Ethanol extracts from Bergenia crassifolia (L.) Fritsch. green leaves exhibit antioxidant properties. The most significant activity has been observed for 70% ethanol extract, which is a typical acceptor of peroxy radicals. Fractionation of the active extract yielded chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions, which also showed a pronounced antioxidant action. Phenolic compounds (hydroquinone, quercetin, dihydroquercetin, rutin, gallic acid, esculetin) also exhibited significant antioxidant activity comparable with that of ionol. 620 0091-150X/06/4011-0620

Five flavonoids were isolated from leaves of Saussurea controversa, one new flavonoid (5), three described for the first time from the genus Saussurea (1, 2, and 4), and one described previously (3). A number of flavonol glycosides can be easily isolated from the butanol fraction of the ethanol extract from S. controversa. As a result of separating these using column chromatography on silica gel and microcrystalline cellulose, five glycosides of quercetin were isolated in the proportional relationship of 2 (1): 8 (2): 10 (3): 1 (4): 4 (5). The structure of these substances was determined using the method of NMR by conducting various 1H-1H and 1H-13C correlation spectroscopy experiments and by comparing their spectroscopic data with published values, 5,3/,4/-trihydroxyflavone-7-О-α-L-rhamnopyranoside-3-О-β-D-glucopyranosidе (1), 5,7,3/,4/-tetrahydroxyflavone-3-О-β-D-glucopyranoside-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside-(1→6)-О-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (2), 5,7,3/,4/-tetrahydroxyflavone-3-О-β-D-glucopyranoside-(1→6)-О-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (3), 5,3/,4/-trihydroxyflavone-7-О-α-L-rhamnopyranoside-3-О-β-D-xylopyranoside (4), and 5,3/,4/-trihydroxyflavone-7-О-β-D-glucopyranoside-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside-(1→2)-О-β-D-glucopyranoside (5). It was established for the first time that flavonol glycosides from S. controversa stimulate granulopoiesis and lymphopoiesis in the bone marrow of rats, and enhance the reparative process in the affected area in experimental osteomyelitis.

Extracts of the above-ground part of meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria L. Maxim.) demonstrate a pronounced antioxidant activity. It is established that 70% and 95% ethanol extracts contain the most active substances. Investigation of the chemical composition of the above-ground part of the plant and its 70% ethanol extract by means of qualitative reactions, thin-layer chromatography, and paper chromatography showed the presence of various phenolic compounds, including quercetin and its glycosides, dihydroquercetin, apigenin, rododendrol, esculetin, and m-hydroxybenzoic, salicylic, anisic, gallic, gentisic, ferulic, chlorogenic, and caffeic acids.

A chromatographically inseparable crystalline mixture of the previously undescribed quercetin-4′-O-β-galactopyranoside and the known quercetin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside (isoquercitrin) in a 7:5 ratio was isolated from the extract of the aerial part of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim.

The composition of biologically active substances of aqueous extracts of couch grass was studied and the following groups of biologically active substances were identified: coumarins, iridoids, saponins, slimes, polysaccharides (including inulin), ascorbic acid and b-carotene, flavonoids (rutin, hyperoside, baicaleine) phenocarboxylic acids (chlorogenic and p-hydroxycinnamic acids), and tannins. The effects of couch grass extract in the form of a cream on several measures of lipid peroxidation in allergic contact dermatitis were studied in experimental conditions. Cream containing couch grass extract was found to have normalizing actions on measures of lipid peroxidation (diene conjugates, malondialdehyde, catalase) in the plasma of experimental animals.

We studied antithrombogenic and antiplatelet properties of 4-methyl-2,6-diisobornyl phenol, a new promising compound belonging to ortho-isobornyl phenol derivatives, under conditions of intravascular thrombosis and acute cerebral ischemia. It was found that 4-methyl-2,6-diisobornyl phenol prevents intravascular thrombus formation by reducing platelet aggregation and improving antiplatelet activity of the vascular wall.

No abstract

Cerebral ischemia in rats was accompanied by an increase in erythrocyte degradation, which results from changes in lipid composition of their membranes. The content of lipids and phospholipid fraction (phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidylserine) decreased, while the relative content of lysophospholipids increased in erythrocyte membranes. The course of treatment with Rhaponticum carthamoides extract (150 mg/kg perorally, 5 days) contributed to an increase in the contents of total lipids and phospholipids (primarily of sphingomyelin and phosphatidylserine) and decrease in the ratio of lysophospholipids in the erythrocyte membrane of rats with cerebral ischemia. Morphological characteristics of erythrocytes returned to normal, which manifested in an increase in the number of discocytes and decrease in the count of degenerated cells.