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Asbestos is widely mined and used around the globe posing a great risk to environment and human health. The main objective of this study was to determine allelopathic potential of Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle growing on the asbestos deposits at abandoned mine "Stragari" in central Serbia. The pH, content of carbon, nitrogen, calcium carbonate, available phosphorous and potassium, content of Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, and phenolics were analyzed in the control asbestos (zones without vegetation cover) and plant rhizospheric asbestos. Allelopathic activity of plant species was assessed by "rhizosphere soil method", and Trifolium pratense L. and Medicago sativa L. were used as the indicator species. A. altissima showed higher allelopathic potential compared to R. pseudoacacia for T. pratense and M. sativa due to greater content of phenolics. Alleopathic activity of phenolics in rhizospheric asbestos was highly correlated with pH, content of carbon and nitrogen, available phosphate and potassium, and content of Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Mn. A. altissima increased phenolics content in rhizospheric asbestos inhibiting the plant growth. This woody plant in spite of high allelopathic potential is suitable for revegetation of distrurbed ecosystems because it initiates pedogenesis and affects the asbestos chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates anticancer effects of methanol extracts of invasive plant species Robinia pseudoacacia L. (RpE) and Amorpha fruticosa L. (AfE) on breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and healthy MRC-5 cells. The anticancer activity was evaluated through examination of cytotoxic effects, anti-invasive potential and impact on redox status in comparative analysis using their chemical composition. According to the IC50 values, the investigated plants had no significant cytotoxic effects either on healthy cell line MRC-5 or on MDA-MB-231 cancer cells, but they showed great anti-invasive potential by suppressing all investigated parameters of tumor invasion and metastases (Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP), protein concentration and MMP-9, C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 12 (CXCL-12), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF-A) and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF-1α) gene expression) in MDA-MB-231 cells. Based on their remarkable anti-invasive potential, RpE and AfE are suitable for use as potential supplements in anticancer therapy or as nutritional food supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]