The current state and prospects of the development of soft dosage forms with Boraginaceae species

Soft dosage forms make up a significant segment in the structure of medicines both pharmaceutical and industrial production. Herbal ointments are an integral part of this group. Species of the Boraginaceae family are the source of biologically active substances used to treat inflammatory processes of all layers of the skin, muscle tissue, tendons and joints.Aim. To determine data on the current state of the development of soft dosage forms based on species of the Boraginaceae family and identify further prospects for studies in this area.Materials and methods. The scientific databases, in particular Abdata Pharma-Daten-Service, BioMed Central, Scopus, scientific periodicals of Ukraine – Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine, etc., were analyzed.Results and discussion. As a result of the data analysis of the Information Fund “State Register of Medicines of Ukraine” it has been found that only medicines with comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) are registered in Ukraine. In the EU countries, only soft dosage forms with comfrey are registered, with the exception of Greece where there are ointments with Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Taush, and France where there are substances for the production of ointments withPulmonaria obscura Dumort. and Anchusa officinalis L. There are many soft homeopathic dosage forms with comfrey at the US pharmaceutical market; however, there are ointments and suppositories with Borago officinalis L. and a gel with Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill. At the Brazilian pharmaceutical market there is the cream “Acheflan” based on Cordia verbenacea DC. The European and Asian scientists study ointments with Cordia myxa L., Cordia obliqua Willd., Heliotropium indicum L., Arnebia euchroma Rolye. (Johnst.), Onosma dichroanthum Boiss, Arnebia densiflora (Nordm.) Ledeb, Ehretia microphylla Lam., Anchusa officinalis L.Conclusions. Homeopathic products predominate among the soft dosage forms based on Boraginaceae species. At the pharmaceutical market, along with comfrey drugs, there are medicines and active substances with Borago officinalis, Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill, Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Taush, Pulmonaria obscura Dumort., Anchusa officinalis L. and Cordia verbenacea DC. There is an active research of the existing products with comfrey, as well as the development and study of new soft dosage forms with species of Arnebia, Heliotropium, Cordia, Onosma, Ehretia and Anchusa genus. Taking the above into account the further research for creating effective and safe drugs based on the Boraginaceae species is promising.

Quantifying the attractiveness of garden flowers for pollinators

There is great interest in planting urban areas to benefit pollinating insects, with the potential that urban areas and gardens could act as an extensive network of pollinator-friendly habitats. However, there are a great many different plant cultivars available to the gardener, and a paucity of evidence-based advice as to which plants are truly most attractive to flower-visiting insects. Here, we report insect visitation to metre square plots of 111 different ornamental plant cultivars at a site in central UK. Data were collected over 5 years, and comprise over 9000 insect observations, which were identified to species (for honeybees and bumblebees) or as ‘solitary bees’, Syrphidae, Lepidoptera and ‘others’. Unlike some previous studies, we found no difference in numbers of insects attracted to native or non-native species, or according to whether plants were annuals, biennials or perennials, but we did find that native plants attracted a significantly higher diversity of flower-visiting insects. Overall, the most-visited plants were Calamintha nepeta, Helenium autumnale and Geranium rozanne. However, patterns of visitation were quite different for every insect taxa examined. For example, different species of short-tongued bumblebees showed little overlap in their most-preferred plant cultivars. Interestingly, very similar plant cultivars often attracted different insect communities; for example, 72% of visitors to Aster novi belgii were honeybees or bumblebees, while the related Anthemis tinctoria, which also has daisy-like flowers, did not attract a single honeybee or bumblebee but was popular with solitary bees, hoverflies, and ‘other’ pollinators. Some plant cultivars such as Eryngium planum and Myosotis arvensis were attractive to a broad range of insects, while others attracted only a few species but sometimes in large numbers, such as Veronicastrum virginicum and Helenium autumnale which were both visited predominantly by honey bees. It is clear that we do not yet fully understand what factors drive insect flower preferences. Recommendations are made as to which flower cultivars could be combined to provide forage for a diversity of pollinator groups over the season from early spring to autumn, though it must be born in mind that some plants are likely to perform differently when grown in different environmental conditions.

Die Blume der Liebenden

SummaryDas Vergissmeinnicht beziehungsweise die blaue Blume der Romantik ist in Sagen ein Symbol der Sehnsucht und der Liebenden. In der Volksheilkunde nutzt man das Acker-Vergissmeinnicht (Myosotis arvensis) seit jeher bei verschiedenen Beschwerden zur innerlichen und äußerlichen Anwendung.

Segetal flora of cereal crop agrocenoses in the Suwałki Landscape Park

Segetal flora of cereal crop agrocenoses in the Suwałki Landscape Park was studied in between the years 2012 and 2013. One hundred phytosociological Braun-Blanquet releves were taken, documenting the occurrence of 152 species of vascular plants that represented 29 botanic families. Analysis of the contributions of geographic-historical groups revealed the dominance of the native species, apophytes (87 species, making 57.2%), over anthropophytes (65 species, 42.8%). The number of short-lived species was twice greater (103 species, 67.8%) than the perennial ones (49 species, 32.2%). As regards the lifeforms, the therophytes were dominant (96 species, 63.2%) over hemicryptophytes (44 species, 28.9%) and geophytes (12 species, 7.9%). Among the species of segetal flora in the area studied, 23 valuable species classified to different categories of protection, were identified. The presence of Consolida regalis, Centaurea cyanus and Bromus secalinus, belonging to threatened species in other regions of Poland, was abundant. Also the species: Anthemis tinctoria, Echium vulgare and Anchusa officinalis were met with high frequency. The species: Agrostemma githago, Papaver argemone and Papaver dubium were represented by single plants, which can suggest their dying out. In the Park area, expansive species, threatening the biodiversity, such as Myosotis arvensis, Viola arvensis, Galeopsis tetraehit, Stellaria media, Artemisia vulgaris, Galinsoga parviflora, Elymus repens, Capsella bursa pastoris, Erodium cicutarium, Chamomilla recutita, Matricaria maritima subsp. inodora, Convolvulus arvensis, Polygonum persicaria, Polygonum lapathifolium subsp. pallidum and Polygonum lapathifolium subsp. lapathifolium, were commonly seen in the crop land.

Weeds of cereal stubble-fields on various soils in the Kielce region. P. III. Black, alluvial and rendzina soils

The weed flora growing stubble-fields area is determined by soil features. Weeds found in cereal stubble-fields on black soils formed from sands and loams, medium and haevy alluvial soils as well as brown and chernozem rendzina soils are presented in the paper. The 273 phytosociological records were worked out. They were collected from 87 stands situated in 76 localities of Kielce region. The results showed that species number and species composition were dependent on the soils (black. alluvial, rendzina). The existance of 118 (medium alluvial soil) to 140 (brown rendzina soil) weed species, including 73 common for all of the soils considered, was found there. Relatively high per cent (29-35) of them belonged to perennial weeds. From 22 (brown rendzina soil) to 35 (heavy alluvial soil) of species reached high constancy degrees (V-III). <i>Stellaria media, Myosotis arvensis, Polygonum aviculare, Agropyron repens</i> and <i>Cirsium arvense</i> predominated on the all of the soil examined. Among the weed flora registered, 25 species, recorded only on rendzina soils, were distinguishable for that soils.