Marshmallow medicinal use property description. Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)

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Rice. 4.17. Marshmallow officinalis - Althaea oficinalis L.

marshmallow roots- radices althaeae
Herb Marshmallow officinalis– herba althaeae officinalis
– Althaea officinalis L.
Marshmallow Armenian– Althaea armeniaca Ten.
Sem. Malvaceae– Malvaceae
Other names: mallow, mallow

Perennial herbaceous plant 60-150 cm high.
Rhizome many-headed, short, woody, with branched, fleshy, whitish roots. Stems pubescent, slightly branched, erect.
Leaves alternate, petiolate, usually 3-5-lobed, rounded or ovate, simpler towards the apex.
flowers five-membered, large, collected in the upper part of the stem in a spike-shaped inflorescence - thyrsus.
Corolla whitish or pinkish, petals obovate.
Pestle with an upper multi-celled ovary, enclosed in a tube of numerous purple stamens fused with filaments.
Cup double, inner leaflets 5, outer (subchalice) - 8-12.
Fetus- fractional, breaking up into separate one-seeded kidney-shaped dark brown fruitlets.
The whole plant has soft velvety pubescence (Fig. 4.17).
Flowering from June to September, fruiting in September - October.

Marshmallow Armenian

Differs in rounded outline, 3-5-parted or lobed leaves, longer pedicels and racemose inflorescences.

The composition of the roots and herbs Althea

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The chemical composition of Altea

Roots and grass contain polysaccharides:

mucus (in roots - up to 35%, in grass - up to 12%),
sugar (up to 8% in roots),
starch (in the roots - up to 37%),
about 1% pectin (roots),

fatty oil,
organic acids
tannins,
steroids,
betaine,
asparagine,
mineral salts.

The herb also contains:

ascorbic acid,
carotenoids,
flavonoids,
a small amount essential oil (0,02 %).

Properties and uses of marshmallow

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Pharmacotherapeutic group. Expectorant.

Pharmacological properties of marshmallow

Althea preparations have

anti-inflammatory,
enveloping,
expectorant action.

Medicinal properties are due a high content of polysaccharides that can swell in aqueous infusions, increase in volume and cover the mucous membranes and skin with a thin layer. This layer protects the mucous membranes from harmful factors (cold air, irritating food components, drying).

In addition, the mucous-polysaccharide complex absorbs, adsorbs microbial, viral and toxic products released by affected epithelial cells, inactivates them, and prevents contact of toxins with the mucous membrane. Under such a mucous layer, the activity of the inflammatory process decreases, dense cells and crusts soften, erosions and ulcers heal faster. Marshmallow preparations have mucolytic properties.

The use of marshmallow

Altey ( "alcea"- Greek. - "healing") has been used since the 9th century BC. Instructions on the use of marshmallow are found in Theophrastus, Dioscorides and Pliny.

Althea is used as

anti-inflammatory and
enveloping agent.

Althea preparations inside and for rinsing are used

with inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract and pharynx, accompanied by difficult expectoration of sputum,
with tonsillitis, tracheitis, stomatitis, gingivitis.

Marshmallow preparations

reduce cough,
increase the separation of mucus and facilitate the evacuation of sputum in acute chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, acute respiratory diseases.

accept

With gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum,
with enterocolitis, marshmallow roots are used as an adjuvant.
In X-ray practice, in order to better identify the relief of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, an extract from the roots of Althea is added to barium powder.
Outwardly, in collections, marshmallow roots are used as an emollient in the form of poultices.

Spreading

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Marshmallow Armenian is found in the southeast of the European part of Russia, in Kazakhstan, Central Asia and the Caucasus.

They usually grow in small groups or sparse thickets. Cultivated in a number of farms in the Krasnodar Territory and Ukraine. Collect the roots of plants at the age of 2-3 years.

Habitat. Both species prefer fairly moist habitats. They grow in river valleys, along the banks of lakes, in wet meadows, among shrubs, on the outskirts of swamps.

Procurement and storage of raw materials

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blank. Roots harvested in autumn, after the aerial parts of plants die off (September - October), or in spring, before regrowth begins (April - early May). After digging, the roots are thoroughly cleaned from the ground, the rhizomes and small roots are cut off, the lignified upper part of the main root is removed; the roots are dried for 2-3 days in the air, then the cork is removed. Long roots are cut transversely into pieces up to 35 cm long, thick ones - lengthwise into 2-4 parts.

To obtain crude raw materials, after digging and shaking off the ground, the roots are placed in baskets and quickly washed in cold water. running water. The roots should not be soaked, since the mucus is highly soluble in water, and is easily washed out of the raw material.

Grass Marshmallow officinalis is harvested during flowering (within a month from the beginning of flowering), mowed, yellowed leaves and an admixture of other plants are removed.

Security measures. Thickets are easily depleted, therefore, in the process of collecting raw materials from wild plants, in order to save thickets, seeds are shaken into holes, young shoots are preserved, and developed specimens are left for seeding.

Drying. Althea roots and grass are dried in dryers at a temperature of 50-60 ºС or in well-ventilated areas. The roots can be dried in the sun. When drying this raw material, it is necessary to take into account its hygroscopicity. Raw materials are laid out in a thin layer, loosely, on grids or frames covered with fabric.

Standardization. GF XI, no. 2, art. 64 and Change No. 1 - marshmallow roots; FS 42-812-91 - unpeeled marshmallow roots; VFS 42-1696-87 - marshmallow herb.

Storage. Store raw materials in well-ventilated, dry rooms. The raw material is hygroscopic, easily damp. The shelf life of the roots is 3 years, herbs - 5 years.

External signs of raw materials

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External signs of the Roots

Whole Raw Material

Roots, peeled of cork, almost cylindrical or split lengthwise into 2-4 parts, slightly tapering towards the end, 10-35 cm long and up to 2 cm thick.
Root surface longitudinally furrowed with long, soft bast fibers peeling off and dark dots - traces of thin roots that have fallen off or cut off.
kink granular-rough in the center, fibrous outside.
Colour the roots outside and at the break are white, yellowish-white (Marshmallow officinalis) or grayish (Armenian Marshmallow).
Smell weak, idiosyncratic.
Taste

Crushed raw materials

Pieces of roots of various shapes, passing through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 7 mm.
Colour yellowish white or grayish white. The smell is weak, peculiar.
Taste sweetish with a slimy feel.

Powder white, yellowish-white or grayish in color, passing through a sieve with holes measuring 0.31 mm. The smell is weak, peculiar. The taste is sweet with a slimy feel.

Marshmallow roots unpeeled are roots not peeled from the cork, almost cylindrical in shape or split lengthwise into 2-4 parts, branched, of various lengths, up to 2 cm thick. The surface is longitudinally wrinkled, grayish-brown.

External signs of Grass

Grass is a non-lignified shoots with partially crumbled whole or broken leaves, flowers, buds and fruits of varying degrees of maturity.
stems rounded, longitudinally discontinuously furrowed, pubescent, up to 120 cm long, up to 8 mm thick, grayish green.
Smell weak.
Taste slightly slimy.

Qualitative reactions

When wetting a cut or root powder with a solution of ammonia or sodium hydroxide, a yellow color (mucus) appears.

Microscopy of raw materials

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Rice. 4.18. Cross section of marshmallow root

Root microscopy

On a cross section(Fig. 4.18.) shows a secondary structure characteristic of the root with a predominance of thin-walled parenchymal tissue in the xylem.
fibers. In the bark there are numerous tangentially elongated groups of bast fibers arranged in discontinuous concentric belts. Smaller groups of fibers are scattered throughout the wood. Fibers with a thickness of 10-35 microns with slightly thickened, non-lignified or slightly lignified walls and a large lumen.
Vessels and tracheids arranged in small groups. The medullary rays are one-, less often two-row.
The parenchyma shows numerous large cells with mucus found in both bark and wood. In water, the mucus dissolves, the cells become colorless and appear empty. The parenchyma cells are filled with starch grains, in places there are small druses of calcium oxalate.

Rice. 4.18. Cross section of marshmallow root:
1 - bast fibers;
2 - cells with mucus;
3 – calcium oxalate druses;
4 - thin-walled parenchyma with starch grains;
5 - core beam;
6 - cambium;
7 - vessels;
8 - tracheids.

Root powder microscopy

visible under the microscope

scraps of parenchyma with starch,
individual starch grains are round, oval or ovoid, 3-27 microns in size,
druse calcium oxalate,
vessel fragments,
fiber scraps; often there are their forked branched endings.

Mucus is detected when viewed in the carcass.

Microscopy Grass

Microdiagnostics of Althea grass medicinal is carried out on the leaves.

Diagnostic value are:

weakly sinuous, sometimes distinctly thickened cell walls of the upper and strongly sinuous cell walls of the lower epidermis;
stomata of anomocytic type with 2-4 parotid cells;
hairs of two types: stellate - from 1-8 thick-walled rays, often lignified at the base, and glandular - consisting of a one- or two-celled stalk and a multicellular head of 2-12 excretory cells arranged in several tiers of 2-4 cells each; epidermal cells form rosettes at the attachment points of hairs; numerous drusen of calcium oxalate in the mesophyll of the leaf and along the veins.

Numerical indicators of raw materials

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Roots

Whole Raw Material

Humidity no more than 14%;
total ash no more than 8%;
woody roots no more than 3%;
roots, poorly cleaned of cork, no more than 3%;

Crushed raw materials

Humidity no more than 14%;
total ash no more than 8%;
ash, insoluble in 10% hydrochloric acid solution, not more than 0.5%;
particles that do not pass through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 7 mm, no more than 15%;
particles passing through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 1 mm, not more than 3%;
organic impurities not more than 0.5%;
mineral impurity not more than 0.5%.

For unpeeled roots

particles that do not pass through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 8 mm, not more than 10%;
particles passing through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 1 mm, no more than 3%.

Powder

Humidity no more than 14%;
total ash no more than 8%;
ash, insoluble in 10% hydrochloric acid solution, not more than 0.5%;
particles that do not pass through a sieve with holes of 0.31 mm, not more than 1%.

Grass

The content of polysaccharides is not less than 5% (determined gravimetrically);
moisture not more than 13%;
total ash not more than 18%;
stems no more than 60%;
fruits no more than 10%;
organic impurities not more than 3%;
mineral - no more than 1.5%.

Medicines based on marshmallow

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Althea roots, crushed raw materials. Expectorant.
As part of the fees (breast fees No. 1 and No. 3; collection for the preparation of a mixture according to the prescription of M.N. Zdrenko).
Marshmallow root dry extract, powder. It is used to prepare a potion similar to marshmallow roots.
Marshmallow syrup (prepared from dry marshmallow root extract). Expectorant.
Tonsilgon N, dragee (component - Althea root powder); drops for oral administration (component - extract of marshmallow roots). Immunostimulating, anti-inflammatory agent.
Mukaltin, tablets of 0.05 g (the amount of polysaccharides from the marshmallow herb). Expectorant.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

PHARMACOPIES AUTHORIZATION

Althea roots FS.2.5.0001.15

Althaeae radicesInstead of GFXI, issue. 2, art. 64

Harvested in autumn or spring, carefully cleaned from the ground, dried lateral and non-lignified, cork-free tap roots of wild-growing and cultivated perennial herbaceous plants of marshmallow - Althaea officinalis L. and Armenian marshmallow - Althaea armeniaca Ten., fam. Malvaceae - Malvaceae.

AUTHENTICITY

External signs

Whole raw material. Roots, almost cylindrical in shape or split lengthwise into 2-4 parts, slightly tapering towards the end, 10-35 cm long and up to 2 cm thick, peeled from the cork. The surface of the roots is longitudinally furrowed with long, soft bast fibers exfoliating and dark dots - traces of thin roots that have fallen off or cut off. Fracture in the center granular-rough, fibrous outside. The color of the root outside and in the fracture is white, yellowish-white (Marshmallow officinalis) or grayish (Armenian Marshmallow). The smell is weak, peculiar. The taste of the aqueous extract is sweetish with a slimy feel.

crushed raw materials. When considering the crushed raw materials under a magnifying glass (10% u0D7) or a stereo microscope (16% u0D7), pieces of roots of various shapes are visible, passing through a sieve with holes of 7 mm. The color is white, yellowish white or grayish white. The smell is weak, peculiar. The taste of the aqueous extract is sweetish with a slimy feel.

Powder. When examining the powder under a magnifying glass (10% u0D7) or a stereo microscope (16% u0D7), a mixture of white, yellowish-white or grayish particles is visible passing through a sieve with holes of 0.2 mm. The smell is weak, peculiar. The taste of the aqueous extract is sweetish with a slimy feel.

Microscopic signs

Whole raw material. The root has a secondary structure. In the purified raw materials, in most cases, there is no cork. The integumentary part consists of parenchyma cells with thin walls. The parenchyma cells are filled with starch grains, in some places there are small druses of calcium oxalate. The cambium line is narrow and distinct. The vessels are spiral with simple and bordered pores. The wood consists of thin-walled parenchyma cells, large vessels lying singly or in small groups, and small groups of bast fibers with slightly thickened, non-lignified walls arranged in discontinuous concentric belts, with pointed, less often forked, branched ends. The core rays are one-, less often two-row. In the parenchyma, numerous large cells with mucus should be visible, located both in the bark and in the wood. Starch grains are simple, round or oval, rarely 2-5-complex.

crushed raw materials. When examining a crushed micropreparation under a microscope, fragments of the parenchyma with calcium oxalate druses, fragments of the parenchyma with starch grains, fragments of the parenchyma with cells with mucus, groups of bast fibers with slightly thickened non-lignified walls with pointed, less often forked ends, fragments of mesh and ladder vessels should be visible . Starch grains are simple, round or oval, rarely 2-5-complex. Fragments of the cork may be visible in the micropreparation.

Powder. Under the microscope, fragments of the parenchyma with druses of calcium oxalate, fragments of the parenchyma with rounded or starch grains should be visible. oval shape, fragments of fibers with weakly thickened non-lignified walls, their forked endings, fragments of reticulate and scalariform vessels are often found. There are individual drusen and starch grains. Cork fragments may be present.

Drawing - Altea roots.

1 - cross section of the root: a - a group of bast fibers, b - cabmium,

c – medullary ray, d – vessels (200%u0D7), 2 – parenchyma cells with partially gelatinized starch grains (a) and calcium oxalate drusen (b), large mucus cells (c) (200%u0D7), 3 – scalariform ( a) and mesh (b) vessels (200% u0D7)

Determination of the main groups of biologically active substances

When wetting a root fracture or root powder with ammonia with a solution of 10% or sodium hydroxide with a solution of 10%, a yellow color (mucus) appears.
When applying 2-3 drops of iodine solution to a root fracture or root powder, a blue color (starch) should be observed.

TESTS

Humidity

Whole raw materials, crushed raw materials, powder - no more than 14%.

Ash total

Whole raw materials, crushed raw materials, powder - no more than 8%.

Ash insoluble in hydrochloric acid

Whole raw materials, crushed raw materials, powder - no more than 0.5%.

Grinding of raw materials

Whole raw materials: particles passing through a sieve with holes of 3 mm in size - no more than 5%. Crushed raw materials: particles that do not pass through a sieve with holes of 7 mm - no more than 5% of particles passing through a sieve with holes of 0.5 mm - no more than 5%. Powder: particles not passing through a sieve with holes of 2 mm - no more than 5% of particles passing through a sieve with holes of 0.18 mm - no more than 5%.

Foreign matter

woody roots. Whole raw materials - no more than 3%.

Roots poorly cleaned of cork. Whole raw materials - no more than 3%.

organic impurity. Whole raw materials, crushed raw materials - no more than 0.5%.

Mineral impurity. Whole raw materials, crushed raw materials, powder - no more than 0.5%.

Heavy metals

In accordance with the requirements of the General Pharmacopoeia Monograph "Determination of the content of heavy metals and arsenic in medicinal herbal raw materials and medicinal herbal preparations".

Radionuclides

In accordance with the requirements of the General Pharmacopoeia Monograph "Determination of the content of radionuclides in medicinal herbal raw materials and medicinal herbal preparations".

Residual amounts of pesticides

In accordance with the requirements of the General Pharmacopoeia Monograph "Determination of the content of residual pesticides in medicinal herbal raw materials and medicinal herbal preparations".

Microbiological purity

In accordance with the requirements of the General Pharmacopoeia Monograph "Microbiological purity".

quantitation

Whole raw materials, crushed raw materials, powder: extractive substances extracted by water - not less than 15%.

The determination of extractive substances extracted by water is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the General Pharmacopoeia Monograph "Determination of the content of extractive substances in medicinal plant materials and medicinal herbal preparations" (cold infusion method according to the General Pharmacopoeia Monograph "Infusions and decoctions").

Packaging, labeling and transportation

In accordance with the requirements of the General Pharmacopoeia Monograph "Packaging, labeling and transportation of medicinal herbal raw materials and medicinal herbal preparations".

Storage

In accordance with the requirements of the General Pharmacopoeia Monograph "Storage of medicinal herbal raw materials and medicinal herbal preparations".

Download in PDF FS.2.5.0001.15 Altea roots

Marshmallow officinalis: useful properties, contraindications. Composition, photo

The Malvaceae family (Malvaceae) has twelve representatives of the genus Althea, but only two of them are used for the manufacture of medicines - Armenian Altea (Althaea armeniaca Ten.) and, most often, Marshmallow officinalis(Althaea officinalis L.). The period of application of this plant has more than one hundred years, its medicinal properties were known in ancient times. Modern medicine still successfully uses marshmallow root preparations, which are popular due to their effectiveness and safety of use.

Marshmallow officinalis (mallow, marshmallow, dog mug) is a perennial plant (with a lot of useful properties), with one or more erect stems, branching in the upper part, up to one and a half meters high. The rhizome is short with many thick fleshy roots. The leaves are grayish-green, slightly pubescent above, more pubescent below. Arranged alternately, ovate-pointed, oblong, three- and five-lobed, serrated at the edges. The lower leaves are broadly wedge-shaped at their base, the middle ones are slightly rounded, the upper ones are sometimes heart-shaped.

Large five-membered flowers with obovate petals of pale pink color are collected in a spike-shaped inflorescence, which is located in the apical part of the stem. The fruit breaks up into several one-seeded kidney-shaped dark brown fruitlets. Marshmallow blooms from June to September, the seeds ripen in September or October.

Marshmallow officinalis grows in the forests and forest-steppes of the European part of Russia, found in the steppe regions of Kazakhstan, as well as in Western Siberia. It grows best along the shores of small lakes, in thickets of shrubs, in floodplains, in wet meadows. Cultivated for the purpose of obtaining medicinal plant materials.

Collection and preparation of medicinal marshmallow

The raw materials of marshmallow are grass and roots. Roots at the age of two or three years are harvested in September or October, when the aerial part of the plant dies off, or in the spring, when its growth has not begun. The dug roots are carefully cleaned from the ground, the rhizomes and the coarsened part of the main root are removed. After drying for two to three days in the air, the cork is removed. After that, thick roots are cut into several longitudinal parts, long ones - across into parts up to 30 cm long.

If you need to get raw materials not cleaned from the cork, the prepared roots of Marshmallow officinalis are quickly washed under a flowing cold water. In no case should they be soaked, since the mucus contained in the raw material dissolves in water, which leads to their leaching from the raw material and a decrease in its quality.

Althea grass is harvested during the flowering period for a duration of thirty days from the beginning of flowering by mowing. Then impurities of other plants and yellow leaves of marshmallow are removed.

To save wild growth medicinal plant, it is necessary to leave large specimens for seed ripening, do not harvest young plants, while digging the marshmallow into the resulting holes, shake off the seeds from it.

The roots of marshmallow are dried in the sun or in automatic dryers at 50-60 degrees, it is possible in the shade in rooms where good ventilation. Grass - only in the shade or dryers. Raw materials for drying must be spread out in a thin layer on special grids.

Due to hygroscopicity, the prepared raw materials are stored in cool, dry rooms with good ventilation. The roots retain their medicinal properties for 3 years, the herb can be stored for 5 years.

Chemical composition

The main active ingredients of raw materials are polysaccharides: mucus, which contains up to 35% in the roots, sugars, starch, pectin substances. Fatty oils, organic acids, mineral salts, tannins, steroids were also found in the roots and grass. The herb contains carotenoids and flavonoids.

Useful properties of marshmallow

The therapeutic effect of Marshmallow officinalis is due to the content of a large amount of mucus in it. Medications, obtained from the plant, affect the following body systems:

Respiratory - marshmallow root refers to antitussives. Preparations from it are able to soothe a strong cough, Althea mucus promotes the regeneration of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Althea polysaccharides inhibit the development of the cough reflex in tracheitis and laryngitis. Colloidal properties of marshmallow mucus facilitate expectoration and sputum discharge.
Digestive - an aqueous extract of the roots envelops the gastric mucosa. It promotes healing of ulcers and erosive surfaces. Althea mucus also creates a protective shell for a long time that protects the stomach from the irritating effects of food. In addition, plant mucus adsorbs and inactivates toxins formed as a result of the vital activity of pathogenic microorganisms.
Immune - a complex of polysaccharides increases the activity of phagocytes, stimulates humoral and cellular immunity.

Application in medicine

Galenic preparations obtained from Marshmallow officinalis are used to treat respiratory diseases. Protective, expectorant, in a certain concentration - antitussive, enveloping, anti-inflammatory and softening effects of marshmallow allow it to be used for tracheitis, chronic bronchitis, laryngitis, whooping cough, bronchopneumonia, acute respiratory infections, bronchial asthma. It should be noted that the use of marshmallow preparations in bronchial asthma is effective only in combination with bronchospasmolytics, for example, theofedrine.

The benefits of marshmallow for the digestive tract. In gastroenterology, marshmallow is used to treat gastritis and stomach ulcers. Althea root mucus contributes to a longer effect of other anti-inflammatory drugs on the gastric mucosa, slowing down their evacuation, which prolongs the therapeutic effect. The higher the acidity of gastric juice, the higher the effectiveness of marshmallow mucus.

In addition to internal use, the mucous infusion of the roots is used in the form of enemas for dysentery and diarrhea of various etiologies.

Marshmallow tincture and extract are used orally to treat eczema and psoriasis. In patients, there is a transition from a progressive stage of the disease to a regressive one, the intensity of rashes decreases. In addition, patients note an improvement in appetite, sleep, and general condition.

The following preparations are obtained from the raw materials of Althea officinalis:

Dry crushed marshmallow root - used to make decoctions. A decoction is prescribed as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory agent for bronchitis, laryngitis, bronchopneumonia, tracheitis.
Marshmallow root syrup - improves sputum formation, normalizes its viscosity and elasticity, stimulates the peristalsis of bronchioles, contributing to better sputum discharge. Reduces the secretion of gastric juice, envelops the gastric mucosa, relieves inflammation. It is used for diseases of the respiratory system and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
Various herbal preparations: Bronchial, Bronchophyte, Gastrosan, Gastrofit, Breast collection N1 - they are used for diseases respiratory system, respiratory infections, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Mukaltin - tablets obtained from the marshmallow herb. They are used in the complex treatment of bronchitis, both acute and chronic pneumonia, tracheitis.
Dry cough medicine - powder for dilution with water, which includes marshmallow root extract, licorice root extract, sodium benzoate and sodium bicarbonate, anise oil, ammonium chloride. It is used in pediatrics as an antitussive, anti-inflammatory agent that facilitates sputum discharge.

Contraindications and side effects

No pronounced toxic effect on the body was found in Althea preparations. Perhaps the manifestation of individual intolerance in the form of allergic skin reactions, with an overdose - nausea and vomiting. In case of allergy, it is necessary to reduce the dose of the drug, with nausea and vomiting, the stomach is washed and the drug is completely canceled.

The use of Althea officinalis in folk medicine

From past centuries came folk recipes use of Marshmallow officinalis. The people use not only grass and plant roots, but also flowers with seeds. A decoction of flowers is used for hemorrhoids, scrofula, for the treatment of wounds. Crushed leaves are applied to tumors and abscesses.

Althea seed tincture is used to treat diseases of the urinary system, with pain in the stomach. The roots pounded with honey are used as a compress for inflammation of the mammary glands in lactating women. Of course, in the first place, traditional medicine puts the use of marshmallow as an anti-inflammatory and expectorant for respiratory diseases.

Application in other industries

A large amount of mucus in the raw materials, as well as the presence of amino acids, various vitamins and tannins make it promising to use marshmallow in the production of cosmetics. When caring for skin and hair, the softening and protective properties of marshmallow, as well as its ability to retain water in the epidermis layer, are very valuable.

In the pharmaceutical industry, in the production of pills, marshmallow root powder is used as an adhesive, as a filler, it is used to make powders.

The ground marshmallow roots are used as an additive to flour when baking bread, porridges and jelly are prepared from them.

In some countries, marshmallow stems are used to make rope and coarse paper.

cultivation

Marshmallow officinalis grows well on light, moist soils. Seeds before sowing are recommended to soak in water at room temperature for a day. Sowing is done in early spring to a depth of about two centimeters, leaving a distance of 55-60 cm between the rows. After the seeds have germinated, ten plants are left per square meter. Marshmallow also reproduces by dividing rhizomes. Young plants need to be protected from weeds, loosen and moisten the ground in time.

Photo marshmallow officinalis

medicinal plant: marshmallow

Historical facts

Found a lot of documentary evidence of the use of marshmallow by healers Ancient Greece, in those days the plant was called "grass for all diseases." Due to its ubiquity, marshmallow was considered a "friend of the poor" and was widely used in the treatment of various ailments.

In the Middle Ages, many recipes based on the root, herb and flowers of marshmallow were invented to treat diseases such as dandruff, coughs, ulcers and abscesses on the body, swelling, and baldness. Marshmallow was used to facilitate childbirth, with snake and bee stings.

In the Russian Empire, healers used the experience of medieval healers, also using marshmallow for the treatment of various diseases. He was especially popular in military medicine, marshmallow ointment was in great demand. Since 1778, marshmallow root has been included in all Russian pharmacopoeias.

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571. Radix Althaeae

marshmallow root

Harvested in autumn or spring, washed, peeled from the cork layer and dried lateral roots of a wild and cultivated perennial herbaceous plant Althaea officinalis L. and Armenian marshmallow - Althaea armeniaca Ten., fam. Malvaceae - Malvaceae.

External signs. Pieces of almost cylindrical shape or split lengthwise into 2-4 parts, slightly tapering towards the end, up to 35 cm long and usually 0.5-1.5 (2) cm thick. dark dots, traces of fallen off or cut off thin branches of the roots. The color of the root outside and in the fracture is white, yellowish-white (Marshmallow officinalis) or grayish (Armenian Marshmallow). Fracture in the center granular-rough, outward - fibrous. When broken it dusts (starch), when wetted with water it becomes slimy. The smell is weak, the peculiar taste is sweetish, slimy.

Under magnifying glass. The cross section shows a beamless structure: a light brown cambium ring separates the indistinctly radiant wood from the bark.

cut raw materials. Pieces of various shapes ranging in size from 3 to 8 mm.

Microscopy. The transverse section shows the predominance of thin-walled parenchymal tissue characteristic of the root. In the bark there are numerous tangentially elongated groups of bast fibers arranged in discontinuous concentric belts. Smaller groups of fibers are scattered throughout the wood. Fibers 10-35 microns thick with slightly thickened non-lignified or slightly lignified walls and a large gap. Vessels and tracheids are located in small groups. The core rays are one-, less often two-row. Numerous large cells with mucus are visible in the parenchyma, both in the bark and in the wood. In water, the mucus dissolves, the cells become colorless and appear empty. A solution of methylene blue stains cells with mucus blue. For double staining, the section is placed in a solution of ferric chloride for 20 minutes, the solution is removed with filter paper, an alcohol solution of methylene blue is added and washed with water. The mucous cells are stained yellow, the fibers are blue, the vessels are green, the parenchyma cells remain colorless.

The parenchyma cells are filled with starch grains, in some places there are small druses of calcium oxalate.

Powder of white, yellowish-white or grayish color passing through a sieve with a mesh size of 0.315 mm. Under the microscope, scraps of parenchyma with starch are visible, separately grains of starch are round, oval or ovoid in shape, ranging in size from 3 to 27 microns, calcium oxalate drusen, fragments of vessels, fragments of fibers, their forked-branched endings are often found. Mucus is detected when viewed in the carcass.

quality reactions. When wetting a cut or root powder with an iodine solution, a blue color (starch) immediately appears, when wetting with a solution of ammonia or caustic soda, a yellow color appears. A 10% root infusion prepared in cold water turns lemon-yellow when ammonia or sodium hydroxide solution is added. When concentrated hydrochloric acid (1:3) is added to the infusion, a yellowish-green color appears. When 95% alcohol (1.1) is added to the infusion, the mucus coagulates into flocculent clots that precipitate on standing.

Purity test. Mucus obtained by infusing 1 g marshmallow root with 10 ml of water should have only a faint yellow color and a neutral reaction to litmus and should not have a musty smell.

Numerical indicators. Moisture not more than 14% total ash not more than 7% for marshmallow and not more than 8% for marshmallow, including ash insoluble in 10% hydrochloric acid, not more than 0.5% woody roots not more than 3%, marshmallow roots , poorly cleaned of cork, not more than 3% of organic impurities, not more than 0.5% of mineral impurities, not more than 0.5%. For cut raw materials: particles larger than 8 mm, not more than 10% of crushed particles passing through a sieve with a hole diameter of 2 mm, not more than 15%, including particles passing through a sieve with a hole diameter of 1 mm, not more than 3%. For powder: particles that do not pass through a sieve with a hole size of 0.315 mm, not more than 1%.

Storage. In pharmacies - in boxes in warehouses - in bags. Powder in pharmacies is stored in glass jars in warehouses - in paper multilayer bags placed in fabric bags. The root is hygroscopic and easily damp.

Marshmallow officinalis Armenian

^ pectin substances

Opened in 1825; name comes from « pectos» - (Greek) - frozen, curled up. The main monomer of pectins is alpha-galacturonic acid. Polygalacturonic acid is accompanied by galactan and araban, which are linked by covalent bonds to the acidic fragments of pectins. The carboxyl group of each galacturonic acid residue can be methoxylated or form salts with Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ions.

Pectins are classified depending on the structure of the monomers and the degree of polymerization. Distinguish:

1. pectic acids(the simplest representatives of pectin substances containing up to 100 monomers, carboxyl groups are not modified, R = H);

2. pectates(salts of pectic acids, R = Me + and H);

3. pectin acids (pectins)(higher molecular weight compounds containing 100-200 monomers, carboxyl groups are partially methoxylated, R=H and CH 3);

4. pectinates(salts of pectic acids, R = Me + and CH 3);

5. protopectins(water-insoluble high molecular weight polymers in which methoxylated polygalacturonic acid is bound to cell wall polysaccharides).

Pectins are found in large quantities in fruits, tubers and stems of plants in the form of insoluble protopectin. During the ripening of fruits and their storage, protopectin passes into soluble forms, while the taste qualities of fruits improve. Soluble pectins are present in plant juices. The presence of pectin substances must be taken into account when processing medicinal plant materials.

Pectins make up the intercellular substance and the primary walls of young plant cells. In brown algae, this role is played by alginic acids. The monomers of alginic acids are beta-mannuronic and alpha-guluronic acids linked by 1→4 glycosidic bonds. The carboxyl groups of mannuronic and guluronic acids often form salts with Na + , Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ions.

In medical practice, raw materials are used:

laminaria thallus - Thalli Laminariae (Laminaria saccharina (L.) Lam., L. japonica Aresch.).

The use of pectins in medicine is associated with their ability to reduce the gastrotoxicity of salicylates; pectic acids can be used as a drug carrier. Pectins have an antiulcer effect and are a mild laxative, and with various metals form complex compounds - chelates, which are easily excreted from the body. For this reason, products containing pectins are especially indicated for people living in a radioactively contaminated area.

Beet pulp, apple pomace, peel of citrus fruits, threshed sunflower baskets, etc. are industrial raw materials for the production of pectins. Pectin substances are widely used in the textile and food industries, and in cosmetics.

Alginic acid is a natural "ion exchanger" and has the ability to selectively adsorb heavy metal cations and radioisotopes. The use of alginic acid prevents the deposition of radioactive strontium in humans and animals.

On the basis of salts of alginic acid - alginates - preparations have been developed for the treatment of wounds and burns, hemostatic preparations for gastroenterology, which create a protective and therapeutic coating on the affected area. In addition, alginates are used to obtain dressings with a prolonged therapeutic effect.

^ Gum and Slime

Gums (gum) and mucus are mixtures of homo- and heteropolysaccharides and polyuronides. They are close in chemical structure.

Comedy are usually formed in plants of an arid climate as a result of the degeneration of cell walls, the contents of core cells, and core rays. They are released in the form of viscous streaks from cuts and cracks in plants when they are damaged or diseased. These soft deposits harden in air.

The composition of gums includes hexoses (galactose and mannose), pentoses (arabinose and xylose), methylpentoses (rhamnose and fucose), uronic acids (glucuronic and galacturonic). Uronic acids form salts with K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ ions.

In medical practice, gum tragacanth, apricot, plum, cherry, etc. are used. They are used in the preparation of emulsions, tablets and pills. Gums also find application in the food, textile, leather, paint and varnish industries.

Slime are present in intact plants and are formed as a result of normal mucous degeneration of cell walls and cellular contents. Mucus accumulates in intercellular spaces, in cells and special receptacles. Distinguish between neutral mucus (mucus of salep) and acidic (mucus of marshmallow, flax, plantain flea). The acidic reaction is due to the presence of uronic acids in the mucus.

Mucus is distinguished by a significant predominance of pentoses. Unlike gums, they can be neutral, i.e. do not contain uronic acids.

Mucus-containing raw materials used in medical practice:

marshmallow roots - Radices Althaeae (Althaea officinalis L., A. armeniaca Ten.);
marshmallow herb - Herba Althaeae officinalis (A. officinalis L.);
coltsfoot leaves - Folia Farfarae (Tussilago farfara L.);
large plantain leaves - Folia Plantaginis majoris (Plantago major L.);
fresh plantain leaves - Folia Plantaginis majoris recentia (P. major L.);
fresh plantain grass - Herba Plantaginis psyllii recens (Plantago psyllium L.);
psyllium psyllium seeds - Semina Plantaginis psyllii (P. psyllium L.);
flax seeds - Semina Lini (Linum usitatissimum L.);
linden flowers - Flores Tiliae (Tilia cordata Mill., T. platyphyllos Scop.).

In medicine, mucus is used as an anti-inflammatory and enveloping agent. In addition, mucus has radioprotective and immunoprotective properties.

Patterns of formation and accumulation of polysaccharides in plants. Role in plant life

Polysaccharides make up 80% of the planet's organic matter, since they make up most of the dry matter of plants.

In plants, monosaccharides and their derivatives formed during photosynthesis are used as precursors in the synthesis of oligo- and polysaccharides. Structural polysaccharides (cellulose, pectin) and reserve polysaccharides (starch, inulin) are synthesized. Structural polysaccharides are formed in growing tissues. The reserve polysaccharide starch is temporarily deposited in the form of starch grains in chloroplasts, and then mobilized and transported in the form of sucrose from the leaves to other plant organs. Starch is re-formed in leukoplasts (amyloplasts) and deposited in the reserve in seeds and underground organs, with the help of which plants renew and reproduce vegetatively (roots, rhizomes, tubers, corms and bulbs). In the underground organs of the Asteraceae family, fructosans, in particular inulin, are stored instead of starch.

Polysaccharides perform the following functions in plants:

frame- cellulose, pectin substances, including alginic acids. Cellulose makes up the bulk of plant cell walls. Pectin substances perform the functions of a cementing, gluing material and tissue support. They protect plants from drying out, increase drought resistance and frost resistance of plants, affect seed germination and cell growth;
protective- gums, mucus. Gums protect plants from infection by pathogenic microorganisms by filling cracks and other damage. Mucus protects plants from drying out, increases their drought resistance, promotes the absorption of water by seeds and their swelling during germination;
reserve, or energy- starch, inulin.

Raw material base of plants containing polysaccharides

The raw material base of most plants containing polysaccharides is sufficiently provided in Russia.

Marshmallow Armenian grows in the forest-steppe and steppe zones of the European part of Russia, marshmallow officinalis - in the forest and forest-steppe zones of the European part of Russia and Western Siberia, in meadows, in floodplains and river valleys, among bushes, along the banks of lakes. Alteas usually grow in small groups or sparse thickets. To meet the demand for raw materials, both species are cultivated in specialized farms.

Linden heart-shaped grows in the forest zone of the European part of Russia, in broad-leaved and mixed forests. Widely cultivated in parks and plantations.

The mother-and-stepmother grows in the forest, forest-steppe and steppe zones of the European part of Russia and Western Siberia, along the banks of rivers and streams, on coastal cliffs, in dampish ravines, prefers clay soils.

Large plantain is a Eurasian species, distributed throughout Russia as a ruderal (roadside) weed. It does not form large thickets. Occurs along roadsides, in meadows, along forest edges and banks of water bodies. Cultivated in the central black earth regions.

Plantain flea in Russia does not grow and is not cultivated. Homeland - Eastern Transcaucasia and Turkmenistan. The raw material of the plantain is imported from Ukraine, where this species is cultivated.

Laminaria species form thickets on stones and rocks in the coastal zones of the seas and oceans at a depth of 2 to 25 meters. Japanese kelp is found along the southern shores of the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, in the Pacific Ocean along the coast of the southern Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. Laminaria sugary is distributed along the coasts of the White, Barents and Kara Seas.

Flax, as well as plants - sources of starch are widely cultivated in Russia.

Thus, the needs for raw materials of coltsfoot, kelp are provided by wild plants; linden, large plantain, marshmallow - due to wild and cultivated plants; flax - due to cultivated plants.

Physical and chemical properties of polysaccharides

Usually these are amorphous substances. Insoluble in alcohol and non-polar solvents. Solubility in water varies:

cellulose, protopectins, cherry gum - insoluble in water;
other groups of pectins - form gels;
tragacanth gum, starch - swell in water. AT warm water starch forms a viscous colloidal solution (paste);
inulin, mucus, apricot gum - soluble in water.

Usually polysaccharides are colorless, tasteless and odorless.

Polysaccharides undergo acid or enzymatic hydrolysis to form mono- or oligosaccharides. The resulting monomers give their characteristic reactions.

Harvesting, drying and storage of raw materials containing polysaccharides

Gather raw materials after 10-11 hours, when the dew is completely dry. They are collected in a small, well-ventilated container (baskets, fabric bags). Raw materials are laid loosely, not tamped. From the moment of collection to drying should not be more than two hours.

Drying raw materials are carried out taking into account the activity of enzymatic systems. Usually, raw materials are dried at a temperature of 50-60 ° C - this is drying with partial denaturation of enzymes. Sometimes the raw material is kept at a temperature of 70-80 °C for an hour (in this case, complete denaturation of the enzymes occurs), and then it is dried in the air-shadow method.

store raw materials at an air temperature of 12-15 ° C and an air humidity of 30-40%. Stored more often in bales of fabric, fabric or flax-jute-kenaf bags, less often in multilayer paper bags, sometimes in boxes made of sheet wood materials. Packed in paper bags, which are put into cardboard packs. The shelf life of raw materials is from 2 to 5 years.

Assessment of the quality of raw materials containing polysaccharides. Analysis Methods

The authenticity of medicinal plant materials is confirmed by qualitative reactions. Pharmacopoeia (GF XI, issue 2) are the following:

- for starch:

When adding Lugol's solution (a solution of iodine in an aqueous solution of potassium iodide), a blue color appears (Sachs reaction);

- for inulin:

Stage 1 - when applying an iodine solution, there should be no blue staining (lack of starch);

Stage 2 - when applying a 20% alcohol solution alpha-naphthol and concentrated sulfuric acid, a pink-violet color appears (Molisch reaction);

- for slime:

1) when applying a solution of ammonia or sodium hydroxide, a yellow color appears;

2) an alcohol solution of methylene blue stains the mucus blue;

3) the micropreparation is placed in a solution (1:10) of clerical ink: on a dark gray (almost black) background, cells with mucus stand out as white spots;

- for pectin substances:

The galacturonic acid formed after acid hydrolysis reacts with carbazole, and a red-violet color appears.

The quantitative determination of polysaccharides (SP XI, issue 2) is carried out by a gravimetric (weight) method based on the precipitation of polysaccharides from an aqueous extract with 95% alcohol. Analysis stages:

1) extraction of polysaccharides with water;

2) precipitation of polysaccharides from aqueous extract with 95% alcohol;

3) drying the precipitate and bringing it to constant weight.

Ways to use raw materials containing polysaccharides

1. Medicinal plant material containing polysaccharides is widely used for the preparation extemporaneous dosage forms(released without a doctor's prescription, order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 587 dated 13.09.05):

infusions from the raw materials of linden, coltsfoot, large plantain, flea plantain, marshmallow; slime flax seed, decoction starch;
in general apply after mucus seeds of flax and plantain flea;
crushed- Althea root powder, kelp thallus powder;
large plantain leaves, coltsfoot leaves, linden flowers, marshmallow roots are part of chest(No. 1, 2, 3) and sweatshop fees.

2. Raw materials are used to obtain extraction (herbal) preparations:

plantain tincture;
dry marshmallow root extract;
dry kelp extract;
thick kelp extract;
marshmallow syrup;
plantain juice (from fresh plantain leaves and fresh plantain herb).

3. At chemical and pharmaceutical plants from raw materials receive:

1) preparations containing polysaccharides:

"Alginatol" (rectal suppositories for children) - sodium alginate preparation;
"Algisorb" (powder, tablets) - calcium alginate preparation;
"Laminarid" (granules) - a purified mixture of polysaccharides and protein substances of kelp;
"Plantaglucid" (granules) - a total preparation from the leaves of a large plantain;
laminaria tablets.

2) complex preparations:

"Adaptovit" (solution for oral administration) - thick kelp extract is included;
"Algipor", "Algimaf" (porous sterile sheets) - preparations based on sodium alginate from kelp;
"Mukaltin" (tablets) - includes an extract of the marshmallow herb.

3) preparations containing other groups of active substances:

linseed oil is obtained from flax seeds by cold pressing (it is part of the liniments);
from linseed oil, the drug "Linetol" is obtained - a mixture of ethyl esters of unsaturated fatty acids of linseed oil (anti-sclerotic and wound healing agent).

4. Polysaccharides are widely used in pharmaceutical technology:

starch - as a filler and binder in the production of tablets and pills; is a part of powders, some ointments and pastes;
dextrin is used as an emulsifier and glue;
gums - as emulsifiers, as binding and gluing agents in the production of tablets and pills.

5. Cellulose is used in medical practice as a dressings(cotton wool, fluff pulp, lignin).

Medical use of raw materials and preparations containing polysaccharides

Pharmacological action is based on the ability of polysaccharides to swell and form colloidal solutions. They cover the inflamed mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract with a thin layer (enveloping effect), protect sensitive nerve endings from irritation by food, drugs, gastric juice components, bile, acid peptides (gastroprotective effect). Due to this action of polysaccharides, the severity of the pain syndrome decreases and the inflammatory process decreases at its initial stage. At the same time, they reduce the absorption of toxins, prolong the action of drugs.

The mechanism of emollient and expectorant action of polysaccharides in diseases of the upper respiratory tract is different. Polysaccharides do not sublimate with water vapor and are ineffective when inhaled. When taken orally, polysaccharides are not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and cannot naturally enter the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. However, empirical data and clinical studies confirm the usefulness of oral administration of polysaccharides in bronchitis, pneumonia, and tracheitis. Obviously, the short oligosaccharides and monosaccharides formed during the partial hydrolysis of polysaccharides in the gastrointestinal tract stimulate the secretion of mucus and contribute to the normal functioning of the mucous membranes.

Thus, drugs containing polysaccharides are mainly used:

as enveloping, anti-inflammatory, emollient, expectorant for acute and chronic diseases of the respiratory tract (infusions from the raw materials of linden, coltsfoot, plantain, marshmallow, pectoral and diaphoretic fees, dry extract and syrup of marshmallow, "Mukaltin");
as enveloping and anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (infusions of marshmallow roots, psyllium psyllium seeds, starch decoction, flax seed mucus).

"Plantaglucid" is used to treat chronic hyperacid gastritis and peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum with normal and low acidity. Plantain juice is used for anacid gastritis and chronic colitis. Plantain tincture is an antacid, expectorant, anti-inflammatory agent that stimulates regeneration.

Psyllium psyllium seeds, flax seeds, kelp thallus powder, kelp tablets, dry and thick kelp extract, "Laminarid" are used as mild laxatives for chronic atonic constipation and colitis. The action is based on the ability of polysaccharides to swell in the gastrointestinal tract, which contributes to the loosening of feces, increasing their volume. This causes irritation of the receptors of the intestinal mucosa, contributes to its emptying.

Laminaria thallus powder, kelp tablets, dry and thick kelp extract are also used to prevent atherosclerosis, thyroid diseases (endemic goiter), and are used to prevent diseases associated with iodine deficiency in the body.

"Algipor", "Algimaf" are used to treat wounds and burns.

Alginatol is a hemostatic agent for topical use.

"Algisorb" is a complexing agent (antidote).

"Adaptovit" is a general tonic.

Medicinal plant materials containing inulin are used in the treatment diabetes(inulin contributes to the deposition of glycogen in the liver, the insulin-forming function of the pancreas improves).

Pectin substances help to reduce the content of cholesterol in the blood, i.e. have an anti-sclerotic effect.

Pectic substances and alginic acids have the ability to adsorb heavy metal cations and radioisotopes, and contribute to the removal of radionuclides and heavy metals from the body.

In addition, polysaccharides in plant materials perform a biopharmaceutical function. They form complexes with sparingly or water-insoluble terpenes and phenols. Thanks to polysaccharides, essential oils and other groups of biologically active substances pass into infusions and decoctions. Polysaccharides prolong the action of other biologically active substances and drugs.

^ MALTHEA ROOTS - RADICES ALTHAEAE

HERBA ALTHAEAE OFFICINALIS - HERBA ALTHAEAE OFFICINALIS

Marshmallow officinalis - Althaea officinalis L.

Althea Armenian - Althaea armeniaca Ten.

Sem. malvaceae - Malvaceae

Other names: marshmallow, marshmallow

Botanical characteristic. Marshmallow officinalis- a perennial herbaceous plant 60-150 cm high. The rhizome is many-headed, short, woody, with branched, fleshy, whitish roots. Stems pubescent, slightly branched, erect. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, usually 3-5-lobed, rounded or ovate, simpler towards the apex. The flowers are five-membered, large, collected in the upper part of the stem in a spike-shaped inflorescence - thyrsus. Corolla whitish or pinkish, petals obovate. The pistil with an upper multi-celled ovary is enclosed in a tube of numerous purple stamens fused with filaments. Calyx double, inner leaflets 5, outer (subcup) - 8-12. Fruit - fractional, breaking up into separate one-seeded kidney-shaped dark brown fruitlets. The whole plant has soft velvety pubescence (Fig. 4.17). Flowering from June to September, fruiting in September - October.

Rice. 4.17. Marshmallow officinalis - Althaea oficinalis L.

Marshmallow Armenian distinguished by rounded outline, 3-5-parted or lobed leaves, longer pedicels and racemose inflorescences.

Spreading. Althea officinalis is common in the forest-steppe and steppe zones of the European part of the country, in the Caucasus, as well as in the mountainous steppe and semi-desert regions of the south of Western Siberia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Marshmallow Armenian is found in the southeast of the European part of Russia, in Kazakhstan, Central Asia and the Caucasus.

They usually grow in small groups or sparse thickets. Cultivated in a number of farms in the Krasnodar Territory and Ukraine. Collect the roots of plants at the age of 2-3 years.

Habitat. Both species prefer fairly moist habitats. They grow in river valleys, along the banks of lakes, in wet meadows, among shrubs, on the outskirts of swamps.

To obtain crude raw materials, after digging and shaking off the ground, the roots are placed in baskets and quickly washed in cold running water. The roots should not be soaked, since the mucus is highly soluble in water, and is easily washed out of the raw material.

Grass Marshmallow officinalis is harvested during flowering (within a month from the beginning of flowering), mowed, yellowed leaves and an admixture of other plants are removed.

^ Security measures. Thickets are easily depleted, therefore, in the process of collecting raw materials from wild plants, in order to save thickets, seeds are shaken into holes, young shoots are preserved, and developed specimens are left for seeding.

Standardization. GF XI, no. 2, art. 64 and Change No. 1 - marshmallow roots; FS 42-812-91 - unpeeled marshmallow roots; VFS 42-1696-87 - marshmallow herb.

^ External signs. Roots. Whole raw material. Roots peeled from cork, almost cylindrical or split lengthwise into 2-4 parts, slightly tapering towards the end, 10-35 cm long and up to 2 cm thick. traces of fallen or cut thin roots. Fracture in the center granular-rough, fibrous outside. The color of the roots outside and in the fracture is white, yellowish-white (Marshmallow officinalis) or grayish (Armenian Marshmallow). The smell is weak, peculiar. The taste is sweet with a slimy feel. crushed raw materials. Pieces of roots of various shapes, passing through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 7 mm. The color is yellowish white or grayish white. The smell is weak, peculiar. The taste is sweet with a slimy feel. Powder white, yellowish-white or grayish in color, passing through a sieve with holes measuring 0.31 mm. The smell is weak, peculiar. The taste is sweet with a slimy feel.

^ Marshmallow roots unpeeled are roots not peeled from the cork, almost cylindrical in shape or split lengthwise into 2-4 parts, branched, of various lengths, up to 2 cm thick. The surface is longitudinally wrinkled, grayish-brown.

Grass is a non-lignified shoots with partially crumbled whole or broken leaves, flowers, buds and fruits of varying degrees of maturity. Stems are rounded, longitudinally discontinuously furrowed, pubescent, up to 120 cm long, up to 8 mm thick, grayish-green. The smell is weak. The taste is slightly slimy.

Microscopy.Roots. The cross section (Fig. 4.18.) shows the secondary structure characteristic of the root with a predominance of thin-walled parenchymal tissue in the xylem. In the bark there are numerous tangentially elongated groups of bast fibers arranged in discontinuous concentric belts. Smaller groups of fibers are scattered throughout the wood. Fibers with a thickness of 10-35 microns with slightly thickened, non-lignified or slightly lignified walls and a large lumen. Vessels and tracheids are located in small groups. The medullary rays are one-, less often two-row. Numerous large cells with mucus are visible in the parenchyma, both in the bark and in the wood. In water, the mucus dissolves, the cells become colorless and appear empty. The parenchyma cells are filled with starch grains, in places there are small druses of calcium oxalate. Powder. Under the microscope, fragments of the parenchyma with starch are visible, individual starch grains of a round, oval or ovoid shape, 3-27 microns in size, calcium oxalate drusen, fragments of vessels, fragments of fibers; often there are their forked branched endings. Mucus is detected when viewed in the carcass.

Grass. Microdiagnostics of the marshmallow herb is carried out on the leaves. Of diagnostic value are: slightly sinuous, sometimes clearly thickened walls of the cells of the upper and strongly sinuous walls of the cells of the lower epidermis; stomata of anomocytic type with 2-4 parotid cells; hairs of two types: stellate - from 1-8 thick-walled rays, often lignified at the base, and glandular - consisting of a one- or two-celled stalk and a multicellular head of 2-12 excretory cells arranged in several tiers of 2-4 cells each; epidermal cells form rosettes at the attachment points of hairs; numerous drusen of calcium oxalate in the mesophyll of the leaf and along the veins.

Rice. 4.18. Cross section of marshmallow root:

1 - bast fibers; 2 - cells with mucus; 3 – calcium oxalate druses; 4 - thin-walled parenchyma with starch grains; 5 - core beam; 6 - cambium; 7 - vessels; 8 - tracheids.

^ quality reactions. When wetting a cut or root powder with a solution of ammonia or sodium hydroxide, a yellow color (mucus) appears.

Chemical composition. Roots and grass contain polysaccharides: mucus (in roots - up to 35%, in grass - up to 12%), sugars (up to 8% in roots), starch (in roots - up to 37%), about 1% pectin (roots) , as well as fatty oil, organic acids, tannins, steroids, betaine, asparagine, mineral salts. Grass, in addition to mucus, contains ascorbic acid, carotenoids, flavonoids, a small amount of essential oil (0.02%).

Storage. Store raw materials in well-ventilated, dry rooms. The raw material is hygroscopic, easily damp. The shelf life of the roots is 3 years, herbs - 5 years.

Medicines.

Althea roots, crushed raw materials. Expectorant.
As part of the fees (breast fees No. 1 and No. 3; collection for the preparation of a mixture according to the prescription of M.N. Zdrenko).
Marshmallow root dry extract, powder. It is used to prepare a potion similar to marshmallow roots.
Marshmallow syrup (prepared from dry marshmallow root extract). Expectorant.
Tonsilgon N, dragee (component - Althea root powder); drops for oral administration (component - extract of marshmallow roots). Immunostimulating, anti-inflammatory agent.
Mukaltin, tablets of 0.05 g (the amount of polysaccharides from the marshmallow herb). Expectorant.

^ Pharmacotherapeutic group. Expectorant.

pharmacological properties. Marshmallow preparations have an anti-inflammatory, enveloping, expectorant effect. The medicinal properties are due to the high content of polysaccharides that can swell in aqueous infusions, increase in volume and cover the mucous membranes and skin with a thin layer. This layer protects the mucous membranes from harmful factors (cold air, irritating food components, drying). In addition, the mucous-polysaccharide complex absorbs, adsorbs microbial, viral and toxic products released by affected epithelial cells, inactivates them, and prevents contact of toxins with the mucous membrane. Under such a mucous layer, the activity of the inflammatory process decreases, dense cells and crusts soften, erosions and ulcers heal faster. Marshmallow preparations have mucolytic properties.

Application. Altey ( "alcea"- Greek. - "healing") has been used since the 9th century BC. Instructions on the use of marshmallow are found in Theophrastus, Dioscorides and Pliny. Marshmallow is used as an anti-inflammatory and enveloping agent for diseases of the respiratory and digestive organs. Marshmallow preparations inside and for rinsing are used for inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract and pharynx, accompanied by difficult expectoration of sputum, with tonsillitis, tracheitis, stomatitis, gingivitis. They reduce cough, increase mucus secretion and facilitate the evacuation of sputum in acute chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and acute respiratory diseases. With gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, with enterocolitis, marshmallow roots are used as an adjuvant. In X-ray practice, in order to better identify the relief of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, an extract from the roots of Althea is added to barium powder. Outwardly, in collections, marshmallow roots are used as an emollient in the form of poultices.

(Althaeae officinalis herba - marshmallow medicinal herb)

Collected in autumn or spring, peeled from the ground and cork layer and dried lateral and non-lignified taproots of wild and cultivated perennial herbaceous plants marshmallow officinalis Althaea officinalis L. and Armenian marshmallow Althaea armeniaca Ten., fam. Malvaceae - Malvaceae; used as medicinal product and medicinal raw materials.

Collected in autumn or spring, thoroughly washed and dried lateral and non-lignified taproots of cultivated and wild perennial herbaceous plants of marshmallow officinalis and marshmallow Armenian; used as a medicinal raw material.

Collected within a month from the beginning of flowering and dried grass of a cultivated perennial herbaceous plant Marshmallow officinalis; used as a medicinal plant material.

Marshmallow officinalis is a perennial herbaceous plant 60-150 cm high, with a short branched rhizome, a large woody main root and numerous fleshy lateral roots. Stems pubescent, with alternate rounded kidney-shaped lower, rounded or ovate, slightly lobed middle and entire oblong-ovate upper leaves, weakly pubescent above, densely pubescent below. The edge of the leaves is unevenly crenate-toothed. The flowers are five-membered, with a whitish or pinkish corolla of obovate petals and a double calyx (subcup of 9-12 leaflets), crowded in the axils of the upper and middle leaves, forming a spike-shaped inflorescence - thyrsus. There are many stamens, fused with filaments into a tube. One pistil is complex with an upper multi-celled ovary. The fruit is a discoid schizocarp, which breaks up after maturation into kidney-shaped dark brown fruitlets. Flowering from June to September, fruiting in September-October.

Marshmallow officinalis is common in the forest and forest-steppe zones of the European part of the CIS, in the southern regions of Western Siberia, in Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. In Western Siberia and Central Asia, Marshmallow officinalis is confined to the steppe regions, in the semi-desert zone it occurs in swampy sandy lowlands, in mountainous regions - in valleys and gorges (Fig.).

Marshmallow Armenian is distinguished by the fact that its stems are often single, with rounded in outline, three- and five-part (dissected) leaves, longer than those of a. medicinal pedicels and racemose inflorescences. Marshmallow Armenian is found in the south-east of the European part of Russia (along the lower reaches of the Don and Volga), in Kazakhstan, Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Both species prefer fairly moist habitats. They usually grow in small groups or sparse thickets. Cultivated in a number of farms previously belonging to the AIC "Efirlekrasprom".

The need for marshmallow roots is supposed to be mainly satisfied by cultivating the plant on plantations, in the grass - completely from cultivated plants. The main harvesting (on natural thickets) is carried out in the North Caucasus (mainly in Dagestan), in Ukraine, in the central regions of the Russian Federation.

Chemical composition. Althea roots and grass contain polysaccharides: mucus (in the root - up to 35%, in the grass - up to 12%), consisting of pentosans, hexosans and uronic acids; sugar (up to 8% at the root); roots, in addition, contain starch (up to 37%), about 1% pectin, fatty oil, organic acids, tannins, steroids, betaine, asparagine, mineral salts. Grass in addition to mucus contains ascorbic acid, carotenoids, flavonoids, a small amount of essential oil (0.02%).

Preparation of raw materials, primary processing, drying. The roots are harvested in the fall, after the death of the above-ground parts of plants (September-October), or in the spring, before regrowth begins (April-early May). After digging with shovels or plows, the roots are thoroughly cleaned from the ground, the rhizomes and small roots are cut off, and the lignified upper part of the main root is removed; non-lignified roots are dried for 2-3 days in the air, then the cork is removed. Large roots are cut transversely into pieces up to 35 cm long, thick ones - lengthwise into 2-4 parts.

To obtain crude raw materials, after digging and shaking off the ground, the roots are placed in baskets and quickly washed in cold running water. The rest of the processing is carried out in the same way as for raw materials cleared of cork.

Althea grass is harvested during flowering (within a month from the beginning of flowering), mowing mechanized way, remove yellowed leaves and admixture of other plants.

Althea roots and grass are dried either in dryers at a temperature of 50-60 0 C, or in well-ventilated areas. In the southern regions of the country, the roots are also dried in the sun, covering them at night. When drying this raw material, it is necessary to take into account its hygroscopicity. Lay out in a thin layer, loosely, on nets or frames covered with fabric. After drying, impurities are removed from the raw materials, moldy and discolored roots and parts of the grass.

Standardization. The quality of raw materials is regulated by the requirements of GF XI (marshmallow roots), FS 42-812-73 (marshmallow root unpeeled), VFS 42-1696-87 (marshmallow herb).

External signs. Althea roots. Whole Raw Material is a cork-free, almost cylindrical roots or split lengthwise into 2-4 parts 10-35 cm long, up to 2 cm thick, longitudinally furrowed with long, soft bast fibers exfoliating and dark dots - traces of fallen or cut off small roots. The fracture in the central part is granular-rough, fibrous on the outside. The color of the root outside and in the fracture is white, yellowish-white, grayish. The smell is weak, peculiar. The taste is sweet with a slimy feel.

crushed raw materials. A mixture of pieces of roots of various shapes ranging in size from 1 to 7 mm. The color is yellowish white or grayish white.

Powder. Has a white, yellowish-white or grayish color, passes through a sieve with holes of 0.31 mm.

Marshmallow root unpeeled. Whole raw materials are almost cylindrical roots not peeled from the cork or split lengthwise into 2-4 parts, branched, of various lengths, up to 2 cm thick. The surface is longitudinally wrinkled, grayish-brown.

Althea grass. The raw material is non-lignified shoots with partially crumbled whole or crushed, broken leaves, flowers, buds and fruits of various degrees of maturity. Stems are rounded, longitudinally discontinuously furrowed, pubescent, up to 120 cm long, up to 8 mm thick, grayish-green. The smell is weak. The taste is slightly slimy.

quality reactions. When wetting a cut or root powder with a solution of ammonia or sodium hydroxide, a yellow color (mucus) appears.

Microscopy. In the anatomical study of the marshmallow root, the following are of diagnostic significance: the secondary structure of the root with a predominance of thin-walled parenchymal tissue in the xylem; numerous groups of fibers with weakly thickened, non-lignified or slightly lignified walls, located in discontinuous concentric belts in the phloem and smaller groups in the xylem; small groups of vessels and tracheids; one-, less often two-row core rays; large cells with mucus; parenchyma cells with starch grains; small druses of calcium oxalate. In microscopic examination of the unpeeled marshmallow root, in addition to the indicated signs, the presence of a thin layer of cork should be noted (Fig.).

When examining the powder, parenchyma cells with starch grains and individual starch grains of a round, oval or ovoid shape 3-27 microns in size, fragments of mesh and ladder vessels, fibers, druses of calcium oxalate are visible. Mucus is detected when viewed in a diluted carcass.

Microdiagnostics of grass is carried out by leaves. In anatomical examination of the leaves, the following are of diagnostic value: slightly sinuous, sometimes clearly thickened cells of the upper and strongly sinuous cells of the lower epidermis; stomata of anomocytic type with 2-4 parotid cells; hairs of two types (star-shaped of 1-8 thick-walled rays, often lignified at the base, and glandular on a one- and two-celled stalk with a multicellular head of 2-12 excretory cells arranged in several tiers of 2-4 cells each); epidermal cells form rosettes at the attachment points of hairs; numerous calcium oxalate druses in the leaf mesophyll and along the veins (Fig.).

Numerical indicators. Althea roots. Whole raw material. Moisture not more than 14%; total ash no more than 8%; ash, insoluble in 10% hydrochloric acid solution, not more than 0.5%; woody roots no more than 3%; roots, poorly cleaned of cork, no more than 3%; organic impurities not more than 0.5%, mineral - not more than 0.5%.

Crushed raw materials. Particles that do not pass through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 7 mm, no more than 15%; particles passing through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 1 mm, not more than 3%; organic impurities not more than 0.5%, mineral - not more than 0.5%.

Powder. Particles that do not pass through a sieve with holes of 0.31 mm, not more than 1%.

Marshmallow root unpeeled. Whole Raw Material. Numerical indicators are similar to indicators for Radices Althaeae.

Crushed raw materials. Particles that do not pass through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 8 mm, no more than 10%; particles passing through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 1 mm, no more than 3%.

Herb Marshmallow officinalis. The content of polysaccharides is not less than 5% (determined gravimetrically), moisture is not more than 13%, total ash is not more than 18%, stems are not more than 60%, fruits are not more than 10%; organic impurities not more than 3%, mineral - not more than 1.5%.

Microbiological purity. Althea roots. In accordance with GF XI, no. 2, p. 187 and Amendment to GF XI dated 12/28/95, category 5.2.

Storage. Store raw materials in well-ventilated dry rooms. The shelf life of the roots, peeled and not peeled from the cork - 3 years, herbs - 5 years.

Usage. The roots are used as an expectorant, emollient, anti-inflammatory and enveloping agent in the form of a powder, infusion, dry extract and syrup, and as part of breast preparations for acute and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Mukaltin is a preparation made from an herb containing a mixture of polysaccharides; used as an expectorant for bronchitis, pneumonia and bronchiectasis. It is especially indicated for children. Althea officinalis is used in homeopathy, is part of dietary supplements.

As substitutes for marshmallow, species of the genus stock-rose are promising - Alcea L. So in the experiment, stem polysaccharides Alcea kusjariensis Iljin reduce the acidity of gastric juice.

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