Investigation of the antioxidant activity of horse chestnut flowers in various growing regions by differential spectrophotometry

The article presents the results of determining the total content of antioxidant substances in terms of ascorbic acid and the total antioxidant activity of horse chestnut flowers harvested in various regions of the Russian Federation, using the differential spectrophotometry method. The highest antioxidant activity values were observed in the raw materials harvested in the southern (Stavropol Krai (1,213610-5 g/ml; 0,20420.0141%) and Volgograd Oblast (1,205110-5 g/ml; 0,19980.0138%) and northern regions (Leningrad Oblast (1,113410-5 g/ml; 0,18880,0130%)). The differences obtained may be due to the influence of climatic conditions on the biochemical composition of the studied raw materials. It was established that the actual concentration of vitamin C in chestnut flowers is relatively low, which suggests that the antioxidant effect is due not only to ascorbic acid, but also to a complex of other biologically active compounds. As part of the assessment of possible areas of use of horse chestnut flowers in pharmacy and medicine, It was established that in the infusion, as a potential medicinal form based on raw materials, the total content of substances that prevent oxidation, expressed in ascorbic acid equivalent, was 7,10 mg%. The study of the antioxidant activity of other possible medicinal forms (liquid and dry extracts) is a further prospect for developing the research topic.