CURRENT STATUS AND PERSPECTIVES OF THE USE OF SPECIES OF THE GENUS MELAMPYRUM IN MEDICINE AND PHARMACY
Authors: Reznik V. V. , Grytsyk A. R. 
Published: January 2025

The dynamics of development in the world market of medicinal products based on raw materials of plant origin demonstrates the increased demand for medicinal raw materials, which are a component of pharmaceutical production products. A huge number of scientific works are devoted to the issue of the study of medicinal plants, and in particular the biologically active substances they contain. Medicinal plant raw materials, which contain various classes of active substances, attract the special attention of modern scientists. Due to the content of biologically active substances, plants of the genus Melampyrum show a wide range of pharmacological effects. Information about such effects is reflected in the works of foreign researchers.The purpose of our work: to conduct an analysis of scientific primary sources regarding the chemical composition and use of species of the genus Melampyrum, to establish the possibility of creating medicines based on biologically active substances of medicinal raw materials.In research, we used such methods as retrospective, historical, bibliographic.We have analyzed the use of plants of the genus Melampyrum in official medicine and we can draw conclusions that today they are not used in official medicine, but are widespread in the territory of Ukraine and contain various groups of biologically active substances such as carbohydrates (dulcite (melampyrite), glucose, maltose, sucrose, starch, hemicellulose, pectin, mucilage), iridoids (aucubin, catalpol, isocatalpol, aukuboside, agnuside, 8-epiloganin, melampiroside, musainoside, monomelitoside, globularifolin), flavonoids (rutin, luteolin, luteolin glycosides, apigenin and quercetin), carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, violaxanthin, lutein, eloxanthin, flaoxanthin), anthocyanins, coumarins (umbelliferone), cardenolides, steroid saponins, alkaloids (cinnaroside, seneciphyllin I, senecionin II), oxycinnamic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic, ferulic), fatty acids (palmitic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic), ascorbic acid, nitrogen-containing compounds (indican, choline), free amino acids (L-glutamic acid, L-proline and tyrosine), tannins, phenolic compounds (lunularin), which accounts for a wide range of their medicinal properties.Melampyrum arvense L., Melampyrum nemorosum L., Melampyrum cristatum L. and Melampyrum pratense L. exhibit wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, sedative, anticonvulsant, hypotensive effects. Their decoctions are used for hypertension, dizziness, heart disease, neuralgia, epilepsy, diseases of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. Externally, it is used in the form of baths, washes, poultices for such diseases as skin tuberculosis, scrofulosis, diathesis, eczema, itching, rash, rheumatism, diseases of the chest organs, as a wound-healing agent. Aqueous extracts have an anticonvulsant and sedative effect, promote blood clotting. Teas and infusions from plant leaves are used both internally and externally.Species of the Melampyrum genus have long been used in folk medicine for various diseases. They are also studied by scientists from many countries around the world. In Ukraine, the plants of the genus Melampyrum have practically not been researched, so the data on their use in medicine indicate the prospects for further pharmacognostic research of various types of Melampyrum with the aim of creating and introducing into practical medicine and pharmacy new medicinal products of domestic production.