БІОЛОГІЧНО АКТИВНІ РЕЧОВИНИ ВИДІВ РОДУ ASTER L.

<jats:p>This article is devoted to the analysis of biologically active compounds (BACs) of the Aster L plants and their pharmacological significance. As a result of the generalization of scientific data, it has been established that plants of the genus Aster contain flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, saponins, essential oils, coumarins, sterols, and other compounds. These substances exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, immunomodulatory, and hepatoprotective activity. Representatives of this genus have long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, respiratory disorders, and other pathologies, owing to their rich content of secondary metabolites. One of the principal groups of BACs in plants of the genus Aster is flavonoids, among which quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin, and luteolin are most frequently detected. They provide antioxidant protection to plants and exhibit pronounced anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties. Phenolic acids, in particular chlorogenic, caffeic, and ferulic acids, also play an important role, being characterized by antioxidant, antiviral, and hepatoprotective effects. Among the terpenoids, triterpene saponins are of the greatest significance, exhibiting expectorant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and cytotoxic properties. A separate group is formed by cyclic peptides (astins), which display antitumor activity. Essential oils and coumarins, which possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, spasmolytic, and anti-inflammatory effects, are also of considerable interest. Particular attention in the study is devoted to individual species of the genus Aster. Thus, in Aster subulatus (Michx.) Hort. ex Michx, a significant amount of flavonoids and phenolic acids has been detected, in particular derivatives of apigenin, luteolin, kaempferol, and quercetin, which determine the plant's high antioxidant potential. The species Aster tataricus L.f. is one of the best-studied representatives of the genus: more than 80 flavonoid and more than 70 terpene compounds have been identified in it, along with cyclic peptides and saponins that exhibit expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activity. In Aster lingulatus Franch., specific triterpene saponins – asterlingulatosides – have been detected, which demonstrate cytotoxic activity against human leukemia cells. Aster batangensis Bureau &amp; Franch is characterized by the presence of unique asterbatanosides, which are isolated predominantly from the plant's roots; this species is traditionally used in folk medicine for the treatment of snake bites. Triterpene saponins have also been detected in the aerial part of Aster bellidiastrum (L.) Scop., indicating the promising potential of this species as a source of BACs. Special emphasis is placed on the necessity of further studying Aster alpinus L. – a rare Carpathian species that remains insufficiently investigated from a phytochemical standpoint and requires conservation.</jats:p>