CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF COUCH GRASS AND STUDIES OF ITS ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN ALLERGIC CONTACT DERMATITIS

The composition of biologically active substances of aqueous extracts of couch grass was studied and the following groups of biologically active substances were identified: coumarins, iridoids, saponins, slimes, polysaccharides (including inulin), ascorbic acid and beta-carotene, flavonoids (rutin, hyperoside, baicaleine) phenocarboxylic acids (chlorogenic and p-hydroxycinnamic acids), and tannins. The effects of couch grass extract in the form of a cream on several measures of lipid peroxidation in allergic contact dermatitis were studied in experimental conditions. Cream containing couch grass extract was found to have normalizing actions on measures of lipid peroxidation (diene conjugates, malondialdehyde, catalase) in the plasma of experimental animals.