Some Pharmacognostic Studies of the Bird Cherry (Padus avium Mill.) and Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia L.) Fruits Collected from Moscow (Russia)

Background: Light microscopic analysis is appropriate pharmacopoeial method for quality control of fresh and fast-frozen Rosaceae family plants fruits. It is widely used for crude herbal drugs analysis and helps to identify significant anatomical and diagnostic signs. The aim of the research was to establish the identity characteristics of the dried and frozen fruits of mountain ash and bird cherry and to perform phytochemical analysis of studied objects harvested in Moscow. Materials and Methods: Light microscopic analysis was used for Rosaceae fruits identity estimation. The fruits of mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia L.) and bird cherry (Padus avium Mill.) were collected in the fruiting phase on the territory of the Botanical Garden of Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. Fruits samples were dried at the temperature of 60-80°C and frozen at the temperature of -18-20°C. The epidermis surface preparation and the fruit pulp squash preparation were prepared for microscopic examination. The photographs were obtained from an AXIO IMAGER D1 biological laboratory microscope (Carl Zeiss Microscopy) with the help of a Canon Power shot A 650 IS camera. The elemental composition of the P. avium and S. aucuparia fruits was determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis (XFA) using an S4 Pioneer X-ray spectrometer. Simple sugar analysis was performed by using reverse phase HPLC with refractometric detection, analysis of organic acids – by using ion-pair HPLC with UV-detection (210 nm) in the isocratic elution mode (Agilent 1260 Infinity LC). Results: Characteristic signs of the anatomical structure of dried and frozen S. aucuparia, P. avium fruits were determined. Diagnostic anatomical signs of S. aucuparia, P. avium fruits are: the form of epidermal cells, stone cells, inclusions of calcium oxalate (prismatic crystals and druses), vessels, parenchyma with biologically active substances (anthocyanins, carotenoids). The presence and content of Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr were evaluated. Organic acids profile of S. aucuparia, P. avium fruits is presented by citric, malic, oxalic, succinic, tartaric, fumaric, quinic, ascorbic, sorbic acids. Total content of simple sugars, presented by glucose, fructose, sucrose, is in the interval of 8-9%. Conclusion: The results of a comparative microscopic analysis of bird cherry and mountain ash dried and frozen fruits were obtained. They allowed to identify diagnostically significant elements of the anatomical structure that can be used to establish the fruits identity. The obtained data is of great value for S. aucuparia, P. avium fruits pharmacopoeial analysis in the Russian Federation.