Development of a procedure for standardization of the Rozmatin substance from Moldavian dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavice) herb

Moldavian dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica) is an annual herbaceous plant that is widely cultivated in Eastern and Central Europe as an essential oil-bearing, melliferous, and spicy-and-aromatic plant. The All-Russian Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants has developed a technology for obtaining a dry purified Moldavian dragonhead herb extract arbitrarily called Rozmatin that contains flavonoids and phenylpropanoids. The substance has a tonic effect on the cardiovascular and nervous systems, as well as an anti-inflammatory effect. Objective: to develop a procedure for standardizing the Rozmatin substance and to make its validation assessment. Material and methods. The Rozmatin substance obtained from the aboveground part of the Moldavian dragonhead (the variety «Tenderness») growing in the All-Russian Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, which was harvested during the flowering phase. The investigators used the following techniques: thin layer chromatography (TLC), UV spectrophotometry, as well as the equipment: 10x15-cm Sorbfil ПТСХ-ПА plates (Russia) and UV-1800 (Shimadzu) and Cary 100 Scan (Varian) spectrophotometers. Results. The presence of flavonoids in the substance was confirmed by the cyanidin test (Shinoda's test) (a pink and red color). The UV spectrum of Rozmatin showed two absorption maxima at 327±2 and 288±2 nm in the wavelength range of 250 to 400 nm. The total phenolic compound content in the Rozmatin substance in terms of rosmarinic acid, which was determined using direct spectrophotometry, ranged from 60.67 to 88.02% in 5 series of balanced loads. Conclusion. Procedures have been developed for the qualitative and quantitative determination of phenolic compounds in the Rozmatin substance. The procedure for the quantitative determination of the total content phenolic compounds calculated with reference to rosmarinic acid meets all validation criteria.

Dracocephalum moldavica L, Moldavian dragonhead, Dracocephalum moldavica L, Rozmatin substance, UV spectrophotometry, phenolic compounds, rosmarinic and caffeic acids