Study of the amino acid composition of Chimáphila umbelláta herb
Authors: Коврегін О. В. , Владимирова І. М. , Михайленко О. О. , Іванаускас Людас 
Published: November 2024

The therapeutic use of amino acids is a promising direction of modern pharmacy and medicine. Amino acids play an important role in the complex pharmacological action of herbal medicines, and also improve the assimilation of other biologically active substances (BAS) and are able to potentiate their pharmacological activity. A sufficiently rich source of amino acids are medicinal plants that combine in their composition a complex of groups of BAS, thanks to which they have a combined effect on the body
The purpose of the work was the study the amino acids of Chimáphila umbelláta herb with the aim of expanding the knowledge about the chemical composition of the herbal raw material and the development of a phytotherapeutic agent with nephroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties in the future.
The object of the study was Chimáphila umbelláta dried herb (supplier «World of Herbs», Kharkiv). The research was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using a SHIMADZU GC-MS-QP2010 chromatographic system connected to an electron ionization ion source and a single-quadrupole MS 5975C (Shimadzu Technologies). A robotic autosampler and a split/non-split injection port were used. The separation of amino acids was carried out in an Rxi-5 ms (capillary column of Restek Corporation – length 30 m, outer diameter 0.25 mm and thickness liquid–stationary phase 0.25 μm) with a liquid stationary phase of 5% diphenyl and 95% polysiloxane, with helium at purity 99.99% as a carrier gas at a constant flow of 1.47 ml/min. Standard mixtures of L-amino acids: alanine, serine, valine, threonine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, and tyrosine (Sigma-Aldrich GmbH, Steinheim, Germany) were used for the analysis. Amino acids were identified by comparing the mass spectra of compounds with data from the NIST14 and WRT10 libraries, and a mixture of standard samples was used to identify and quantify amino acids.
The content of 7 amino acids, of which 3 are essential amino acids (L-valine, isoleucine, L-leucine) were identified in Chimáphila umbelláta herb. The largest amount contains L-glutamic acid (14.469 µg/g), the smallest – L-leucine (0.050 µg/g). The obtained results are important in the development of a phytotherapeutic agent for use in diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract. The amino acids identified in the studied raw materials play an important role, so L-glutamic acid participates in protein and carbohydrate metabolism, stimulates oxidation processes, helps detoxify and remove ammonia from the body, increases the body’s resistance to hypoxia. Alanine has the ability to reduce the risk of developing kidney stones, it is the basis of normal metabolism in the body, helps fight hypoglycemia; helps to moderate fluctuations in blood glucose levels between meals. The content of aspartic acid is also important – the precursor of lysine and the donor of amino groups in the biosynthesis of substitute amino acids.
The quantitative content of amino acids in Chimáphila umbelláta herb was studied by the method of gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. According to the results of the study, the content of amino acids was determined in the following order: L-glutamic acid > L-alanine > L-aspartic acid > L-valine > L-proline > isoleucine > L-leucine. The results of the conducted research indicate a rather high and diverse content of amino acids in Chimáphila umbelláta herb, which can improve the balance of phytoremedies and dietary supplements for the purpose of prevention of deficiency of this class of biologically active substances.