A pharmacognostic study and diagnostic signs of Onosma simplicissima herb

I n t r o d u c t i o n. Plants of the genus Onosma are widely used in Asian folk medicine. The wide range of pharmacological effects of herbal medicines from these plants is due to the variety of biologically active compounds (BAC). At the same time, the widespread species of the genus Onosma in Russia – Onosma simplicissima L. – has been studied insufficiently.

A i m. A pharmacognostic study of Onosma simplicissima herb.

M a t e r i a l s a n d m e t h o d s. The object of the study was the aerial part of Onosma simplicissima L., collected during the flowering phase. Total extracts from the raw materials obtained using water-ethanol mixtures and 2% hydrochloric acid as extractants were used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of plant components using spectrophotometric and gravimetric methods. The micromorphology of leaves and flowers was studied using a Zeiss Axio Scope.A1 microscope.

R e s u l t s. The following BAC were detected and quantified in the raw materials: polysaccharides – 5.4%, polyflavane compounds – 3.2%, chlorophyll a – 0.46%, chlorophyll b – 0.29%, the sum of carotenoids and xanthophylls – 0.03%, flavonoids (in terms of rutin) – 0.98% and hydroxycinnamic acids (in terms of dicaffeoylquinic acid) – 0.34%.

During the microscopic analysis of leaf morphology, three types of trichomes were determined which can be used for identification of the raw materials.

C o n c l u s i o n. The presence of BAC with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and regenerative effects indicates the needs for an elaborate study of Onosma simplicissima as a promising source of herbal raw materials.

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