Search

Without being aware of their chemical composition, many cultures have used herbaceous peony roots for medicinal purposes. Modern phytopreparations intended for use in human therapy require specific knowledge about the chemistry of peony roots and their biological activities. In this study, ethanol–water extracts were prepared by maceration and microwave- and ultrasound-assisted extractions (MAE and UAE, respectively) in order to obtain bioactive molecules from the roots of Paeonia tenuifolia L., Paeonia peregrina Mill., and Paeonia officinalis L. wild growing in Serbia. Chemical characterization; polyphenol and flavonoid content; antioxidant, multianti-enzymatic, and antibacterial activities of extracts; and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (GID) of hot water extracts were performed. The strongest anti-cholinesterase activity was observed in PT extracts. The highest anti-ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical potential was observed in PP extracts, whereas against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals), the best results were achieved with PO extracts. Regarding antibacterial activity, extracts were strongly potent against Bacillus cereus. A molecular docking simulation was conducted to gather insights into the binding affinity and interactions of polyphenols and other Paeonia-specific molecules in the active sites of tested enzymes. In vitro GID of Paeonia teas showed a different recovery and behavior of the individual bioactives, with an increased recovery of methyl gallate and digallate and a decreased recovery of paeoniflorin and its derivatives. PT (Gulenovci) and PP (Pirot) extracts obtained by UAE and M were more efficient in the majority of the bioactivity assays. This study represents an initial step toward the possible application of Paeonia root extracts in pharmacy, medicine, and food technologies.

Plants of the genus Allium from the family Alliaceae have occupied an important place in nutrition, traditional, and modern medicine since ancient times. In addition to the well-known cultivated species of garlic and onion, the genus Allium also includes other species: spring onion (Allium ursinum L.), winter onion (Allium fistulosum L.), leek (Allium ampeloprasum L.), chives (Allium schoenoprasum L.), Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum L.). In the Republic of Serbia, out of about 4,000 species present in the flora, about 70 are used as cultivated and wild vegetables. Of the wild onions, only bear's onion or sremuš (Allium ursinum represented here only with the subspecies ucrainicum) is used in the diet. Sremuš is a native wild species and requires special growing conditions. The objective of this study was to point out the importance and potential of sremuš production in the Republic of Serbia, especially in organic agriculture. For food purposes, the fresh or dried above-ground part (leaf) of sremuš or bulbs is most often used as an addition to salads or stews. Biological activities in sremuš related to the content of sulfur compounds. Alin and its derivatives are responsible for the characteristic taste and smell of sremuš and the manifestation of anticancer activities. According to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia, organic sremuš production covers only 0.001 ha, specifically in the Južnobački district of the province of Vojvodina. Taking into account the legal regulations that limit the exploitation of this raw material in natural habitats, there is a great demand for sremuš, which has a good market price. There is an assumption that the need for plantation cultivation of sremuš in the future on the territory of the Republic of Serbia will be increasing.

Arnica montana is endemic medicinal plant species that, due to its biological activity, is widely used in medicine, pharmacy, and cosmetics, which is why it has a high commercial value. According to legal regulations prohibiting the exploitation of A. montana from natural habitats and the limitation of human resources in its production, there is a constant need to improve the technology of its cultivation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of agrotextile mulch film on the flower yield of A. montana in the second year of cultivation. A. montana seedlings produced at the "Dr. Josif Pančić" Institute from autumn 2021 to spring 2022 were used for the experiment. In the middle of May 2022, a demonstration experiment was set up on Tara mountain (43°54'31.4"N 19°32'22.6"E) on the district cambisol on an area of 10 m2 with and without the application of mulch at a density of 24 plants/m2 . Due to the successive flowering of A. montana, seven harvests were conducted out in the period from the beginning to the end of June 2023. The average flower yield per plant differed significantly in harvests and treatments (with and without agrotextiles), but the highest number of flowers (1.20; 1.18), as well as the yield (30.03; 29.58 g/m2 ), was obtained during the fourth harvest. The average yield of air-dried flowers without the use of agrotextiles ranged from 97.15 g/m2 in the first harvest to the last, whereas a slightly higher yield was achieved with the use of agrotextiles, 105.9 g/m2 .

Tribulus terrestris uglavnom je invazivna korovska biljna vrsta koja je od ranije poznata u kineskoj i indijskoj tradicionalnoj medicini za lečenje seksualne disfunkcije, problema sa očima i nadutošću stomaka. Poreklom je pretežno iz južne Evrope, Azije, širom Afrike i Australije iz toplih umerenih i tropskih regiona. Uglavnom se razmnožava isključivo semenom, pri čemu je procenat klijavosti T. terrestris veoma nizak u prirodnim i laboratorijskim uslovima. Prikupljena semena T. terrestrisa iz samoniklih populacija su do ispitivanja čuvana na sobnoj temperaturi. Testiranje klijavosti semena obavljeno je tokom maja 2022. godine primenom tretmana potapanja u vodi u različitim vremenskim intervalima i metodom skarifikacije semena nakon kog je postavljeno u petri posude između filter papira. Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata utvrđeno je da je u svim tretmanima koji uključuju potapanje i skarifikaciju klijavost bila bolja nego u kontrolnom tretmanu, pri čemu je najbolja klijavost (76.3 %) postignuta tretmanom potapanja semena u trajanju od 12h. Ključne reči: Skarifikacija; tretman potapanja; babin zub, Tribulus terrestris is mainly an invasive weedy plant species that has long been known in Chinese and Indian traditional medicine to treat sexual dysfunction, eye problems, and stomach bloating. It is native mainly from southern Europe, Asia, throughout Africa and Australia from warm temperate and tropical regions. It is mainly propagated exclusively by seed, with the percentage of germination of T. terrestris being very low in natural and laboratory conditions. Collected seeds of T. terrestris from wild populations were stored at room temperature until testing. Seed germination testing was carried out during May 2022 using the water immersion treatment at different time intervals and the seed scarification method, after which it was placed in a petri dish between filter papers. Based on the obtained results, it was determined that in all treatments that include immersion and scarification, germination was better than in the control treatment, where the best germination (76.3%) was achieved with the treatment of seed immersion for 12 hours.

The presented study aimed to optimize polyphenol extraction from Satureja montana L. obtained from the experimental field of the Institute for Medicinal Plants Research ”Dr Josif Pančić”, Serbia, by varying the most important parameters for maceration, solid-to-solvent ratio, and extraction time. The obtained extracts were characterized regarding the total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant potential, extraction yield, conductivity, density, surface tension, and viscosity. The TPC and TFC were ~7 to 92 mg GAE (gallic acid equivalent)/g and 3.7 to 10.9 mg CE (catechin equivalent)/g, respectively. The highest extraction yield (86 %) as well as the highest antioxidant activities were obtained for the extracts prepared using a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1 g:50 cm3. On the other hand, the extraction time did not have a significant influence. The highest conductivity was measured in the extract prepared at a 1 g:10 cm3 ratio, while the highest density and surface tension were in the extract prepared at a 1 g:40 cm3 ratio (941 kg m-3 and 29.0 mN m-1, respectively). The highest viscosity was measured in the extract prepared at a 1 g: 20 cm3 ratio (2.89 mPa∙s). Our study shows the possibilities for the production of polyphenol-rich extract of S. montana which might be used in pharmaceutical, food, or cosmetic products., Prikazana studija je imala za cilj da optimizuje ekstrakciju polifenola izbiljkeSatureja montanaL. sa oglednog polja Instituta za proučavanjelekovitog bilja „Dr Josif Pančić“, Srbija, variranjem najvažnijih parametara maceracije, odnosa biljnog materijala i rastvarača,i ekstrakcionogvremena. Dobijeni ekstrakti su okarakterisani u pogleduukupnog sadržaja polifenola (engl.total total polyphenol content, TPC), ukupnog sadržaja flavonoida (engl.total flavonoid content,TFC), antioksidativnog potencijala, prinosa ekstrakcije, provodljivosti, gustine, površinskog napona i viskoznosti. Vrednostiukupnog sadržaja polifenola(engl.Total Polyphenol Content -TPC)iukupnog sadržaja flavonoida (engl.Total Flavonoid Content -TFC)su bile u opsezima7,2-92,2 mg ekvivalenta galne kiseline (engl.gallic acid equivalentGAE) /g i 3,7-10,9 mgekvivalenta katehina(engl.catechinequivalentCE)/g, redom. Najveće antioksidativne aktivnosti dobijenesu u ekstraktima pripremljenim u odnosu biljnog materijala i rastvarača1g :50cm-3. Najveći prinos ekstrakcije takođe je dobijenu tom ekstraktu (86,0%), dok vreme ekstrakcije nije imalo značajan uticaj. Najveća provodljivost izmerena je u ekstraktu pripremljenom u odnosu biljnog materijala i rastvarača1g :10cm-3. Najvećagustina i površinski napon su bili u ekstraktu pripremljenom u odnosu 1g :40cm-3(941 kg m-3i 29,0 mNm-1, redom). Najvećaviskoznostje izmerenau ekstraktu pripremljenom u odnosu 1g :20cm-3(2,89 mPa∙s). Naša studija pokazuje mogućnosti za proizvodnju polifenolima bogatog ekstraktabiljkeS. montanakoji se može koristiti u farmaceutskim, prehrambenim ili kozmetičkim proizvodima.

The possibility to utilize the antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of essential oils (EOs) in dentistry is recognized and best seen in the design of EO-based mouthwashes. The up-to-date results, obtained with the most commonly used formulation being consisted of thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, and methyl salicylate (Listerine), proved its efficacy against plaque and gingival inflammation. However, novel alcohol-free products remain to be further investigated. Commercially available mouthwash containing curcumin, clove oil, mentha oil, eucalyptol, thymol and tea tree oil, and the mouthwash based on ginger EO (a-zingiberene, b-bisabolene, b-sesquiphellandrene, curcumene), reduced plaque index and improved periodontal status of the patients. The plaque index was also reduced and overall healing was improved after the surgical removal of the third molar by mouthwash containing John wort oil. In addition, Cinnamomum zeylanicum EO-based mouthwash and mouthwash containing peppermint oil were efficient against stomatitis and xerostomia, respectively. In addition to beneficial effects achieved in the mouth, i.e. at the appropriate site of application, novel investigations pointed-out that EO-based mouthwashes could be recognized as efficient in the reduction of bacterial and viral aerosols. This has been shown for Listerine, and for several mouthwashes containing following active substances of plants' EO origin: a-farnesene, b-farnesene, farnesol, nerolidol, a-bulnesene, eremanthin, b-sesquiphellandrene, spiroether, cinnamylacetate, cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, menthol, and carvacrol. This finding could be of special interest, in order to be included in further clinical studies related to COVID -19 pandemic.

Calendula.officinalis is a medicinal plant species known for centuries and it is widely used in cooking, medicine and numerous processing industries. In an attempt to improve the productive properties of C. officinalis in pots, an experiment was conducted at the experimental field of the Institute for Medicinal Plants Research "Dr. Josif Pančić" Belgrade, Serbia. This work aimed to examine the influence of organic growth biostimulators on the flower and seed yield parameters of C. officinalis grown under semi-controlled conditions. The experiment contained two treatments by priming C. officinalis seeds for 20 minutes, organic biostimulators (EkoBooster1 - E and Algo Fast - A) and one control treatment (K) in distilled water. The results of the experiment showed that the yield parameters during the first four harvests were significantly better in the treatments with biostimulators, while in the later harvests the yield parameters were better in the control treatment. In contrast to the treatments with biostimulators (A) and (E), the yield of seeds per plant (9.2 and 8.9) was significantly better in the control treatment (K-12.8), while the percentage of germinated seeds did not differ significantly between treatments (A:91.3 %; E: 90.2%; K: 92.4%). The outcome of this study shows us that biostimulators have a positive effect on the parameters of marigold flower yield in the initial stages of harvest, while they did not have an excessive effect on seed yield.

Cymbopogon martinii is an aromatic crop cultivated for the production of its essential oil (EO) which has different applications. Bearing in mind that C. martinii EO (CMEO) has already been proved for high antibacterial potential the aim of this study was to formulate stable CMEO nanoemulsions, being capable to combat Enterococcus faecalis biofilm, especially within infected tooth’s root canal. Ten emulsions with variable CMEO content (2.5–10 % v/v) and Tween 80 (T80, 2.5–15 % v/v) were formulated (designated as ECMEO:T80) and screened for volume-weighted mean diameter (D4,3) and stability, using dynamic light scattering measurements. Chemical composition of stable nanoemulsions was monitored by UV–VIS and FTIR, while their antibacterial activity was estimated in microdilution assay. Antibiofilm properties of selected nanoemulsions were tested in vitro (cristal violet assay) and ex vivo (within root canals of the extracted teeth). Results showed that formulations containing 10 % of T80 and CMEO volume ≤ 6 %, as well as those having constant 2.5 % of CMEO and variable T80 volume (≤ 10%), namely E2.5:2.5, E2.5:5, E2.5:7.5, E2.5:10, E4:10, and E6:10, were stable and nanosized (D4,3 <100 nm). FTIR and UV–VIS analyses confirmed successful encapsulation of the CMEO by T80 and showed that nanoemulsification did not affect CMEO composition. Evaluation of antibacterial potential showed that the most efficient were E6:10, E2.5:2.5 and E4:10 (MIC values 0.37–1.97 mg mL−1). Analysis of dependency of determined MICs on mean diameter and CMEO volume showed that antibacterial potential increased with both parameters. E6:10, E2.5:2.5 and E4:10 also reduced in vitro biofilm (inhibitory range 17.6–58.4 %), as well as intracanal biofilm (reduction ~2Log CFU). Presented results suggest E6:10, E4:10 and E2.5:2.5 as the good candidates for further research.