ANALYSIS OF LIPOPHILIC FRACTION OF THE COMMON PUSSYTOES HERB
Authors: Basaraba R. Yu. 
Published: May 2019

Introduction. The lipophilic fractions of many medicinal plants today are poorly understood, despite the fact that they contain such important biologically active substances as chlorophylls, carotenoids, tocopherols, phytosterols, fatty acids, phospholipids, etc., which according to the literature show reparative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, immunostimulant, antitumor activity. Compounds of lipophilic nature are carotenoids and chlorophylls are of great importance. Carotenoids increase the body's resistance to mutagens and carcinogens, reduce age-related degenerative changes in tissues, inhibit proliferation of malignant cells, activate the synthesis of cytokines and interleukins, participate in the regulation of gene transcription, and also exhibit immunomodulatory effects. The antioxidant properties of carotenoids cause their photo-protective, radioprotective, anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic effects. Chlorophyll in the human body promotes the formation of hemoglobin and can be used in medicine as a valuable therapeutic agent that accelerates the processes of hematopoiesis, affects the blood's formula, as well as stabilizes the functioning of the circulatory system. It has the ability to activate various functions of the human body, in particular thyroid gland, antitoxic function of the liver, as well as a tonic, normalizes metabolic processes and improves immunity.

The aim of the study – to obtain a lipophilic extract from the herb of the common pussytoes, to study its qualitative composition and to determine the quantitative content of carotenoids and chlorophylls.

Research Methods. The lipophilic fraction from the common pussytoes herb was maintained by the way of exhausting extraction of the raw materials chloroform in the Sockslet apparatus. The obtained lipophilic fraction was used for the determination of chlorophylls and carotenoids. The definitions are followed by the TLC method. Determination of the quantitative content of chlorophylls and carotenoids was carried out by spectrophotometric method. Content of the amount of chlorophylls was determined at 670 nm in terms of chlorophyll A; carotinoids – for the benefit of a wave of 450 nm, based on β-carotene.

Results and Discussion. The results of the studies showed that the yield of the lipophilic fractions of the common pussytoes herb was equal to the absolute dry material (6.17±0.12) %. Lipophilic fraction of the common pussytoes herb is a thick butter indiscrete mass of dirty-green color with a pleasant specific odor; practically insoluble in water purified P and ethanol 96 % P, readily soluble in chlorophyll P. The content of chlorophylls and carotenoids in the investigated extract was (0.085±0.003) % and (0.029±0.001) %. The content of chlorophylls in the common pussycat herb was 2.9 times higher than carotenoids.

Conclusions. The lipophilic fraction of the common pussytoes herb was obtained, the output of which was 6.17 %. In the lipophilic fraction, the quantitative content of chlorophylls and carotenoids was determined, which was in the common pussytoes herb 0.085 % and 0.029 %, respectively.