Abstract
The article analyzes the world scientific literature concerning the study of types of Gleditsia L. (Gledichiya), growing almost on all continents, but the special attention is drawn to the types of Gleditsia caspia Desf. and Gleditsia tricanthos L. as main representatives of North American flora in Russian Federation. Different morphological parts of Gleditsia L. contain the rich chemical composition which ratio depends on a plant species. In raw materials of G. sinensis phenolic compounds and phenolic acids, flavonoids, lupic acid, echinocystic acid, and triterpene saponins are found. G. caspica contains triterpene saponins, monoterpenic acids and sterols, bisdesmosidic saponins, flavonons. In G. delavayi triterpene saponins are found. Galactomannans are found in beans of G. macracantha and G. triacanthos. In raw materials of G. triacanthos 8 flavonoids, including 6 flavonoid glycosides are found: vicenin -II, lucenin, isoorientin, orientin, vitexin, isovitexin along with two aglycones, namely luteolin and apigenin. The wide range of pharmacological action of the sort Gleditsia L. is confirmed by long-term experience of Chinese and Korean traditional medicine, indigenous people of North America and modern scientific data. Different authors under the conditions in vitro for the raw materials of Gleditsia L. confirmed spasmolytic and cytotoxic activity, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagen and antimicrobic action.