Galium aparine L., family Rubiaceae, is a widely spread species in the Galium genus. The herb of G. aparine is part of folk remedies and dietary supplements. In this study, we analyzed the chemical composition and immunomodulatory activities of G. aparine herb ethanolic extracts obtained from the plant material by maceration with 20%, 60% or 96% ethanol. The contents of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, flavonoids and polyphenols were determined spectrophotometrically, with extractives and polysaccharides quantified gravimetrically. The qualitative composition was studied using UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS analysis; isolation not previously described in G. aparine quercetin rhamnoglucoside was carried out through column chromatography, and the immunomodulatory activity of extracts was determined in the reaction of lymphocyte blast transformation. Major constitutes of extracts were iridoids, i.e., monotropein, 10-desacetylasperulosidic acid and asperulosidic acid; p-hydroxybenzoic acid; hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, i.e., 3-O-caffeoylquinic, 5-O-caffeoylquinic, 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic, 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acids and caffeic acid derivatives; flavonoids, i.e., rutin, quercetin 3-O-rhamnoglucoside-7-O-glucoside, and isorhamnetin 3-O-glucorhamnoside. Significantly, quercetin 3-O-rhamnoglucoside-7-O-glucoside was first isolated and identified in Galium species so far investigated. All G. aparine herb ethanolic extracts stimulate the transformational activity of immunocompetent blood cells, with 96% ethanolic extract being the most active. The data obtained necessitate further research into the mechanisms of immunomodulatory activity of extracts from G. aparine herb.

The prospect of creating a new medicine with psychotropic activity is shown as a result of studying the chemical composition and pharmacological activity of modified dry extracts of motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.) tincture. The most promising substances were the dry extracts, modified by adding small amounts of arginine, valine, phenylalanine, glycine, lysine, and alanine. A total of 15 main phenolic substances were found in the extracts, and eight of them were identified. There were also 10 hydroxycinnamic acids in these extracts, three of which were identified (chlorogenic, caffeic, and rosmarinic acids). The dominant hydroxycinnamic acids were chlorogenic and caffeic acids. Among flavonoids, catechin, hyperoside, and rutin were identified. It should be noted that the extracts had a significant content of ellagic acid. On the basis of the results of the phytochemical analysis of the extracts, it can be concluded that the composition of phenolic compounds does not differ significantly, and the main differences are related to amino acids, which obviously have an impact on the overall pharmacological effect. The results obtained indicate the presence of anxiolytic activity in the motherwort extracts studied in complex with amino acids. The extracts with glycine, valine, and arginine were more effective in reducing anxiety in animals.

Extracts from aerial parts of G. aparine (cleavers) constitute a herbal remedy with monography in British Herbal Pharmacopeia. On the European market, there are several drugs and food supplements consisting of Galium extracts. In folk medicine, cleavers was used topically in Europe, Asia, and the Americas to treat skin diseases. In several remedies, cleavers is also listed as an immunomodulatory active herb influencing the defense response of the human body. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunostimulatory activity and antioxidant potential in vitro of a raw infusion of cleavers and bioactive fractions. The functional activity of lymphocytes in the reaction of the lymphocyte blast transformation (RLBT) method was used for immunomodulatory activity assays and direct scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was chosen for the examination of antioxidant activity. It was shown that both the raw extract and fractions show significant immunostimulatory and scavenging activities. The obtained data partially justify the traditional use of cleavers as topical remedy for skin infections and for wounds.

Introduction: The common use of Galium L. plants (family Rubiaceae Juss.) in Ukrainian folk medicine for treating infectious diseases became the basis for the study of antimicrobial activity of lipophilic complexes obtained from the Galium species. Materials and Methods: The samples of herbs of Galium verum, Galium salicifolium, Galium dasypodum, Galium aparine, Galium carpaticum and Galium pseudomollugo harvested at flowering stage became the objects of the present research. Lipophilic complexes have been obtained by the exhaustive extraction of herbal drugs with chloroform in the Soxhlet apparatus. The complexes have been used as 2% alcohol solutions in 96% ethyl alcohol. The study was conducted in vitro by the agar diffusion method. Standard strains of microorganisms were used to assess the antimicrobial activity. Results: Staphylococcus aureus was most sensitive to the studied lipophilic complexes. Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris showed low sensitivity. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis have shown moderate sensitivity. The highest activity against Candida albicans has been observed in complexes of Galium aparine, Galium dasypodum, Galium pseudomollugo. Conversly, Galium verum manifested no activity against Candida albicans. The minimum bactericidal and inhibitory concentrations were determined. The correlation between the content of individual groups of biologically active substances and the level of activity of the complexes was established. All complexes were non-toxic. Conclusion: The results obtained provided us the basis for further in-depth studies of antimicrobial and antifungal activity of the lipophilic complexes of the genus Galium L.

The key objective of this study was to determine the yield and chemical composition of eight commercial samples and one collected sample of common vervain (Verbena officinalis L.) herb essential oil (EO) originating from seven different countries, and subsequently, to assess its potential for treating anxiety and depression. According to GC-MS analysis, 90 compounds were identified, 49 of which were discovered for the first time in V. officinalis EO. The plants with the highest oil content are from Greece (4.7 mL/kg) and South Carolina, USA (5.2 mL/kg). The chemical markers for the studied chemotypes of EO of V. officinalis are the terpenoids o-cymene, p-cymene, L-carvone, thymol, carvacrol, α-curcumin, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, phytol, (E)-β-ionone, and phenylpropene anethole. The chemotype from the UK demonstrated the greatest affinity to the continuum under study; it has the highest levels of similarity—85.2% with the chemotype from Greece, 69.4% with the chemotype from the USA, 68.2% with the chemotype from Estonia (2), 58.7% with the chemotype from Germany, and 58.6% with the chemotype from Hungary. The chemotypes identified have the potential for use in the treatment of anxiety and depression.

Jasminum L. of the Oleaceae family is a genus of plants cultivated for its aromatic flowers, which are a source of essential oil (EO). In temperate countries, jasmine, or pseudo jasmine, is often called Philadelphus coronarius L. of the Hydrangeáceae or Philadelphaceae family due to its similar fragrance. The aim. The aim of the study was to compare the component composition of volatile compounds of hydrodistillates and hexane extracts from flowers of Philadelphus coronarius L. and Jasminum officinale L.. Materials and Methods. Hydrodistillates obtained from dried flowers of J. officinale and from dried and fresh flowers of P. coronarius, as well as hexane extracts from similar raw materials, were analyzed by GC-MS. Research results. 109 compounds were identified. It was found that in the EO of J. officinale, obtained by hydrodistillation, the terpenoid content is 90.31 %, while in the hexane extract of the same raw material, the terpenoid content is only 36.24 %. In the EO of P. coronarius, obtained by hydrodistillation of dry flowers, the terpenoid content is 50.04 %, and from fresh flowers – 45.13 %. In the hexane extract of dry flowers of P. coronarius, the terpenoid content is only 14.63 %, while in the extract of fresh flowers – 52.55 %. In the EO of J. officinale obtained by hydrodistillation, the dominant components are (E)-geranyl linalool (12.86 %), linalool (10.72 %), (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol benzoate (7.82 %), α-farnesene (7.72 %), D-limonene (6.43 %), methyl anthranilate (5.9 %), (Z)-9-tricosene (4.15 %). In the EO obtained by hydrodistillation from dried flowers of P. coronarius, the dominant components are (1R)-(-)-myrtenal (12.73 %), myrtanal (11.09 %), pentadecanal (9.42 %), tricosane (8.33 %), (Z)-jasmone (7.09 %). In the EO, it is obtained by hydrodistillation from fresh P. coronarius flowers, the dominant components are: nerolidol (19.42 %), ethyl palmitate (19.13 %), methyl 2-methylpalmitate (16.44 %), myrtanal (9.91 %), pentadecanal (5.28 %), (Z)-jasmone (2.72 %). Conclusions. The conducted studies identified the main differences in volatile compounds in distillates and hexane extracts of P. coronarius and J. officinale. A total of 109 compounds were identified in the objects, and the dominant components were established. During the drying process of P. coronarius flowers, the composition of the EO significantly changes. Only hexane extracts from dried flowers of J. officinale and P. coronarius contain triterpene squalene in significant amounts (13.96 % and 6.72 %). Common to the hexane extracts of the studied objects are aromatic compounds: benzyl alcohol, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol; aliphatic compounds: 2,4-dimethyl-heptane, octanal, decanal