QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCES <i>PETASITES HYBRIDUS</i>
Currently, there is an increased interest in the study of natural raw materials, including plant origin, with its subsequent use as a basis for the development of medicines. This trend is due to the presence of undeniable advantages of extraction phytopreparations, namely the presence of a complex pharmacological action due to the chemical composition, the possibility of their long-term use, which is relevant in the treatment of chronic diseases, as well as the similarity of the nature of biologically active substances of plants and the human body. Of particular interest is a herbaceous plant of the family of compound flowers - Petasites hybridus , cultivated on the territory of the Astrakhan region. This plant is used in folk medicine as an antispasmodic, sedative and anti-inflammatory agent, as well as an expectorant for diseases of the upper respiratory tract. It has been established that this plant has an anticoagulant effect. The anti-infective properties of decoctions of stems and roots of Petasites , namely antimicrobial and anthelmintic, were noted. Roots are used as medicinal raw materials, however, the aboveground part of the plant contains a large amount of biologically active substances. The presence of extracts of Petasites in the chemical composition in a high concentration of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, organic acids, etc. has been proved. Taking into account the above, it can be concluded that Petasites hybridus can be used for the production of medicines based on it with various pharmacological effects. In this connection, the purpose of the study was the quantitative determination of biologically active substances of the aboveground part of Petasites hybridus , growing in the Astrakhan region. The object of the study was the aboveground part (leaves) of Petasites collected in June 2021. After primary processing, the raw materials were dried by air under shady conditions. The degree of shredding of the raw materials was 3 mm; the moisture content of the leaves was 7 %. The quantitative determination of biologically active substances was carried out using the methods specified in the State Pharmacopoeia (flavonoids, saponins were studied by spectrophotometric method; organic acids, tannins - by titrometric methods: alkalimetry and permanganatometry, respectively). The quantitative content of flavonoids in Petasites leaves was determined in extracts obtained by extracting 70 % ethanol in a ratio of 1:10, infusing in a water bath at a temperature of 60 °C for 2 hours, followed by measuring the optical density of the solution at a wavelength of 410 nm on a spectrophotometer. Quantitative determination of saponins in Petasites leaves was carried out by fivefold extraction of 2.0 g of raw materials in a boiling water bath in terms of oleanolic acid, using 96 % ethanol as an extractant. The optical density of the solution was determined on a spectrophotometer in the region of 220-450 nm. The amount of organic acids in the leaves was determined in an aqueous extraction obtained by infusing 1.0 g of raw materials in freshly boiled water in a boiling water bath for 2 hours, followed by titration with a solution of caustic soda (0.01 mol / l) until the extraction color changed from greenish-blue to purple. When determining the amount of tannins in Petasites leaves, an extraction obtained by infusing 2 g of crushed raw materials in a boiling water bath for 30 minutes was used, followed by titration with 0.1 n. potassium permanganate until golden yellow coloring. The experiments were repeated in 5 series. Statistical processing of the results was carried out according to standardized metrological characteristics and relative standard deviation (RSD, %). A quantitative study of biologically active substances folia Petasites hybridus found that the content of flavonoids is 0.48 %; saponins - 4.4 %; organic acids - 3.4 % and tannins - 5.3 %. Analysis of literature sources on the qualitative and quantitative composition of active compounds of the genus Petasites showed that plants growing in Central Russia, Transbaikalia and the Far East contain a similar chemical composition, however, the quantitative content of biologically active substances such as flavonoids and saponins is higher in Petasites hybridus grown in the Astrakhan region, which is mediated by climatic conditions, namely, high insolation, high air temperature and low humidity, which contributes to a higher accumulation of active substances in various parts of plants. During the quantitative study of biologically active substances of Petasites hybridus leaves, it was found that the content of flavonoids is 0.48 %; saponins - 4.4 %; organic acids - 3.4 % and tannins - 5.3 %. Thus, a quantitative analysis of the leaves of Petasites hybridus cultivated in the Astrakhan region showed that this raw material contains a high content of biologically active substances comparable to other plants of the genus Petasites and can be used as a basis for the creation of phytopreparations.