Vol 24, No 6 (2021)

Theaimofthestudyistostudythevascularendothelialgrowthfactorinthenewcoronavirus disease -2019 (COVID-19). Material and methods.The object of the study is patients (36 men and 28 women, mean age 48.9 ± 15.3 years) with laboratory and clinical and epidemiologically confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, complicated by pneumonia. The indicators of peripheral and biochemical blood were analyzed. Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration were assessed by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The patients were divided into 2 groups depending on gender (men, n = 36 (56.25%); women, n = 28 (43.75%) and the degree of blood oxygen saturation (group A, n = 26 (40.62%) Sa02 level below 90%; group B, n = 38 (59.38%) Sa02 level above 90%). Results. In the subgroup of men with COVID-19 complicated by pneumonia, significantly low levels of hemoglobin (Hb) oxygen saturation, lymphocyte counts, as well as high levels of leukocytes and blood creatinine were detected.The content of Hb and the average concentration of Hb in erythrocytes (MHC) were significantly lower among women with COVID-19 complicated by pneumonia. In a subgroup of men, there was a significant increase in VEGF concentration. A close relationship was recorded between concentration of VEGFandSat02(r=-0.341,p = 0.019),averageHbcontentinerythrocyte(MCH)(r=-0.201,p = 0.045),relativenumberoflym-phocytes (r = -0.362, p = 0.018), distribution width erythrocytes (r = 0.381, p = 0.010), the number of platelets (r = 0.503, p = 0.007), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) (r= 0.555, p = 0.001), as well as with the concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = 0.394, p = 0.005). Conclusion. The VEGF concentration correlates with the indices of Hb oxygen saturation, the number of platelets, the relative number of lymphocytes, the width of distribution of erythrocytes, ESR, MCH, as well asthe level of CRP in the blood. The predictor ofthe severity of COVID-19 in men was the level of oxygen saturation, the number of leukocytes, the relative number of lymphocytes and blood creatinine, and in females - additionally also the level of Hb and the MCHS indicator.

Introduction. Quercus robur L. is a woody plant of the Beech family Fagaceae, growing in the European part of Russia. The official raw material of Quercus roburL\\stbe bark ofyoung branches, but it isalso advisable to study the perennial bark ofthe stem parts in order to discover important biologically active compounds. Currently, the issue of complex processing of perennial stem parts of Quercus roburbark has not been resolved, therefore perennial oak bark is practically not used in wood processing. Purpose of the study. Comparative phytochemical analysis of the aboveground organs of Quercus robur - the bark of perennial stem parts of industrial raw materials obtained as waste ofthe wood processing industry and pharmacopoeial raw materials of Quercus robur. Material and methods. The objects of the study were samples of the bark Quercus robur L.: pharmacopoeial bark (Kras-nogorskleksredstvaJSC, Krasnogorsk) and perennial stem bark obtained as production waste from the wood processing company 000 «DUO». Also, the objects of the study were alcohol extracts at various concentrations of ethyl alcohol (50,60,70,80%), as well as on chloroform ofthe chemically pure grade in a ratio of 1:5 (raw material-extractant) based on the pharmacopoeial bark of Quercus robur L. and perennial bark. As methods for analyzing the extracts, chromatography in a thin layer of sorbent was used; the analysis was carried out on PTSKh-AF-A-UV plates ofthe "Sorbfil" brand. Chromatography was carried out ascending in a solvent system chloro-form-ethanol-water (26:16:3). The detection of spots of substances was carried out by viewing chromatograms in lamps with UV light with wavelengths of 254 nm and 366 nm. In addition, the chromatograms were processed with the phosphoric tungstic acid (FVA) reagent, followed by heating to 100 ° С for the development of flavonoids and other compounds.A spectrophotometric study was carried out to quantify the content of the sum of tannins and flavonoids in raw materials based on the bark of an Quercus robur. Forthese purposes, we used the method of direct and differential spectrophotometry on a spectrophotometer - "SF-2000" (Russia) in cuvettes with a layerthickness of 10 mm. 95% ethyl alcohol was used asa solvent. The reference solution is95% ethyl alcohol. Results. Comparative spectrophotometric, titrimetric and chromatographic studies of alcohol extracts of concentrations of 50,60,70, 80%, as well as chloroform extracts of Quercus robur bark samples: pharmacopoeial raw materials and perennial oak bark have been carried out. It was found that 60% alcoholic extract from pharmacopoeial bark and perennial bark are distinguished by a relatively high content of flavonoids. In particular, the content of flavonoids in terms of cynaroside in oak bark (pharmacopoeial raw material) for 60% alcohol is 1.69%, in perennial bark - 1.18%. The content of tannins in oak bark samples was determined by titrimetric method of analysis: in pharmacopoeial bark6.40%, in perennial bark-8.90%; spectrophotometric method: in the pharmacopoeial cortex-1.70%, in the perennial cortex -15.20%. Chromatographic analysis of the studied samples of the Quercus robur bark extracts in comparison with the standards revealed the presence of the flavonoid quercetin (Rf ~ 0.82) and theflavonol glycoside rutin (Rf ~ 0.2) in both samples. Conclusion. The expediency of using non-pharmacopoeial raw materials - perennial oak bark, which is today a waste of the wood processing industry, is shown in the framework of solving urgent problems of nature management, ecology and waste-free production, as well as using raw materials as an affordable and inexpensive source of valuable phenolic BAS.

Relevance. One ofthe main groups of active substances ofthe Cirsium arvense L. are flavonoids, among which apigenin predominates. An urgent problem is the study of new types of medicinal plant raw materials and their introduction into medical practice, which requires research on the developmentof methodsforthe quantitative determination of the main group of BASand validation ofthe method. The purpose ofthe work. Validation evaluation ofthe method of quantitative determination of flavonoids in the herba ofthe Cirsium arvense L. Material and methods. The object ofthe study is samples ofthe herba ofthe Cirsium arvense L. The quantitative determination of flavonoids was carried out by differential spectrophotometry with the selection of optimal extraction conditions, and the method was validated. Results. A method for the quantitative determination ofthe amount of flavonoids in terms of apigenin (Amax = 388 ± 2 nm) was developed. The optimal parameters of extraction of flavonoids were determined: the extractant-ethyl alcohol 40%, the ratio of raw materials and extractant 1: 30, the degree of grinding - 2 mm, the extraction time-30 minutes, three-time extraction, the complexing agent-1 ml of 2% aluminum chloride solution, the reaction develops within 45 minutes and the complex remains stable for 1 hour. The content ofthe sum of flavonoids in terms of apigenin is 2.78 ±0.09%. Validation ofthe method wascarried out according to thefol-lowing parameters: linearity, correctness and precision. It was found that within the limits ofthe measured concentrations (optical density 0.241-0.389), the dependence of the apigenin content on the theoretical content of flavonoids in the herba ofthe Cirsium arvense L. is linear. The correctness ofthe method was established by measuring the quantitative content ofthe sum of flavonoids in solutions with a known concentration of apigenin and it was found that the values lie within the confidence intervals ofthe corresponding average results. Precision wasstudied by the indicators-repeatability (convergence); intra-laboratory and inter-laboratory reproducibility, while it was found that the relative error of the average result did not exceed 10%. Conclusions. The linear nature, correctness and precision ofthe developed methodology for the quantitative determination of flavonoids in the herba ofthe Cirsium arvense L. in terms of apigenin and the possibility of its further use for the standardization ofthe studied raw materials are justified.

Relevance. The technology of growing essential oil crops provides for maximum yield in combination with a high content of essential oil and its main components. The greatest increase in the content of essential oil with simultaneous increase in the synthesis of active substances is observed when chemical retardants are used in the before harvesting period. In last years, natural Hardy retardant, whose active substancesare orthodiphenolsand epibrassinolide,hasbeen tested on medicinal and etheroil cultures. The purpose ofthis workisto assessthe effect of Hardy's retardant on the content ofthe main componentsof essential oil Mentha piperita, Chamomilla recutita and essential oil raw materials of Dracocephalum moldavica. Material and Methods. Research was conducted in the North Caucasus branch ofVILAR in the conditions ofthe Western Caucasus in the period 2018-2020. Hardy treatment was carried out in the start of budding phase at a flow rate of 0.2 l/ha, working solution flow rate of 300 l/ha. Control plots were sprayed with water. Harvesting of raw materials was carried out 10 days aftertreatment. Results. It was revealed that the use of Hardy's retardant in the pre-harvest period activates the process of accumulation of secondary metabolites in essential oil. Treatment of Mentha piperita by Hardy contributes to a 5% increase in menthol content, menthol acetate by 2 timesand a 54.4% decrease in the level of the toxic component of neomentol. In Chamomilla recutita essential oil, an increase of 1.3 timesoverthe control of basic components such asA-bisabolol, hamazulene by 22% and bisabolol of Aoxide by 18% was noted. Under the influence of retardant in the essential oil raw material ofthe Dracocephalum moldavica, the content of rosemary acid increases by 27% and glucose rosemary by 30%. Conclusion. The obtained data suggest that Hardy retardant treatment of essential oil cultures in the before harvest period improves the quality raw material of essential oil and essential oil by increasing the content ofthe main most significant components, which indirectly affects the improvement of the chemical composition.