Ain Raal

• PhD (Pharmacy)
• University of Tartu

Pentaphylloides fruticosa (L.) О. Schwarz (Dasiphora fruticosa (L.) Rybd.) is one of the most common species in Eurasia. There are about 150 known varieties of Pentaphylloides fruticosa, which are used as an ornamental plant. The content of tannins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and macro- and microelements was detected and determined in the above-groun...

Background/Objectives. Flavonoids are a vast class of phenolic substances. To date, approximately 6000 plant-origin flavonoids have been discovered, and many of them have been used in drug therapy. Therapeutic flavonoids are commonly formulated to conventional “one size fits all” dosage forms, such as conventional tablets or hard cap-sules. However...

The key objective of this study was to determine the yield and chemical composition of eight commercial samples and one collected sample of common vervain (Verbena officinalis L.) herb essential oil (EO) originating from seven different countries, and subsequently , to assess its potential for treating anxiety and depression. According to GC-MS ana...

Background/Objectives: The Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) is one of the most widespread species of the genus Solidago from the Asteraceae family. It has a rich composition of biologically active compounds and is traditionally used to address kidney, urinary tract, and liver diseases. Previously, it was proven that the S. canadensis ext...

Berberine, palmatine, and coptisine are bioactive alkaloids commonly found in medicinal plants, including Coptis chinensis Franch. (Ranunculaceae). To address the limitations of conventional volatile organic solvents, this study employed eco-friendly solvents—aqueous solutions of surfactants, carboxylic acids, and deep eutectic solvents—to extract...

Plants of the genus Anemone L. of the Ranunculaceae family are perennial herbaceous plants. The genus includes about 200 species, five of which are growing on the territory of Ukraine. Despite their relatively wide distribution and availability of raw materials, plants of this genus remain insufficiently studied.The aim. The aim of the work was to...

Background/Objectives: Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) is one of the most widespread species of genus Solidago from Asteraceae family. It has a rich composition of biologically active compounds and traditionally is used to address kidney, urinary tract, and liver diseases. Previously, it was proven that the S. canadensis extract obtaine...

The key objective of this study was to determine the yield and chemical composition of 9 samples of common vervain (Verbena officinalis L.) herb essential oil (EO), originating from 7 different countries and, consequently, to assess its potential for treating anxiety and depression. According to GC-MS analysis, 90 compounds were identified, 49 of w...

Bluehead gilia or bluefield gilia (Gilia capitata Sims) from the family Polemoniaceae is an annual herbaceous plant widely distributed in the western regions of North America, but cultivated as an ornamental flower in various regions to support pollinators. The chemical composition of the plant has not been studied before. For the first time, essen...

Flavonoids are a vast class of phenolic substances. To date, there are approximately 6000 plant-origin flavonoids discovered, and many of them have found uses in drug therapy. Therapeutic flavonoids are commonly formulated to conventional “one size fits all” dosage forms, such as immediate-release tablets or hard capsules. The current trend in phar...

Species of the genus Eryngium L. of the Apiaceae family are successfully used in folk medicine in various countries worldwide, but they are hardly implemented in official medicinal and pharmaceutical practices. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct phytochemical and pharmacological research in E. planum L. herb extracts to develop and implement new...

The genus Ajuga (Lamiaceae family) comprises approximately 300 species, which are widely used in traditional medicine for their diaphoretic, antiseptic, hemostatic, and anti-inflammatory properties, but scarcely in official ones. Therefore, the study of Ajuga reptans holds promise for developing new medicinal products. In aqueous and aqueous-alcoho...

Bone defects are becoming a true challenge in global health care due to the aging population and higher prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. The interest in using plant-origin compounds and plant-derived biomaterials in bone tissue engineering (BTE) has been increased due to their availability (abundance), safety, biocompatibility, biodegradabi...

Jasminum L. of the Oleaceae family is a genus of plants cultivated for its aromatic flowers, which are a source of essential oil (EO). In temperate countries, jasmine, or pseudo jasmine, is often called Philadelphus coronarius L. of the Hydrangeáceae or Philadelphaceae family due to its similar fragrance. The aim. The aim of the study was to compar...

Species of the genus Eryngium L. of the Apiaceae family are successfully used in folk medicine in various countries worldwide, but they are hardly implemented in official medicinal and phar-maceutical practices. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct phytochemical and pharmacological research in E. planum L. herb extracts to develop and implement ne...

This historical essay presents an analysis of the origins and development of modern pharmacognosy in Ukraine and explores the founding and development of the Department of Pharmacognosy at the National University of Pharmacy (NUPh, Kharkiv), providing an overview of the department`s history, a framework of its educational and methodological process...

Origanum vulgare L. (Lamiaceae) is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, perfumery, and cosmetic industries for the needs for which this raw material is cultivated. O. vulgare is a polymorphic species with subspecies, which differ in the structure of their reproductive organs, the location of essential oil (EO) trichomes, and the composition of...

Origanum vulgare L. (Lamiaceae) is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, perfumery and cosmetic industries for the needs for which this raw material is cultivated. O. vulgare is a polymorphic species with subspecies, which differ in the structure of their reproductive organs, the location of essential oil (EO) trichomes, and the composition of E...

Pineappleweed (Matricaria discoidea DC., Asteraceae) herb is an essential oil containing raw material with spasmolytic and anti-inflammatory activity. It is also rich in phenolics, which may be used in pharmaceutical practice. This study aimed to investigate the phenolic and amino acid composition and the hyporific and analgesic effects of the M. d...

The genus Ajuga (Lamiaceae family) comprises approximately 300 species. Species within this genus are widely used in traditional medicine and are known for their diaphoretic, antiseptic, hemostatic, and an-ti-inflammatory properties. However, they are scarcely used in official medicine. Therefore, the study of one of the most common species, Ajuga...

Ascorbic acid is a well-known compound found in many vegetables and fruits. In medical practice, it is used in the composition of many drugs and food supplements. Taking into account the different quality of production of food supplements on the one hand and the lability of ascorbic acid on the other, it is important to analyze the real content of...

The stems of Rubus idaeus L., a byproduct of the fruit–food industry, are known sources of bioactive compounds. The main objective of this study was to investigate the composition of polyphenolic compounds in R. idaeus stems. Seven cultivated raspberry varieties, thirteen garden samples, including five well-known raspberry varieties, and thirteen w...

The genus Ajuga (Lamiaceae family) comprises approximately 300 species. Species within this genus are widely used in traditional medicine and are known for their diaphoretic, antiseptic, hemostatic, and anti- inflammatory properties. However, they are scarcely used in official medicine. Therefore, the study of one of the most common species, Ajuga...

Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris L., Lamiaceae) is one of the most wellknown plants in the world, widely used in medicine, culinary arts, and cosmetics. The aim of this study was to analyse the content and composition of essential oils (EO) obtained from the T. vulgaris commercial samples grown in Estonia and in various European countries. Gas chromat...

Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) is a rhizomatous plant of the Asteraceae family. In folk medicine, Solidago galenic remedies are used for diseases of the kidneys, urinary tract, liver, etc. Externally, goldenrod is used to treat purulent wounds, furunculosis, and gum abscesses as washes and compresses. The aims of this research were to...

This study explored the interaction of major components in essential oils from aerial parts and rhizomes of Conamomum rubidum (Lamxay & N.S.Lý) Škorničk. & A.D. Poulsen (Zingiberaceae) collected in Hongiao National Park (Lamdong province, Vietnam) to the relevant targets of microtubes. Δ-3-Carene (33.14% and 20.15%), β-phellandrene (14.63% and 25.6...

S. canadensis L. and S. virgaurea L. are the most common species of Solidago L. in Europe and with a long tra-dition of use in medicine for various therapeutic purposes: diseases of the urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, diabetes, allergies and antiseptic purposes. Therefore, the research of species of the Solidago genus, which have a rich cont...

Salvia officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) leaves and its essential oil is used for mouth and throat disorders, skin disorders, minor wounds, and gastrointestinal disorders, and is widely used worldwide. The research aimed to conduct a comparative study of the composition of S. officinalis essential oils from commercial samples, and their main chemotypes. T...

Context: Pharmaceutical 3D printing is a promising technology for preparing next-generation patient-specific drug delivery systems (DDSs) for oral administration. Rosmarinic acid (RA) was first isolated from the Rosmarinus officinalis plant, and currently, it is a well-known plant-origin active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with anti-oxidative, h...

Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a pathogenic fungus that grows mostly on birch species (Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh.) and has traditionally been used as an anticancer medicine. This study aimed to compare the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of chagas growing on both Betula spp. on various cancer cell lines. The freez...

Traditional beliefs about the influence of the moon’s phases on human well-being and health remain vague in Estonia. The study hypothesized that Estonian pharmacists have noticed a periodic increase in the number of problematic pharmacy visitors, which can be associated with full moon days (3 days before and after). The observational study was cond...

Our study aimed to compare the essential oil (EO) concentration and composition of several Apiaceae species growing in the Northern region of Vietnam. The yields of EOs from materials ranged from 0.03% (root EO of Angelica acutiloba and aerial parts EO of Heracleum bivittatum)−0.27% (leaf EO of Xyloselinum vietnamense). Gas chromatography-mass spec...

Valeriana officinalis L. is a plant from the Caprifoliaceae family, which is widely distributed in various parts of the world, especially in Europe and Asia. All species of Valeriana are distinguished by their ability to synthesize essential oil, which has a powerful effect on the physiological and mental aspects of the human body. The aim was to s...

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is an essential oil- containing medicinal plant used worldwide. The aim of this study was to gain knowledge of the phytochemical composition and the analgesic and soporific activity of Matricaria chamomilla L. (German chamomile) flower extract and its amino acid preparations, to predict the mechanisms of...

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a widespread male disease, affecting more than 50 % of men over the age of 60 years. Inhibition of the enzyme 5α-reductase is a common treatment strategy for this condition. Such potential can be found in willow flowers (Epilobium spp.), which are known in folk medicine for treating of prostate ailments, mainly...

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is an essential oil-content medicinal plant widely used worldwidely. The aim of this study was (1) to gain knowledge of the phytochemical composition and the analgesic and soporific activity of M. chamomilla flowers extract and its amino acid preparations, (2) to predict the mechanisms of their effects by...

Background Plants as living systems are characterized by the appropriate degree of accumulation of macro- and microelements, which, acting as factors of the external environment, are basic modulators for synthesizing biologically active substances. Blackcurrant ( Ribes nigrum L., Grossulariaceae ) is widespread worldwide. Berries, leaves, and buds...

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a pathogenic fungus that grows mostly on birch species (Betula pendula and B. pubescens) and has traditionally been used as an anti-cancer medicine. The study aimed to compare the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of chagas growing on both Betula spp. on various cancer cell lines. The freeze dried extracts con...

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L., Asteraceae) is an aromatic bitter herb that contains bitter-tasting metabolites and essential oil. The composition and biological effects of A. absinthium essential oil have been widely studied. However, the data on the content of the individual components vary significantly. The aim. The aim of the study was to r...

Pineapple weed (Matricaria discoidea DC.) is a widespread plant in Europe and North America. In ethnomedicine, it is well-known for its anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic activities. The aim of this research was to develop novel methods of M. discoidea processing to obtain essential oil and dry extracts and to investigate their phytochemical composi...

The pharmaceutical industry usually utilizes either hydrophobic or hydrophilic substances extracted from raw plant materials to prepare a final product. However, the waste products from the plant material still contain biologically active components with the opposite solubility. The aim of this study was to enhance the comprehensive usability of pl...

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders and are associated with a high burden of illness. Combining synthetic and native-origin compounds in treating such disorders could provide true benefits in terms of therapeutic efficacy. In the present study, we combined triazolobenzodiazepine and motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.) dry e...

The study aimed to document the usage of exotic plant species in Bargarh district, Western Odisha, India. It was based on both bibliographic sources and the survey to the documentation of exotic plants in Bargarh district, western Odisha, India. Periodic field surveys were carried out as interviews with 46 well-known inhabitants, the local villager...

The pharmaceutical industry usually utilizes either hydrophobic or hydrophilic substances extracted from raw plant materials for preparing a final product, However, the plant material waste still contain substances with an opposite solubility. The aim of this study was to enhance the comprehensive usability of plant materials by developing a new no...

Pineapple weed (Matricaria discoidea DC.) is a widely spread plant in Europe and North America. In ethnomedicine, it is well known for its anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic activity. The aim of the research was to develop novel methods of M. discoidea herb complex processing for creating the essential oil and the dry extracts and to investigate the...

Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent worldwide and can affect people of all ages, genders and backgrounds. Much efforts and resources have been directed at finding new anxiolytic agents and drug delivery systems (DDSs) especially for cancer patients to enhance targeted drug delivery, reduce drug adverse effects, and provide an analgesic effect. T...

Galenic preparations of German chamomile are used to treat mild skin diseases, inflammation, and spasms, and they have also been reported to have anxiolytic and sedative effects. The medicinal use of chamomile is well known in ethnomedicine. After obtaining its galenic preparations, there is lots of waste left, so it is expedient to develop waste-f...

Fruits, seeds, and leaves of Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Elaeagnaceae) are widely used in folk medicine. Although the fruits are usually used, the leaves also need attention. The aim of the study was to estimate the content of polyphenolic compounds in methanolic and water extracts of fresh fruits and fresh and dried leaves of H. rhamnoides using LC-...

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of abnormalities combining insulin resistance (IR), obesity, hypertension, and atherosclerotic hyperlipidemia suggested to be a pandemic by WHO experts. In Ukraine, bilberry leaves (Vaccinium myrtillus, Ericaceae) are widely used as a hypoglycemic agent. American cranberry (AC) could be of particular interest for IR...

Medicinal plants are valuable sources of biologically active substances, which may show a positive therapeutic effect in various pathological processes. Eryngium species have been used in Ukrainian folk medicine for a long time. E. planum L. is mostly widespread in Ukraine. The aim of the research was to study the phytochemical composition and pha...

Plants of the genus Gentiana L. are widely used in medical practice in the treatment of gastrointestinal tract diseases. The pharmacological activity is provided by secoiridoids, xanthones, flavonoids and other compounds. The study of Gentiana asclepiadea L. (family Gentiananceae), which is widely distributed in the Ukrainian Carpathians, is promis...

Our study aimed to compare the essential oil composition of Piper species (Piperaceae) collected in the northern region of Vietnam and find possible fingerprints of different species. The aerial parts of seven Piper species including P. mutabile, P. leptostachyum, P. laosanum, P. boehmeriifolium, P. carnibracteum, P. albispicum, and P. longum were...

German chamomile galenic preparations are used to treat mild skin diseases, inflammation and spasms, and they have also reported to have anxiolytic and sedative effects. The medicinal use of chamomile is well-known in ethnomedicine. Since chamomile has shown to have some adverse effects, there is a need to develop new formulations, such as dry extr...

Background The problem of acne is relevant. The market mostly represents synthesized substances for prevention and treatment, but medical cosmetics based on plant-origin raw material, especially fruits, can be offered. The fruits of Sorbus aucuparia L. are rich in biologically active substances, which turned out to be unique in solving problems of...

The present study was based on both bibliographic sources and the survey to the documentation of exotic plants in Bargarh district, western Odisha, India. A total of 75 species belonging to 65 genera and 34 families are reported. Asteraceae family contributes the highest number of species (13), six species were from Amaranthaceae; five species each...

One of the key pathogenetic links in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the formation of insulin resistance (IR). Besides a wide selection of synthetic antidiabetic drugs, various plant-origin extracts are also available to support the treatment of T2DM. This study aimed to investigate and gain knowledge of the chemical composition and potential IR...

The fruits of the Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) are a popular plant food and a valuable health pro-duct. Cultivating of plants produces a lot of leaves with fine branches as an unnecessary residue, which need valor-ization. The aim of the study was to estimate (by HPLC-MS/MS) the qualitative and quantitative content ofpolyphenolic compoun...

One of the key pathogenetic links of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the formation of insulin resistance (IR). Besides a wide selection of synthetic antidiabetic drugs, various plant-origin extracts are also available to support the treatment of T2DM. This study aimed to investigate and gain knowledge of the chemical composition and potential IR...

The European cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus L., syn. Oxycoccus palustris Pers.) has a wide geographical distribution in natural bogs of Europe, Asia, and North America. The American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton, syn. Oxycoccus macrocarpos (Aiton) Pursh) is more easily cultivated in the northern regions of the world and is therefore an ava...

The professor of pharmacy, Johann Georg Noel Dragendorff (1836-1898) is primarily known in the history of pharmacy as a pharmacognosist and forensic chemist, so far he has been less described as a toxicologist. He worked for 30 years (1864-1894) at the University of Dorpat (Tartu) in Estonia, and had been invited from Germany, developing here one o...

In pharmaceutics, 3D printing is considered as a promising future technology for fabricating more complex patient-specific drug delivery systems (DDSs). An anti-staphylococcal herbal preparation, “Chlorophyllipt”, is produced mainly in a liquid form by the pharmaceutical industry in Ukraine, and it is composed of an ethanolic eucalypt extract (EE)....

Overcoming the health threatening consequences of staphylococcal infections and their negative socio-economic effects have become a priority in the medical, pharmaceutical, food and many other sectors globally. Staphylococcal infections are a big challenge for a global health care, since they are difficult to be diagnosed and treated. Therefore, th...

The liver is an organ with several important biofunctions, for which there are very few effective and safe preparations that promote the functioning, protection, and regeneration of cells. Sufficiently safe preparations with hepatoprotective activity can be found in plants. The aim of our study was to investigate the chemical composition of an extr...

The liver performs a fundamental role in the regulation of diverse physiological processes. Despite enormous advances in modern medicine, there are no completely effective drugs that stimulate hepatic function, offer complete protection to the organ, or aid in regenerating hepatic cells. Thus, it is necessary to identify alternative plant-origin ph...

The Town Hall Pharmacy (Raeapteek) in the Town Hall Square of Tallinn, Estonia (N59°26'16.001'' E24°44'45.412'') was first mentioned in historical records on 8 April 1422. To our best knowledge, the Raeapteek is the oldest community pharmacy in Europe which has operated on the same premises since the beginning. There are several hypotheses about th...

Kazakhstan flora is rich in promising little-studied plants that are used in folk medicine, but additional deep research is required for their introduction into medical practice with the help of modern scientific techniques. An interesting object for introduction into the official medical and pharmaceutical practice is the Alfredia Nivea Kar. & Kir...

For the treatment of the urinary system and kidney diseases, common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) fruits are widely used. This raw material is included in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph.Eur.) and is one of the most popular kinds of official medicinal plant material with diuretic and uroantiseptic activity. However, the main biomass of bushes cons...

Shungite is used in water filters that remove Escherichia coli from water. The mechanism and spectrum of the antibacterial activity of shungite are not precisely known. In this study, shungite and its dried water extract were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and iodometry. The dried residue of the water extract of shu...

In recent years, the flipped classroom (FC) methodology – contact learning preceded by individual learning and the creation of prior knowledge in the learner – has become increasingly common in university teaching. However, the design of the FC has been applied differently in teaching. The aim of our research was to map the teaching activities used...

The most promising plant from the genus Agrimony (Agrimonia L.) of the Rosaceae family for use in medical practice is Agrimonia eupatoria L. Phytochemical and pharmacological research in Agrimonia eupatoria L. herb extract, obtained with using 40% ethanol solution as an extractant were carried out. A total of 11 free and 17 bound monosaccharides, 1...

Inonotus obliquus grows in the Northern Hemisphere on some living broadleaved tree species as a pathogen, causing stem rot. In Estonia, the fungus is well known in the Betula species but can also be found on Alnus. Sterile conks of I. obliquus contain different bioactive compounds, but the quantitative and comparative research of these compounds in...

Bearberry ( Arctostaphylos uva-ursi L.) is a perennial plant of the heather family ( Ericaceae ). The leaves are dominated by arbutin, phenol carbonic acids flavonoids, saponins, etc. It was previously shown that the bearberry leaves extract reduced blood glucose level in healthy animals under glucose overload, so it need to be studied more detail....

2-Methoxypancracine is a montanine-type alkaloid exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects. The bulbs of Hippeastrum reticulatum (L’Hér.) Herb. contain large amounts of 2-methoxypancracine. The aim of this study was to develop a HPLC-DAD method to quantify 2-methoxypancracine content in H. reticulatum. The HPLC analysis w...

Several species of the genus Lysimachia L. (Primulaceae) are well known in folk medicine, but very few studies have been conducted on them. The aim of our study was to investigate the microscopical characteristics and chemical composition of Lysimachia insignis Hemsl., L. decurrens G. Forst., and L. congestiflora Hemsl. as well as to evaluate some...

The aerial parts of Anthemis tinctoria L. and Angelica sylvestris L. and the roots of A. sylvestris have been used as traditional anticancer remedies in Estonian ethnomedicine. The aim of this study was to investigate content of essential oils (by gas chromatography) and polyphenolic compounds (using two different methods of high performance liquid...

Aim The aim of the study is to study the elemental composition of the leafy shoots, rhizomes, and roots of D. fruticosa varieties cultivated in Ukraine. Background Dasiphora fruticosa (L.) Rybd. ( Rosaceae ) is a species native to Middle Asia and the Far East. More than 130 D. fruticosa varieties are known; plants have a significant raw material b...

In the Ukrainian flora, species of Veronica L. genus (Plantaginaceae Juss.) are classified into 8 sections. Among the representatives of Pseudolysimachion W. D. J. Koch section in the Kharkiv region, Veronica spicata L. (spike speedwell) and Veronica incana L. (Veronica spicata L. subsp. incana (L.) Walters, silver speedwell) are common. Plants are...

Berberine (BBR) is a plant-origin quaternary isoquinoline alkaloid presenting exogenous cholesterol lowering and anti-hyperlipidemia therapeutic effects. The aim of this study was to design and generate BBR-loaded proliposomes (PLs) as solid templates for high-dose liposomes and consequently, to enhance the oral bioavailability and therapeutic effe...

In the Ukrainian flora, species of Veronica L. genus (Plantaginaceae Juss.) are classified into 8 sections. Among the repre-sentatives of Pseudolysimachion W. D. J. Koch section in the Kharkiv region, Veronica spicata L. (spike speedwell) and Veronica incana L. (Veronica spicata L. subsp. incana (L.) Walters, silver speedwell) are common. Plants ar...