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The article presents the results of morphological-anatomical, morphometric and histochemical studies of the aerial part of Melissa officinalis L., a selection variety sample from the collection of Nikitsky Botanical Garden – National Science Center (NBG-NSC) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Republic of Crimea. The data on the morphology, histochemistry and morphometry of the main diagnostic microscopic signs of the Melissa officinalis L. herb, which are crucial for establishing the authenticity of medicinal plant materials, and also show the localization of secretion of metabolites and the heterogeneous nature of Melissa essential oil, have been obtained.The aim. Is to determine the microdiagnostic signs and biometric characteristics of the Melissa officinalis L. variety sample, introduced in Nikitsky Botanical Garden, to study the possibility of using histochemical reactions for the analysis of tissues and secretory structures of the studied species.Materials and methods. The plant material was provided by Nikitsky Botanical Garden. The study of microscopic signs, morphometric characteristics as well as histochemical tests, were performed according to the methods of the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation, XIII edition, using a Micromed-1 light microscope, a Micromed Micrometer 3 LUM fluorescent microscope and a Digital Eyepiece microscope camera MD 3.2 digital camera. The photos were edited in the program Paint. NET.3.5.11.Results. The main diagnostic microscopic signs of the herb of the Melissa officinalis L. selection variety sample can be called as follows: simple unicellular conical, nonbranching hairs, simple multicellular conical hairs, capitate hairs with a multicellular leg and a funnel-shaped head and with a unicellular leg and a spherical head, essential oil glands of a radial-type with 6-8 excretory cells. These signs have been diagnosed in the crushed raw materials. A quantitative assessment of the morphological and anatomical signs of the leaf (leaf thickness, height of the cells of the upper and lower epidermis, stoma density per 1 mm2 of the epidermis), stem, calyx and corolla was carried out. The size of cells, stoma, trichomes, as well as the frequency of the location of trichomes have been analyzed, too. The presence and localization of lipids, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, essential oil, terpenoids, alkaloids in tissues and trichomes of the herb have been studied by histochemical methods using light and fluorescent microscopy.Conclusion. Morphological and anatomical study of the herb of the Melissa officinalis L. selection variety sample from the Nikitsky Botanical Garden collection has been carried out, diagnostically significant microscopic signs of raw materials have been revealed and their biometric characteristics have been established. For the first time the localization of characteristic secreted biologically active substances in the tissues and secretory structures of the herb has been studied by histochemical methods. The results of the experimental studies complement the scientific literature data and can be used to confirm the authenticity, identification and standardization of the aerial parts of this variety sample.

Artemisinin is a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the aerial part of sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua L.) in the 1970s. Based on its derivatives, the most effective medicines for the treatment of malaria have been created and are widely used. Over the past two decades, numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have been performed. They have shown the anticancer activity of these drugs in relation to certain cancer cell lines. The aim of the study is the review the scientific information on the clinical cases and the results of clinical trials carried out using drugs based on artemisinin derivatives. Material and methods. The study was conducted with the use of information search (PubMed, ScholarGoogle,) and library databases (Cochrane, eLibrary, Cyberleninca), as well as ResearchGate application for semantic search. Results and discussion. It has been established that the largest number of known clinical cases and completed clinical studies is associated with the study of the anticancer activity of one of the artemisinin derivatives - artesunate. The data obtained by various research groups do not yet allow us to speak of a pronounced activity of the latter. However, the facts of prolonging the life of patients, improving its quality, increasing control over the disease have been established. Conclusion. The published data of clinical cases and clinical studies performed for the period from 2001 to 2016, instill restrained optimism about the prospect of using drugs based on some artemisinin derivatives in oncology.

Laurus nobilis L. is an evergreen dioecious, rarely monecious plant up to 12-15 m high. The plant’s name is devoted to an Ancient Greek God of Sun Apollo and is a symbol of peace and victory. It was used in making up wreaths for emperors, generals, and poets. Its natural area includes Mediterranean countries with high level of annual precipitation. It is actively cultivated as a decorative plant in Europe, Russia, USA and other countries. It is cultivated in Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Russia, and Mexico. The aim of the study is the review of available literature about isolation, identification, quantitative determination of biologically active compounds of the Laurus nobilis leaves in the established species and their pharmacological activity. Materialsand methods. The study was carried out using searching (PubMed, CiteSeer, arXiv), library databases (eLibrary, Cyberleninka), and ResearchGate free social network. Results and discussion. We have established that Laurus nobilis leaves have components of essential oil, phenolic compounds, and sesquiterpenic lactones as the principal active substances. Qualitative composition and quantitative content of these compound groups in these raw materials varies depending on the ecological and geographical, edaphic, climatic factors, phase of the plant growth, cultivation technology, drying method etc. The results of the pharmacological studies of the extracts, summary fractions, and individual compounds of Laurus nobilis leaves characterize this type of raw materials as a perspective source for a more profound study. Conclusion. As the available open review data showed, the essential oil components, phenolic compounds (phenolic acids, flavonoids, etc), sesquiterpenic lactones of Laurus nobilis exhibit a diverse spectrum of pharmacological activity. Antimicrobial (widely), anti-virus, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and cytoxic (anticancer) activities, established in extracts, certain fractions, and individual compounds of Laurus leaves compounds are perspective from the point of further studies and development of new treatment and preventive medicinal drugs.

Laurus nobilis L. is an evergreen dioecious, rarely monecious plant up to 15 m high. Its natural area includes Mediterranean countries. For a long time this plant has been actively cultivated as a decorative plant in (Europe, Russia, USA and others) as well as in Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Mexico and Russia. Chemical composition of the Laurus leaves include essential oil components, sesquiterpenic lactones and phenolic compounds as the principal active groups of compounds.The aim of the study was the identification of phenolic compounds in water and water alcohol extracts from leaves of Laurus nobilis.Materials and methods. Examinations of qualitative composition of phenolic complex in extracts from Laurus samples under study were carried out using «Hitachi Chromaster» high-performance liquid chromatographer with «Column Oven 5310», «Pump 5110» and «UV-detector 5410».Results and discussion. The samples of Laurus nobilis leaves gathered in outskirts of Alushta (Republic of Crimea) in July 2016 were the objects if the study. We identified caffeic, gallic, and chicoric acids, epigallocatechin gallate, luteolin-7-glycoside in the extracts obtained using ethanol 70%. And caffeic, gallic, isoferulic acids, dicoumarin, epicatechin, kaempferol, and isoquercitrin in ethanol 40% extracts. In water extracts we found the presence of ascorbic, gallic, and vanillic acids, epicatechin, quercetin-3-glycoside and kaempferol-3-galactoside.Conclusion. As the result of the Laurus nobilis leaves samples study, gathered in Alushta outskirts, ascorbic acid and 13 phenolic compounds were identified in water and water-alcohol (40% and 70%) extracts using high performance liquid chromatography. Isoferulic and chicoric acids, epigallocatechin gallate, dicoumarin, kaempferol, isoquercitrin, kaempferol-3-galactoside and luteolin-7-glycoside were identified in Laurus nobilis leaves for the first time.

Artemisia annua is an herblike annual plant which has been used in Chinese folk medicine for more than 2,000 years. In 1970-s sesquiterpene lactones of artemisinin was isolated from the aboveground part of this plant. Today it is the most efficient known natural and synthetic compound for malaria treatment.The purpose of the study was the review of the information from the open sources about the study for sesquiterpene lactones of Artemisia annua referring to its pharmacological activity.Methods. The study was carried out using informational and search engines (PubMed, ScholarGoogle), library databases (eLibrary, Cyberleninca), and the results of our own researches.Results. It was established that apart from the essential oil and phenolic compounds, aboveground part of Artemisia annua, it contains a significant amount of sesquiterpene lactones. Qualitative content and quantitative composition of sesquiterpene lactones varies depending on the ecological and geographic factors, plants growing phase, cultivation technology, drying methods etc. Well-known pharmacological studies of the extracts from Artemisia annua herb with sesquiterpene lactones, as well as individual compounds of this group characterize this type of raw materials as a perspective source for more profound research.Conclusion. Our analysis of the open materials on the sesquiterpene lactones of Artemisia annua, including phytochemical and pharmacological ones, allows characterization of the Artemisia annua herb as a perspective source for new drugs working out.

Introduction. Therapeutic action of terpenoids of essential oil in uncommon plants like Elsholtzia stauntonii, Agastache foenic-ulum, Monarda fistulosa, Perovskia atri-plicifolia, Majorana hortensis, therefore the study for these plants application in phyto-therapy is timely. The study for componen-tial content of essential oil of 18 uncommon species from Lamiaceae family from the collection of Nikitsky Botanical Garden to increase therapeutic possibilities and their practical use in phytotherapy was the purpose of this paper. The plant species under study were introduced to the South Coast of Crimea from different ecological and geographic zones in seeds from botanical gardens of Europe. Methods. Every species was represented by 3-20 samples, which were studied by biomorpholofical and principal economically valuable features. The article presents the generalization and analysis of long-time studies for biologically active substances from 18 species of aromatic plants from Lamiaceae family. The content of essential oil was determined in a phase of mass blossom, from freshly harvested raw materials by means of hydro distillation at Ginsberg apparatuses. Componential content of essential oil was studied by the method of gas liquid chromatography. Results. Identification of the essential oils components allowed isolation of plant chemotypes with high content of valuable substances (methyl chavicol, carvacrol, pinen, thymol, and others). Highproductive samples (forms), prospective for industrial cultivation were isolated by the features complex. Based on the classification of A.D. Turova in phytotherapeutic action of plants and results of our studies, the isolated plant forms were distributed in 10 groups of usage in phytotherapy. On the example of Agastache foeniculum we showed that one and the same plant species may have different chemotypes, which have treatment and toxic action. Conclusion. The data obtained broaden and add the information about a chemical composition of plants and allow broadening the raw material base of medicinal plant by means of introduction of uncommon species from Lamiaceae family into cultivation.