Study of morphological and anatomical features of medicinal plant raw materials of a new anti-inflammatory herbal mix

Detection and identification of morphological and anatomical features (external and microscopic) of crushed medicinal-plant raw materials (MPR) included in a herbal mix is an integral part of the procedures ensuring the standardization and proper quality control of the finished pharmaceutical product.

The objective of the study is to examine the morphological and anatomical diagnostic features of crushed medicinal-plant raw materials included in the composition of a new anti-inflammatory mix. The study used macroscopic and microscopic methods of analysis based on the requirements set in the applicable general pharmacopoeial articles of the State Pharmacopoeia (SP) of the Russian Federation, Fifth Edition.A macroscopic analysis made it possible to identify and describe the external features of the compiled mix, as well as its isolated crushed components, corresponding to the description given in the regulatory documentation for sweet clover grass and licorice root, as well as reflected in literary sources concerning Canadian goldenrod grass and common horse chestnut leaves.

A microscopic study of the components of the mix revealed characteristic anatomical and diagnostic features of the declared medicinal raw material: features of the cuticle, structure of epidermal cells, types of stomatal apparatus, composition of trichomes, inclusions of various nature for the leaves of sweet clover, Canadian goldenrod and common horse chestnut; features of the epidermalcell structure of sepals or involucral leaflets, types of their stomatal apparatus, trichomes, inclusions, epidermal cells of petals and their inclusions, structure of pollen grains for flowers of sweet clover and Canadian goldenrod; features of parenchyma and starch grains, crystalline inclusions of fibers and wooded particles of licorice root.

The identified features will form the basis of the relevant sections of the regulatory documentation for the developed medicinal anti-inflammatory mix and will be used to control its quality, in particular, to confirm its authenticity.

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