[Bacosides: a study of neurobiological activity, prospects for application]. / Bakozidy: izuchenie neirobiologicheskoi aktivnosti i perspektivy primeneniya.

Bacosides are the main biologically active components derived from the plant bacopa monnieri (Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.), which has been used as a nootropic in Indian medicine for many centuries. In recent years, these compounds have attracted attention because of their wide range of neurobiological effects. The neuroprotective effects of bacosides on brain neurons under the influence of various damaging factors (neurotoxins, oxidative stress, beta-amyloid deposition, cigarette smoke, etc.) have been established. It was shown that these substances reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines and inhibit the processes of demyelination of neurons. The anticonvulsant effect of bacosides has been established. These compounds also improve cognitive functions, including memory and learning abilities. The effects associated with the influence on the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems of the striatum are of interest for the therapy of morphine addiction. The theoretical justifications for the future use of bacosides as a multipurpose means of complex therapy of individual diseases in neurological and psychiatric practice are presented.

[Neurobiological effects of tenuigenin and the opportunity of it's using in the therapy of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases (literature review).]

The analysis of experimental and partially clinical data about researches of neurobiological effects of tenuigenin - the most important bioactive substance of Polygala tenuifolia Willd. in this review was given. The neuroprotective and neurotrophic action of given substance were described in detail. It was noted, that the capacities of the tenuigenin to decrease the secretion of beta amyloid and to protect of neurons from damage by already made beta ameloids, to inhibit the processes of the tau proteins` hyperphosphorylation and inflammations in microglia, as well as increase the main synaptic transmission can be used by the development of effective therapeutic drugs aimed to reduce the pathogenesis of Alzheimer`s disease. The effects of dopaminergic neurons and mitochondrial membrane potential protection as well as reduction of α-synuclein phosphorylation can influence the processes by Parkinson`s disease. It was concluded, that the tenuigenin deserves further study and possibly will be used as augmentation of Alzheimer`s, Parkinson`s and other neurodegenerative diseases therapy.

[Experimental studies of geroprotective and anti-aging effects of chemical compounds of Portulaca oleracea L. (review).]

The analysis presented in the review of publications shows that extract of Portulaca oleracea L. or its individual components (polysaccharides, oleracea, alkaloids tetrahydroisoquinoline operatein E) is able to increase the lifespan of laboratory animals to activate telomerase and increase telomere length, and provide antioxidant and antistaatiline impact. Various neuroprotective effects (improvement of memory and learning ability, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, protection of dopaminergic neurons, improvement of motor functions, etc.) are of interest for the prevention of syndromes associated with age - related degradation of the nervous system - Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. In addition, regular consumption of vegetable portulaca in food leads to a decrease in the percentage of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, which also directly affects the increase in the average life expectancy of the population.

[Alzheimer's disease: experimental and clinical researches of Chinese herbal medicine neurobiological effects (a review).]

The analysis of experiments and clinical data about research of neurobiological effects of chinese herbal medicine, which is used by Alzheimer`s disease treatment, was presented in given overview. The rats with injection of Aß1-42 or Aß25-35 peptides, or ibotenic acid, or streptozotocin as well as the natural line of mice SAMP8 with the phenotype of accelerated aging and other were used as the experimental models of Alzheimer`s disease. Various neurobiological effects of various herbal decoctions in the cells of hippocampus were demonstrated - the inhibition of amyloid ß peptides aggregation, increasing of neurons quantity with normal morphology and decreasing of apoptotic cells, decreasing of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) production, decreasing of reactive expression level of RAGE and increasing reactive expression level of LRP-1, decreasing of tau protein phosphorylation at Thr231 and Ser422, inhibition of expression of GSK-3ß and CDK-5, decreasing of activation and inflammation of microglia, production of 15 types of N-glycans in the cerebral cortex layers, which are absent in experimental animals. The improvement of memorization and training abilities was established.

[Experimental and clinical studies of mechanisms of the anti-aging effects of chemical compounds in Astragalus membranaceus (review).]

Astragalus membranaceus (webbed astragalus) for more than two millennia has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a means of slowing down the aging process and increasing longevity. The article analyzes the data of experimental and clinical studies of recent years, identifying possible mechanisms of the anti-aging effects of the plant. It is noted that the extract or various groups of chemical compounds of this plant activate telomerase, inhibit the processes of replicative senescence, have antioxidant activity, have a neuroprotective effect, affect age-related macular degeneration, skin photoaging and alopecia.

[CONTENT OF OXIDATIVE STRESS MARKERS IN BLOOD PLASMA UNDER THE ACTION OF EXTRACTS OF GRATIOLA OFFICINALIS L., HELICHRYSUM ARENARIUM (L.) MOENCH, AND ANTHOCYANIN FORMS OF ZEA MAYS L].

The effect of aqueous solutions of dry ethanol extracts of Gratiola officinalis L., Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench, and anthocyanin forms of Zea mays L. on the dioxidin-induced lipid peroxidation in blood has been studied on rats. It is established that all these extracts are capable of reducing the amount of avera- ge-mass (AM) molecules and malonic dialdehyde (MDA) in rat blood plasma. The extract of Gratiola officinalis L. reduces the concentration of AM and MDA moleules by 43%. The extract of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench reduces the concentration of AM molecules on the average by 18.66% (within 9.22 -34.81%) and MDA by 49.36% (within 34.12-79.75%). The Extract of anthocyanin forms of Zea mays L. does not reduce the concentration of AM mo- lecules, but reduces the amount of MDA in the blood of rats on average by 27.88% (within 21.58-37.82%) (p < 0.01).

[THE EFFECT OF PLANT EXTRACTS ON THE CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE INDUCTION OF MICRONUCLEUS IN RED BLOOD CELLS OF OUTBRED WHITE MICE].

Antimutagenic properties flavonoids extracts of the three plants Gratiola officinalis L., Helichrysum arenarium L., anthocyanin forms Zea mays L. were investigated. Analysis was performed by counting the micronucleus in peripheral blood erythrocytes outbred white mice; the mutagen was cyclophosphamide. Selected extracts reduce the number of micronucleus. Gratiola officinalis L. extract reduces the mutagenic action of cyclo- phosphamide at a dose of 200 mg/kg, Helichrysum arenarium L. extract--at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg (maximum protective effect was observed at a dose of 200 mg/kg), anthocyanin forms Zea mays L. extract at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg (a dose of 50 mg/kg--maximum antimutagenic effect).

[AntI-inflammatory, antipyretic and antimicrobial activity of flavonoid-containing extract of Gratiola officinalis L].

The extract of Gratiola officinalis L. has been obtained by an original method ensuring the maximum yield of flavonoids. The extract simultaneously exhibits high anti-inflammatory activity, selective antimicrobial properties (with respect to Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but not to conditionally pathogenic E. coli) and antipyretic effect (observed for the first time in Gratiola officinalis L. preparations). Advantages of the proposed preparation are low toxicity, availability of the raw material, and broad spectrum of therapeutic effects.

[Antituberculous in vitro activity of Helichrýsum arenárium extract].

Bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of aqueous solution (50 mg/mL) of alcoholic extract of Helichrýsum arenárium (L.) dried flowers, prepared by a special technique so as to increase the yield of flavonoids, was studied in vitro with respect to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) strains possessing varying degrees of drug resistance, as characterized by replacements Ser R Leu (modification of b-subunit RNA-polymerase of MBT) and Ser R Thr (inactivation of MBT catalase-peroxidase enzyme). The mechanism of this drug action is clearly distinguished from that of the first-line drugs, since strains resistant to these reference drugs have proved susceptible to extract H. arenárium extract. This extract can be recommended for preclinical and clinical studies in the search for new antituberculous drugs and for studying new mechanisms of drug action on MBT. It may also be an effective drug for the treatment of multidrug-resistant MBT strains.