Determination of toxic trace elements and toxicity of extracts from different organs of Pulmonaria mollis

I n t r o d u c t i o n . Pulmonaria mollis is a perennial rhizomatous hemicryptophytic plant, a mesophytic ephemeroid with a dicyclic development. In this regard, three types of raw materials are distinguished: rhizomes and roots – Pulmonariae rhizomata et radices, grass (reproductive shoot) – Pulmonariae herba, and leaves (vegetative) – Pulmonariae folia. Phytopreparations from different organs of Pulmonaria mollis have different effects, allowing to consider them as promising raw materials for use in phytotherapy. However, the plant may contain not only toxic elements, but also hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. A i m . Determination of acute toxicity of extracts from different organs of Pulmonaria mollis in laboratory animals in vivo.

M a t e r i a l s  a n d  m e t h o d s . The organs of Pulmonaria mollis, which grows in a pine forest in the Kolyvansky district of the Novosibirsk region, were used as objects of research. The content of toxic trace elements (As, Cd, Pb, Hg, Be, Sr, Sb, Tl, and U) in the raw materials was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Acute toxicity was studied on 60 mature outbred albino mice (CD-1) and 20 Wistar rats.

R e s u l t s . The content of trace toxic elements in the raw materials turned out to be below acceptable standards. The maximal dosages of dry extracts of reproductive shoots, vegetative leaves and roots administered intragastrically to mice and rats did not have toxic effect on the animals during a 14-day follow-up.

C o n c l u s i o n . In different morphological types of medicinal raw materials of Pulmonaria mollis, alkaloids are present in trace amounts, and the content of trace toxic elements does not exceed the reference range. The absence of toxicity in the total extract from reproductive shoots, combined with the previously revealed anti-anemic activity, makes it possible to consider Pulmonariae herba raw materials as a promising source for development of preparations for the phytotherapy of anemic conditions.

1. Meeus S., Janssens S., Helsen K., Jacquemyn H. Evolutionary trends in the distylous genus Pulmonaria (Boraginaceae): Evidence of ancient hybridization and current interspecific gene flow. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 2016:98:63-73. DOI: 10.1016/j. ympev.2015.11.022.

2. Doronkin V.M. et al. (1997). Pulmonaria L. – Pulmonaria. In Flora of Siberia: in 14 volumes. Novosibirsk: Nauka. Siberian Publishing House RAS, Vol. 11: Pyrolaceae – Lamiaceae (Labiatae). P. 117–119. (In Russ.)

3. Matz M.N., Korkhov V.V., Bogatkina V.F. et al. Contraceptive properties of galenic preparations from some plants of the Boraginaceae family. Rastitelnye resursy. 1982;18(1):87-91. (In Russ.)

4. Budantsev A.L. (ed.) (2011). Plant Resources of Russia: Wild Flowering Plants, Their Composition and Biological Activity. St. Petersburg; Moscow. Vol. 4: Caprifoliaceae-Lobeliaceae Families. 630 p. (In Russ.)

5. Cohen J.I. A phylogenetic analysis of morphological and molecular characters of Boraginaceae: evolutionary relationships, taxonomy, and patterns of character evolution. Cladistics. 2013;30(2):139-169. DOI: 10.1111/cla.12036.

6. Bubenchikova V.N., Kazakova V.S. Lungwort (Pulmonaria obscura L.) Is a new source of polysaccharides. Pharmatsya. 2008;2:19-21. (In Russ.)

7. Kruglov D.S. Trace element structure of the most widespread plants of genus Pulmonaria. Chronicles of Young Scientists. 2012;3(3):223-226.

8. Kruglov D.S., Fursa N.S. (2012). Chemical structure of different morphological parts of Pulmonaria mollis. Current Issues of Natural Products Chemistry and Biotechnology: Book of abstracts of the 4th Annual Russia-Korean Conference. Novosibirsk. P. 38.

9. Kruglov D.S. Arzneipflanzen zur Prävention von Eisenmangel. Die Zeitschrift der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Phytotherapie. 2018;3:15.

10. El-Shazly A., Wink M. Diversity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the Boraginaceae structures, distribution, and biological properties. Diversity. 2014;6(2):188-282; DOI: 10.3390/d6020188.

11. Rebrov V.G., Gromova O.A. (2008). Vitamins, Macroand Microelements. Moscow: GEOTAR-Media. 960 p. (In Russ.)

12. Guidelines 4.1.1483-03 (2003). Determination of content of chemical elements in biosubstrates, preparations and dietary supplements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Moscow. 36 p. (In Russ.)

13. Nikitin V.I. (2017). Primary Statistical Processing of Experimental Data. Samara. 80 p. (In Russ.)

14. State Pharmacopoeia. XV ed. URL: https://pharmacopoeia.regmed.ru/pharmacopoeia/izdanie-15/ (accessed 11.10.2024).

15. GOST 33215-2014 (2016). Guidelines for laboratory animal care. Rules of equipment of premises and organization of procedures. Moscow: Standartinform. 13 p. (In Russ.)

16. On the approval of SanPiN Sanitary Rules and Regulations 1.2.3685-21 “Hygienic standards and requirements for ensuring the safety and (or) harmlessness of environmental factors for humans”: Resolution of the Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation dated 28.01.2021 N 2. URL: https://dou.su/files/docs/SP123685_21.pdf (accessed 11.10.2024).

17. Norms of physiological requirements of energy and nutrients for different population groups of the Russian Federation: Guidelines 2.3.1.0253-21. URL: https://sh25-pyatigorsk-r07.gosweb.gosuslugi.ru/netcat_files/32/315/MR_2.3.1.0253_21.pdf (accessed 11.10.2024).

18. Mironov A.N., Bunyatyan N.D., Vasiliev A.N. et al. (2012). Guidelines for Preclinical Studies of Medicines. Moscow: Grif & Company. 944 p. (In Russ.)

19. GOST 12.1.007-76 (2007). System of occupational safety standards. Harmful substances. Classification and general safety requirements. Moscow: Standartinform. 7 p. (In Russ.)