БІОЛОГІЧНО АКТИВНІ РЕЧОВИНИ ВИДІВ РОДУ CARLINA L. ФЛОРИ УКРАЇНИ

The review analyzes literature on the biologically active compounds synthesized in the underground and aboveground parts of medicinal plants of the Carlina L. genus. Various phytochemicals have been identified in these species, including flavonoids, essential oils, terpenes and terpenoids, saponins, alkaloids, polysaccharides, tannins, resins, glycosides, ketones, polyacetylenes, and aldehydes. According to modern research, the highest concentration of inulin polysaccharide (up to 12–22 %) has been found in the roots of Carlina plants. Inulin is an effective prebiotic widely used in medicine due to its ability to reduce glucose and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, making it beneficial for treating diabetes, atherosclerosis, and obesity. Additionally, inulin exhibits anticoagulant, immunomodulatory, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. Essential oil (1–5 %) is extracted from the roots of Carlina plants using the hydrodistillation method. This oil contains a variety of terpene components, including β-sesquifellandrene, α-zingiberene, β-farnesene, ar-curcumin, γ-curcumin, and β-bisabolene. These constituents are responsible for the antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, and antioxidant activities of the oil and also function as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. The roots and aerial parts of Carlina plants are also rich sources of chlorogenic acid (1.94 %), triterpene saponins, alkaloids, and flavonoids. Alkaloids are typically found in plants as salts of organic acids or in glycosidic form. In medical applications, plant materials containing these compounds are used for their anti-inflammatory, sedative, tonic, and diuretic properties. Flavonoids, one of the most abundant groups of phenolic compounds in the aboveground organs of Carlina plants, exhibit potent antimicrobial activity against a broad range of microorganisms. The predominant flavonoids found in the leaves include glycoside flavones such as orientin, homoorientin, and vitexin, which possess antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and analgesic properties. Additionally, the leaves contain apigenin, a biologically active compound that interacts with molecular targets in the body, exerting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. Carlina plants serve as the basis for various herbal medicines, including diuretic, anthelmintic, sedative, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diaphoretic, antihemorrhoidal, and antimicrobial formulations. Phytopreparations derived from Carlina plants are used to treat digestive disorders and are also applied topically to manage skin infections and purulent rashes.