А.D. Dunilin, O.V. Trineeva, A.S. Chistyakova,
A.A. Gudkova
Voronezh State University,
Universitetskaya pl., 1, Voronezh, 394006, Russian Federation
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ABSTRACT. The study of elements of medicinal plant
raw materials (MPRМ)
allows solving important problems of modern medicine associated with nutrient
deficiency in human nutrition. Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) is widely known for its specific
(venotropic) effect on the human body. An analysis of the literature data
showed that at the moment the elemental complex of horse chestnut flowers has
not been studied enough.
The aim of the study was study of
the elemental composition of flowers of horse chestnut, growing in the Voronezh
region.
Materials and methods.
The objects in the work were dried horse chestnut flowers harvested in the
Voronezh region during the flowering period (May 2021), as well as soil from
the place where the plant grows. The mineral composition of the studied objects
was studied by the method of chromato-mass spectroscopy with inductively
coupled plasma. Total ash and ash insoluble in 10% hydrochloric acid were
determined according to the methods of the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian
Federation, XIV ed.
Results. The studied
samples of flowers corresponded to the requirements of regulatory documentation
in terms of the total ash content of raw materials. In horse chestnut flowers,
the content of elements was in the range of 0.001 - 15114.44 mg/kg. Among the
macronutrients, calcium (15114.44 µg/g) and potassium (13020.18 µg/g)
predominate; in a smaller steppe, flowers contain sodium (195.24 µg/g). Trace
elements make up only 1.16% of the total mineral complex. The content of toxic
normalized elements in the studied MMR was within the permissible content and
did not exceed a total of 1.532 mg/kg. Calculating the coefficients of
accumulation of elements in the MPRM, it was found that horse chestnut flowers
have a fairly high ability to accumulate macroelements. Among the toxic
normalized elements in flowers, lead accumulates to the greatest extent
(accumulation coefficient 0.08), however, all of them are classified as weak
capture elements. Chestnut flowers are not concentrators of toxic and
potentially toxic elements.
Conclusions. The data
obtained are relevant from the standpoint of further prospects for the study of
horse chestnut flowers, as a new source of medicinal products for its
introduction into the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation and
obtaining domestic safe and effective medicinal products and dietary
supplements with venotonic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on its
basis.
KEYWORDS: horse chestnut
flowers; elemental composition; inductively coupled plasma chromato-mass spectroscopy.