Technological features of aqueous extracts from raw medicinal plant material, which are used in pediatric practice
Introduction. Phytotherapy is quite effective and relatively safe in pediatric practice if the rules of using raw medicinal plant material (RMPM) are observed and if the formulation, concentration, and dosage of a phytotherapeutic are rationally chosen. The ideal pediatric formulation is aqueous extracts. Information on how to prepare aqueous extracts is given in the normative documentation, the instructions for the use of RMPM and herbal teas, and in the specialized literature. Objective: to comparatively investigate various operating practices in obtaining aqueous extracts from the individual types of RMPM and herbal teas. Material and methods. The investigation objects are officinal herbal teas, RMPM recipes recommended by doctors for use in pediatric practice, and aqueous extracts from raw materials and herbal teas. Content analysis, a questionnaire interview, and a method for continuous sampling and data grouping were applied. The content of biologically active substances was determined by spectrophotometry and permanganatometry. Results. Analysis of the instructions for using the officinal herbal teas has shown that 88% of the latter are contraindicated in children less than 12 years of age. Examining the phytotherapeutic literature has revealed 700 herbal tea recipes recommended for pediatric use and their differences with the normative documents on the technology of manufacture. Aqueous extracts from herbal teas made by different techniques were comparatively studied by the content of the basic groups of biologically active substances. Conclusion. The experimental findings show the expediency of phytotherapists' recommendations on operating practices for aqueous extracts from RMPM, which are used in pediatric practice