Prospects for the drug use based on common ivy for bronchopulmonary pathology in childhood

Respiratory diseases persistently lead in the structure of general morbidity in both children and adolescents. Acute respiratory infections are the most common among them. Interest of pediatricians to phytotherapy is not accidental and is due to the fact that it has a mild therapeutic effect, enhances the effectiveness of complex therapy, has few side effects. Of particular interest are herbal remedies containing ivy extract (Hedera helix), the active ingredients are mainly found in ivy leaves, they are biologically active substances: Triterpene saponins, glycosides, also contain carbohydrates, essential oils, steroids, phenolcarboxylic acids, coumarins, flavonoids, carotenoids, tocopherols (vitamin E), B and C vitamins, tannins, phytoncides. Ivy preparations are prescribed as an expectorant in the treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract due to their proven multidirectional effects: secretolytic, mucolytic, bronchospasmolytic. They also have anti-inflammatory, reparative, antioxidant effects.This article presents a clinical example of an officinal ivy-based preparation used in the treatment of a 3.5 year old patient diagnosed with acute respiratory viral infection. Temperature increased to 38 °C, runny nose; on the second day of illness the temperature remained subfebrile and a dry cough appeared. Nasal vasoconstrictor drops and oral acetylcysteine were prescribed, but there was no relief. On the third day of the illness, against the background of subfebrile temperature, the cough persisted, single dry rales were heard in the lungs, wheezing appeared during physical exertion. Acetylcysteine was withdrawn and replaced by ivy-based drops (16 drops 3 times a day orally after meals in a small amount of water). After 2 days the cough was moist, the sputum was easily expectorated, the wheezing in the lungs was almost gone, there was no more wheezing and the temperature was normal. By the sixth day of treatment the cough was gone and the girl had almost recovered. Nevertheless, Gedelix was continued for another 4 days. Prospective results and detailed study of the effects of herbal preparations on the basis of ivy extracts served as the basis for their recommendation as a complex therapy of cough in children.

Phytoconstituents and Bioactivity of Plants of the Genus Spiraea L. (Rosaceae): A Review

The genus Spiraea L. belongs to the Rosaceae Juss. family and includes more than 100 species distributed in the temperate zone and subtropical zone of the Northern Hemisphere at the center of species diversity in East Asia. Representatives of the genus are known as ornamental plants with many forms and varieties, are widely used in conventional medicine, and have a high resource potential. This review provides information on the diversity of phenolic compounds (flavonoids, phenolcarboxylic acids, and lignans), terpenoids, alkaloids, steroids, and other classes of secondary metabolites in the species of Spiraea worldwide. The article also presents little-known and hard-to-find data published in Russian concerning Spiraea phytochemistry. The biological activities of extracts and their fractions and of individual compounds having different types of biological activity (e.g., antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal) are discussed. Data about biotechnological research on representatives of the genus Spiraea are presented too. The analysis of the literature showed that further chemical and pharmacological studies on Spiraea plants are quite promising.

History of development and results of selection of Solanaceae crops in FSBSI FSVC

The article presents a brief history of the establishment of the Laboratory of Plant Breeding and Seed Production of Solanaceae Crops of FSBSI FSVC. The process of development of tomato, pepper, eggplant and physalis breeding is shown from the beginning of the establishment until the present time. Practical selection of Solanaceae crops in FSBSI FSVC is directly connected with the name of Academician VASKhNIL A.V. Alpatyev, who is the founder of scientific research on thermophilic crops. On the basis of conducted scientific researches the technique of creation of cold-resistant, early-ripening cultivars of tomato was developed, including influence of certain conditions on parental forms and hybrid material from its first generations to increase adaptability to new, not characteristic conditions of selected material. Subsequently, this technique was applied to the breeding of sweet pepper, eggplant and physalis. Interspecific hybridisation was used to enrich the gene pool of Solanaceous crops. As a result of distant hybridization, the following cultivars were created: the original tomato cultivar Severyanin with large parthenocarpic fruits on 1 and 2 racemes; an anadrous mutant for use in breeding; ultra-rapid, short-stage forms for obtaining heterosis effect; the cultivar Vkusny with increased content of dry matter in fruits. On the basis of interspecific hybrid of Ph. ixocarpa x Ph. angulata, the cultivars Dessert and Lakomka, characterized by high yield and resistance to diseases, high content of sugars, pectin and absence of bitterness, are created. Types of pepper Capsicum chinense, C. frutescens and C. annuum were used to create resistant forms to viral diseases. Involvement of wild eggplant species (Solanum aethiopicum, S. macrocarpon) to the breeding process allowed to obtain hybrid combinations with flavonoids content 1,3 times higher and phenolcarboxylic acids 1,6–1,7 times higher than in S. melongena.The development of theoretical bases ofSolanaceae crops breeding for resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors, as well as for high quality production, allowed to create a series of cosmopolitan cultivars, which at present are in demand, both in production and as a source material. The current scientific priorities are to use innovative biotechnology and molecular marking methods to accelerate the breeding process and improve selection efficiency.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE UROLOGY COLLECTION

In order to identify the main biologically active complex, there were carried out a chemical analysis of the urological collection. As a result of the study, there were established the presence of water-soluble polysaccharides in the urological collection 3.2±0.3%, amino acids – 406.3±0.01 nmol, ascorbic acid 45.0±0.5 mg%, carotenoids 0.50±0.04 mg%, organic acids 1.87±0.2%, essential oil – 0.79±0.1%, flavonoids – 0.43±0.04%, coumarins – 0.18±0.2%, phenolcarboxylic acids – 0.41±0.2%, tannins – 5.3±0.4%, saponins (glycyrrhizic acid) – 1.15±0.2%, as well as macro- and micronutrients – 19596.65±0.002 mg/kg. The elemental composition of the collection is represented by 17 vital elements (K, Ca, Mg, Na, P are the dominant components). During studies have also shown the presence of 14 amino acids, 7 of which are essential (44.6% of the total amino acids). It can be clearly stated that the indicator components of the collection are polyphenolic compounds (flavonoids, tannins, etc.) and saponins (glycyrrhizic acid) predominantly passing into aqueous extracts (the proposed dosage form) of the collection, the complex of which determines the specific activity of the studied urological collection. The obtained data were used to develop the authenticity and criteria of the quality of the studied collection.

Development of Parameters for Standardization of Duckweed (Lemna Minor L.) Raw Material

Introduction. Lemna minor L. (duckweed) refers to the duckweed subfamily (Lemnaceae S. F. Gray) and widely distributed in ponds of Russia. Literature data confirm the possibility of harvesting significant volumes of this raw material in natural habitat and grown in aquaculture. The process of biosynthetic accumulation in duckweed fronds provides a variety of compounds with a wide spectrum of biological activity. Therefore, the use of raw materials Lemna minor L. is promising for the development of drugs and parapharmaceutical products. Thus, it is an urgent task to quantify active components of duckweed and standardize (determination of criteria for identification, quality and safety) plant material.Aim. Establish macro- and microscopic characteristics of raw materials and develop methods for the quantitative determination of the main groups of biologically active substances (BAS) for standardization of raw duckweed.Materials and methods. Samples of duckweed was collected in natural habitats of Western Siberia. Macro- and microscopic assay, HPLC, UV-spectrometry were used in research process.Results and discussion. Were established the criteria for identification of duckweed fronds by studying external (macroscopic) and microscopic features of raw material Lemna minor L. Was developed and validated the procedure of the quantitative determination of phenolcarboxylic acids in raw material Lemna minor L.Conclusion. The study of external (macroscopic) and microscopic features provided the criteria for identification of the raw material Lemna minor L. The technique for the quantitative analysis of polysaccharides using gravimetry does not need validation, because is a direct method of substance measurement. Was validated quantification method of phenolcarboxylic acids (in terms of chlorogenic acid) by criteria of linearity, repeatability, in-laboratory precision and accuracy. Was established quality criteria for identification and quantitative assay, which can be used in the draft for normative documents for medicinal plant raw material of Lemna minor L. «Duckweed fronds».

Morphological and biochemical diversity of Spiraea hypericifolia (Rosaceae) growing under natural conditions in Novosibirsk Oblast

A study on some morphological characteristics and the set and levels of phenolic compounds was performed for the first time on Spiraea hypericifolia L. (Rosaceae Juss.) growing under natural conditions in the Novosibirsk region (four sites). Two phenotypic varieties of S. hypericifolia were identified. Twenty-three phenolic compounds were found in aqueous-ethanol extracts from S. hypericifolia leaves by high-performance liquid chromatography. Chlorogenic, p-hydroxybenzoic, and p-coumaric acids and quercetin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, avicularin, rutin, and astragalin were identified among them. Hyperoside (6.7–20.5 mg/g) is the main phenolic compound in S. hypericifolia leaves. Flavonoid aglycones were prepared from the leaves by hydrochloric-acid hydrolysis of the aqueous-ethanol extracts (1:1). Three flavonol aglycones (quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin) were identified in the extract hydrolysates from S. hypericifolia leaves by chromatographic analysis. Quercetin glycosides proved to be predominant phenolic compounds in all the extract hydrolysates. A comparative analysis was performed on the levels of phenolic compounds in leaves among S. hypericifolia from the different sites and between the two varieties of S. hypericifolia. It was revealed that an increase in plant size by approximately twofold correlates with a decrease in concentrations of the identified flavonoids and phenolcarboxylic acids in S. hypericifolia leaves.

Investigation of the extract's composition of Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare)

The characteristics of Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare) plant, its pharmacological properties, and extracts’ composition are presented in this study. Results of the literature analysis, data on the biologically active compounds and areas of use of this medicinal plant are summarized. Viper's bugloss (E. vulgare) is a species of flowering plant in the borage family Boraginaceae. It is native to most of Europe as well as western and central Asia. Viper's bugloss (E. vulgare) is a plant that has been utilized as food (honey), medicine, a poison, an oil, and as a dye and tannin-producing ornamental plant. Viper's bugloss (E. vulgare) is especially rich in pyrrolizidine alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolcarboxylic acids, sterones and naphthoquinones. In traditional medicine, Viper's bugloss (E. vulgare) is utilized as exhilarant and a mood stimulant. That is why one of the possible uses of this plant is considered to be treatment of depressive states. Like most representatives of Boraginaceae family, it has been insufficiently studied. No previous work quantifying flavonoids content of aerial parts of Viper's bugloss (E. vulgare) growing in Ukraine has been presented. Continuing the studies of this species, the aqueous and ethanolic extracts from Viper's bugloss (E. vulgare) aerial parts were obtained and their phytochemical composition was investigated. For the first time, the qualitative analysis of biologically active compounds in Viper’s bugloss’s extract as well as the quantitative analysis of flavonoids by aluminum chloride spectrophotometric method are reported. The experimental results showed that the total concentration of flavonoids was 2.59% in the extract. The maximum yield of extractives was found to be 16%. The obtained research data will be used in future investigations.