MODIFICATION OF GELATIN FILMS WITH PLANT EXTRACTS

Background. Widely cultivated plants with known potential for medical properties for example sea buckthorn (Hippоphaе rhamnоides) and chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) are valuable pharmacopeial raw materials for creating medicinal films. The usage of aqueous extracts from various structural parts of these plants into medical films is an innovative concept for transdermal therapeutic systems, mainly due to their phytochemical components. In addition, the performance properties of medical films can be varying by including plant extracts in the composition. Purpose. The investigation of the influence of aqueous extracts from leaves and fruits of sea buckthorn and chokeberry on the performance properties of gelatin films. Materials and methods. Crushed plant materials (leaves and fruits) were subjected to extraction with water: in a boiling water bath for 30 minutes and at room temperature (20±2°C) for 15 minutes. The quntitive content of extracts were analyzed: polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids by spectrophotometric method; tannins by titrimetric method; extractives by gravimetry. Films were obtained by casting from a viscous solution (10 wt.% P-11 gelatin, 5 wt.% glycerol). The influence of plant extracts on temperature characteristics, tensile strength and elongation at breake, vapor permeability, water absorption, and hydrophilicity of gelatin films was investigated. Statistical processing of measurement results was carried out according with GOST R 8.736-2011. Results. The antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts from plant materials has been approved by determining the content of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins in them. The higher values of that parameters were established for extracts from leaves than from fruits. The technology of gelatin films production ensured the release of phytochemical components from them. As the extractive substances content in gelatin films is increasing the elongation at break and hydrophilicity are increasing whereas the tensile strength and water absorption are decreasing. Gelatin films with plant extracts are vapor-permeable, which makes them possible to use for transdermal therapeutic systems. Conclusion. Thus, the usage of aqueous extracts from the leaves and fruits of sea buckthorn and chokeberry for gelatin films is an effective method for improving their performance properties.