The study of carbohydrate contents in raw materials of some Elsholtzia Willd. genus species

Introduction. Carbohydrates are a significant part of biological compounds of plants and are an important class of natural compounds with a diverse range of biological effects on the human body. Analysis of carbohydrates (mono- and polysaccharides) is one of the pressing issues of modern phytochemistry. Identification of sugars and their quantification are necessary for the standardization of plant raw materials, they also potentiate the biological activity of herbal extracts.  Purpose. The carbohydrate content of the raw materials of two Elsholtzia specie was studied. Also the determination of the quantitative content of polysaccharide fractions and the establishment of their monomeric composition was carried out. Materials and methods. The study object was batches of the Elsholtzia stauntonii Benth. (Mint Bush) and Elsholtzia ciliate Thun. (Chinese Vietnamese Balm.) herb collected during the blossoming period on the basis of M.M. Grishko National Botanical Garden in Kyiv, Ukraine, in August and September 2018-2019. Qualitative composition and quantitative maintenance of carbohydrates was performed by using gravimetric, TLC and GC-MS methods. Results. It was established that water-soluble polysaccharides, pectin substances and hemicelluloses are present in the main raw materials. The total polysaccharides content is higher in all in all studied plant organs of the E.stauntonii than in E.ciliata . The results of GC-MS analysis showed that both Elsholtzia species in herb, inflorescences and leaves have free and bound carbohydrates, namely D-rhamnose, D-arabinose , D-xylose, D-mannose, D-glucose, D-galactose, D-fructose and D-saccharose. And two more - Fucosa Inositol -were found only in herb. Conclusions. First in raw material of two species of Elsholtzia Willd. genus polysaccharides content and composition of 10 carbohydrates was studied.