The aim of the project proposal is to develop specific technologies for obtaining plant extracts with immunostimulating properties, which will result in a food supplement for invigorating the body. The novelties of this proposal are: proprietary combination of active principles with immunostimulatory properties; specific method of obtaining active principles with immunostimulatory properties; proving the non-aggressive properties of the extraction methods used on the active principles.

The most optimal plant extract obtained by conventional and non-conventional extraction methods will be selected, which will have the best possible extraction yield in terms of the active principles contained in the leaves of Hedera helix L. without altering the structure of the bioactive compounds in the plant. In all extraction steps, friendly solvents (water, ethanol) will be used. Methods will be developed for the analysis and quantification of the selected bioactive compounds triterpene saponins, polyhydroxyaldehyde-aldehyde (2-C-hydroxy-methyl-D-ribitol), and the corresponding standard compounds. The bioactive compounds of interest (from extracts and standard compounds) will be analysed qualitatively and quantitatively by spectroscopic methods (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR, UV-Vis, HPLC/ LC/MS/MS. The structure of the selected bioactive compounds will be highlighted by modelling methods and X-ray diffraction studies to confirm their immunostimulatory properties. The bioactive compounds selected from the extracts and the standard bioactive compounds will be tested by specific methods to highlight their immunostimulatory properties. Technology will be developed for the production of the finished product, a dietary supplement for invigorating the body, which will have a clinical impact.