The content of biologically active substances in medicinal plants

The therapeutic effect of many species of medicinal plants, currently used in medical practice, due to the presence of various biologically active substances, that when entering the human body determine a particular physiological effect. These active physiologically active substances have a diverse structure and belong to different classes of chemical compounds.

Alkaloidы

Alkaloids - natural complex nitrogen-containing compounds of various chemical structure, contained in the plant material in the form of bases or salts. The name of the substance obtained from the Arabic word "alkali" (alkali) and the Greek "eydos" (similar). First opened in opium poppy alkaloid morphine was named (morphine) in honor of the Greek god of sleep Morpheus. Then, from various plants have been isolated alkaloids are highly, like strychnine, brucine, caffeine, nicotine, quinones, atropine, etc., which is still widely used with success in medical practice as a major pharmaceutical therapeutic drugs. Separation and unification of the alkaloids in the early XX century were to practice medicine is extremely important.

In medicine, salt usually use alkaloids, because they are more soluble in water and their physiological activity is slightly increased due to higher levels of bioavailability. Medications, containing alkaloids, actually it occupies one of the most significant places in the management of physiological processes, occurring in healthy and sick person, and play a leading role in the treatment of various diseases.

Pharmacological properties of alkaloids are so extensive, there is no need to list them in detail. They can be represented schematically such a broad spectrum of activity: tranquilizing and stimulating effect on the central nervous system, hypertensive and hypotensive action, vasoconstrictor and vasodilator effects on the cardiovascular system; very different effect on the mediator systems, the functional activity of the muscular system, etc.. d.

In the domestic flora there is a whole group of plants alkaloidonosnyh (pilokarpus, belladonna, Periwinkle Pink, sekurinega, Ephedra, tea, Potbelly, and many others), which are valuable raw material for the production of various therapeutic drugs. The content of these, compounds in plants often fluctuates depending on weather conditions, collection time, biological stages of plant development, the specifics of its cultivation. However, in most cases, the highest content of alkaloids determined during budding and flowering of plant facilities. It varies from very small amounts (traces of alkaloids) 2-3 % of the total dry weight of plant raw material.

Glikozidы

Glycosides - a large group of substances nitrogen-free nature, molecule which is composed of sugar moiety (glycolic) and part nesaharistoy (aglycone). The action of glycosides is determined mainly by their nesaharistoy part. In contrast to the alkaloid glycoside may quickly disintegrate in storage enzymes of the plants (autofermentatsiya), as well as under the influence of various physical factors. Because, enzymes that cleave very easily glycosides, the newly cut plants glycosides often start quickly decompose and thereby lose their therapeutic properties. Therefore, the collection of plants, containing glycosides, this circumstance has to be considered: raw materials necessary to quickly dry and store, preventing dampness, since the dry material the enzyme activity is negligible, and they do not show their action.

In the practice of medicine generally, the following group of glycosides:

• cardiac glycosides;
• antraglikozidy;
• saponins;
• bitterness;
• flavonoidnыe glikozidы etc..

The most important are cardiac glycosides. Until now, among all means, used to treat cardiovascular diseases, herbal medicines make up a large part of the. The plants, forming in their cells, cardiac glycosides action, include various types of foxglove, Lily of the valley, Adonis, etc.. These plants are of great importance in the treatment of major cardiovascular diseases. Plants, containing cardiac glycosides, because of the high toxicity are considered toxic. They have a steroidal structure, and in this regard very close to hormones.

Quite widely used in medical practice have received glycosides, has a laxative effect, the so-called antraglikozidy, contained in the buckthorn, Revenu, kassii, aloe and other plants. Antraglikozidy low toxicity, racks for storage, most of them are colored in red-orange color.

Some plants, contain so-called bitter glycosides, used in medicine as bitterness to increase appetite in patients. Bitter glycosides found in wormwood, Gentian, dandelion, centaury, etc.. Bitterness increase peristalsis of stomach and increases the secretion of gastric juice, that promotes better digestion.

Another one raznovidnostь glycosides - saponinы, contained in many plants. Saponins are found in representatives of more than 70 families, among which the first place belongs to the family Caryophyllaceae and Primulaceae. Saponinosoderzhaschie plants used in medicine as an expectorant (korni stand, cyanosis and pervotsveta), diuretics (herb tea kidney), Bile (herb St. John's wort). Some saponins have the ability to lower blood pressure, induce vomiting, have diaphoretic action, etc.. d.

Lately Group acquired important flavonoid glycosides. The name of these substances indicates a yellow color; They are phenolic compounds. A number of flavonoid glycosides has a P-vitamin activity, bactericidal, choleretic effect and helps to remove radioactive substances from the body.

Kumarinы and furokumarinы found in plants alone or in compounds with sugars as glycosides. In water, these compounds are generally poorly soluble, they are sensitive to light,. More often coumarins found in plants Umbelliferae, legumes, Rutaceae, and concentrated mainly in the roots and fruits. To date, isolated and studied more than 150 kumarinoproizvodnыh soedineniy. From this group of natural compounds are most important for the medical substances, relating to furokumarinov. Established, many of them have different pharmacological properties. Some are used as vasodilators and antispasmodics, others - like estrogens, anticancer and photo- sensibiliziruyushtie funds.

Essential oils

Essential oils - Scented, easily volatile substances, contained in various plant organs, mainly in flowers, leaves, fruit. Essential oils are easily distilled from plant material hot water or steam. Although these compounds are visually similar to the fatty oils, However, the chemical nature and should not be attributed to oil, Since essential oils are mixtures of various terpene and terpenoid compounds and derivatives thereof.

Currently, there are more than 2000 aromatic plants (eg, pepper mint, Valerian lekarstvennaya, creeping thyme, origanum, Melissa officinalis, wormwood, Salvia officinalis, dill and others.). The content of essential oils in plants is dependent on several factors, concerning the characteristics of the biological development of plant species, climatic conditions, and therefore ranges from traces to 18-20 % dry weight of medicinal raw materials (typically 2-3 %).

Because of the pharmacological properties of the most characteristic of the presence of anti-inflammatory essential oils, antimikrobnoy, antiviral and antihelminthic activity. Besides, Some essential oils have a marked impact on the cardiovascular system and the central nervous system; have a stimulating, tranquilizing and analgesic properties, reduce blood pressure, dilates blood vessels of the brain and heart.

Widely known expectorant cough and soothing properties of plant essential oils and their ability to initiate and improve breathing function of the gastrointestinal tract. Essential oils are widely used in the chemical-pharmaceutical industry to improve the taste and change, the smell of drugs (eg, pink, mint, coriander and other oils), food, in particular alcoholic beverage industry.

Under the influence of oxygen and moisture in the air composition of essential oils can vary - the individual components are oxidized oils, they lose the scent, since the process resinification essential oils. The light also causes discoloration of oils and their composition. In this connection it is necessary to strictly observe the rules of the collection, drying, treatment, preparation and storage of dosage forms of plants, containing essential oils.

Resins close to essential oils in chemical structure and are often found in plants simultaneously with. They are usually thick liquid, sticky to the touch, has a characteristic aromatic odor. For a long time does not dry resins called balsams. Many resins found in softwood trees, kidney birch, in rhubarb roots, and in other plants. Resins of some plants have medicinal properties, mostly have a marked bactericidal action and antignilostnoe. In medical practice, the resin used for preparing the patches, tinctures, sometimes used inside as a laxative (podofillin). Pitch pine is included in some patches raznozazhivlyayuschie.

Tannins

Tannins HSE to a group of tannin and got its name for its ability to tan leather and make them watertight. Usually this oak bark used, so this processing of skin was named tanning, and themselves tanning substances.

Tannins are derivatives of polyhydric phenols and contain almost all well-known plants. Tanning compounds are determined in different organs of plants, but mainly in the bark and wood of trees and shrubs, as well as in roots and rhizomes of various herbaceous .rasteny (oak, birch, bird-cherry tree, tutsan, sagebrush, rhubarb, blueberries, spite). Tannins are usually low toxicity. Some plants, containing especially a lot of tannin, is used as an astringent and antibacterial agents for gastrointestinal diseases, to gargle, when alveolar Pioro etc.. d.

Anti-inflammatory effect of tannic compounds based on the interaction of proteins with tannin, while the mucous membranes form a protective film, preventing the further development of the inflammatory process. Recognizes, deposited on the burnt places, abrasions and wounds, also coagulated proteins to form the protective film, It is therefore used as a local hemostatic and anti-inflammatory agents. Besides, tannin used in cases of poisoning alkaloids and salts of heavy metals.

Tannins by reacting with oxygen are oxidized and transformed into substances, painted in dark brown or reddish-brown color, insoluble (browning of cut apples, quince, Potato, radish, and others.).

Vitamins

Vitamins - complicated in structure and in physiological activity organics, very small quantities are required for the normal development and functioning of the body of man and animal. Vitamins play a major role in metabolism, regulate the process of assimilation and use of essential nutrients - proteins, fat, carbohydrates. When vitamin deficiency the metabolism, functional activity of organs and systems, reduced working capacity. Currently, there are about 30 Natural vitamins, many of which are contained in medicinal plants.

Animal body needs admission from the outside about 20 vitamins, the others are synthesized in the internal organs. Detailed description of the physicochemical properties and physiological significance of vitamins A, IN₁ (thiamine), IN₂ (riboflavin), IN₆ (pyridoxine), IN₁₂, IN₁₅, D, IS, F, K, P (rutin), PP (a nicotinic acid), ascorbic acid, inosine, xolina, biotin and other.

The human need for vitamins depends on the conditions of his life and work, health, the time of year and numerous other factors.

In addition to these groups of active ingredients of medicinal plants, their therapeutic properties may be due to the presence of other chemical species (organic acid, mucus and gum, fixed oils, volatile, pigments, enzymes, mineral salts, and other micronutrients.).

In many instances, the therapeutic effect of plants not connected with any single agent, and complex compounds with, its constituent. In this case, application of pure active substance does not give the therapeutic effect of, which is prepared by using the plant itself or total extract from it (eg, Valerian, briar, foxglove, Leuzea and others.).