Vol 29, No 1 (2026)

Introduction. The work is devoted to the development and presentation of an approach to determine the concentration of a new generation immunobiological preparation (VLP vaccine) by an innovative method based on diffuse scattering in optically turbid media. Since the development of new vaccines is highly dependent on the availability of analytical methods for their design and evaluation, hence, the relevance of the study stems from the need to introduce non-destructive and rapid methods of analysis into medicine.
The aim of the work is to develop a new analytical solution for quantitative determination of a new generation VLP vaccine based on diffuse light reflection in an optically inhomogeneous medium.

Material and Methods. The object of the study was a sample of vaccine based on virus-like particles for the prevention of rotavirus infection - oil-in-water emulsion for intramuscular administration; 1 vial - 1 dose (160 µg, 0.5 ml/dose) with nanoemulsified squalene adjuvant (Sepivac SWE). Bovine serum albumin - lyophilised powder 98% (BIOLITE, St. Petersburg) acted as a model protein object. The electronic spectra were obtained using an Agilent Cary 60 spectrophotometer; particle size distribution from 0.1 nm to 10000 nm was determined on a ZetasizerNano ZS dynamic light scattering (DLS) spectrometer (MALVERN Instruments, Malvern, UK). To determine vaccine concentration, an innovative approach based on diffuse photoexcitation of secondary waves from light scattering centres in the tested protein preparations followed by chemometric processing of kinetics of diffuse reflection patterns was used.

Results. On the basis of the constructed calibration straight line and the value of the sd2 descriptor, which demonstrated the stability of values within the framework of intra-laboratory reproducibility of the test sample, the concentration of Gam-VLP-rot vaccine (160 μg/dose) in the test solution (in terms of 1 ml) was determined.

Conclusions. The obtained results will find application in the field of pharmaceutical chemistry, immunobiology, biomedicine at the stage of development and quality control of vaccines, immune sera and globulins as an accessible, express and reliable method of quantification.

Introduction. Artemisia commutatа Bess. is a herbaceous species of the family Asteraceae, distributed across Siberia and the European part of Russia. Despite the wide occurrence of this taxon, information regarding the chemical composition of its essential oil, fatty acids, and elemental profile has not previously been reported. Such data are of particular relevance, as members of the genus Artemisia L. are known to be a rich source of bioactive metabolites with diverse pharmacological activities.

Objective. The present work aimed to perform a comprehensive phytochemical and elemental characterization of the aerial parts of A. commutata.

Materials and Methods. Aerial parts of A. commutata were collected in the Republic of Buryatia (Khorinsky District, flowering stage, 2022). Essential oil and lipid fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) following standard sample preparation. Elemental composition was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).

Results. Hydrodistillation of the aerial parts yielded an essential oil containing 53 identified constituents. The major compounds were capillin (29,30%), methyl eugenol (23,33%), spathulenol (14,90%), benzyl diacetylene (8,81%), caryophyllene oxide (5,25%), methyl chavicol (4,36%), ar-curcumene (1,56%), and elemicin (0,93%). The lipid fraction was characterized by both unsaturated and saturated higher fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids were dominated by linoleic (35,75%), oleic (7,67%), and linolenic (4,85%) acids, whereas saturated fatty acids included palmitic (35,42%), stearic (6,41%), eicosanoic (5,37%), and heneicosanoic (7,53%) acids. Elemental analysis demonstrated the presence of macroelements (K, Na, Ca, Mg) and microelements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr).

Conclusions. This is the first report on the essential oil composition, fatty acid profile, and elemental content of A. commutata. The predominance of capillin, methyl eugenol, and spathulenol in the essential oil, together with the presence of nutritionally and pharmacologically relevant fatty acids and trace elements, highlights the potential of this species as a promising source of biologically active compounds. These findings provide a chemical basis for further pharmacological evaluation of A. commutata in relation to its possible anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities.

Introduction. Thymol and carvacrol, belonging to the class of aromatic monoterpenes, are the main biologically active components of the essential oil of the herb thyme creeping (Thymus serpyllum L.). Liquid extract of thyme creeping, which is the basis of a number of domestic preparations of expectorant action, is standardised by thymol content, determined by gas chromatography or HPLC. At the same time, thyme herb is not standardised by the Russian Pharmacopoeia even by the content of essential oil. Thyme is a polymorphic species, the chemical composition of essential oil of which can vary, there are chemotypes with almost complete absence of thymol and carvacrol.

It is expedient to supplement the standardisation of thyme herb by determination of essential oil and the sum of phenolic components in it. This will allow to carry out end-to-end standardisation of raw materials and preparations for the main active substances - thymol and carvacrol. A rapid method for the determination of the sum of aromatic monoterpenes in the essential oil of thyme creeping based on spectrophotometric measurement of the optical density of an alcoholic solution of the essential oil was proposed earlier.

The aim of the work was to validate the spectrophotometric method for the determination of the sum of aromatic compounds in terms of thymol in the essential oil of the herb thyme creeping.

Materials and Methods. UNICO 2802 spectrophotometer (Russia), ADV-200M analytical balance (Russia), thymol substance with the content of the main substance 99.9% (Fluka, Germany), herb of thyme creeping, harvested in the botanical garden of Kazan State Medical University in 2023 were used. Thymol substance was used for the preparation of standard solutions and in the method of additives. The optical density of the solutions was measured at 277 nm in cuvettes with a thickness of 10 mm.

Results. The spectrophotometric method for the determination of the sum of aromatic compounds in terms of thymol in the essential oil of thyme creeping thyme was validated. Validation of the presented method, carried out in accordance with the requirements of GFA.1.1.0012 ‘Validation of analytical methods’ of the State Pharmacopoeia XV edition, showed its specificity, linearity in the range from 22.4 to 41.7 µg/ml (r = 0.9998), precision and correctness. The results are not burdened by systematic error. The relative standard deviation (RSD) does not exceed 2.0%.

Conclusions. The developed method for the quantitative determination of the sum of aromatic compounds in terms of thymol can be used to standardize both the creeping thyme herb itself and the essential oil obtained from it.

Enormous progress has been made in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). The heterogeneity of the disease's mechanisms, the variability of symptoms, and their progression are the main reasons for the complexity of pharmacotherapy for PD. Thanks to advances in experimental therapy, many promising treatment methods are emerging. Currently, dopamine-based drugs, such as levodopa and dopamine agonists, are used, as well as drugs that affect other neurotransmitter systems, such as MAO-B and COMT inhibitors. New treatment methods are being developed aimed at reducing neuroinflammation, including neuroprotective therapy, as well as immunotherapy and the use of stem cells. Novel therapies targeting neuroinflammation are under development. These include neuroprotective strategies focused on mitochondria and oxidative stress, as well as innovative approaches such as immunization against alpha-synuclein, cell and gene therapy for delivering glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and stem cell transplantation. The identification of novel therapeutic targets and the advancement of personalized medicine are key objectives in the management of this disease.

Introduction. Severe forms of COVID-19 pneumonia are associated with hypoxia, which increases inflammation and hemostasis disorders. HIF-1a plays a central role in the response to hypoxic conditions, which reprograms metabolism by inhibiting the tricarboxylic acid cycle and stimulating lactate production, leading to the accumulation of acetyl-CoA and activation of CRAT. Paradoxically, HIF-1a suppresses CPT1A, disrupting the β-oxidation of fatty acids. Dysregulation of carnitine-dependent fatty acid transport in COVID-19 has not been sufficiently studied. We suggest that HIF-1a-mediated suppression of CPT1A and the release of CRAT from damaged cells cause carnitine imbalance.

Aim of the study – comprehensive analysis of the carnitine profile and CRAT level in severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Material and Methods. The retrospective study included 30 people: 22 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and 8 healthy volunteers. Patients with COVID-19 were divided according to the severity of the disease (moderate – 8, severe – 7, extremely severe – 7). The concentrations of total, free, and acylcarnitines in blood plasma were determined (calculated) by the L. Wan and R.W. Hubbard method on an enzyme immunoassay analyzer (410 nm). The levels of HIF-1a and CRAT in blood plasma were determined using competitive enzyme immunoassay.

Results. In patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, there was a significant increase in free carnitine (p=0.029) and a decrease in total carnitine (p=0.043) and acylcarnitines (p=0.016), as well as an increase in CRAT (p=0.028) compared with the group of healthy volunteers. In the extremely severe course of COVID-19 pneumonia, the CRAT level is elevated. The level of CRAT in blood plasma positively correlated with the severity of the condition (r=0.533, p<0.05) and the duration of ICU stay (r=0.588, p<0.01), and negatively with SPO₂ (r=-0.498, p<0.05), ROX index (r=-0.6, p<0.01) and the concentration of HIF-1a (r=-0.651, p<0.05). Free carnitine inversely (r=-0.487, p<0.05), and acylcarnitines directly (r=0.501, p<0.05) correlated with the duration of hospitalization. Total carnitine was inversely dependent on the ROX index (r=-0.588, p<0.01).

Conclusions. Carnitine imbalance was detected in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, probably due to HIF-1a-induced beta-oxidation disorder. The level of CRAT in blood plasma is potentially a predictive marker of the severity of metabolic stress and hypoxia. Correlations of the carnitine profile with the duration of hospitalization and ROX emphasize the clinical significance of these indicators and require further study.

Introduction. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid with a wide range of biological activity. Thalictrum minus cell suspension culture is a promising producer of this alkaloid. Unlike other producers, up to 30% of the berberine synthesized by Thalictrum minus is released into the nutrient medium. However, due to the low productivity of the crop, there is a need to find effective methods for regulating biosynthesis. One of the effective but insufficiently studied regulatory factors is light. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of the spectral composition of light on the accumulation of biomass and synthesis of berberine by suspension culture of T. minus cells, as well as to evaluate the biological activity of the extracts obtained using specific enzyme biotest systems in vitro.

Material and methods. The object of the study was a suspension culture of cells of the small basiliseum (Thalictrum minus L.) grown in conditions of a given illumination and photoperidium with light of a given spectrum. The morphophysiological parameters of the culture (cell shape, accumulation of dry biomass, growth index, productivity, accumulation of berberine) were analyzed, and anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity was screened in vitro.

Results. For the first time, a comparative analysis of the effect of prolonged (12-hour) illumination with monochromatic red (660 nm), blue (440 nm) and white cold (10000 K) light on the suspension culture of T. minus cells was carried out. It was found that red and white light are effective growth stimulators, significantly increasing the maximum biomass (by 21% and 30%, respectively). Using specific enzyme biotest systems (in vitro), it was shown that the biological activity of extracts depended on the conditions of cell culture cultivation.

Conclusions. The culture of T. minus cells is sensitive to various types of exogenous regulation, including light. The effect of light exposure is complex and is determined by the photoperiod, spectrum, and intensity.