PROCESSING DRUG DOSAGE FORMS FROM CAUCASIAN BILBERRY AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE EYE RETINA

In the last decades the use of phytopreparations in ophthalmology has significantly in creased. Particularly, pharmaceutical products containing extracts of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruits are available for the therapy of different eye disorders. Nowadays, there is a need to enlarge bilberry processing resources. Therefore, Caucasian bilberry (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.) received our particular interest, because it is botanically close to the bilberry. Results of standardization have shown that Caucasian bilberry fruits fully meet the quality parameters, mentioned in the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (2001) and the USSR State Pharmacopoeia (XI ed., 1987) for bilberry fruits. Investigation of technological conditions of Caucasian bilberry anthocyanins ex traction has shown that maxi mal effectiveness of ex traction and minimal degradation of anthocyanins occur when using 70% ethanol with 5g/l citric acid as a solvent with duration and temperature - 40-43 degrees C/3 h. A protective activity of Caucasian bilberry extract (20 mg/kg of monomeric anthocyanins) against retinal light-induced damage has been revealed. In particular, we have found the ability of the extract to prevent damage of retinal functional activity as well as disruption of outer nuclear layer and photoreceptor outer segments.