Hydro distilled essential oils in air-dry samples of aerial parts of Solidago canadensis L., (Asteraceae) from eight local invasive populations were investigated by GC-MS analysis. A comparative study on quantity and composition of the essential oils obtained from plants, growing in different ecological and climatic conditions, ontogenesis phase and different plant organs was carried out The major compounds detected in oil samples of S. canadensis were α-pinene (1.3 -61.27%), limonene (0.5 -22.5%), bornyl acetat (3.4 -29.8%) and germacrene D (1.8 -39.2%). Samples from inflorescences contained the maximal percentage of monoterpene hydrocarbons, while the leaves' samples showed the maximal cumulative percentage of sesquiterpene and monoterpene hydrocarbons. Data obtained from our studies confirm the availability of alien invasive species Solidago canadensis for medicine and many other purposes. The variability of the qualitative and quantitative composition of essential oils in different geographical locations will allow futher selection of form containing the maximum amount of active substances.

The phytochemical characteristics of alien species have not yet been fully studied. Meanwhile, the reserves of their raw materials in the secondary distribution range are very large and can be used as new sources of functional ingredients for food, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and medicines. Particular attention is attracted by species which have closely related native plants that are included in the official pharmacopeia. Solidago canadensis L. in Slovakia has already formed powerful thickets, and a similar species Solidago virgaurea L. is used as a medicinal plant. The goal of our study is to examine biologically active compounds from leaves and inflorescences of Solidago canadensis collected in some invasive populations along the Nitra river and Gron river. Leaves and inflorescences of 3 populations have been taken for analysis. In addition, we tested herbal tea was made by a traditional procedure using 2 types of fermentation. The following parameters have been understudying: total dry matter, ash and protein content, total lipid, saccharides, vitamin C content, total carotenoid content, amino acids content, elemental analysis, and antioxidant activity. Mean values and variations of these parameters are given in the article. The results demonstrated that S. canadensis can be a valuable raw material resource for many sectors of the economy with the possibility of its wider application in the future.

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The chemical composition of pollen and honey primarily depends on the botanical and geographical origin of the species, as well as other factors – climatic conditions, soil type, plant species, etc. The present study was to knowledge the biochemical profile of pollen, staminate catkins, and honey samples of Castanea sativa Mill. which were examined under conditions of Ukraine. Proteins are the major components of pollen and staminate catkins (169.0 ±1.60 g.kg-1 and 69.8 ±1.67 g.kg-1, respectively), while saccharides are predominant in honey samples (38.0 ±1.32 g.kg-1 fructose, 32.5 ±0.68 glucose g.kg−1 and 6.1 ±0.06 g.kg-1 sucrose). Glutamic acid (13.30 g.kg-1), aspartic acid (13.05 g.kg-1), and proline (12.45 g.kg-1) were predominant nonessential amino acids in the chestnut pollen. The content of macro and microelements was found in the pollen and staminate catkins much higher than in the honey. All Castanea sativa samples are a very valuable source of potassium as the main mineral element contained in pollen (7400 mg.kg-1), staminate catkins (7760 mg.kg-1), and honey (981 mg.kg-1). Microelements such as manganese and iron prevailed in pollen (478 mg.kg-1 Mn and 461 mg.kg-1 Fe), and staminate catkins (247 mg.kg-1 Mn and 109 mg.kg-1 Fe), and heavy metals (Hg, Sr, Sn, Sb, Li) are present only in the pollen samples with the most abundant Sr (12.8 mg.kg-1) and Sn (1.9 mg.kg-1) content and can be used as indicator suggesting the environmental pollution status in the region. Regarding the vitamin content, vitamin C was the most represented in all samples. Obtained results indicate that chestnut is species with important constituents such as amino acids and vitamins, with low content of heavy metals and high content of biogenic elements that may be used in phytotherapy and phytopharmacology.

Solidago canadensis L. was introduced to Europe as an ornamental plant from North America in 1645 and began to spread during the XIX-XX centuries. Nowadays the species is considered the most aggressive invasive species. On the other hand, S. canadensis is considered to be a medicinal plant. The raw material known as Herba Solidaginis includes herbs of S. canadensis, S. gigantea, and S. virgaurea. These species are known for their diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antispasmodic properties. The purpose of our study was to analyze the chemical compounds and some biological properties of S. canadensis, growing in Slovakia, to evaluate its therapeutic potential. The total phenolic content (TPC) of the extracts from aerial parts of S. canadensis was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The evaluation of total flavonoid content (TFC) was performed by using a spectrophotometric method. The flavonoids content was expressed as rutin equivalents (mg REs) per g DW vegetal product. The phytochemical profile of S. canadensis extracts was assessed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The radical scavenging activity of samples was measured using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Reducing power of extracts was determined by the phosphomolybdenum method. Total phenolic contents (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) of the extracts varied from 204.19 to 293.43 mg GAE.g-1 DW, and 64.99 – 175.25 g QE.g-1 DW, respectively; the best results were obtained for ethanol extract. Some phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC with significant amounts of rutin (211.20 µg.mL-1), quercetin (122.08 µg.mL-1), quercitrin (102.50 µg.mL-1) and chlorogenic acid (147.00 µg.mL-1). The DPPH values in the inflorescences were higher than in the leaves: the antioxidant activity of leaf extracts was in the range from 5.34 to 17.16 mg TE.g-1, for inflorescences, this parameter ranged from 6.09 to 19.87 mg TE.g-1. The high total phenolic compounds and flavonoids can be used as a valuable source of phytochemicals in herbal remedies. Our study of S. canadensis, growing in Slovakia, shows the promising potential that can be evaluated as an effective antioxidant and antimicrobial agent in herbal medicines.

Pseudocydonia sinensis (Thouin) C.K. Schneid. less known plant species in the Ukraine conditions, but the fruits were widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of asthma, colds, sore throat, mastitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and tuberculosis. In this study, chemical compositions of the leaves of Pseudocydonia sinensis were investigated. They contained total protein 6.66%, ash 8.54%, lipids 3.38%, beta carotene 90.30 mg/kg DW. Monosaccharide analysis revealed that the neutral carbohydrate part (fructose, maltose, sucrose, and lactose) was found in low amounts only (<0.5 g/kg). The major quantitative tocopherol in leaves was α-tocopherol (80.73 mg/kg DW). Saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, palmitic acid (C16:0; 53.36 g/100 g DW), oleic acid (C18:1; 12.49 g/100 g DW) and linoleic acid (C18:2; 8.24 g/100 g DW), respectively, were found predominant. Palmitic acid makes up 57.2% of the total amount. The total amount of amino acids found in the leaves was 53.90 g/kg DW, including total essential amino acids (28.60 g/kg DW) and percentage of total essential amino acids (53.06%). Glutamic acid was found of leaves to be the dominant free amino acid (6.5 g/kg DW) followed by aspartic acid (5.4 g/kg DW) and leucine (4.9 g/kg DW DW). The mineral composition of leaves of P. sinensis demonstrated the presence of elements in following order: Ca>K>Mg>P>S>Fe>Zn>Na>Mn>Al>Cu>Ni>Cr>Pb>Cd>Hg>As>Se. Studied antioxidant parameters showed that antioxidant activity by DPPH and molybdenum reducing power was 8.76 and 289.73 mg TE/g, respectively. Also, the total content of polyphenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids amounted to 65.77 mg GAE/g, 22.47 mg QE/g, and 9.06 mg CAE/g, respectively. The obtained data represent that leaves of P. sisnensis contain rich mineral composition, amino, and fatty acid composition and biologically active compounds such as polyphenols that can be used in the pharmaceutical study to validate its possible medicinal application. The study of less know and neglected plant species and it's raw can increase possible use in human life beneficial plant products.

The article shows the results of the influence of different concentrations of allelochemicals of Acer negundo L. leaf litter, germination energy, absolute germination of seeds and plant growth. The seeds of Raphanus sativus L. and Avena sativa L. were used as model objects. Active substances contained in leaf litter A. negundo, have a selective inhibitory effect on the germination of seeds and the growth of seedlings of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. The allelopathic effect of the fall is not a limiting factor for the germination of seeds of herbaceous plants of the above-ground cover of the studied plantation.

The identification of plants of the genus Mentha is often difficult due to significant intraspecific polymorphism, intense interspecific hybridization, and ploidy changes. An attempt was made to apply an integrated approach to the study of different parameters of two species: Mentha arvensis L. and M. canadensis L. Eight geographically dispersed populations of Mentha in different regions (European Russia, Khakassia and Far East, Western Ukraine, and Indochina) were studied. Diagnostic morphological characters and compositions of essential oil components were examined, and DNA was analyzed with ISSR markers. The data obtained were statistically processed by cluster, principal component, and principal coordinate analyses. The European and Asian groups of samples were clearly distinguished by the analysis of quantitative parameters of the calyx and leaves, but different methods of data processing produced different results in determining the belonging of the Far Eastern plants to a particular group. Therefore, their taxonomic positions can hardly be determined on morphological grounds. According to the composition of essential oil and ISSR fragments, a group of the genetically, morphologically, and phytochemically closest plants was identified, which included representatives of the populations of the Moscow oblast, Vladimir oblast, Kaluga oblast, the Komi Republic, and Khakassia. All these plants belonged to M. arvensis. Plants collected in the natural flora of the Russian Far East showed a greater resemblance in essential oil composition and ISSR markers to the European group of M. arvensis than to plants from Indochina, which, according to the data obtained, belonged to M. сanadensis. It was shown that a comprehensive study of plant morphological characters, the compositions of essential oil, and ISSR fragments allows one to clarify the species identity and to assess their polymorphism and the degree of kinship between populations. A certain correlation between the data of molecular analysis and the composition of essential oil and, to a lesser extent, their correlation with morphological characters of plants was revealed.