Introduction. Geroprotectors are biologically active substances that inhibit the aging process. Many plant species are natural geroprotectors. For instance, Thymus vulgaris and Trifolium pratense are callus cultures with strong geroprotective properties. Study objects and methods. The present research featured T. vulgaris and T. pratense grown in vitro on various nutrient media. Their extracts were obtained by aqueous-alcoholic extraction using the following parameters: water-ethanol solvent Se = 30, 50, and 70 %; temperature Te = 30, 50, and 70°C; time τe = 2, 4, and 6 h. The quantitative and qualitative analysis was based on high-performance liquid mass spectrometry, gas mass spectrometry, and thin-layer chromatography. Results and discussion. The optimal extraction parameters for T. vulgaris were τe = 4 h, Te = 50°C, Se = 70 %, for T. pratense – τe = 6 h, Te = 70°C, Se = 70 %. The chromatography detected flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, simple phenols, higher fatty acids, mono- and sesquiterpenes, and aliphatic hydrocarbons. T. vulgaris appeared to have the highest content of thymol (23.580 ± 1.170 mg/mL); its thymol, apigenin, gallic, chlorogenic, and caffeic components demonstrated geroprotective properties. The extract of T. pratense possessed the highest rutin content (10.05 ± 0.35 mg/mL), and it owed its geroprotective characteristics to rutin, chlorogenic and p-coumaric acids. Conclusion. The callus cultures of T. vulgaris and T. pratense proved to be promising sources of geroprotective biologically active substances.

Plant cells and tissue cultures are sources of secondary plant metabolites. Substances produced by callus cultures can expand the raw material base in pharmacy and food production. However, isolating biologically active substances from medicinal plants is a labor- and time-consuming process. As a result, new and efficient technological processes adapted for extraction from callus cultures are in high demand, and new algorithms of isolation and purification of biologically active substances remain a relevant task. This research featured callus cultures of Scutellaria baicalensis. The procedures for phytochemical analysis and isolation of biologically active substances involved such physicochemical research methods as high-performance chromatography (HPLC), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), UV spectrometry, and IR spectrometry. The high performance liquid chromatography confirmed the presence of flavonoids represented by baicalein (5,6,7-trioxyflavone), baicalin (baicalein 7-O-glucuronide), scutellarein (5,6,7,4-tetraoxyflavone), scutellarin (7-O-glucuronide scutellarein), vagonin, and oroxylin. The spectral analyses also detected skutebaicalin. The highest total content of diterpene belonged to the samples extracted with 70% ethanol at 70°C. The content of diterpene was 0.09 mg/cm3 in terms of betulin. The biologically active substances were isolated from the callus extracts of S. baicalensis with a recovery rate of ≥ 80%. The purification scheme made it possible to obtain highly-pure individual biologically active compounds: trans-cinnamic acid, baicalin, and oroxylin A had a purity of ≥ 95%; baicalein had a purity of ≥ 97%; scutellarin and luteolin reached ≥ 96%. The new technological extraction method made it possible to obtain extracts from S. baicalensis callus cultures, which were tested for the component composition. The developed isolation algorithm and purification scheme yielded biologically active substances with a purification degree of ≥ 95%.

Polyphenols are potential neuroprotectors that increase lifespan and slow down aging. Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a promising source of biologically active substances. Its extracts contain biochanin A and chlorogenic acid. This research used Caenorhabditis elegans to study the effect of polyphenols extracted from red clover callus cultures on SOD-3 and HSP-16.2 genes, as well as their anti-amyloid potential. The chlorogenic acid and biochanin A (200, 100, 50, and 10 µM) with a purity of 95% were isolated from callus extracts of T. pratense L. The effect of polyphenols on SOD-3 and HSP-16.2 was assessed after 5 and 2 h of heat stress (35°C), respectively, using C. elegans N2 Bristol as model organism. The neuroprotective potential was measured by counting paralyzed nematodes after 18, 40, and 62 h of incubation. The research established a dose-dependent effect between the concentration of biologically active substances and the percentage of paralyzed nematodes after 18 h of cultivation. The lowest paralysis phenotype count occurred at a concentration of 200 μM. The activity of 200 μM biochnin A was 1.18 times as high as that of a 200 μM chlorogenic acid solution. Biochanin A solutions increased SOD-3 expression by 3.7 times, compared to the control. The biologically active substances exhibited relative neuroprotective activity and affected the expression of antioxidant defense gene in C. elegans.

Diseases associated with metabolic disorders seem to affect more and more people worldwide. Biologically active supplements may prevent or relieve metabolic disorders. Quercetin is known for its potential to inhibit metabolic syndrome. This paper introduces an in vivo experiment on rodents. It featured hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, and hepatotoxic properties of quercetin. Quercetin was obtained from the hairy root extract of Hedysarum neglectum Ledeb. Two doses (50 and 100 mg/kg) were used to evaluate its hypoglycemic potential. Rats with induced diabetes were tested for body weight, glucose, and cholesterol while mice with induced hypercholesterolemia were checked for blood cholesterol changes. Potential biochemical and pathological changes in the liver were also studied on rats. Quercetin treatment caused neither significant health problems nor death in the model animals. It had no effect on body weight, even in the animals with induced diabetes. In addition, quercetin did not increase glucose and cholesterol in the blood and triggered no pathological changes in the liver. Quercetin isolated from H. neglectum hairy root extract demonstrated no hepatotoxicity. Unfortunately, it showed no beneficial effect on cholesterol and glucose levels and had no efficacy against metabolic syndrome. Further research is needed to assess the effect of quercetin on other metabolic markers, e.g., genes associated with the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, etc.

Introduction. Maltodextrins are a common dietary supplement with a number of positive properties. They consist of D-glucose units connected by a (1–4) glucoside bond. The research objective was to improve the existing technology of maltodextrin production based on potato and corn starch. Study objects and methods. Maltodextrins were obtained by enzymatic and acidic incomplete hydrolysis of potato and corn starch. Amilolux ATS and Glucolux A were used for enzyme hydrolysis, and sulfuric acid was used for acid hydrolysis. The finished product was obtained by spray drying. The sensory properties of the finished product were determined by standard methods. The method of high-performance liquid chromatography defined the hydrocarbon composition, while the method of dextrose equivalent helped to determine the reducing capacity of sugars. Results and discussions. The study improved the technique of the enzymatic breakdown of starch. Amylolysis ATS proved to be the optimal enzyme preparation in concentration of 0.5 mL/50 cm3). Other optimal parameters included the starch-splitting activity of 2,330.50 u/mL, temperature of hydrolysis of 65 ± 2°C, and pH reactions of pH 6.5. The method of spray drying proved most efficient for drying starch hydrolysates: the drying temperature and air flow was 100°C, while the flow rate of the solution was 12 mL/min). The experiment also established the dextrose equivalent of the finished product (12–13%) and the quantitative content of sugars in the obtained samples. For maltodextrins obtained from potato starch, the content of maltose and glucose was 16.73 ± 0.25% and 12.48 ± 0.050%, respectively; for corn maltodextrins – 40.22 ± 0.30% and 52.93 ± 0.040%. Conclusion. The market for food additives is developing rapidly. Maltodextrin is a natural food additive that can be used in various branches of food industry. The research made it possible to improve the technology of maltodextrin production in t dairy industry.

В данной работе показана важность применения дикоросов Сибири, а именно медуницы лекарственной ( Pulmonaria officinalis ), люцерны посевной ( Medicago satíva ), таволги вязолистной ( Filipendula ulmaria ), тысячелистника обыкновенного ( Achilleae millefolii ), поскольку в представленных растениях присутствуют биологические активные вещества, обладающие геропротектрорными свойствами. Представлены результаты аналитического обзора современных зарубежных и российских литературных источников по культивированию in vitro дикоросов...