Obtaining and studying the composition of the common horehound herb water extract

Abstract

Aim. To carry out a preliminary study of the phytochemical composition of the water extract of common horehound (Marrubium vulgare) herb using chemical reactions and physicochemical methods.

Materials and methods. The study object was the crushed herb of common horehound. The extraction was performed with purified water by infusion in a water bath followed by cooling. The analytical studies were carried out using the appropriate identification reactions, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on Silica gel 60 chromatographic plates (Merck), and the spectrophotometric analysis was performed on an Evolution 60s spectrophotometer using reagents meeting the requirements of the State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine (SPhU).

Results. Chemical reactions confirmed the presence of substances with the flavonoid structure, phenols, tannins, and carbohydrates in the common horehound herb water extract. Using the TLC method, tannins that were similar in structure to pyrogallol, polysaccharides that were similar in structure to fructose, flavonoids, most of which were similar to rutin, and hydroxycinnamic acids, most of which were similar to chlorogenic acid, were identified.

Conclusions. Based on the results of the study, polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, and polysaccharides have been identified in the common horehound water extract using color reactions and the TLC method. The spectrophotometric analysis has shown that the extraction of the raw material with water gives the yield of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds. The results obtained confirm the prospects for further research aimed at developing the technology of the water extract and the feasibility of its further pharmacological study as a potential source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.