COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PHYSIC-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYSACCHARIDES SELECTED FROM FRUITS OF VACCINIUM ARCTOSTAPHYLOS L. AND VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS L.

In medicine we use natural high-molecular weight substances as individual or as secondary agents in complex preparations and as transport agents for the main substances. Polysaccharides as plant polymers may be as these agents and we need to know their physical and chemical features in the development of the pharmaceutical substances of plant origin. Aim. Investigation of physical and chemical features of polysaccharides from fruits of Vaccinium arctostaphylos L. and Vaccinium myrtillus L. For this aim, we solved the following tasks: isolate water-soluble polysaccharides (WSPS) and pectinic substances (PS), establish monomer content, estimate medium molecular weight of by viscosimeter, isoelectric point, distribution coefficient, superficial activity. Results. Amount of WSPS from V. arctostaphylos fruits is 2.70%, from V. myrtillus – 3.62%; amount of PS from V. arctostaphylos is 0.67%, from V. myrtillus – 1.82%. We identified eight monosaccharides from all fractions except glucuronic acid in the WSPS from V. arctostaphylos fruits. The main compounds of WSPS from Vaccinium fruits are galactose and arabinose, of PS – galacturonic acid and galactose. WSPS from V. myrtillus has largest molecular weight (11263.82 g/mol) and PS from V. arctostaphylos has largest molecular weight (12289.95 g/mol). Macromolecules of WSPS and PS are electroneutral in the solution with pH<7. The molecules do not affect the surface tension at the boundary of the two phases, but at the same time they have a penetrating ability. Conclusions. Polysaccharides from V. arctostaphylos and V. myrtillus fruits have high molecular weight and may be used as secondary substances for correction of rheological properties of semisolid and liquid dosage forms and also as transport carrier molecule for the main substances. Macromolecules are electroneutral in the acidic environment and insoluble in water solution and have small ability to swell. Polymers have high penetrating ability through the cell membrane. These properties determine transport and bioavailability of polysaccharides and main compounds.