The International Scientific Symposium "From Plant to Medicine" was held on June 4, 2025 at the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution VILAR. The event included two conferences: the International Scientific Conference "Achievements and Prospects for the Creation of New Herbal Medicines" and the Scientific and Methodological Conference "VI Hammerman Readings".

Introduction. Asperugo procumbens L. belongs to the borage family (Boragináceae) and is a widespread plant in the Russian Federation. According to recent studies, asperugi herb exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, is used for bronchial asthma, and has sedative, antispasmodic, and antidepressant effects. Despite the available data, Asperugo procumbens belongs to insufficiently studied plants, in particular, there is no information regarding the description of diagnostically important elements of its structure necessary for the formation of the "Authenticity" section when developing regulatory documentation for plant raw materials "Asperugo procumbens herba".

Aim. The purpose of the work was to establish the identification features of Asperugo procumbens grass using raster electronic microscopy.

Materials and methods. The object in the work was naturally dried Asperugo procumbens grass, harvested independently in May 2023 during mass flowering in the Voronezh region. The study of the morphological characteristics of Asperugo procumbens using scanning electron microscopy was carried out on a JSM-6510LV (JEOL, Japan) electron microscope (Japan) after sputtering a thin graphite film with a carbon filament onto the surface of the analyzed object in a vacuum.

Results and discussion. A study of the surface of both the leaves and the flower of Asperugo procumbens showed the presence of folding of the epidermis. Numerous simple unicellular coarsely warty hairs are found on the calyx leaves. The cells of the upper epidermis of the leaf are rounded, while the cells of the lower epidermis are narrow-rectangular. Stomata are anomocytic type. On both sides of the leaf there are simple unicellular hairs, with dense cell walls and an expanded base. As a result of the initial assessment of the presence of the main elements, it was shown that the prevailing content of potassium is in both the surface tissues of the leaf and the calyx, and magnesium, phosphorus and sulfur are found in greater quantities in the petals of the calyx, where nitrogen was not detected, and sodium and silicon are the leading contents in tissues of the upper side of the leaf. The presence of calcium is shown only in the tissues of the calyx petals.

Conclusion. The study of the anatomical and morphological signs of Asperugo procumbens using scanning electron microscopy was carried out for the first time. As a result of the study, the main identification features of Asperugo procumbens grass were clarified and visualized, some features were established for the first time, and their topography was also revealed. As a result of a preliminary assessment of the presence of the most common elements, a difference in both qualitative and quantitative content in the tissues of the leaf and calyx petals was shown.

Introduction. Hazel leaves in traditional Russian and world medicine are used in urological and proctological practice as an antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. The lack of proper regulatory documentation does not allow, despite the use of hazel leaves for the treatment and prevention of certain diseases, to include this raw material in the register of medicines of official medicine.

Aim. To establish criteria for the authenticity of hazel leaves growing in the European part of the Russian Federation in accordance with the modern requirements of the Russian Federation State Pharmacopoeia.

Materials and methods. The object of the study was hazel leaves harvested in the Moscow region (Dmitrovsky district, village of Rogachevo) in July 2024. The study of macro- and microscopic signs was carried out in accordance with the requirements of GPMs of Russian State Pharmacopoeia XV "Leaves" and "Technique of microscopic and microchemical examination of medicinal plant raw materials and preparations of plant origin". The composition of BAS was studied by chromatography in a thin layer of sorbent (TLC).

Results and discussion. Macro- and microdiagnostic signs of hazel leaves have been identified, which allow the identification of raw materials: rounded or ovoid shape of the leaf plate, bicuspid edge, anomocytic type of stomatal apparatus, petiole size, the presence of two types of simple and glabrous hairs, calcium oxalate druses in the mesophyll. The composition of biologically active compounds of hazel leaves has been studied. Organic acids (ascorbic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid) and phenolic compounds (rutin, quercetin, gallic acid, and tannin) were found.

Conclusion. The results of studies to determine the macroscopic, microscopic and chemical characteristics of the authenticity of hazel leaves (Corylus avellana L.) growing in the European part of the Russian Federation are presented.

Introduction. The fruits of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), of the celery family (Apiaceae), are approved for medical use in the form of aqueous extracts, while the standardization of raw materials is carried out according to the content of essential oil and its component composition, and the hydrophilic fraction of biologically active substances (BAS) of these types of medicinal plant raw materials is practically not studied, therefore, its research is relevant.

Aim. To study some BAS groups of the hydrophilic fraction of coriander fruits (Coriandrum sativum L.) and fennel fruits (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) and their infusions.

Materials and methods. Coriander fruits and fennel fruits were purchased from a pharmacy and met the requirements of the fifteenth edition of the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation. The fruit infusions were prepared according to the instructions on the packaging. The studies were conducted according to the methods of the fifteenth edition of the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation.

Results and discussion. In fennel fruits (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), coriander fruits (Coriandrum sativum L.), and infusions made from the fruits, the presence of tannins, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and free amino acids was confirmed, and their quantitative content was determined. It has been established that the content of hydrophilic fraction substances exceeds the content of essential oil in the raw material, but their amount in infusions prepared according to the instructions is low, and further research of the complex of bioactive substances in infusions of coriander and fennel fruits is required.

Conclusion. The hydrophilic fraction of the fennel fruits and coriander fruits, as well as their infusions, have been studied, and the need for further in-depth research has been shown, with the search for marker compounds that determine the pharmacological activity of the aqueous extracts.

Introduction. Herbal medicines remain relevant today. One of the most promising dosage forms are dry extracts. Their production is difficult and in some cases requires expensive equipment (spray dryer, etc.). The aim of this work was to develop a method for producing dry extracts from liquid aqueous-alcoholic extracts.

Aim. The aim of this work was to develop a method for producing dry extracts from liquid aqueous-alcoholic extracts.

Materials and methods. The objects of the study were aqueous-alcoholic extracts with a wide range of ethyl alcohol concentrations: from 16.5 to 70 % (vol.) and the maximum spectrum of biologically active substances – Tonsilgon N drops; tincture containing an original phytocomposition (rhizomes with roots of Rhapontici cartamoidis, leaves of Bergeniae crassifoliae, flowers of Calendulae officinalis, herb of Flipendulae ulmariae); a mixture of tinctures from the rhizomes with roots of Valerianae officinalis and the herb Leonuri cardiaceae. To obtain a dry extract, a rotary evaporator was used, on which liquid herbal preparations were concentrated and dried in a drying cabinet at a temperature of 60 °C with multiple additions of a liquid immiscible with water – ethyl acetate until the required humidity was obtained. The most optimal drying option was selected based on the following parameters: sample volume, concentration time on a rotary evaporator, frequency of addition of ethyl acetate and its amount, the size of the evaporation bowls, as well as the technique for distributing the concentrated mass. The obtained extracts were standardized according to the following parameters: description, flowability, loss in mass on drying in accordance with the requirements of the relevant general pharmacopoeial articles, the content of residual organic solvents (ethyl acetate) was estimated by high-performance liquid chromatography with an ultraviolet detector.

Results and discussion. A method for obtaining dry extracts from liquid aqueous-alcoholic extracts was developed. Dry consistency and flowability were achieved using an evaporating bowl with a size of at least 6 with distribution of the thickened mass by rotational movements relative to the vertical and horizontal axes of the bowl using a celluloid plate and adding ethyl acetate in a volume of 50 % of the initial mass of the liquid aqueous-alcoholic extract. Such parameters as sample volume, thickening time on a rotary evaporator and the frequency of adding ethyl acetate depended on the initial volume content of ethyl alcohol. The obtained extracts had the property of flowability, the loss in mass on drying was less than 10 %, the ethyl acetate content was less than 0.5 %.

Conclusion. A method for obtaining a dry extract from aqueous-alcoholic extracts was developed.

Introduction. The practical approach to treating diabetes mellitus often overlooks the management of obesity, focusing primarily on glycemic control. Consequently, there is a growing need to explore pharmacological strategies for obesity treatment within the so-called diabetic syndrome. Certain plant species contain a wide range of biologically active compounds that may have beneficial effects on metabolic processes in the body.

Aim. To investigate the effects of a complex of polyphenolic compounds from Iris lactea herb and polysaccharides and pectins from Apium graveolens rhizomes on body weight and fat content in leptin-resistant diabetic mice.

Materials and methods. The experiment employed bioimpedance analysis and blood biochemical analysis to measure glucose levels.

Results and discussion. It was found that the studied phytosubstances led to a reduction in body weight and adipose tissue proportion in the animals compared to the control group. Additionally, the group treated with Iris lactea extracts showed a decrease in blood glucose levels.

Conclusion. The obtained data confirm the potential use of Iris lactea and Apium graveolens extracts as sources of bioactive compounds for developing obesity treatment agents.