Aim. To investigate both toxic (hemolytic), and stimulating effects of two polymeric derivatives of guani-
dine, in particular, polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) and polyhexamethylene biguanidine (PHMB) both
in the hydrochloride form, on eukaryotic cells depending on the concentration of the preparation; to study the
possibility of using wound-healing and stimulating properties of these preparations in veterinary medicine.
Methods. The hemolytic activity (toxicity) of PHMGH and PHMBH preparations in the concentration of
0.1% towards cattle and pig erythrocytes was determined by titration. Primary cell cultures of fetal kidney
cells of calves and piglets were used to determine the influence of PHMGH and PHMBH both alone and in
combination with the following biologically active substances: essential oils of Pinus sylvestris, Eucalyptus
globulus, Citrus sinensis, Monarda didyma, ZnO nanoparticles (size c. 25 nm), and electrochemically acti-
vated water – anolyte (Eh = –800 mV, pH 6.5–7.0). The concentration of the cells in the nutrient medium was
determined via photocolorimetry. Results. It was found that depending on the concentration, PHMGH, and
PHMBH preparations can cause the lysis of erythrocytes, and stimulate cell proliferative activity, including
the formation of a monolayer of kidney cells of calves and piglets They cause hemolysis of cattle erythro-
cytes in the concentrations commonly used for disinfection, i.e., about 0.1 %, in the average titers of 1 : 7 for
PHMGH and 1 : 2.5 for PHMBH. Therefore, PHMBH shows greater hemolytic (biocidal) activity for cattle
erythrocytes than PHMGH (in ≈2.8x). The high molecular weight fraction of PHMBH (M2 ≈ 2,000–7,000
Da) demonstrated a lower (in ≈2.4x) hemolytic activity than the low molecular weight basic fraction (M1 ≈
500–2,000 Da). The experiments on the kidney cell cultures of pigs and cattle have shown that at non-toxic
concentrations (10–5 %) PHMBH can effectively stimulate (from 27 to 65 % increase) the proliferative activ-
ity of eukaryotic cells and accelerate the formation of a monolayer of cells. The combinations of PHMGH
with some essential oils of medicinal plants also show a good effect (from 52 to 95 % increase), and PHMBH
shows a good effect with oil of pine for pig kidney cells (20 % increase) and oil of horsemint for cattle kidney
cells (67 % increase). Conclusions. PHMGH and PHMBH can possibly be used in agricultural production
not only as disinfectants or antiseptics, but also in wound healing. Although their toxicity is also significant to
eukaryotic cells, yet they can possibly be used in veterinary medicine in low concentrations (0.005–0.5 %) for
the treatment of wounds of various origin, including burns, in the composition of ointments, gels, bandages,
or plasters, which we have presently in investigation.