto observe the rich flora and fauna around them and updating themselves with the knowledge on the tribalflora and fauna. Over the years, they have mastered the art of living with nature solely depending on thenatural resources available. As part of this, they have customized the usage of plants as medicines. This has ledto the development of sound knowledge on the use of plants as herbal remedies for various ailmentsand has become the tradition of the tribal communities. In view of the growing health consciousness amongpeople, the demand for medicinal herbs is ever increasing due to herbal medicines are cheaper and safe incommunities since the side effects reported with herbal medicines are bare minimum compared to themodern allopathic drugs. Overall, the findings on diversity of the medicinal plant species in the forests ofthe Eastern Ghats of peninsular India indicate great diversity and richness of species. Among the botanicalfamilies supplying of raw materials of medicinal plants, Fabaceae is the most predominant family consistingof 60 plant species and their plant parts are widely used in tribal medicine to cure various commonlyoccurring diseases in the tribal areas of the region. Most of these medications are administered orally whilesome are applied externally to get a hold from the human ailments.

ОЦЕНКА СОДЕРЖАНИЯ ТЯЖЕЛЫХ МЕТАЛЛОВ В СОПЛОДИЯХ ХМЕЛЯ ОБЫКНОВЕННОГО С ПОРОДНОГО ОТВАЛА УГОЛЬНОГО РАЗРЕЗА «КЕДРОВСКИЙ»

Abstract. Heavy metals content has been analyzed in plant raw materials of the wild hop (Humulus lupulus L.) cones the hemp family (Cannabaceae) representative growing on the waste dump "Yuzhny" coal mine "Kedrovsky". This perennial liana is found throughout the Kemerovo region-Kuzbass. It is a valuable medicinal plant material. It contains a rich biologically active compounds complex. Heavy metals content analysis in the studied embryozems samples showed that the maximum values are for Mn (54.438±15.900 mg/kg) and Fe (38.278±9.539 mg/kg), the minimum for Cu (0.218±0.016 mg/kg) and Cd (0.167±0.016 mg/kg). The study did not reveal their excess in comparison with the hygienic standards of maximum permissible concentration (approximate permissible concentration). It was experimentally found that wild hop cones accumulate to a greater extent two biophile elements - Cu and Zn. In addition, there are quite significant differences in the quantitative characteristics of the content of these elements in the seedlings of common hop and conjugated embryozems from the places of its growth. With a slight accumulation of these elements’ mobile forms in embryozems: Zn (1.481 ± 0.101 mg / kg), Cu (0.218 ± 0.016 mg / kg), in plant raw materials, the accumulation of these elements is a priority: Zn - 15.20 ± 0.153 mg / kg, Cu – 5.123±0.054 mg/kg. These elements also describe with the greatest biological mobility. For Cu and Zn, the coefficient of biological mobility (Bx) is maximal in the wild hop cones - 23.50 and 10.26 respectively. Obtained data analysis showed that there was no standardized heavy metals MPC excess in the raw material Humulus lupulus L. adopted for medicinal plant materials, which does not pose a danger to human life and health.

Electrophysiological and behavioural responses of Stegobium paniceum to volatile compounds from Chinese medicinal plant materials.

BACKGROUND Stegobium paniceum (Coleoptera, Anobiidae) is an important pest of stored products causing severe damage to dried Chinese medicinal plant materials (CMPMs). Plant volatiles play an important role in host‐searching of insects. The olfactory responses of S. paniceum to the most abundant volatile components of some drugstore attractant CMPMs such as Panax notoginseng, Angelica sinensis, Gastrodia elata and Peucedanum praeruptorum, namely falcarinol, 3‐n‐butylphthalide, p‐cresol and β‐pinene, respectively, were studied by electroantennography (EAG) and behavioural bioassays in six‐ and four‐arm olfactometers.RESULTSEAG recordings showed that male and female antennae are able to perceive the test compounds in a wide range of concentrations and in a dose‐dependent manner. Moreover, for each dose of different compounds tested, no significant differences were found between the mean male and female EAG responses. In six‐arm olfactometer bioassays, S. paniceum exhibited positive responses to falcarinol, 3‐n‐butylphthalide, p‐cresol and β‐pinene at doses of 1, 10, 100, 500 and 1000 μg. The most attractive dose was 500 μg for falcarinol, 100 μg for 3‐n‐butylphthalide, 500 μg for p‐cresol and 1000 μg for β‐pinene. Olfactory preferences of S. paniceum, based on comparison of these four compounds at their optimally attractive concentrations in a four‐arm olfactometer, were 3‐n‐butylphthalide > p‐cresol > falcarinol > β‐pinene.CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that the four volatiles of CMPMs are perceived by the peripheral olfactory system of S. paniceum adults and are able to individually elicit a positive chemotaxis in S. paniceum adults confirming the role of chemical cues in host‐plant detection and selection of this pest. Further field studies are needed to evaluate the potential of the attractive compounds identified in this study, particularly 3‐n‐butylphthalide, to be applied as a novel monitoring and control tool against this storage‐beetle pest. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Impacts of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization on Biomass, Polyphenol Contents, and Essential Oil Yield and Composition of Vitex negundo Linn

Nutrient management has increasingly become important in producing quality medicinal plant materials. Vitex negundo is an important perennial medicinal plant widely distributed in tropical Asia and Africa. This study aimed to examine the effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization on the biomass, polyphenol contents, and essential oil yield and composition in field cultivated V. negundo. Two field experiments were conducted; one was performed on three different rates of N fertilizer (50, 100, and 200 kg-N ha−1), and the other was on different P fertilizer rates (50, 100, and 200 kg-P ha−1), with their respective control groups receiving no fertilization under field conditions. The results showed that at 200 kg-P ha−1, V. negundo had the highest biomass and essential oil yield, the highest number of volatile components (45 compounds), and the content of bioactive ingredients (β-caryophyllene and eremophilene). Polyphenol contents were not significantly different between treatments. This study indicates that 200 kg-P ha−1 (NPK ratio of 1:2:1) treatment positively affects the yield of biomass, essential oils, and bioactive compounds in field cultivated V. negundo.

METABOLOME COMPOSITION OF STINGING NETTLE GROWING IN THE CENTRAL CHERNOZEM REGION (REVIEW)

The plant metabolome is the totality of all primary and secondary metabolites and can be considered as a result of the implementation of genetic information, a «link» between the genotype and phenotype. The chemical composition of most medicinal plants and herbal medicinal preparations derived from them, which are multicomponent extracts, is not always fully known. Stinging nettle is one of the valuable plants with a wide distribution area. The metabolome of nettle medicinal plant materials includes a large number of classes of various biologically active substances (BAS). The study of profiles of secondary metabolites is an important direction for studying the variability of the phytochemical composition depending on the climatic conditions of growth, harvesting and drying. In the work, the collection and analysis of scientific information on the study of the profiles of various groups of biologically active substances and their identification in extracts from the raw material of stinging nettle (leaves and grass) growing on the territory of the Central Black Earth region of Russia was carried out by TLC using the so-called «fingerprint» method or «bar coding». The literature data on the results of a comprehensive study of the composition of the metabolome of this raw material (flavonoids, chlorophyll compounds, carotenoids, tannins, oxycinnamic acids, amino acids, organic acids, triterpene glycosides, polysaccharide complex, vitamins and some macroelements) by various groups of scientists over the past 20 years are summarized and systematized. Stinging nettle, growing in the conditions of the Central Chernozem region, as analysis showed, accumulate free amino acids, tannins, organic acids and polysaccharides in significant quantities. The composition of free water-soluble simple sugars, organic acids, vitamins of group B, as well as the complete amino acid composition was studied in the leaves of stinging nettle by capillary electrophoresis. A significant content of riboflavin and choline, as well as butyric and succinic acids has been established. Flavonoids in the leaves of stinging nettle growing in the conditions of the Central Chernozem region are represented by glycosides, the aglycones of which are mainly quercetin, isorhamnetin and kaempferol. The main representatives of the group of hydroxycinnamic acids in the leaves of stinging nettle in this region are chlorogenic acids, 2-coffee-malic and rosemary acids. As chemomarkers, neochlorogenic and cryptochlorogenic acids – isomers of caffeoylquinic acids, as well as caffeic, cafftaric and n-coumaric acids can be used.

HPLC Analysis of Patulitrin and Patuletin in Flowers of Tagetes Patula L.

The flowers of spreading marigold (Tagetes patula L.) are new interesting view of medicinal plant material. This raw material is one of the valuable sources of flavonoids. The aim of this study was to develop a method for the quantitative determination of the patulitrin (7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside of 3,5,7,3’,4’-pentahydroxy-6-methoxyflavone) and patuletin (3,5,7,3’,4’-pentahydroxy-6-methoxyflavone) content in flowers of spreading marigold by HPLC. The inflorescences of spreading marigold (Tagetes patula L.) variety "Tangerine", collected in August-September 2018 and 2019 in the Botanical Garden of the Samara University. The water-alcohol extracts were obtained from spreading marigold flowers, which were used for qualitative and quantitative analysis, as well as for preparative isolation of individual compounds. There was developed the method of determination of patulitrin and patuletin in the spreading marigold flowers (Tagetes patula L.) using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The content of dominant flavonoid patulitrin in the flowers of T. patula varies from 5.11±0.18% to 5.64±0.17%. The error of single determination of patulitrin in the spreading marigold flowers with confidence probability of 95 % is ±3.32%. The results of the studies carried out indicate the advisability of the standardization of the flowers of the spreading marigold by determining of the content of the main and diagnostically significant flavonoid, patulitrin, using the HPLC method and detection on a UV detector at a wavelength of 360 nm.

Influence of different pretreatments and drying methods on the chemical compositions and bioactivities of Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma.

BackgroundThe processing of medicinal plant materials is one of the important factors influencing the components and biological activities of TCMs. Smilax glabra Roxb. is an herbal vine widely distributed in China, and its dried rhizome (Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma, SGR) is often used in traditional medicines and functional foods. The processing methods of fresh cutting for SGR slices have been included in ancient Chinese herbal works, some local standards of TCMs, and the current Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Nevertheless, to date, the scientific basis for the processing of fresh medicinal materials for SGR slices has not been revealed.MethodsTo optimize the processing method for preparing SGR slices from the fresh rhizomes, the chemical compositions of the un-pretreated and pretreated (boiling, steaming) samples before and after drying (sun-drying, shade-drying, oven-drying), and the contents of astilbin isomers in dried SGR were analyzed by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and UHPLC-DAD methods, respectively. Then, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, xanthine oxidase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of the prepared SGR slices were investigated by biological assays.ResultsA total of fifty-two compounds were identified from the un-pretreated and pretreated samples and a total of forty-nine compounds were identified from the subsequently dried samples. After pretreated by boiling and steaming, the contents of neoastilbin, neoisoastilbin, and isoastilbin in the prepared samples all increased. As a quality marker of SGR, the content of astilbin was unchanged or decreased slightly compared with that in the un-pretreated samples. During the drying process, the contents of the four astilbin stereoisomers in the un-pretreated samples increased significantly, while those in the pretreated samples had a slight increase or decrease. The effects of different processing methods were sorted according to the bioactivities of the prepared SGR. As a result, SGR slices prepared with no pretreatment followed by a sun-drying process have a higher astilbin content, better bioactivities and more energy savings, representing the optimum processing method for SGR slices.ConclusionsThis study reveals the scientific basis for the processing of fresh medicinal materials for SGR slices. The results provide scientific information for the quality control of SGR and its rational applications in herbal medicines and functional foods.Graphical abstract Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13020-022-00614-7.

DNA BARCODING OF THE EGYPTIAN MEDICINAL PLANT Astragalus spinosus

Medicinal plants have served as the basis of alternative medicine and have become the primary source for developing new medications. Astragalus spinosus (Forssk.) Muschl. belongs to family Fabaceae and due to its active constituent’s composition, it is used traditionally to treat various ailments. Additionally, various Astragalus-based dietary supplements were sold for supporting immunity and cardiovascular system. Therefore, authentication of the medicinal plant material is important and vital to provide an extensive database with DNA data for easy identification, adulteration detection and conservation of genetic resources. In the current study, three partial chloroplast coding genes were examined in A.spinosus; ribulose 1,5biphosphate carboxylase large subunit (rbcL), RNA polymerase (rpoC1) and maturase K (matK). When compared to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database, the results showed that rbcL was successful in identifying and discriminating A.spinosus at the genus and species levels. The, rpoC1 and matK genes revealed a high level of identity with Astragalus species, indicating that they are capable of identifying A.spinosus at the genus level. Phylogenetic trees were established based on the expected amino acids sequence of each coding gene, demonstrating the extent of relatedness with recorded plant species in the NCBI database.

THE STUDY OF THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF THE RAW MATERIAL OF THE HERB TANACETUM VULGARE, OBTAINED BY DIFFERENT METHODS OF HYDRODISTILLATION

Abstract. The study of medicinal plant materials has always been relevant and necessary, since herbal preparations take care of the human body, have a complex effect and, if it used correctly, do not have side effects. The study of medicinal plant raw materials of Tanacetum vulgare herb is relevant, because. this is a fairly common plant in Russia, but there is insufficient research. The aim of this research was to study the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained by two different methods of hydrodistillation, as well as to conduct a comparative analysis of the chemical composition of these samples, to determine marker compounds and carry out standardisation. The essential oil was obtained from the dried herb of Tanacetum vulgare. The first and second methods of the hydrodistillation were used – the Ginsberg method and the Clevenger method. The method of chromato-mass spectrometry, as well as the method of thin layer chromatography was used to identify the component composition of the essential oil. It was found that in the essential oil, which was subjected to prolonged exposure to temperature (Ginsberg's method), there were mainly oxidised, acetylated forms, as well as aromatic structures. In the essential oil, where the effect of temperature was minimised (the Clevenger method), there were more reduced forms, OH-groups and unsaturated compounds. It was concluded that the Clevenger method is more advantageous for obtaining essential oil of Tanacetum vulgare, since the essential oil in this case was subjected to minimal heating, and hence oxidation. Marker substances of the essential oil of herb of Tanacetum vulgare were isolated, such as camphor (15,8%), 2-pinene-10-ol (7,4%), limonene (1,5%), borneol (6,6%), 4-terpineol (3,14%), thujone (0,02%), etc. The absolute content of camphor in essential oil is 1.19±0.05.

Aspects of the safe use of medicinal products based on medicinal plant materials in COVID-19

According to a number of studies, medicinal plants and drugs based on them can be used as inhibitors of various viral infections, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus at different stages of their manifestation and development. In a number of countries, official recommendations have been developed for independent and auxiliary therapy of COVID-19 with medicinal plants and drugs based on them. However, in combination with drugs developed for the treatment of COVID-19, various interactions, including adverse ones, may occur.Purpose: to systematize and analyze data on possible interactions of medicinal plants and natural biologically active substances, which are major active substances in plant raw materials, with medicinal products recommended for the treatment of COVID-19.Materials and methods. The study selected drugs recommended for the treatment of COVID-19 at various stages and severity with different mechanisms of action. We used open information on confirmed drug interactions on the website of the international database https://go.drugbank.com/. Results and discussion. The results of possible interactions with the following medicinal plants were revealed: St. John’s wort, Digitalis, Periwinkle, Colchicum, Cinchona, Strophant, Ergot, Pepper, Lemon, Coffee, Tea, Yohimbe tree, Garlic, Evening primrose, Poppy opium, Rauwolfia serpentine.Conclusion. The drugs used for the treatment of COVID-19 of different anatomical and therapeutic groups are considered, possible changes in their therapeutic efficacy are identified when taken simultaneously with medicinal plants or biologically active substances of plant origin contained in food and nutritional supplements. It is shown that not all interactions may be undesirable. The effect of medicinal plants on the pharmacokinetics of drugs has not been studied enough and seems to be an important and promising aspect of pharmacovigilance activities. Interesting interactions have been identified: St. John’s wort and drugs based on it can cause the induction of CYP3A and reduce the therapeutic effect when used together with drugs: lopinavir, remdesivir, umifenovir, nirmatrelvir; the cardiotoxic effect of interferon can be reduced through the use of medicinal plant materials containing cardiac glycosides; the combination of ferulic acid with peginterferon alfa-2a increases the risk and severity of bleeding. It was found that the Drugbank database does not contain information on drug-drug interactions of medicinal plants with molnupiravir.

The antioxidant activity of Zingiber officinale, Hibiscus sabdariffa, and Caesalpinia sappan combination

Medicinal plants have been used in traditional treatment since a long time ago by local people in Indonesia. Nowadays, the trend in the consumption of medicinal plants, especially herbal drinks, is increasing. Zingiber officinale , Hibiscus sabdariffa , and Caesalpinia sappan are their main materials of medicinal plants. They were chosen because of their high antioxidant contents. Nevertheless, there is no scientific research on the antioxidant activity of the combination of the three extracts. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the total flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity, as well as to compare the antioxidant enhancement pattern of the combination. Samples were extracted by successive maceration with hexane and ethyl acetate as solvents. Total flavonoids contents were determined through colorimetric analysis and antioxidant activity was determined based on the DPPH method with the IC 50 value as a parameter. Total flavonoids of ethyl acetate extract from Z. officinale , H. sabdariffa , and C. sappan were 30.28±0.04; 24.81±0.03; and 24.01±0.04 mg QE/ gram extract, and the IC 50 value were 51.36±0.05; 83.37±0.06; and 35±0.04 ppm. Total flavonoid contents of their combination were 22.48±0.05 (0:1:1); 23.88±0.05 (1:1:1); 23.68±0.05 (1:4:1); 22.81±0.05; 28.81±0.04 (4:1:1); 27.55±0.03 (1:1:0); 24.41±0.04 mg QE/ gram extract (1:0:1). Antioxidant activities obtained from the combination were 57.50±0.05 (0:1:1); 52.25±0.06 (1:1:1); 71.50±0.06 (1:4:1); 45.74±0.05 (1:1:4); 54.36±0.05 (4:1:1); 68.97±0.06 (1:1:0); 40.52±0.05 ppm (1:0:1). The strongest antioxidant activity was C. sappan .Â

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF HERB CULTIVATED ALCHEMILLA MOLLIS AND WILD-GROWING ALCHEMILLA VULGARIS

Plants of the genus Alchemilla are being researched as perspective sources of medicinal plant materials in order to obtain substances with various pharmacological properties. The problem of using the agamic-sexual complex Alchemilla vulgaris L.s.l, which has a high variability of morphological characteristics and chemical composition, can be solved by using a Alchemilla culture. Now, Alchemilla mollis (Buser) Rothm is grown in territory of Russia as an ornamental plant. This microspecies is a representative of the flora of southern Europe and, according to the literature, accumulates a large amount of biologically active substances, and also has a high biomass indicators. To assess the possibility of expanding the raw material base of the aerial part of the Alchemilla, was researched content of the main groups of biologically active substances in cultivated A. mollis and wild A. vulgaris in the conditions of the Middle Urals. As a result of the research, phenol carboxylic acids, flavonoids (flavones and flavonols), isoflavones, aurones, catechins, cyanidins, coumarins, condensed and hydrolyzable tannins, ascorbic acid, amino acids, polysaccharides were found in the aerial parts of A. mollis and A. vulgaris. A quantitative analysis showed that the aerial part of A. mollis accumulates a significantly more tannins (with a predominance of condensed forms) and a significantly less ascorbic acid, in comparison with the aerial part of A. vulgaris; differences in the accumulation of polysaccharides and flavonoids were not found. Alchemilla mollis, cultivated in the conditions of Middle Urals, can be proposed as a source of the base of aerial part of the Alchemilla, taking into account the chemotaxonomic features of this microspecies.

CURRENT STATE OF RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ZEA MAYDIS STYLI CUM STIGMATIS

Zea maydis styli cum stigmatis (Engl. corn silk) are well known in medical practice. In the scientific literature, a lot of information has been accumulated about the chemical composition and pharmacotherapeutic actions of this medicinal plant material. A chronological analysis of this information shows that earlier, the scope of scientific publications was mainly devoted to the study of the choleretic, diuretic, hemostatic kinds of Zea maydis styli cum stigmatis activity, and the identification of the active substances responsible for these types of action. Currently, there is a growing scientific interest not only in the individual natural compounds of the Zea maydis styli cum stigmatis composition, but also in the search for new aspects of their medical application.The aim of the article is a review and systematization of modern scientific data in the field of the Zea maydis styli cum stigmatis chemical composition and their pharmacological action.Materials and methods. For the information and analytical search, the scientific data posted on the following electronic resources were used: PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar, eLibrary. The search was carried out in the period from 2005 to 2021 using the following keywords: Zea mays L.; Zea maydis styli cum stigmatis; corn silk; chemical composition; pharmacological action.Results. The review is devoted to the generalization and analysis of modern scientific data on the Zea maydis styli cum stigmatis chemical composition and their pharmacological action. It has been shown that, as before, the greatest attention of scientists is attracted by flavonoids in the Zea maydis styli cum stigmatis chemical composition. Alongside with them, phenolcarboxylic acids, vitamin K, phytosterols, volatile compounds and polysaccharides are of no small importance for the Zea maydis styli cum stigmatis pharmacological activity. Modern ideas about the Zea maydis styli cum stigmatis pharmacological activity have been expanded by summarizing the study results of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, hypotensive, neuro- and photoprotective activities. The data on the effectiveness of their use as parts of the complex tumor diseases therapy have been published.Conclusion. As a result of the data analysis of modern scientific literature, it has been found out that Zea maydis styli cum stigmatis are still in the sphere of scientists’ interest. Alongside with the flavonoids of this raw material, other groups of pharmacologically active substances are also being actively studied. It has been revealed that the information about potentially significant and confirmed types of the Zea maydis styli cum stigmatis therapeutic action is significantly updated. The results of this review may be useful for identifying promising directions for the development of the drugs based on Zea maydis styli cum stigmatis.

Prospects for the use of leaves and inflorescences of fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop.) as a medicinal plant material (review)

Relevance. Currently pharmaceutical industry, food industry and chemical laboratories demonstrate an increasing interest in natural plant sources, including Chamaenerion angustifolium. Modern researches reveal more and more medicinal properties of this plant. For this reason, the demand for the use of fireweed as a medicinal plant, especially its leaves and flowers, is very high. It means, that the study of biological properties, chemical composition, ecological and landscape features of fireweed is of scientific and practical interest.Methods. This article contains information from literary sources about pharmaceutical, chemical, biological, ecological and geographical studies of Chamaenerion, its results and recommendations. Obtained from other researches information was systematized by research topics and presented in a logical sequence.Results. The issues of using this plant in medicine and food industry are also considered here, along with the discription of collecting natural fireweed problems and the mail ways of cultivating this species. The modern condition of fireweed research is shown, a detailed analysis of fireweed biological and ecological characteristics is carried out and on this basis, the main directions for further work on the introduction of Chamaenerion into culture for its more complete and rational use in medicine and in the food industry are outlined in this article. The article presents an analysis of the problems that arise during the introduction, in particular, the improvement of vegetative reproduction techniques, the selection of populations promising in terms of the phenolic compounds content and the possibility of target compounds content in plants by the exogenous regulation.Conclusion. Despite the presence of a relatively large quantity of works devoted to Chamaenerion, some research topics are poorly covered. For example, the topic of cultivation and the use of growth regulators. The most promising directions for the future study of Chamaenerion are indicated in this article.

Study of Morphological Features of Sea Buckthorn Leaves by Luminescent and Stereomicroscopy Methods

Introduction. Sea buckthorn – Hippophaё rhamnoides is a perennial shrub, the fruits of which are a source of carotenoids and are harvested on an industrial scale to obtain a number of drugs. Recently, not only fruits, but also other parts of the plant, such as buds, leaves, shoots and bark, are of increasing interest. It is known that sea buckthorn leaves are rich in compounds such as tannins, polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamins (C and E). The rich composition of biologically active substances with a sufficient content of components allows us to consider leaves as a new type of medicinal plant material for the further development of various preparations based on them. In addition, the leaves are an annually renewable raw material and it is possible to harvest them on an industrial scale, since this valuable medicinal plant is cultivated everywhere in Russia. Data on the microscopic characteristics of the fruits of sea buckthorn are described in detail in the scientific literature, which cannot be said about the leaves. The scientific literature also does not describe the features of the luminescence of the tissues of the leaves of the sea buckthorn.Aim. The aim of this work was to study the possibility of using the luminescent and stereomicroscopic methods of analysis to determine the main morphological features of the leaves of the sea buckthorn.Materials and methods. Dried whole leaves of a plant of the genus Hippophaës collected in the Voronezh region were used as the object of the study. The study of microdiagnostic signs was carried out according to the State Pharmacopoeia of the XIV RF GPA.1.5.3.0003.15 «Technique of microscopic and microchemical examination of medicinal plants and herbal medicinal products». A stereomicroscopic study was carried out using a Biomed 2 microscope. The luminescence of the tissues of the sea buckthorn leaves was investigated using a luminescent microscope of the Miсromed 3 LUM brand.Results and discussion. Stereomicroscopic analysis of sea buckthorn leaves was carried out. High-resolution volumetric images were obtained in a short period of time. It was found that the characteristic microscopic features of the leaves are the presence of a large number of corymbose hairs along the upper and corymbose-stellate along the lower surfaces, including the vein and petiole (from colorless to white, yellow and dark brown). Single simple stellate hairs are rare. When removing the layer of hairs, the spongy structure of the epidermis of the leaf is visible. The carried out luminescent analysis made it possible to reveal the features of the luminescence of the tissues of the leaves of the sea buckthorn. Diagnostic luminescent features include: the most pronounced yellow glow is observed for the cells of the base of the corymbose hair; the plates that make up the corymbose hairs do not have bright fluorescence; stellate hairs do not have a glow; pronounced yellow-green fluorescence is characteristic of the leaf vein.Conclusion. For the first time, stereomicroscopic and luminescent analyzes of sea buckthorn leaves were carried out and the main morphological features of this type of medicinal plant material and their biometric characteristics were established. The carried out luminescent analysis made it possible to reveal the features of the luminescence of the tissues of the leaves of the sea buckthorn.

ИЗМЕНЧИВОСТЬ СОДЕРЖАНИЯ БИОЛОГИЧЕСКИ АКТИВНЫХ ВЕЩЕСТВ ТРАВЫ ЧЕРЕДЫ ПОНИКШЕЙ В ПРОЦЕССЕ ХРАНЕНИЯ

The aim is to study the variability of the content of Bidens cernua herb biologically active substances in the storage process. The content of biologically active substances (polysaccharides and flavonoids) in Bidens cernua herb during storage for two years was monitored every 3 months for two series: series A simulated the storage of medicinal plant raw materials prior to their use in industrial production, series B completely repeated the most frequently used packaging for herbal medicines. Additionally, the content of the dominant flavonoids quercitrin and luteolin-O-7-glucoside, as well as the product of its hydrolysis, luteolin, was assessed annually by liquid chromatography. It has been established that a decrease in the polysaccharides content by no more than 5% in series A was observed within 9 months, in series B - within 12 months. After 24 months of storage, the polysaccharides content in Bidens cernua herb was higher in series B. A decrease in the content of the sum of flavonoids by no more than 5% was observed within 6 months for both series. After 24 months, the content of the sum of flavonoids, as well as quercitrin and luteolin-O-7-glucoside, was higher in series A. Thus, the choice of the optimal packaging for storing Bidens cernua herb will be determined by the requirement for the quality of medicinal plant raw materials in terms of the content of biologically active substances, which, in its turn, will determine the expected pharmacological activity of this type of medicinal plant material.

Types of medicine paintings in herbaceous and woody medicines in Ben Cao Tu Jing

A total of 568 paintings of herbaceous plants and woody plants as medicine were involved in Ben Cao Tu Jing, accounting for 60% of the total drug illustrations and 76% of the botanical medicine paintings. These medicinal paintings can be classified into four types: original plant paintings, medicinal material paintings, plant and medicinal material paintings, and plant and their habitat paintings. The original plant paintings can be specifically divided into five sections: the whole plant paintings with roots, partial aerial part paintings with roots, plant paintings with ground lines, rootless plant paintings, and broken branch paintings. Among them, the drawings of " the broken branch paintings " and " the whole plant paintings with roots " are consistent with the basic principles of collecting plant specimens. Additionally, "the plant and medicinal material paintings " and "the medicinal material paintings "reflect that they were drawn based on the market survey of medicinal materials or collected medicinal materials specimens. These medicine painting demonstrate rich characteristics of medicinal plants and medicinal materials and a high artistic quality with realistic details.These paintings in Ben Cao Tu Jing echoes Tu Jing, combine the art of painting with the cognition ofnatural science, as the rudiment of early paintings of plant science.