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This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: cyanobacteria Pseudanabaena thermalis, lichenised fungi Acrocordia gemmata, parasitic fungi Peniophora tamaricicola, saprotrophic fungi Hyphonectria buxi, diatom alga Diatoma elongata, mosses Sphagnum medium, Rhizomnium magnifolium, and Weissia squarrosa, monocots Gymnadenia frivaldii, Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus, Orchis × angusticruris and Pistia stratiotes, and dicots Astragalus angustifolius subsp. balcanicus, Broussonetia papyrifera, Datura innoxia and Montia arvensis.

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: diatom algae Cyclostephanos invisitatus, Cyclotella meduanae, and Stephanodiscus lacustris, mycorrhizal fungi Alessioporus ichnusanus and Amanita mairei, saprotrophic fungi Diaporthe oncostoma, Stropharia albonitens and Pseudomassaria chondrospora, lichenised fungus Acrocordia subglobosa, stonewort Chara connivens, mosses Buxbaumia viridis, Tortella fasciculata and Tortula protobryoides, monocots Epipactis pontica Gymnadenia frivaldii, and Orchis italica and dicots Callitriche brutia, Callitriche platycarpa and Epilobium nutans are given within SE Europe and adjacent regions.

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: saprotrophic fungus Geastrum morganii, Guignardia istriaca and Hypoxylon howeanum, mycorrhizal fungus Amanita friabilis and Suillus americanus, xanthophyte Vaucheria frigida, stonewort Chara hispida, liverwort Calypogeia integristipula and Ricciocarpus natans, moss Campylopus introflexus, Dicranum transsylvanicum, Tortella pseudofragilis and Trematodon ambiguus, fern Ophioglossum vulgatum subsp. vulgatum, monocots Epipactis exilis, Epipactis purpurata and Epipogium aphyllum and dicots Callitriche cophocarpa, Cornus sanguinea subsp. hungarica and Viscum album subsp. austriacum are given within SE Europe and adjacent regions.

Harmful cyanobacteria blooms and the escalating impact of cyanotoxins necessitates the effective removal of cyanobacteria from water ecosystems before they release cyanotoxins. In this study, cyanobacteria removal from water samples taken from the eutrophic Aleksandrovac Lake (southern Serbia) was investigated. For that purpose, novel activated carbons derived from waste biomass—date palm leaf stalk (P_AC), black alder cone-like flowers (A_AC), and commercial activated carbon from coconut shell (C_AC) as a reference were used. To define the best adsorption conditions and explain the adsorption mechanism, the influence of contact time, reaction volume, and adsorbent mass, as well as FTIR analysis of the adsorbents before and after cyanobacteria removal, were studied. The removal efficiency of P_AC and A_AC achieved for the applied concentration of 10 mg/mL after 15 min was ~99%, while for C_AC after 24 h was only ~92% for the same concentration. To check the safety of the applied materials for human health and the environment, the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), the health impact (HI) after water purification, and the toxicity (MTT and Comet assay) of the materials were evaluated. Although the P_AC and A_AC achieved much better removal properties in comparison with the C_AC, considering the demonstrated genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of the P_AC and the higher HI value for the C_AC, only the A_AC was further investigated. Results of the kinetics, FTIR analysis, and examination of the A_AC mass influence on removal efficiency indicated dominance of the physisorption mechanism. Initially, the findings highlighted the superior performance of A_AC, with great potential to be globally commercialized as an effective cyanobacteria cell adsorbent.

The application of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has revolutionised large scale biodiversity monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. Validation studies have been performed mainly in laboratories and mesocosm experiments, however large-scale field experiments are necessary to verify the robustness of eDNA based monitoring for more specific applications and different environmental conditions. Here, eDNA samples were collected from three fishponds with high fish density and broad species diversity during summer and autumn. This sampling design included a large number of spatial replicates evenly spaced across the pond surface and samples from the inflow, while pooled samples were used to test the effect of filtration volumes on detectability. Most common species were detected using eDNA, but rare species were often missed out under these high stocking densities. Average read counts and site occupancy positively correlated strongly with species abundance and biomass, with the exception of samples affected by PCR inhibition. Higher diversity detections were observed in autumn compared to summer samplings and in running compared to standing water. Fish communities detected in pooled samples reflect the overall community structure, and the species detectability increases with higher filtration volumes. This work highlights how eDNA based surveys can be optimised based on sampling conditions to achieve the highest overall detection, which has important implications for applying this method to aid management and policy initiatives.

Abstract Background Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) can develop lung squamous cell carcinoma (LuSCC), which could be the second primary tumor or HNSCC metastasis. Morphologically it is difficult to distinguish metastatic HNSCC from a second primary tumor which presents a significant diagnostic challenge. Differentiation of those two malignancies is important because the recommended treatments for metastatic HNSCC and primary LuSCC differ significantly. We investigated if the quantification of the promotor methylation status in HNSCC and LuSCC differs. Methods Primary HNSCC (N = 36) and LuSCC (N = 17) were included in this study. Methylation status in the ASC/TMS1/PYCARD (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain; 8 CpG sites) and MyD88 (Myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88; 10 CpG sites) promoters was analyzed. Bisulfite converted DNA, isolated from tumor tissue was quantified using pyrosequencing. Results of pyrosequencing analysis were expressed as a percentage for each tested CpG site. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used for the evaluation of the diagnostic properties of selected biomarkers. Results CpG sites located in the promoters of ASC/TMS1/PYCARD_CpG8 (− 65 upstream) and MyD88_CpG4 (− 278 upstream) are significantly hypermethylated in the HNSCC when compared with LuSCC (p ≤ 0.0001). By performing ROC curve analysis we showed that corresponding areas under the curve (AUC) were 85–95%, indicating that selected CpG sites are useful for a distinction between primary LuSCC and primary HNSCC. Conclusions Results of the present study indicate that there is a significant difference in the methylation status of tested genes between primary HNSCC and LuSCC. However, to prove this approach as a useful tool for distinguishing second primary LuSCC from HNSCC metastasis, it would be necessary to include a larger number of samples, and most importantly, metastatic samples.

Background and Purpose: Bark thickness and its share in the volume of roundwood are the most important characteristics of the bark, particularly in the process of timber harvesting, and during scaling of processed logs. Therefore it is very important to have at disposal relatively accurate data regarding these characteristics of bark for particular tree species. The main goal of this paper is to investigate the thickness of the bark and its share in the volume of roundwood of Norway spruce. Materials and Methods: The research was carried out in the area of the Canton 10 of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and it encompassed 393 trees of Norway spruce from 10 cm to 115 cm of thickness at breast height. Measuring of the mean diameter and double thickness of bark was conducted by section method. In total, 4,647 diameters and bark thicknesses were measured in different relative lengths of stems or in average 10.6 measurements per one stem. Results: As an optimal model for the evaluation of double thickness of the bark of Norway spruce depending on mean diameter of roundwood the function with designated determination coefficient of 0.7142 was selected. The obtained results have confirmed the previously defined relations of investigate characteristics, which are as following: a) with the increase of mean diameter of roundwood (section) double bark thickness is increased from 9.26 mm (thickness class 12.5 cm) to 31.65 mm (thickness class 92.5 cm); b) with the increase of mean diameter of roundwood the share of bark in its volume decreased from 14.26% (thickness class 12.5 cm) to 6.73% (thickness class 92.5 cm). Conclusions: By the actual method of estimating bark thickness or the share of bark in the volume of roundwood of Norway spruce in the forestry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina a significant error was created which increases with the increase of mean diameter. The obtained results point to the necessity of investigation of these bark characteristics in Bosnia and Herzegovina and represent an inevitable starting point for making adequate tables of bark thickness and its percentage share in the volume of roundwood of Norway spruce.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is considered as the strongest independent risk factor for lung cancer (LC) development, suggesting an overlapping genetic background in both diseases. A common feature of both diseases is aberrant immunity in respiratory epithelia that is mainly regulated by Toll-like receptors (TLRs), key regulators of innate immunity. The function of the flagellin-sensing TLR5 in airway epithelia and pathophysiology of COPD and LC has remained elusive. We performed case–control genetic association and functional studies on the importance of TLR5 in COPD and LC development, comparing Caucasian COPD/LC patients (n = 974) and healthy donors (n = 1283). Association analysis of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs725084, rs2072493_N592S, and rs5744174_F616L) indicated the minor allele of rs2072493_N592S to be associated with increased risk for COPD (OR = 4.41, p < 0.0001) and NSCLC (OR = 5.17, p < 0.0001) development and non-small cell LC risk in the presence of COPD (OR = 1.75, p = 0.0031). The presence of minor alleles (rs5744174 and rs725084) in a co-dominant model was associated with overall survival in squamous cell LC patients. Functional analysis indicated that overexpression of the rs2072493_N592S allele affected the activation of NF-κB and AP-1, which could be attributed to impaired phosphorylation of p38 and ERK. Overexpression of TLR5N592S was associated with increased chemosensitivity in the H1299 cell line. Finally, genome-wide transcriptomic analysis on WI-38 and H1299 cells overexpressing TLR5WT or TLR5N592S, respectively, indicated the existence of different transcription profiles affecting several cellular pathways potentially associated with a dysregulated immune response. Our results suggest that TLR5 could be recognized as a potential biomarker for COPD and LC development with functional relevance.

S obzirom na to da je šumarstvo djelatnost u kojoj su radnici izloženi relativno velikom stepenu opasnosti od nastanka povreda i profesionalnih oboljenja, ova pojava zahtijeva poseban pristup u segmentu zaštite na radu. Učestalost pojavljivanja povreda i profesionalnih oboljenja u šumarstvu dobar su pokazatelj nivoa sigurnosti radnika pri radu. Iz tog razloga se kroz analizu povreda na radu u JP ŠPD „Unskosanske šume” d.o.o. Bosanska Krupa nastojalo steći uvid u stanje sigurnosti na radu. Analiziran je period od 10 godina (2010–2019) i u tom periodu je evidentirano 213 povreda za cijelo preduzeće. Analiza povreda je obavljena po godinama i mjesecima, prema mjestu nastanka, prema radnom mjestu, prema materijalnom izvoru povrede, prema starosnoj dobi radnika, prema povrijeđenom dijelu tijela, itd. Na osnovu broja povreda po zapremini izrađenoga drveta (43/mil.m3), stanje sigurnosti pri radu može se ocijeniti kao zadovoljavajuće. Najzastupljenije su povrede ekstremiteta (64%), zatim, povrede su češće početkom radne sedmice (26,3%). Najčešći uzrok povrede bio je izazvan padom (62%). Analiza broja povreda po godinama u analiziranom periodu pokazuje da se ističu 2018, a naročito 2019. godina, što se može povezati sa trendom povećanja obima poslova u vlastitoj režiji. Takođe, analiza je pokazala da se najviše povreda desi u ljetnim mjesecima. Prema analizi koja se odnosi na invalide rada, ustanovljeno je da većina registrovanih invalida rada u preduzeću spada u invalide druge kategorije. Invalidi rada čine čak 10,36% ukupne radne snage. Za skoro 80% invalida rada kao glavni uzrok invalidnosti navedena je bolest, tj. razne zdravstvene tegobe koje su smanjile njihovu radnu sposobnost. Samo dvojica radnika su invalidi zbog profesionalnog oboljenja, što je veoma ohrabrujući podatak. Bez obzira na značajan tehnološki napredak i razvoj, posao u šumarstvu se još uvijek smatra jednim od najopasnijih zanimanja na svijetu

The low seroprevalent human adenovirus type 26 (HAdV26)-based vaccine vector was the first adenovirus-based vector to receive marketing authorization from European Commission. HAdV26-based vaccine vectors induce durable humoral and cellular immune responses and, as such, represent a highly valuable tool for fighting infectious diseases. Despite well-described immunogenicity in vivo, the basic biology of HAdV26 still needs some refinement. The aim of this study was to determine the pro-inflammatory cytokine profile of epithelial cells infected with HAdV26 and then investigate the underlying molecular mechanism. The expression of studied genes and proteins was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Confocal microscopy was used to visualize HAdV26 cell uptake. We found that HAdV26 infection in human epithelial cells triggers the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, namely IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, and TNF-α, with the most pronounced difference shown for IL-6. We investigated the underlying molecular mechanism and observed that HAdV26-induced IL-6 gene expression is αvβ3 integrin dependent and NF-κB mediated. Our findings provide new data regarding pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression in HAdV26-infected epithelial cells, as well as details concerning HAdV26-induced host signaling pathways. Information obtained within this research increases our current knowledge of HAdV26 basic biology and, as such, can contribute to further development of HAdV26-based vaccine vectors.

Background and Purpose: Logging is an example of the strongest human influence on forest environment because it causes damages to the forest soil and residual trees. The damages that occur during logging are more frequent in the skidding phase compared to the felling and processing phase. Material and Methods: The research was conducted in mixed stands of fir and spruce in the area of eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. Felling was conducted by chainsaw and extraction by animals, i.e. by two oxen. The following data were collected: tree species, diameter at breast height, pre-bunching zone (0-30 m or 30-60 m), presence of damages, presence of old damages, number of damages, type of damage, damage position and the size of damage. Results: Damages were recorded on 3.32% of residual trees. The average number of damages per damaged tree was 1.08. The same percentage share of damages was recorded on butt end and root collar (38.46%), while damages on root have a share of 23.08%. Stem damages were not recorded. The most common type of damage was debarked tree (61.54%), then squashed bark (23.08%) and debarked and damaged tree (15.38%). It was recorded that the size of damages varied between 60 and 570 cm2. The average size of damage was 222.54 cm2. Statistical analysis using χ2 test showed significant difference in the proportion of damaged trees among different pre-bunching methods, and did not show significant difference in the proportion of damaged trees between different pre-bunching zones. Conclusions: It can be assumed that oxen logging causes insignificant damages to residual trees. The results of research will be used as a basis for future studies of residual trees’ damaging during wood skidding.

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) engages Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and 4 when found in the extracellular compartment and contributes to inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Since there is growing evidence for the genetic risk factors for COPD, the gene expression of HSP70, TLR2 and TLR4 was determined, as well as the association between HSP70, TLR2 and TLR4 single nucleotide polymorphisms, (SNPs) and COPD. The gene expression was assessed in peripheral blood cells of 137 COPD patients and 95 controls by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), while a total of nine SNPs were genotyped by TaqMan allelic discrimination real-time PCR. HSP70 and TLR2 gene expression was increased in COPD patients compared to the controls, regardless of the disease severity and smoking status of participants. The rs6457452 SNP of HSP70 was associated with COPD, indicating the protective role of the T allele (OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.24–0.89, p = 0.022). Furthermore, COPD C/T heterozygotes showed a decreased HSP70 mRNA level compared to COPD C/C homozygotes. In conclusion, HSP70 and TLR2 may have a role in the pathogenesis of COPD, and the HSP70 rs6457452 variant might influence the genetic susceptibility to COPD in the Croatian population.

Utvrđivanje kapaciteta proizvodnje sekundarnih energenata na području Tuzlanskog kantona pruža važno uporište za detaljnije i racionalnije planiranje korištenja drvnog otpada iz različitih izvora koji nastaje na navedenom području. Za potrebe ovih istraživanja korištena je metoda analize i sinteze, kao i komparativna analiza na osnovu izvora podataka dobijenih od vlasnika postrojenja za proizvodnju sekundarnih energenata, drvoprerađivačkih preduzeća i preduzeća koje gazduje šumama Tuzlanskog kantona, ostale relevantne dokumentacije iz Kantonalne privredne komore Tuzla, te na osnovu Izvještaja o poslovanju i statističkih biltena. Trenutno je iskorišteno 59% kapaciteta postrojenja za proizvodnju peleta na Tuzlanskom kantonu, proizvodnja briketa se realizuje sa 77%, a drvna sječka sa 70%. Količina drvnog otpada iz prerade drveta iznosi cca 36 306 m³ godišnje. Stvarna realizacija ogrevnog drveta sa maloprodajom na području Šuma TK iznosila je 96 007 m3. Na području Tuzlanskog kantona postoje prerađivači (cijepanje) drveta sa 43% iskorištenog kapaciteta. Rezultati rada pokazuju da se potencijal proizvodnje sekundarnih energenata na području Tuzlanskog kantona ne koristi na zadovoljavajućem nivou. Maksimalni kapaciteti proizvodnje se ni približno ne ostvaruju. Da bi se osigurala isplativa i održiva proizvodnja peleta i briketa, osnovni uslov je da se raspolaže potrebnim količinama sirovine. Ukupna količina otpadnog drveta na području Tuzlanskog kantona nije dovoljna za maksimalni kapacitet instalisanih postrojenja za proizvodnju sekundarnih energenata. U tom slučaju neophodna je nabavka sirovine sa šireg područja BiH, zatim bolje korištenje otpada iz šumarstva, a naročito korištenje izdanačkih šuma. Kao sirovinska baza tu je svakako i mogućnost proizvodnje energetskih plantaža brzorastućih vrsta i sl.

Der Aufsatz befasst sich mit der Perzeption des Raumes in deutschsprachigen Reiseberichten über Montenegro aus der ersten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts. In sechs Reiseberichten, die in der Zeit, als Njegoš regierte (1830–1851), entstanden sind, wurden maßgebliche Aspekte der Darstellung des Raumes untersucht und identifiziert, die das Bild Montenegros als exotisches Land transportieren, unabhängig davon, ob der Exotismus als Form der Fokussierung auf das Fremde positiv oder negativ konnotiert ist. Es wurde festgestellt, dass der Exotismus der Darstellung des Raumes Montenegros in den interpretierten und analysierten Texten vor allem auf der Diskrepanz zwischen dem Bestreben einer objektiven Darstellung und der subjektiven Wahrnehmung des Erzählers basiert. Die beschriebenen geographischen Strukturen werden anhand unterschiedlicher literarischer Mittel als exotische, andere, merkwürdige, bedrohliche oder arkadische Wildnis semantisiert, womit Montenegro bis tief ins 20. Jahrhundert assoziiert wurde.

A diverse group of soil bacteria found in the rhizosphere which can colonize plant roots and improve plant growth are designated as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. The aim of this study was isolation and screening of different rhizobacterial strains for plant growth promoting characteristics and their ability to improve growth of two grass species, orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.). The strains investigated, belonging to the genera Azotobacter, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and rhizobial bacteria, showed various plant growth promoting traits, such as phosphate solubilisation, siderophore production, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production. Co-inoculation of meadow fescue with Azotobacter chroococcum A2 and Sinorhizobium meliloti or Pseudomonas sp., and A. chroococcum A5 with S. meliloti, significantly increased shoot dry weight (SDW)(25-33%), as well as total N (26-33%), P (24-31%) and K (26-28%) contents in plants (mg pot-1), compared to uninoculated control. In addition, inoculation of orchardgrass with A. chroococcum strain A1, as well as co-inoculation with B. megaterium and A. chroococcum A1 or A31, significantly increased SDW (51-59%) and total N (54-59%), P (51-74%) and K (49-55%) contents, compared to uninoculated control. Nitrogen percentage in SDW was slightly higher than sufficiency ranges, while K percentage was optimal in all treatments in both species. Phosphorous percentage was lower than sufficiency ranges as a consequence of very low soil P content. The results emphasize the potential of particular rhizobacteria to improve the growth of forage grasses.

Quercetin (QU), a hyperthermic sensitizer, when combined with cisplatin (CP) affects tumor growth. To determine the effects of QU and CP and their interactions, multimodal treatment in vitro and in vivo models under physiological and hyperthermic conditions was performed. In vitro, different sensitivity of T24 and UMUC human bladder cancer cells was observed after short-term exposure to QU (2 h) and CP (1 h). Effects of both compounds were investigated at low and high micromolar concentrations (1 and 50 µM, respectively) under both thermal conditions. QU acted in additive or synergistic manner in combination with CP between physiological condition and hyperthermia. As determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, short-term application of QU and CP reduced cell viability. Clonal assay also indicated that combined treatment with QU and CP is lethal to bladder cancer cells in both conditions. In vivo, CP (5 or 10 mg kg−1) and QU (50 mg kg−1) acted synergistically with hyperthermia (43 °C) and inhibited tumor growth, activated immune effectors and increased mice survival. Our results demonstrate that combined treatment with CP and QU may increase death of tumor cells in physiological and hyperthermic conditions which could be clinically relevant in locoregional chemotherapy.

The present study describes radical scavenging capacity (RSC), antimutagenic and antibacterial properties of the essential oil (EO) of the leaves of Eucalyptus gunnii Hook. (Southern Montenegro). Chemical composition was evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In oil, 1,8-cineole (67.8%) and α-pinene (14.12%) were the major compounds comprising almost 82% of total EO. EO exhibited moderate DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity, with IC50 value of 7.19 µL/mL. The antimutagenic properties were assayed against the spontaneous and t-BOOH-induced mutagenesis in Escherichia coli IC202 oxyR mutant strain, deficient in removing radical oxygen species (ROS). Reduction of the spontaneous mutagenesis in the presence of E. gunnii EO was only slight, up to 12% at the highest concentration tested. However, when the oxidative mutagen was used, EO displayed more significant reduction of mutagenesis (maximum 23%) in a concentration dependent manner. Antibacterial activity was tested against the selected strains from ATTC and NCIB collections: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus flavus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the two Escherichia coli strains from our laboratory collection (SY252 and IB112) using both the disk-diffusion and MIC assays. The greatest sensitivity was shown by M. flavus, K. pneumoniae and E. coli lpcA (MIC = 0.83 mg/mL), while the highest resistance was shown by E. coli (ATTC 25922) and S. epidermidis. This study represents the first report on chemical composition and biological activity of the Eucalyptus gunnii in the South Balkan region and beyond.

S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (AHCY) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder in methionine metabolism caused by mutations in the AHCY gene. Main characteristics are psychomotor delay including delayed myelination and myopathy (hypotonia, absent tendon reflexes etc.) from birth, mostly associated with hypermethioninaemia, elevated serum creatine kinase levels and increased genome wide DNA methylation. The prime function of AHCY is to hydrolyse and efficiently remove S-adenosylhomocysteine, the by-product of transmethylation reactions and one of the most potent methyltransferase inhibitors. In this study, we set out to more specifically characterize DNA methylation changes in blood samples from patients with AHCY deficiency. Global DNA methylation was increased in two of three analysed patients. In addition, we analysed the DNA methylation levels at differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of six imprinted genes (MEST, SNRPN, LIT1, H19, GTL2 and PEG3) as well as Alu and LINE1 repetitive elements in seven patients. Three patients showed a hypermethylation in up to five imprinted gene DMRs. Abnormal methylation in Alu and LINE1 repetitive elements was not observed. We conclude that DNA hypermethylation seems to be a frequent but not a constant feature associated with AHCY deficiency that affects different genomic regions to different degrees. Thus AHCY deficiency may represent an ideal model disease for studying the molecular origins and biological consequences of DNA hypermethylation due to impaired cellular methylation status.

The use of dietary antimutagens and anticarcinogens has been seen as a promising approach to the protection of human health. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a well-known medicinal and aromatic plant, with a range of newly discovered biological activities possibly important for chemoprevention. In the preliminary experiments, toxic and mutagenic potential of essential oil (EO) from basil and pure substances: linalool, ß-myrcene and 1,8-cineole were tested using Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100 and TA102, with and without S9 mix (microsomal fraction of rat liver). No mutagenic effect of basil derivatives was detected in any tested strain. Antimutagenic effects of essential oil from basil and its pure constituents were further evaluated in the Ames test using S. typhimurium TA100. UVC irradiation and three chemical mutagens, 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4NQO), 2-nitropropane (2-NP) and benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) were used to induce mutagenesis. All tested basil derivatives significantly reduced UV-induced mutations. The maximum inhibition was in the range of 64–77 %. Inhibitory potential against direct acting model mutagen/carcinogen 4NQO was similar to UV (52–67 %). In the presence of S9, EO and 1,8-cineole showed moderate inhibition of 2-NP induced mutagenesis, while the remaining two substances had no effect. Linalool exhibited high co-mutagenic effect with B(a)P, 1,8-cineole showed moderate inhibitory effect against B(a)P-induced mutations, while EO and ß-myrcene were ineffective.

DNA damage induced by reactive oxygen species is involved in mutagenesis and generation of mutation-related diseases, including cancer. Therefore, study of antigenotoxic potential of antioxidants is of great importance for protection of human health. Vitamin C is well known as a potent antioxidant, but its prooxidative effects have also been reported. In this work, antigenotoxic properties of vitamin C in E. coli K12, E. coli WP2 and S. cerevisiae D7 reversion assays, as well as in S. cerevisiae comet assay were examined. t-Butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH) was used to induce oxidative mutagenesis, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was used to induce DNA strand breaks in the comet assay. Vitamin C reduced t-BOOH-induced and spontaneous mutagenesis in repair proficient and mismatch repair (MMR) deficient strains of E. coli K12 respectively, as well as t-BOOH-induced mutagenesis in S. cerevisiae D7 strain. However, in E. coli K12 strains that carry plasmid with microsatellite sequences, treatment with vitamin C slightly stimulated microsatellite instability. Vitamin C also showed mutagenic effects in WP2 oxyR strain, probably due to its prooxidative potential, amplified in the strain deficient in antioxidative defense. In the yeast comet assay, contradictory results were obtained: while low concentration (0.05 mM) of vitamin C inhibited oxidative damage, higher concentrations (0.1–10 mM) stimulated it. The obtained results indicate that vitamin C can exhibit antigenotoxic or genotoxic effects, depending on the dose, genetic background and other experimental conditions.

The aim of this study was to analyze 16 trace elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn) in different barbel (Barbus barbus) tissues and to detect the presence of genotoxic effects in erythrocytes with the alkaline comet assay. Barbel specimens were collected in the Danube river near Belgrade, Serbia, where the discharge of untreated communal and industrial wastewaters is likely to produce negative effects on fish residing in this area. The highest concentrations of Sr, Mn, Fe, Ba, B, and Al were found in gills, Mo and Cu in liver, and As and Zn in gonads. Concentrations of Zn and Fe were above maximum acceptable concentrations (MACs) in a number of gonad, gill, and liver samples. Three-year-old barbel specimens had higher tail moment and Zn concentrations in gills (1.71 and 51.20 μg/g dw, resp.) than 5-year-old specimens (0.85 and 42.51 μg/g dw, resp.). Results indicate that the younger barbel specimens might be more suitable for the monitoring of environmental pollution.