Introduction. Small-leaved linden flowers are mainly used for aquatic extracts, and their pharmacological benefit is based on water-soluble polysaccharides.Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of accumulating all reducing sugars in small-leaved linden flowers, collected in agro- and urbo-cenoses of the Voronezh region.Materials and methods. 51 sites were selected for collecting flowers from the small-leaved linden, which is a widespread deciduous tree species in Russia. In order to determine the total level of reducing sugars in the samples, we measured glucose levels using the method described in Pharmacopeia article "Linden Flower". Correlation coefficients were analyzed to examine in detail the effect of the major pollutants (heavy metals and arsenic) on the accumulation of reducing sugars in small-leaved linden flowers.Results and discussion. All analyzed samples of medicinal plant raw materials were benign in terms of their reducing sugar levels. Samples collected in control (protected) areas contained reducing sugar levels 13.31 to 16.89 %, which is 6–8 times more than the lower numerical value established by the Pharmacopoeia article. In the agrocenoses of the region, the concentration of reducing sugars varied from 6.12 to 16.68 %, which is 3–8 times more than the value given in the Pharmacopoeia article. In the urbocenoses of the region, a lower level of reducing sugars was found compared to samples from protected areas (2.35–13.49 %). Correlation coefficients showed a noticeable negative impact of cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, zinc, as well as a moderate negative effect of lead and mercury on the accumulation of reducing sugars in the small-leaved linden flowers.Conclusion. The lowest concentrations of reducing sugars were detected in samples harvested along the streets of large cities in the region, and along highways, roads and railways. This suggests that anthropogenic factors might negatively impact the accumulation of reducing sugars in small-leaved linden flowers in these areas. At the same time, it is possible that saccharide complexes might have reacted with heavy metals instead of the complexing agent when levels of reducing sugars in the samples were quantitatively determined. This would have the effect of underrepresenting reducing sugar levels in the raw materials.

Важным и малоисследованным аспектом влияния хозяйственной деятельности человека на лекарственные растения является то, что в ответ на увеличение антропогенной нагрузки индуцируется дополнительный синтез вторичных метаболитов, прежде всего флавоноидов, которые играют важную роль в адаптации растений к изменяющимся условиям. В рамках проведения исследования в 51 образце травы пустырника пятилопастного, собранном в различных с точки зрения антропогенноговоздействия урбо- и агробиогеоценозах Воронежской области, определено содержание флавоноидов в пересчете на рутин. Выявлено, что в траве пустырника пятилопастного, собранного в агробиогеоценозах, содержание флавоноидов в среднем в 1,5 раза выше, чем в образцах, собранных в естественных биоценозах заповедных зон, а в сырье, собранном в ряде урбобиогеоценозов, - в 2-3,5 раза выше, чем в образцах контрольных заповедных зон. Данный факт можно объяснить биохимическим приспособлением растения к значительным окислительным стрессам, в ответ на которые происходит индукция синтеза полифенольных веществ, главными представителями которых являются флавоноиды. При этом вблизи некоторых производственных предприятий и вдоль автомобильных дорог с высокой интенсивностью движения нами были отобраны образцы со сниженным относительно других образцов сырья содержанием флавоноидов в пересчете на рутин. Это позволяет предположить, что при чрезмерном токсическом влиянии поллютантов возможно также угнетение антиоксидантной системы растений. An important and little-studied aspect of the effects of human economic activity on medicinal plants is that in response to increased anthropogenic load, additional synthesis of secondary metabolites, especially flavonoids, is induced, which play an important role in the adaptation of plants to changing conditions. The purpose of the study was to study the accumulation of flavonoids in the grass of the Leonurus quinquelobatus collected in different urbo- and agrobiogeocenoses of the Voronezh region from the point of view of anthropogenic impact. As part of the study, 51 samples of Leonurus quinquelobatus grass collected in regions different in terms of anthropogenic influence determined the content of flavonoids in terms of routine. It has been revealed that in the grass of the Leonurus quinquelobatus collected in agrobiogeocenoses, the content of flavonoids is on average 1.5 times higher than in samples collected in natural biocenoses of protected areas, and in raw materials collected in a number of urbobiogeocenoses - 2-3.5 times higher than in samples of controlled protected areas. This fact can be explained by the biochemical adaptation of the plant to significant oxidative stresses, in response to which the synthesis of polyphenol substances, the main representatives of which are flavonoids, is induced. At the same time, near some production enterprises and along roads with high traffic intensity, we selected samples with reduced content of flavonoids in terms of routine relative to other samples of raw materials. This suggests that in case of excessive toxic influence of pollutants it is also possible to suppress the antioxidant system of plants.