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Objective: Free and bounded amino acids are one of the valuable biologically active substances (BAS) containing in medicinal plants with other BAS groups. The research aims to determine the profile and content of free and bounded amino acids in coltsfoot leaves infusion by HPLC-UV, as well as suggest alternative ways to use it in medicine. Materials and methods: Coltsfoot leaves (crushed herbal drug) were used as plant material for preparing infusion and analysis. Amino acids profile and content were analyzed by RP-HPLC-UV after pre-column derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde and 3-mercaptopropionic acid (OPA) (derivatization of primary amines) and with fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (FMOC) (secondary amines). The sources of scientific literature concerning the amino acid composition of crushed herbal drugs were also studied. Results: 10 free and 13 bounded amino acids were identified in coltsfoot leaves infusion. Total content was 44.04±2.20 mg/g (Arg > Tyr > Gln > Ala > Asn > Met > Ile > Val > Lys > Leu) and 57.79±2.89 mg/g (Arg > Gln > Lys > Tyr > Gly > Asn > Val > Thr > Ala > Ile > Nva > Leu > Met) respectively. Content of essential amino acids – 0,89±0,04 mg/g (5 free); 9,58±0,48 mg/g (5 bounded). Conclusions: Since the coltsfoot leaves contain a significant amount of arginine, studies involving the prevention and adjunctive treatment of viral diseases, including SARS-CoV-2 virus infection (COVID-19), are promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the review pharmacognostic study of common toothwort, a perennial plant, parasitizing on the roots of trees. Currently, in Russian traditional medicine, there is considerable experience in the use of common toothwort (Lathraea squamaria L.) herb and roots as antitumoral, biligenic, infertility-treatment and diuretic drugs. The chemical composition of L. squamaria has not been quite well determined. Phenylethanoid glycosides (acteoside, isoacteoside), iridoid glycosides (aucubin, and aucuboside ester, 6'-O-glucopyranosyl-aucubin, melampyroside, 6'-O-glucopyranosyl melampyroside), simple sugars, fatty acids, organic acids, β -sitosterol were identified. Further study of L. squamaria raw materials is a very promising field including implementation in official medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the Russian Federation, the viburnum fruits are used to obtain infusions and syrups as medications. This medicinal herbal raw material contains a large number of biologically active substances: vitamins, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, iridoids, carbohydrates, organic acids, lipids etc. The research aimed to study one of the biologically active substances group responsible for the formation of the organoleptic properties of aqueous extracts - monomeric carbohydrate composition and content. Materials and methods: Dried viburnum (guelder-rose) fruits, an aqueous infusion based on it, and viburnum syrup of industrial manufacture (Russia) were purchased from the pharmacy and prepared for research. For HPLC analysis of monomeric sugars Agilent 1260 Series HPLC system equipped with autosampler/injector, four-channel gradient pump, column thermostat, refractive index detector), software (ChemStation Version B.01), column (Waters Sugar-Pack I, 10 μm, 300 × 6.5 mm) were used. Isocratic elution was performed using purified water (with the addition of Ca-EDTA 0.05 mg/ml) as the mobile phase, at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The column was maintained at 80 °C, the refractive index detector - at 35 °C. The injection volume was 10 μL, analysis time - 20 min. Results: The main free carbohydrates of viburnum fruits and preparations based on them are glucose, fructose, and sucrose. The total content of simple sugars in the viburnum fruits is 28.393 ± 0.528%, in the infusion - 0.499 ± 0.015%, in the syrup - 69.736 ± 1.551%. The characteristic ratio of glucose: fructose: sucrose in dried viburnum fruits is 8.1:5.4:1, in infusion - 7.0:5.7:1, and in syrup - 9.2:8.8:1. The sugars' degree of passing into infusion is 74.34%. Conclusion: The composition and content of carbohydrates determined by HPLC-RID are an important characteristic data. It can be used for viburnum fruits Russian pharmacopoeial standardization along with the quantifying total content of organic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This review focuses on characterization of Cyclamen coum Mill. (Myrsinaceae), composition and content of biologically active substances presented in the above-ground and underground parts, reporting use of this plant in traditional medicine, predicting possible pharmacotherapeutic effects. Materials and Methods: Various electronic search engines such as Google, Google scholar, scientific literature, electronic databases such as e-Library, Scopus, Web of Science, Pubmed had been searched and data obtained. Results: Cyclamen L. is classified in the Myrsinaceae family now. It is a typical element of the Mediterranean flora. C. coum. is a species characteristic of the Caucasus and Crimea with rounded leaves and rounded corolla lobes, bright and pink-purple flowers. Chemical composition of biologically active substances of C. coum was described in sufficient detail. C. coum contains saponins (coumoside A, coumoside B, cyclaminorin, deglucocyclamin, cyclacoumin, and mirabilin lactone), sterols (stigmasterol and other related compounds), piperidine alkaloid (2-β-D-glycopyranosyl-2-undecil-3,5-dihydroxy-6-carboxypiperidine), flavonoids, phenols, tannins, cardiac glycosides. Antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and antitumor activities are established for different C. coum extracts. Conclusion: C. coum can be used for the production of potential anticancer, antibacterial and antifungal drugs. It should be noted that more pharmacognostic, pharmacological studies are needed for providing further information to use this medicinal plant in the official medicine. Also, standardization procedures for a crude herbal drug should be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic homeostasis of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) during their long-term cultivation was studied. It was found that, at early passages (second to fourth), the intracellular K+ content calculated for total cellular protein was almost 40% higher than in cells of the same clone after 12–15 passages. Under the same conditions, the intracellular Na+ content remains practically unchanged in MSCs with age. Flow cytometry assay of MSC proliferation at various passages revealed that a decrease in the intracellular K+ content correlated with the cell accumulation in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and was accompanied by a slower cell division. On the basis of data on monovalent ion transport in permanent cell lines of different origin, human stem cells as well as activated human lymphocytes, the mechanism of implication of K+ in the cell proliferation has been discussed. It is suggested that changes in cellular K+ content per total cell protein accompanying triggering or inhibition of cell proliferation show the involvement of K+ in the cell volume regulation. The high intracellular K+ content is important for successful proliferation of hMSCs, and the cell K+ content per cell protein is an informative test for assessing the functional status of stem cells in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we reported proliferation-related changes in cell K+ and Na+ content and K+ influxes in cultivated human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The intracellular K+ content calculated per cell protein amount was found to decrease in the growing culture, whereas intracellular Na+ content was not significantly changed. It was also revealed that, at higher densities of an hMSC monolayer, the ouabain-sensitive K+ influx was decreased thus indicating a decline in Na+, K+ pump-mediated transport. We analyzed the cell cycle profiles of hMSC cultures and found that, under optimal culture conditions in high-density cultures, the decline in K+ content per cell protein was correlated with accumulation of G1 cells and slowing down cell proliferation in the population. It is concluded that cell K+ content per cell protein is an informative test for assessing the functional status of stem cells in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]