[Chemistry of medicinal plants (review)]. / Osobennosti khimizma lekarstvennykh rastenii (obzor).

Data on the chemical composition related to synthesis of physiologically active substances (alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, phenolic compounds, etc.), and accumulation of individual elements or groups of five to ten elements (e.g., Cr, Co, Mn, and Zn) in medicinal plants were reviewed. Chemical features of medicinal plants serve as an integral determinant of their species specificity and pharmacological properties and enabling their wide use in medical practice. The relationship between the synthesis of physiologically active substances and accumulation of elements is mediated by several levels of molecular regulation.

[Medicinal plants--concentrators of chromium. The role of chromium in alkaloid metabolism]. / Lekarstvennue rasteniia--kontsentratory khroma. Rol' khroma v metabolizme alkaloidov.

Mass screening of medicinal plants of the flora of Russia (196 species) was performed for chromium content. A total of 124 species-chromium concentrators were found, in which the chromium content markedly exceeded the mean values, this excess being 4- to 6-fold in 54 species, 7- to 3-fold in 62 species, and 37- to 114-fold in seven species. The greatest capacity of chromium accumulation was shown for the sand immortelle, foxglove, Alexandrian laurel, Greek valerian, marsh cudweed, adenostilis, and lobelia. These species are considered as potential sources of chromium for correction of its deficiency in humans. Some mechanisms underlying the effect of chromium on metabolism of alkaloids derivative of quinolizidine, tropane, isoquinoline, and indole, were deciphered.

[Method of developing alkaloids of different structural types on a thin layer of sorbent]. / Metod proiavleniia alkaloidov razlichnykh strukturnykh tipov v tonkom sloe sorbenta.

A new method for developing alkaloids of the piperidine, pyridine, isochinoline, indole, purine and chinoline groups in a thin sorbent layer has been developed. This method is based on the use of the Dragendorf reagent, subsequent disintegration of the stained complex, and chromatogram treatment with a sodium thiosulfate ammonia solution. The method makes it possible to measure quantitatively alkaloids of various structures, using UV-spectrometry after their elution. The relative error is 1.9-5.5% in three parallel measurements.