The interest in natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) in green technology as an alternative to organic solvents has grown over the past decades. In this work, for the first time, the effect of dilution with water on the physicochemical and antimicrobial properties of lactic acid-based NADES with choline chloride (NADES1), sorbitol (NADES2), and glucose (NADES3) was systematically studied. According to FTIR data, after the dilution of NADESs with water, the strong hydrogen bonds weakened, however, were not destroyed after dilution of up to 40% water. The dilution of NADES with water resulted in a linear decrease in density and refractive index and in a linear increase in pH. The equations for the prediction of NADES density, pH, and refractive index as a function of water content were calculated. The viscosity decreased by half after adding approximately 10% water. The initial viscosity of NADES2 and NADES3 was significantly different. However, after adding 20% of the water, the viscosity was almost the same. The most pronounced decrease in surface tension (by 46.7%) was found for NADES1. The water activity was decreased in the following order: NADES3 > NADES1 > NADES2. The dilution of NADES with water caused a gradual increase in water activity. NADES1 showed the lowest minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) (7.8, 3.9, and 0.98 mg/mL) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) (15.6, 7.8, and 1.95 mg/mL) for Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. The antimicrobial activity was decreased by 2–8 times after the addition of 40% water. The water activity for all tested NADES together with low pH could explain the antimicrobial effect. The revealed regularity can be useful for the prediction of NADES properties and for the selection of green solvents on a laboratory and industrial scale.

Introduction. Flavonoids, despite their pronounced therapeutic benefits, are limitedly used in medicine as active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) owing to a complex of unsatisfactory physicochemical properties. In order to study the mentioned problem, we decided to use quercetin as model compound with extremely low water solubility and dissolution in gastrointestinal (GI) tract media. Therefore, the main idea appears to study the possibility and prospects of hot melt extrusion (HME) application for enhancement the solubility properties of quercetin in the composition of solid dispersion system (SDS) based on hydrophilic polymeric carrier (polyvinylpyrrolidone vinyl acetate, PVP/VA). Consequently, there is a necessity to select effective drug-to-polymer ratio in solid dispersion for providing better solubility and dissolution properties.Aim. Assessment of PVP/VA effect on quercetin solubility properties in binary solid dispersion prepared by HME.Materials and methods. Quercetin substance with purity 98 % was purchased from Molekula Limited, United Kingdom. PVP/VA (copolymer of polyvinylpyrrolidone with vinyl acetate in the ratio of 60 : 40, VIVAPHARM® PVP/VA 64) as carrier was procured from JRS PHARMA (JRS PHARMA GmbH & Co. KG, Germany). Quercetin SDS were prepared using micro-conical twin screw compounder HAAKE™ MiniCTW (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany). The obtained samples were analyzed by phase-contrast microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Quercetin quantitative content in SDS were determined by UV-spectrophotometry.Results and discussion. The improvement of water solubility and dissolution rates of quercetin SDS in comparison with pure substance was observed for all solid dispersion compositions irrespective to drug-to-polymer ratio. Notably, with reduction of quercetin content in SDS compositions the PVP/VA contribution was increased. We found partial or even complete amorphization of API in formulations with 1 % and 5 % quercetin content, resulting in the improvement of water solubility properties, stability of solutions and increased dissolution rates in GI tract media. Water solubility of 1 % SDS relative to pure substance was enhanced by 353-fold. At the same time, the complete release of quercetin from 1 % SDS was achieved in 40 minutes in the hydrochloric acid and citrate buffer, and also quercetin dissolution of 90 % in 60 minute was observed in phosphate buffer.Conclusion. 1 % quercetin SDS based on PVP/VA appears to be the most promising for solid dosage forms development.

Introduction. Sosnowsky's hogweed ( Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) is a dangerous invasive transformer species widespread in the European part of Russia. The inclusion of the plant in the list of hazardous invasive species from 2026 and the ongoing regional control programs necessitate the rational utilization of its biomass. A detailed study of the phytochemical profile is a key prerequisite for justifying processing prospects. Aim. To study the phytochemical profile of H. sosnowskyi biomass, including the isolation of furanocoumarins, polysaccharides, and essential oils of pharmaceutical value, to provide a scientific basis for the rational use of this invasive species. Materials and methods. The objects of the study were the herb and fruits of H. sosnowskyi collected in Perm Krai and Leningrad Oblast in 2024. Furanocoumarins were extracted with n-hexane (Soxhlet apparatus), purified by preparative HPLC; structures were confirmed by UV, NMR, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Polysaccharide fractions (water-soluble polysaccharides – WSP, pectic substances – PS, hemicelluloses) were obtained by sequential extraction with water, ammonium oxalate, and alkali, then purified using the Sevag method. Yield was assessed gravimetrically, monosaccharide composition by HPTLC, structural features by IR spectroscopy, and molecular weights by size-exclusion chromatography. Essential oil from the fruits was obtained by hydrodistillation (Clevenger apparatus), and its component composition was analyzed by GC-MS. Results and discussion. Five furanocoumarins – xanthotoxin, psoralen, angelicin, isopimpinellin, and bergapten – were isolated from the aerial part of H. sosnowskyi and identified. The total polysaccharide content in the herb was 4.1 %, with the yield of the PS fraction at 2.3 ± 0.2 % and the WSP fraction at 1.8 ± 0.1 %. The dominant monosaccharide in both fractions was arabinose. The average molecular weight of WSP was ~160 kDa, and PS was ~193 kDa. The yield of essential oil from the fruits was 1.01 ± 0.03 %; the main component was octyl acetate (61.8 %), along with hexyl butyrate (6.4 %), 2-methylhexyl butyrate (6.0 %), and hexyl isobutyrate (5.5 %). Conclusion. H. sosnowskyi biomass is a promising multicomponent source of biologically active compounds. The proposed integrated processing approach allows the sequential isolation of furanocoumarins (5 compounds) and polysaccharides (4.1 %) from the herb, while the fruits serve as a source of essential oil with high octyl acetate content. These results provide a scientific basis for the rational use of this invasive species for pharmaceutical purposes.

INTRODUCTION. The range of liquid multivitamins for toddlers approved in the Russian Federation comprises two imported syrups. Pharmacy compounding of vitamin syrups will meet the demand for optimally formulated multivitamins in the pharmaceutical market. Therefore, a necessary step for their release into medical practice is to develop and validate analytical procedures for assessing the quality of such medicinal products.AIM. This study aimed to select and adapt analytical procedures for assessing the quality of a compounded multivitamin product for children.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study focused on a compounded sorbitol syrup containing vitamins C, PP, B1, B2, and B6. The quantities of vitamin components in the syrup corresponded to the recommended daily intake for children aged 1–3 years. For identification, the authors used qualitative reactions and spectrophotometry. Indicator-free direct iodometry was selected for the quantitative determination of ascorbic acid. Alkalimetry with bromothymol blue was used to quantitate nicotinic acid in the presence of ascorbic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, and thiamine hydrochloride. The sum of thiamine hydrochloride and pyridoxine hydrochloride was determined by direct argentometry (Fajans method) with bromophenol blue in an acetic acid medium. Riboflavin quantification involved visible spectrophotometry at 445 nm and spectrofluorometry. The sorbitol content was measured by refractometry, and the calculations accounted for the content of other syrup components. The validation was conducted in line with the applicable pharmacopoeial requirements (State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation).RESULTS. The authors selected analytical procedures for the quality evaluation of the multivitamin syrup containing five water-soluble vitamins (С, РР, В₁, В₂, В₆) and sorbitol. These analytical procedures were adapted to the simultaneous presence of riboflavin, ascorbic acid, nicotinic acid, thiamine hydrochloride, and pyridoxine hydrochloride. The authors developed analytical procedures for the determination of riboflavin by spectrofluorometry and spectrophotometry and for the selective determination of thiamine hydrochloride by photometry after a precipitation reaction with Reinecke’s salt. The analytical procedure for the determination of riboflavin by spectrofluorometry was validated for specificity, accuracy, linearity, precision (repeatability and intermediate precision), and range.CONCLUSIONS. The study confirmed the applicability of the analytical procedures that were selected and adapted for all components of the multivitamin syrup. The authors identified the conditions for the selective determination of thiamine hydrochloride by spectrophotometry after a precipitation reaction with Reinecke’s salt. The analytical procedure for the quantitative determination of riboflavin by spectrofluorometry was validated and considered suitable for use in analytical laboratories for the quantitative determination of riboflavin in multivitamin mixtures and for syrup stability testing.

Introduction. Special studies on the benefits of agricultural crops – current research regarding the prospects for the development of their products based on functional and specialized nutrition. Substances with a phenolic profile carry out various types of pharmacological activity aimed at treating metabolic and other socially significant phenomena, which allows them to be positioned as generally accepted main ingredients. The leafy botanical form of celery is a rich source of phenolic compounds.Aim. Development and validation of a method for the quantitative analysis of chlorogenic acid to assess the varietal advantages of Apium graveolens L. raw materials using HPLC.Materials and methods. For the analysis, we used leaf celery grass of different varieties grown at two sites (the village of Lembolovo and SNT "Ruchey"). Sample preparation of raw materials was carried out by extraction in an ultrasonic bath. Chromatography conditions: column Luna 5 μm C 18(100) Å LC Column 250 × 4.6 mm, thermostat temperature 40 °C, detection wavelength 327 nm. PF A 0.05 % TFA, PF B acetonitrile. Elution mode: 0 min 12 % B, 20 min 30 % PF B, 23 min 12 % PF B.Results and discussion. According to the data obtained, the accumulation of chlorogenic acid in celery raw materials depends on both the plant variety and the cultivation conditions. However, the difference in the quantitative content of the target component correlates between varieties grown on different sites. The highest content of chlorogenic acid was noted in the variety Nezhny (SNT "Ruchey") and amounted to 0.464 ± 0.012. The variety Summer Boom can be distinguished as the best variety.Conclusion. The results of the study can be used in the development and quality control of functional and specialized nutrition based on the leafy botanical form of odorous celery due to the high content of phenolic substances.

The State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation 14th ed. suggests to standardize herbal teas using the procedures presented in the pharmacopoeia monographs but this approach is not always relevant due to complexity of this dosage form composition. The purpose of investigation is to estimate quality of herbal teas utilizing monographs recommended by the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation 14th ed. for the individual components of teas and suggest feasible alternative approaches to standardization of multicomponent herbal drugs. The objects of investigation Pectorales species № 1 and Proctofitol. Detection of substances was carried out using chromatographic (TLC and HPLC) and spectrophotometric methods recommended by the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation 14th ed. for individual components measured in term of marker biological active substances or substances found in the course of quality analysis. It has been found out that the content of flavonoids measured in terms of giperosid surpasses over the equivalent figure in terms of luteolin in the extractions from Pectorales species № 1. The content of hydroxycinnamic acids in the same tea measured in terms of rosmarinic acid surpasses over the equivalent figure in terms of chlorogenic acid. Analysis of anthracene derivates in the Proctofitol has shown that the adsorption maximum of phenolate solution of anthracene derivates (523 nm) coincides with maximum by which was calculated the mass attenuation coefficient of sennoside B (523 nm) (for chrysophanic acid = 515 nm) and the maximum of adsorption of extraction from the tea with using alcohol solution of magnesium acetate (515 nm) coincides with maximum by which was calculated the mass attenuation coefficient of glucofrangulin A. Preliminary cleaning Proctofitol off anthracene derivates allowed to estimate the content of glycyrrhizic acid more completely. The giperosid was suggested as a marker substance for determination of flavonoids, rosmarinic acid was suggested as a standard for hydroxycinnamic acids in Pectorales species № 1. The sennoside B was suggested as a marker for estimating of content of anthracene derivates in the Proctofitol and the necessity of cleaning this tea off anthracene derivates when defining glycyrrhizic acid was proven.