Fucus vesiculosus is one of the most prominent brown algae in the shallow waters of the seas of the Arctic region (Barents (BS), White (WS), Norwegian (NS), and Irminger (IS)). The aim of this study was to determine the biochemical composition of F. vesiculosus from the Arctic at different reproductive phases, and to evaluate the antioxidant properties of F. vesiculosus extracts. The amounts of monosaccharides, phlorotannins, flavonoids, and ash and the mineral composition significantly varied in the algae. A strong correlation was established between monosaccharide, phlorotannin, and flavonoid accumulation and water salinity (Pearson’s correlation coefficients r = −0.58, 0.83, and 0.44, respectively; p < 0.05). We noted a negative correlation between the antioxidant activity and the amount of the structural monosaccharides of fucoidan (r = −0.64). A positive correlation of phlorotannins and flavonoids with antioxidant power was confirmed for all samples. The ash accumulation was relatively lower in the sterile phase for the algae from the BS and WS. The correlation between the Metal Pollution Index (MPI) and the reproductive phases was medium with high fluctuation. Meanwhile, the MPI strongly correlated with the salinity and sampling site. The gradient of the MPI values across the sea was in the following ranking order: BS < WS < NS < IS. Taken together, and based on our data on the elemental contents of F. vesiculosus, we believe that this alga does not accumulate toxic doses of elements. Therefore, the Arctic F. vesiculosus could be safely used in food and drug development as a source of active biochemical compounds and as a source of dietary elements to cover the daily nutritional requirements of humans.

In recent years, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have been widely investigated for the extraction of food and medicinal plants as well as seaweeds. However, the ability of NADES for trace elements co-extraction from natural sources is not well investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of common NADES for trace elements co-extraction from Fucus vesiculosus. All of the tested NADES did not recover As and Co (concentration <LOQ). Moreover, all of the tested NADES provided a low recovery (<9%) of Ba, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Sr, and Zn. The method of extraction had not shown a statistically significant effect on the co-extraction of all elements (excluding Ba and Ca). In contrast, the water content in NADES was significantly affected on the recovery of Ba, Ca, Mg, Mn, Sr, and Zn. The recovery of Al and Cr was relatively high and considerably varied (from 1.5 to 59.9%). NADES comprising lactic acid:glucose:H₂O (5:3:1) provided the lowest contents of all elements, and the highest extracted amounts were obtained employing water contents of 60–80%. The calculated daily intake of all the elements contained in NADES extracts were less than the daily dose risk estimators. The hazard quotients, hazard indexes, and carcinogenic risk calculated for all trace elements and their combination were considerably less than 1. This evidences no health risk, and carcinogenic risk after topical application of all studied NADES. For the first time, the results of the current study demonstrated that NADES extracts of F. vesiculosus contain a lower amount of trace metals and are safer than the extracts obtained with water and 70% acetone. This indicates a significant advantage for NADES compared with the other solvents.

Ascophyllum nodosum is a brown seaweed common in Arctic tidal waters. We have collected A. nodosum samples from the Barents Sea (BS), Irminger Sea (IS), and Norwegian Sea (NS) in different reproductive stages and have evaluated their biochemical composition, radical scavenging potential, and health risks. The total content of dominating carbohydrates (fucoidan, mannitol, alginate, and laminaran) ranged from 347 mg/g DW in NS to 528 mg/g DW in BS. The proportion of two main structural monosaccharides of fucoidan (fucose and xylose) differed significantly between the seas and reproductive phase, reaching a maximum at the fertile phase in the BS sample. Polyphenols and flavonoids totals were highest in NS A. nodosum samples and increased on average in the following order: BS < IS < NS. A positive correlation of free radical scavenging activity for seaweed extracts with polyphenols content was observed. The concentration of elements in A. nodosum from the Arctic seas region was in the following order: Ca > Mg > Sr > Fe > Al > Zn > As total > Rb > Mn > Ba > Cu > Co. Seaweeds from BS had the lowest metal pollution index (MPI) of 38.4. A. nodosum from IS had the highest MPI of 83. According to the calculated target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) values, Arctic A. nodosum samples pose no carcinogenic risk to adult and child health and are safe for regular consumption. Our results suggest that the Arctic A. nodosum has a remarkable potential for food and pharmaceutical industries as an underestimated source of polysaccharides, polyphenols, and flavonoids.

Fucus distichus L. is the dominant canopy-forming macroalga in the rocky intertidal areas of the Arctic and Subarctic. In the present study, the impact of the geographic location of F. distichus collected in the Baffin Sea (BfS), Norwegian Sea (NS), White Sea (WS), and Barents Sea (BS) on the variations in biochemical composition, antiradical properties, and health risk was evaluated. The accumulation of main carbohydrates (fucoidan, mannitol, and alginic acid) varied from 335 mg/g dry weight (DW) in NS to 445 mg/g DW in BS. The highest level of the sum of polyphenols and flavonoids was found in samples of F. distichus from WS and was located in the following ranking order: BS < BfS < NS < WS. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity of seaweed is correlated with its phenolic content. It is notable that in most Arctic F. distichus samples, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni were not detected or their concentrations were below the limit of quantification. According to calculated targeted hazard quotient and hazard index values, all studied samples of Arctic F. distichus are safe for daily consumption as they do not pose a carcinogenic risk to the health of adults or children. The results of this study support the rationale for using Arctic F. distichus as a rich source of polysaccharides, polyphenols, and flavonoids with important antiradical activity. We believe that our data will help to effectively use the potential of F. distichus and expand the use of this algae as a promising and safe raw material for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Herba Cistanche (Cistanche species) in Traditional Chinese Medicine is used for the treatment of several diseases and symptoms, to include pain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of the hydroethanol extract of Cistanche salsa (C.A.Mey.) Beck, Orobanchaceae, stolons in animal models of pain. Chemical composition of Herba Cistanche was analyzed by HPLC-UV. Mice Swiss Webster (25–30 g, n = 6) were orally pre-treated with Herba Cistanche (10, 30 or 100 mg/kg) and evaluated in the formalin test and in the capsaicin- or glutamate-induced licking response. Kazakh Herba Cistanche is composed mainly by phenylpropanoid glycosides, from which echinacoside, acteoside and tubuloside B are the main constituents. When Herba Cistanche was administered to mice it had an effect in both phases of the formalin test (77% activity at 30 mg/kg for phase 1 and 62% activity at 100 mg/kg for phase 2) suggesting analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Kazakh Herba Cistanche was able to reduce the animals licking time after injection of glutamate (81% reduction at 30 mg/kg) and capsaicin (81% reduction at 100 mg/kg). We conclude that phenolics present in the hydroethanol extract of C. salsa could be responsible for its pharmacological profile. In order to source a good quality raw material for Traditional Chinese Medicine we recommended this Kazakh species to be standardized using echinacoside and acteoside as markers

Introduction. Orthilia secunda (L.) House, Sedum quadrifidum Pall., Rhodiola heterodonta (Hook. f. & Thomson) Boriss. are actively used in folk medicine for the treatment of gynecological pathologies, however, the raw materials of these species are registered as dietary supplements, since there are no data from complex phytochemical analysis and standardization criteria. Since macro- and microelements are of great importance for the therapy and prevention of gynecological diseases, the determination of the elemental composition of medicinal plant raw materials is an important stage in a comprehensive phytochemical research of these plants with the purpose of introducing them into official medicine.Aim. Analysis of the macro- and microelement composition of the rhizomes and roots of Sedum quadrifidum, Rhodiola heterodonta in comparison with Sedum roseum and analysis of the mineral composition of the herb Orthilia secunda from three harvesting sites.Materials and methods. For research purposes, the grass of Orthilia secunda (L.) House was harvested in three phytocenotic zones – the southern part of Kazakhstan (July 2018), the Tyumen region (harvesting July-August 2019) and the Perm region (July 2019). Rhizomes and roots of Sedum rosea were harvested in the SPCPU in the village Lembolovo, Leningrad region (2019). Medicinal plant raw material of Sedum quadrifidum was purchased in a pharmacy chain in St. Petersburg, the place and time of procurement according to the information on the package is Altai, March 2019. Rhodiola heterodonta was harvested in Tajikistan (March 2018). The analysis was carried out by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (AES) on an Optima 8000 spectrometer (Perkin Elmer, USA) with preliminary sample preparation by the wet mineralization method in accordance with the recommendations of the State Foundation of the Russian Federation XIV OFS1.2.1.1.0004.15 and OFS 1.5. 3.0009.15 on the basis of the Center for Collective Use "Analytical Center". Statistical processing of the results was carried out using the Microsoft Excel program according to GM.1.1.0013.15.Results and discussion. According to the results of the experiment, it was found that Sedum quadrifidum contains a greater amount of sodium, iron, aluminum, and manganese in comparison with other types of Rhodiols, and the content of manganese is 3 times higher than in the Sedum rosea, and 4.9 times more than in the Rhodiola heterodonta. Rhodiola heterodonta is distinguished by a high content of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. The results of studying the elemental composition of Orthilia herb showed that the harvesting region does not significantly affect the mineral profile of the plant. However, in Orthilia secunda (L.) House harvested in Kazakhstan, a high content of barium is noted, iron, magnesium, manganese, and zinc also slightly prevail, which may be associated with technogenic soil pollution in this region. A significant content of manganese was noted in the herb of orthilia (1801.50 mg/kg), which is higher than in the raw material of rhodiola, which belongs to manganophiles. This makes it possible to classify ortilia as a plant that selectively accumulates manganese, and to position it as an indicator of soils rich in salts of this element. The results of statistical processing made it possible to establish the confidence interval of the mean value, which characterizes the uncertainty of the analysis results and the RSD, which characterizes the precision of the results obtained.Conclusion. Sedum quadrifidum accumulates the maximum numberof elements in comparison with Sedum roseum. Barium and strontium are the major microelements of the Rhodiola. Sedum quadrifidum is marketed as a manganophil. In the herb of Orthilia, manganese is significantly prevalent, which makes it possible to classify Orthilia as a manganophilous species. The total content of copper, iron, zinc and calcium in the raw material of Rhodiola heterodonta and Orthilia secunda herb confirms the prospects for the development of phytopreparations based on these species of raw materials for the treatment and prevention of gynecological pathologies.