From October 8 to 10, 2025, the XXVI International Congress "FITOFARM-2025" was held, at which Igor E. Shohin spoke on the topic "Journal "Herbarium": Results of the First Year and Plans for the Future."

Introduction. Common horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.), an introduced plant, is widely used for landscaping and medicinal purposes in the Russian Federation. Horse chestnuts are most productive in southern regions, and their seeds are used to treat venous disease in official medicine. The flowers of this plant have strong antioxidant properties, but their industrial cultivation in Russia is limited due to harsh climatic conditions, parasites and diseases of the plant, as well as dependence on foreign imports.

Aim. The purpose of the study is to study the rational exploitation of horse chestnuts in order to obtain high-quality materials for use in cultural plantations.

Materials and methods. The subject of the investigation was the horse chestnut flower, which was collected during the dry weather months of May and June 2023 in the Voronezh Region. The raw material was collected at different stages of flowering. The flavonoid content was determined by a previously developed and validated method of quantitative analysis based on differential spectroscopy techniques. Optical measurements were taken using an SF-2000 Spectrophotometer manufactured by the Spectr Design Bureau in St. Petersburg. Extractives, shelf life, and stability were assessed according to the 15th edition of the Russian State Pharmacopeia.

Results and discussion. It has been found that it is advisable to harvest horse chestnuts during the flowering period in late May, when the weather is dry. When harvesting flowers from cultivated plants, it is important to leave some of the inflorescence to ensure natural reproduction of seeds. Other parts that have fallen into the harvested flowers, as well as raw materials that are affected by insects or disease, should be removed. The drying process should be carried out using the air-shade or dryer method at a temperature between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius. Optimal conditions for storage include shelves in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight. The temperature should not exceed 25 degrees Celsius and the relative humidity should be less than 65 percent. The target group of flavonoids in horse chestnut flower samples collected in the Central Black Earth region (Voronezh Oblast as an example) was (3.51 ± 0.11) %, which meets the previously proposed quality criteria of at least 2 % for raw materials.

Conclusion. Based on the results of the research, instructions for the collection and drying of horse chestnut blossoms have been developed and applied in the scientific and industrial activities of the VSU Botanical Garden, named after Professor Boris M. Kozo-Polyanskiy.

Introduction. As an additional method to clarify the topography and structural features of structures that are important in assessing the authenticity of a plant object, modern high-precision methods have recently been resorted to, which include scanning electron microscopy.

Aim. The purpose of the work was to analysis of the morphology of the surface of the Málva pusílla by scanning electron microscopy.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted the Málva pusílla, an herb growing in the Voronezh Region and harvested during mass flowering in 2023. The morphology of the surface of the Málva pusílla, after spraying a graphite nanofilm on it in vacuum with a carbon filament, was performed by scanning electron microscopy (JSM-6510LV JEOL electron microscope, Japan).

Results and discussion. Scanning electron microscopy made it possible to study the surface relief of the object under study. The topography of the trichomes of the upper side of the leaf and the structure of the base, consisting of a rosette of epidermal cells slightly elevated above the epidermis, have been clarified. On the underside of the leaf, the presence of numerous glandular trichomes was revealed, including a single or bicellular pedicle and a multicellular head, the cells of which collapse during drying of plant raw materials. The epidermal cells of the sepals are strongly sinuous, and the cell walls have clearly visible thickenings. The stomata are large, numerous, and occur on both sides of the leaf and the sepals of the provender low. With the help of microregenstructural analysis, it was established that potassium and calcium are the major elements. Potassium and magnesium are mainly localized in the tissues of the upper side and petals of the calyx, calcium and sulfur in the tissues of the lower side of the leaf, phosphorus in the tissues of the petals of the calyx.

Conclusion. The paper clarifies and supplements the description of morphological features, and also presents for the first time the results of a study of the Málva pusílla grass using scanning electron microscopy. Thanks to the use of a high-precision analysis method, the main morphological features of the Málva pusílla have been visualized and topographed, and the structure of diagnostically significant structures has been clarified. Microroentgenstructural analysis in a specific area of the facility made it possible to identify the composition of the main macro- and microelements and establish the prevailing amount of potassium and calcium.

Introduction. Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), known as a spice, is not only a valuable medicinal raw material in traditional Indian medicine due to its biologically active components (curcuminoids) but also a promising component for the development of modern pharmaceuticals. Curcumin was considered as one of the potential components of COVID-19 treatment regimens due to its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Turmeric raw material is included in the Indian, Ayurvedic, Chinese, Japanese, American Herbal, European, and British Pharmacopoeias. A draft monograph for the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation (15th edition) has currently been developed. However, it only describes the whole raw material of Curcuma longa L. Since ground raw material is often supplied to the domestic pharmaceutical market, it is relevant to study the identity indicators using the microscopic method.

Aim. To identify the microdiagnostic characteristics of turmeric rhizome powder.

Materials and methods. The study objects were powdered turmeric rhizomes (India) available on the domestic market. For microscopic analysis, the samples were clarified by boiling in a 2.5 % sodium hydroxide solution and prepared as microscopic slides in accordance with the requirements of OFS.1.5.3.0003 "Microscopic and Microchemical Analysis of Herbal Drug Materials and Herbal Medicinal Products". The slides were examined using a Leica DM1000 LED light microscope (Germany) at magnifications of 100× and 400×.

Results and discussion. Characteristic features of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) rhizomes, powdered to a fine state, have been identified. The conducted quantitative analysis of the raw material's micro-diagnostic features revealed differences in the number of cork layers and the sizes of parenchyma cells and cells containing starch. It has been established that the raw material is characterized by the presence of individual fragments typical of the whole raw material (scalariform-reticulate vessels, multilayered cork, cells with orange content, large starch grains, tabular remnants of the epidermis, and trichomes). All the identified features are consistent with the requirements of foreign pharmacopoeias and can be used for inclusion in the draft monograph for the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation (XV edition).

Conclusion. Characteristic features of Curcuma longa rhizome powder available on the Russian pharmaceutical market were identified. The raw material was found to contain specific fragments typical of whole crude drug, including scalariform-reticulate vessels, multilayered cork, cells with orange-colored contents, large starch grains, tabular epidermal remnants, and trichomes. All identified characteristics comply with the requirements of foreign pharmacopoeias and can be used for inclusion in the draft monograph for the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation.

Introduction. Extraction increasing of biologically active substances (BAS) is one of the important problems of modern pharmacognosy and technology of herbal medicines. This problem is especially relevant for medicinal plant raw materials (MPRS) with a small content of BAS. One solution could be the heat pre-treatment of MPRS. To perform heat pre-treatment, it is advisable to experimentally select parameters that ensure the highest yield of BAS from the processed MPRM.

Aim. To study the influence of thermal pre-treatment parameters of dandelion roots on the content of hydroxycinnamic acids (HCA).

Materials and methods. The object of the study was air-dried dandelion roots from six series. Quantitative determination of the total content of HCA in terms of caffeic acid was determined by spectrophotometry with Arnov's reagent. The qualitative composition of HCA was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography by comparison with standards. Thermal pre-treatment of roots was carried out in an air sterilizer at different temperatures. The content of HCA was compared with the activity of polyphenol oxidase.

Results and discussion. Temperature, duration of thermal pre-treatment, presence of packaging, layer thickness and condition of raw materials by degree of grinding statistically significantly affect the extraction of HCA. Extraction of HCA in comparison with untreated raw materials increases by 36.0 %, qualitative composition and ratio of the main identified HCA (caffeic, chlorogenic, chicory, gallic, p-coumaric acids) do not change when pre-treatment is carried out at a temperature of 140 °С in foil for 1 hour in the thickness of the raw material powder layer with a particle size of 355 µm and less up to 1 cm. During heat pre-treatment, the content of HCA is interconnected with the activity of polyphenol oxidase and the treatment temperature: in the range from 40 to 120 °С a direct dependence was revealed, in the range from 120 to 140 °С it changes to the opposite.

Conclusion. Optimal parameters for heat pre-treatment of dandelion roots have been established, increasing the extraction of HCA without changing their composition and ratio. The identified parameters can be used to obtain extracts from dandelion roots with a high content of HCA for the further development of technologies for obtaining extraction herbal medicines, methods for isolating individual HCA or methods for their quantitative determination.

Introduction. Dandruff is the commonest scalp disorder. It affects around 50 % of the pre-pubertal age group of any gender. Malazzasia species play a major role in pathogenesis of this condition which is one of the causes for hair fall. Hence It was chosen as Krimi (Fungi) for invitro antimicrobial study. The current treatment options for dandruff includes using antifungal shampoos which have certain limitations besides they are known to cause discoloration of hair, Pruritic, dryness of scalp and hair. Hence this study was under taken to find better herbal alternative to manage Dandruff. Vibhitaki which is one of the primary constituents of Triphala (Classical polyherbal formulation of three fruits) is known to have keshya (Beneficial to hair) and krimighna karma (Anti-microbial activity). Hence Invitro antifungal activity of Vibhitaki was tested against dandruff causing organism Malassezia furfur.

Aim. To evaluate the Antifungal activity of Vibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn)Roxb.) against dandruff causing organism Malassezia furfur using well diffusion method.

Materials and methods. Well diffusion method was employed for Invito anti-fungal study. Different forms of the drug were chosen for antimicrobial study viz Vibhitaki taila (Vibhitaki oil), Aqueous extract, Methanolic extract of Vibhitaki fruit and Narikela taila (Coconut oil).

Results and discussion. The zone of inhibition was measured to check the Antifungal activity of Vibhitaki fruit using suitable internal standard positive control. Methanolic extract of Vibhitaki has shown better antimicrobial activity than aqueous extract of Vibhitaki against Malassezia furfur but it was not that of standard drug’s zone of Inhibition. Whereas Vibhitaki taila and Narikela taila did not show any antimicrobial activity against Malassezia furfur.

Conclusion. Methanolic extract and aqueous extract of Vibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica) possess antifungal activity against Malassezia furfur.