Objective: a comparative analysis of 6 different chondroprotectors for injection, containing chondroitin sulfate (CS) based on natural extracts.Material and methods. Five samples were studied for each CS extract. The preparations were compared on the basis of profiles of trace element composition, sulfur content, chromatographic analysis and test for total protein. In each sample, the concentration of 72 elements was determined, then averaging was performed and the variances of the content of each element were calculated. To assess the content of the protein fraction, a modified Lowry method with bicincholic acid was used. Chromatographic profiles of the studied CS extracts were measured to estimate the molecular weight distribution.Results. The studied samples differ significantly from each other in the total and individual content of sulfur, toxic and conditionally toxic microelements. According to the analysis of sulfur and trace elements, a cluster of more standardized CS extracts was identified. It was shown that the assessments of the pharmaceutical quality of the studied extracts made by the elemental profile, correspond to the assessments of the quality by the degree of proteins elimination and by the molecular weight characteristics of CS extracts. In particular, the highest total content of toxic elements was found for CS-6 (14.87±1.81 μg/l) and CS-2 (9.20±1.12 μg/l), and the lowest – for CS-4 (1.46±0.23 μg/l), CS-3 (1.92±0.33 μg/l) and CS-1 (2.98±0.25 μg/l). The highest content of protein impurities was also found in CS-6 (9.62 mg/ml) and CS-2 (6.64 mg/ml), and the lowest – in CS-1 (2.87 mg/ml). At the same time, the highest amount of sulfur was found CS-1 (6400 mg/kg) and much less – for CS-2 (370 mg/kg) and CS-6 (100 mg/kg). Significant amounts of the high-molecular fraction of CS (1–40 kDa) were found only in CS-1, and only trace amounts of high-molecular CS forms were present in CS-2 and CS-6.Conclusion. The highest content of cholesterol and sulfur and, at the same time, the lowest content of toxic microelements and proteins were distinguished by the extract obtained from the trachea of a bovine.

The cultivation of aromatic plants that are valuable for nutritional and medical aims under artificial conditions with narrow-band LED lighting is becoming widespread. A comparison of the effects of conventional basil field and greenhouse conditions and a city farm (CF) with LED lighting on essential oil and its components was studied in Ocimum × citriodorum Vis. “Kapriz” (OcK), O. basilicum L. “Queen Sheba” (ObQS) and O. minimum L. “Vasilisk” (OmV). Essential oil (EO) was extracted by hydrodistillation from dry leaves of the basil varieties. EO composition was studied by gas chromatography, while the number of glandular trichomes was studied by scanning electron microscopy. We found that in leaves of CF plants, ObQS and OmV increased EO yield (22.9 and 22.7 g/kg DW, respectively) compared to field conditions (10.9 and 13.7 g/kg DW, respectively). The number of glands with four-celled heads also increased. In OcK plants, the amount of EO was almost unchanged, but the number of capitate glandular trichomes was strongly increased. Biochemical analysis showed that in CF plants compared to field ones, eugenol accumulated 40% more in ObQS and three times more in OmV. In addition, 10.9% estragol was detected in the leaves of OcK plants, which was absent in field plants. Thus, LED lighting conditions increased the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoid volatile components in Ocimum.

Essential oils (EOs) of Mentha spicata var. crispa (Benth.) Danert and M. × piperita var. citrata (Ehrh.) Briq. and EO components are widely used in medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, hygiene products, the food industry, and other fields, and have a high commercial value. The variety Mentha spicata var. crispa is also used as an ornamental plant due to its distinctive curled leaves. Studying the influence of growing conditions and harvest timing on EO yield and the major compound concentrations is one of the key research directions for Mentha species, aimed at the ascertainment of the ways of increasing EO production and quality. Gas chromatography analysis of the component composition of EOs from leaves of Mentha spicata var. crispa “Kurchavaya” (MscK) showed that it remained stable both in July and September, with carvone predominating (81% and 85%, respectively). In contrast, the EO composition from M. × piperita var. citrata “Apelsinovaya” (MpcA) leaves changed in the course of the vegetation period. In July, menthofuran dominated (30%), while in September, linalool and its acetate were predominant (34% and 47%, respectively), which was typical for this chemotype. At the same time, the content of EOs and the density of glandular trichomes (GTs) (the OE storage sites) in MscK were higher in July and decreased by September, whereas in MpcA, both EO content and the number of GTs increased from July to September. These changes may have been caused by temperature fluctuations. Thus, MscK proved to be more resistant to environmental factors than MpcA.

   Relevance. LED lighting enables targeted control of primary and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, enhancing the nutritional and pharmacological value of plants. Basil is a valuable essential-oil crop rich in bioactive compounds. However, the regulation of LED spectral composition for directed stimulation of growth and biosynthesis of specific components remains underexplored.    Materials and Methods. The effects of four LED regimes (Blue:White:Red:Deep Pink, %: 25:70:25:25; 50:80:25:50; 50:60:50:25; 50:70:25:25; photon flux density 126–149 µmol/0.5 m²/s) were studied on basil chemotypes: “citral” (O. × citriodorum Vis. Kapriz), “linalool” (Ocimum basilicum L. Luchano), “methyl cinnamate” (Ocimum basilicum L. № 232/21). Chlorophylls, carotenoids, phenolic compounds (PC), and flavonols were quantified spectrophotometrically. Essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC-MS. Data were processed by two-way ANOVA (Tukey test, p < 0.05).    Results.  In Kapriz, chlorophyll and carotenoid levels were highest where PC (including flavonols) were lowest, and vice versa. In Luchano, photosynthetic pigments peaked in regimes where they declined in Kapriz and № 232/21. Sample № 232/21 showed the least change in PC accumulation; its essential oil consisted of 87 % methyl cinnamate. Kapriz plants were most stress-sensitive, while № 232/21 was the most resilient.    Conclusion. The 50:60:50:25 regime boosted photosynthetic pigments, whereas 50:70:25:25 enhanced PC via phenylpropanoid pathway activation under photo-oxidative stress. The proposed LED regimes enable targeted modulation of basil’s biochemical profile – delivering either high antioxidant activity or maximum essential-oil yield.