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Background/Aim. Plant essential oils (EOs) can have a significant antibacterial effect especially through additive or synergistic action as antibiotic adjuvants. We investi-gated the composition and activity of EOs of two species of genus Salvia (S) from Greece with the aim to deter-mine their antimicrobial activity as well as the activity in combination with selected antibiotics. Methods. The aerial parts of wild-growing S. fruticosa and S. ringens were subjected to a steam distillation and the obtained EOs were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chroma-tography/mass spectrometry. The broth-microdilution method was used in order to determine the minimum in-hibitory concentrations (MICs) of EOs on seven strains of bacteria and one yeast. Antimicrobial activity of the combination of EO and antibiotics was investigated by checkerboard method and estimated by calculating frac-tional inhibitory concentration (FIC) of each component and fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI). Re-sults. Dominant component of S. fruticosa EO was trans-thujone (54.2%) and for S. ringens EO it was α-pinene (28.1%). The MICs of EOs of both species were in the range from 200 μg/mL to > 500 μg/mL. The strongest antimicrobial effect was achieved against Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans. According to FICI values, EO of S. fruticosa had additive effect with ciprofloxacin against most of bacterial strains but not with amikacin. Conclu-sion. The essential oils of S. ringens and S. fruticosa showed modest antimicrobial activity. However, the es-sential oil of S. fruticosa showed a promising additive ef-fect in combination with ciprofloxacin. Uvod/Cilj. Etarska ulja različitih biljaka mogu imati značajna antibakterijska svojstva, posebno kao adjuvanti antibiotika sa kojima ostvaruju aditivno ili sinergistično dejstvo. Ispitivali smo sastav i aktivnost etarskih ulja dve vrste roda Salvia (S) iz Grčke sa ciljem da odredimo njihovu antimkrobnu aktivnost, kao i dejstvo u kombi-naciji sa odabranim antibioticima. Metode. Nadzemni delovi samoniklih S. fruticosa i S. ringens su destilovani vodenom parom i dobijena etarska ulja su analizirana gasnom hromatografijom i gasnom hromatografijom sa masenom spektrometrijom. Radi određivanja minimalnih inhibitornih koncentracija (MICs) etarskog ulja na sedam sojeva bakterija i na jednoj patogenoj gljivici korišćena je mikrodiluciona metoda. Antimikrobna aktivnost kombi-nacije etarskog ulja i antibiotika ispitana je checkerboard metodom i procenjena je na osnovu frakcione inhibi-torne koncentracije (FIC) svake komponente i indeksa frakcione inhibitorne koncentracije (FICI). Resultati. Dominantna komponenta etarskog ulja S. fruticosa je bio trans-tujon (54,2%), a etarskog ulja S. ringens α-pinen (28,1%). MICs etarskog ulja obe vrste su bile u opsegu od 200 μg/mL do > 500 μg/mL. Najsnažnija anti-mikrobna aktivnost ostvarena je protiv Bacillus subtilis i Candida albicans. Na osnovu FICI vrednosti, etarsko ulje S. fruticosa je sa ciprofloksacinom, ali ne i sa amikacinom imalo aditivni efekat protiv većine bakterijskih sojeva. Zaključak. Etarska ulja S. ringens i S. fruticosa su pokazala skromnu antimikrobnu aktivnost, ali je etarsko ulje S. fru-ticosa u kombinaciji sa ciprofloksacinom ispoljilo značajan aditivni efekat.

Several natural hybrids of Teucrium montanum L. and T. polium L. have been described in certain parts of the area where these two species are sympatric. A new population with intermediate individuals that share morphological characteristics of both T. montanum and T. polium has been found in Croatia (Bisko near Trilj), and most likely represents a hybridogenous taxon. The aim of this study is to compare the morpho-anatomical and phytochemical characteristics of the two parental species and their putative hybrid, as well as to determine the most important distinguishing characters between these three groups. In order to describe the variability and significance of morpho-anatomical and phytochemical differentiation of the analysed groups several multivariate statistical analysis were conducted (PCA, CDA, DFA, UPGMA-clustering). All analyses confirm the separation of two species, T. polium and T. montanum, and reveal the intermediate position of the putative hybrid. In this way, data on morphological and anatomical analysis together with data on the composition of the essential oils support the assumption of the hybridogenous origin of the intermediate individuals. Based on descriptions and original indication of parental species of previously described hybrids T. × castrense Verg., T. × bogoutdinovae Melinkov and T. × rohlenae K.Malý, we found that the intermediate specimens collected in Croatia perfectly correspond to T. × rohlenae, a hybridogenous taxon discovered by Rohlena in the vicinity of Kotor in Montenegro, and thus prove the presence of a new natural hybrid in the flora of Croatia.

Phytochemical and pharmacological in-vestigations of essential oils isolated from plant species of the genus Seseli have been intensified recently. These plant species have long-term use in nutrition and traditional medicine in the treatment of various disorders. Volatile secondary metabolites of Seseli gracile Waldst. & Kit (Apiaceae) have not been pharma-cologically examined so far. The aim of the conducted research was to assess the antiradical, antimicrobial and spasmolytic ac-tivities of S. gracile essential oil isolated from the aerial parts of the plant. Methods. The antiradical activity was determined us-ing the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scaveng-ing test, antimicrobial activity using broth microdilution meth-od with standard strains of Gram (+), Gram (-) bacteria and yeast, while spasmolytic activity was evaluated on isolated rat il-eum, pre-contracted with a high concentration of potassium. Results. The results showed moderate antiradical (SC50 = 78.60 μg/mL) and good spasmolytic activity (IC50 = 271.4 nL/mL) of S. gracile essential oil. In the range of tested concen-trations, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was deter-mined only for the strain of Escherichia coli (500 μg/mL). Con-clusion. Results obtained in this study justify the need for fur-ther studies to elucidate exact molecular mechanism underlay this spasmolytic effect of S. gracile herb essential oil. Etarska ulja izolovana iz vrsta roda Seseli su u poslednje vreme intenzivno farmakološki i fitohemijski proučavana. Biljke iz ovog roda se koriste već duži niz godina u ishrani i tradicionalnoj terapiji različitih oboljenja. Farmakološka aktivnost etarskog ulja izolovanog iz Seseli gracile do sada nije ispitivana. Stoga je cilj ovog istraživanja bio da se ispita antiradikalska, antimikrobna i spazmolitična aktivnost etarskog ulja izolovanog iz nadzemnih delova biljne vrste S. gracile. Metode. Antiradikalska aktivnost je utvrđena testom neutralizacije 2.2-difenil-1-pikrilhidrazil (DPPH) radikala, antimikrobna, bujon-mikrodilucionom metodom uz upotrebu standardnih sojeva Gram (+), Gram (-) bakterija i gljivica, a spazmolitična na izolovanom ileumu pacova, prethodno kontrahovanom visokom koncentarcijom kalijuma. Rezultati. Rezultati pokazuju umerenu antiradikalsku (SC50 = 78.60 μg/mL) i dobru spazmolitičnu aktivnost (IC50 = 271.4 nL/mL) etarskog ulja S. gracile. U opsegu testiranih koncentracija utvrđena je minimalna inhibitorna koncentracija (MIC) samo za soj Escherichia coli (500 μg/mL). Zaključak. Dobijeni rezultati opravdavaju potrebu za budućim istraživanjima koja bi razjasnila tačne mehanizme kojima se ostvaruje spazmolitički efekat etarskog ulja nadzemnog dela S. gracile.

Objectives As there are no previous studies of the European wild-garlic (Allium ursinum) effects on the gastrointestinal system, despite its traditional applications in gastrointestinal disorders' treatment and regular use in the human diet, we have quantified and compared spasmolytic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of its different leaf extracts. Methods Wild-garlic extracts were tested for spasmolytic activity on isolated rat ileum, antimicrobial activity on selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi by microdilution method and antioxidant capacity by DPPH radical-scavenging assay. Key findings Wild-garlic extracts were found to decrease ileal basal tone. As the relaxation of K+-induced contractions was similar to one caused by papaverin, the observed spasmolytic effect was most likely mediated through Ca2+-channel inhibition. Ethanolic extract (with the highest phenolic and high alk(en)yl cysteine sulphoxides’ levels) produced the strongest spasmolytic activity. In case of acetylcholine-induced contractions, only hydromethanolic extract showed no statistical difference in comparison with positive control. All samples exhibited certain antioxidant potential and strong antimicrobial activity against tested enteropathogenic strains (Salmonella enteritidis was the most sensitive, followed by Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Enterococcus faecalis). Conclusion Besides other already established health-promoting effects, wild garlic could be useful in treatment of mild gastrointestinal disturbances.

Plant specialised metabolites like essential oils are highly variable depending on genetic and various ecological factors. The aim of the present work was to characterise essential oils of the species Seseli rigidum Waldst. & Kit. (Apiaceae) in various organs on the individual and populational levels. Geographical variability and the impact of climate and soil type on essential oil composition were also investigated. Individually sampled essential oils of roots, aerial parts and fruits of plants from seven populations were analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The investigated populations showed high inter-populational and especially intrapopulational variability of essential oil composition. In regard to the variability of essential oils, different chemotypes were defined. The essential oils of S. rigidum roots represented a falcarinol chemotype, oils of aerial parts constituted an alpha-pinene or alpha-pineneisabinene chemotype and fruit essential oils can be characterised as belonging to a complex sabinene/alpha-pinene/beta-phellandrene/falcarinoligermacrene B chemotype. At the species level, analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) showed that the plant part exerted the strongest influence on the composition of essential oils. Climate had a high impact on composition of the essential oils of roots, aerial parts and fruits, while influence of the substrate was less pronounced. The variations in main compounds of essential oils based on climate or substrate were complex and specific to the plant part.

Since the fruits of Lycium L. species (Fructus Lycii, goji berries) are promoted as a &ldquo, superfood&rdquo, with plenty of health benefits, there is extensive research interest in their nutritional and phytochemical composition. In the present study, the nutritional value, minerals, fatty acid composition, and bioactive compounds of L. barbarum L., red, yellow, and black goji berry (L. ruthenicum Murray.) cultivated in Serbia were investigated. Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of their methanol extracts were assessed. Red goji berry had the highest content of fats, dietary fiber, iron, total carotenoids, and 2-O-&beta, d-glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic acid (AA-2&beta, G). The yellow goji berry extract showed the highest level of flavonoids and the most prominent antimicrobial (especially against Gram-negative bacteria) properties. The highest total phenolic content and the most potent antioxidant activity were observed for the extract of black goji berry. Therefore, all goji berries could be a valuable source of bioactive compounds in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Geranium species are widely used in traditional medicine of Balkan. The aim of this work was to investigate and compare chemical composition of volatile fractions obtained by hydrodistillation from aerial parts of G. macrorrhizum, G. phaeum, G. sanguineum, G. robertianum, G. palustre, G. pyrenaicum, G. columbinum and G. lucidum as well as from underground parts of G. macrorrhizum and G. phaeum, originated from Vlasina plateau in South Eastern Serbia. The volatiles were analyzed using GC/MS and GC-FID. G. palustre volatiles have been studied for the first time with β-selinene (18.6 %) as a characteristic compound. The cluster analysis revealed separation of volatiles into two main groups. Volatile fractions of G. macrorrhizum were separated from all other samples due to high sesquiterpene content (92.3 % in aerial and 94.6 % in underground parts). The volatile fractions of other samples were mainly composed of sesquiterpenes (10.8–61.8 %), diterpenes (12.9–43.0 %) and fatty acids and their derivatives (6.6–21.6 %) with the exception of volatile fraction of G. phaeum underground parts which was dominated only by fatty acids and their derivatives (76.6 %). The results presented in this article contribute to the knowledge on the chemistry of this genus and advances the knowledge on flora of southeast Serbia.

The chemical composition of the essential oils of Seseli gracile Waldst. & Kit. from natural habitat (Đerdap Gorge, Serbia) and from cultivated plants (Belgrade, Serbia) were characterized. The essential oils of the root, aerial parts, inflorescence and fruit were analyzed by GC/MS and GC/FID. Monoterpene hydrocarbons were the main compounds in the essential oil of aerial parts (45.2–93.0 %), inflorescences (84.1 and 90.0 %) and fruit (85.0 %). Polyacetylenes (38.8 and 87.6 %) were dominant in the essential oil of root. The cluster analysis revealed that there were significant differences in the chemical composition of the S. gracile oils at different phenological stages. On the other hand, essential oils from the aerial parts from natural and cultivated plants showed quite uniform qualitative composition. The aerial parts essential oil from natural habitat contained higher content of para-cymene (mean values 17.3 vs. 6.5 %) and lower amounts of terpinolene (mean values 23.1 vs. 49.9 %). Also polyacetylene falcarinol was present only in the aerial parts samples from natural habitat. The essential oil of inflorescences from natural habitat contained higher concentration of terpinolene, quite similar amount of para- -cymene and lower content of α-pinene. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 173021 Grant no. 173030]

The method of storage has, in the long run, a negative effect on the quality of wheat kernels, due to physiological ageing of its cells.The quality of the kernels was assessed during the storage, giving the predefined conditions - temperature 25 ± 2 °C and the storage duration.Wheat kernel metabolites were studied during 12 and 24-month storage. Kernels of three commercial wheat cultivars – ‘Simonida’, ‘Dragana’ and ‘Ljiljana’, commonly grown in south-eastern Europe, were investigated. Comparing fresh samples to samples taken after 12 and 24 months of storage, it was recorded with an increase in dry matter (by 2.48% and 2.84%) and ash (by 4.09% and 15.25%), and a decrease in protein (by 8.96% and 19.81%), lipids (by 8.32% and 15.07%), starch (by 9.07% and 13.45%) and cellulose (by 22.12% and 26.35%). There were also changes in phenolics (10.51–11.82 mg GA/g). Flavonoid vitexin-glucoside (0.82–1.29 mg/g) and flavan-3-ol catechin (1.31–1.60 mg/g), total antioxidant potential and DPPH scavenging activity were not significantly different. Organic matter digestibility (OMD) decreased, but remained at 92%. These changes did not significantly affect key properties of the kernels, OMD and antioxidant activity, thus wheat kernels can be safely stored for 24 months.

Ispitivano je delovanje etarskih ulja korena, herbe i ploda devesilja, Seseli rigidum iz dve prirodne populacije na 28 izolata Candida albicans i jedan standardni soj C. albicans ATCC 10259. Sojevi C. albicans koji su korišćeni u ovom ispitivanju izolovani su iz orofaringealnog brisa, vaginalnog i/ili cervikalnog brisa, brisa oka, brisa rane, fecesa i urina. Ispitivani sojevi su pokazali visok stepen rezistencije prema delovanju kontrolnog antimikotika flukonazola, a u nešto manjoj meri i amfotericina B. Etarska ulja devesilja, primenjena u koncentracijama 50-200 μg/ml, uzrokovala su inhibiciju rasta ispitivanih sojeva (28,6-46,4% testiranih sojeva). Inhibitorni efekat na tri soja C. albicans ostvaren je sa etarskim uljem korena, sa oba lokaliteta, već pri koncentraciji od 50 μg/ml. Dominantno jedinjenje u ovim etarskim uljima je predstavljao falkarinol (57,5% i 88,8%). Slabiju aktivnost su ispoljila etarska ulje herbe i ploda devesilja, koja su u koncentraciji od 100 μg/ml inhibirala rast pojedinih ispitivanih sojeva. Kod etarskog ulja ploda uočeno je nešto izraženije delovanje etarskog ulja populacije iz Brđanske klisure, koje je sadržalo veću količinu α-pinena i β-felandrena, a manju količinu sabinena. Dobijeni rezultati su pokazali da etarska ulja korena, herbe i ploda devesilja ispoljavaju značajnu antifungalnu aktivnost na pojedine rezistentne sojeve C. albicans. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of root, aerial parts and fruit from two natural populations of Seseli rigidum was tested against 28 isolates of Candida albicans and one laboratory control strain of C. albicans ATCC 10259. Strains of C. albicans were isolated from oropharyngeal swabs, vaginal and/or cervical swabs, eye swabs, wound swabs, feces and urine. The investigated strains showed high level of resistance towards the activity of control antimycotic agent fluconazole and to a lower extent towards amphotericin B. The S. rigidum essential oils, in the concentrations of 50-200 μg/ml, inhibited the growth of investigated strains (28.6-46.4% of tested strains). The essential oils of root from both localities showed antifungal effect at the concentration 50 μg/ml. The dominant compound in the root essential oils was falcarinol (57.5% and 88.8%). The lower activity was obtained with the essential oil of aerial parts or fruit. The 100 μg/ml of essential oil of aerial parts showed significant effect on C. albicans strains. The essential oil of fruit from population from Brdjanska gorge exerted somehow higher effect. It was characterised by higher α-pinene and β-phellandrene content and lower amount of sabinene. The obtained results revealed the significant antifungal effects of S. rigidum root, aerial parts and fruit essential oils against resistant strains of C. albicans.

Introduction: Marigold flower, Calendula officinalis L, Asteraceae, is traditionally used to treat skin diseases. Marigold flowers contain triterpenoid saponins, carotenoids, flavonoids and essential oil. Extracts and essential oil exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate quality of cultivated Calendulae flos, to compare flavonoids content in inflorescence and ligulate florets and to determine antimicrobial activity of extract and traditional ointment based on marigold. Material and Methods: Plant material was collected from private gardens in Kikinda, Mokrin and Vrnjacka Banja during September and November 2015. Quality investigation included: macroscopic and microscopic analysis and determination of the specific quality according to the monograph of European Pharmacopoeia 7.0. The identification of flavonoids was carried out by HPLC. Antimicrobial activity of ethanol extracts (1:20) and traditional ointment based on ligulate florets or whole inflorescences was tested against six standard laboratory strains by agar-diffusion method. Results: Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics and content of flavonoids (2.0-2.76%) in the ligulate florets of cultivated marigold corresponded to the requirements of Ph. Eur. 7.0. Separated ligulate florets (2.76 ± 0.01%) contained a higher concentration of flavonoids than whole inflorescence (1.68 ± 0.0%). Also, in ligulate florets differences were found in the flavonoids content during September (2.76 ± 0.01%) and November (1.45 ± 0.01%), while in whole inflorescences concentration didn't significantly change. In all tested samples 3-O-heterosides of quercetin and isorhamnetin were identified. The ethanol extracts of ligulate florets, whole inflorescence as well as traditional ointments showed the antimicrobial activity. The traditional ointment based on ligulate florets showed stronger antimicrobial effect than the ointment based on full inflorescences. Conclusion: Quality investigation showed that cultivated marigold flowers meet the requirements of Ph. Eur. 7.0. Ligulate florets contained more flavonoids than whole inflorescences. Extracts and traditional ointment based on ligulate florets showed antimicrobial activity, which confirmed long-term use of marigold.

Aim of this work was to assess the metabolic and physiological changes that occurred in the hind gut of rats after feeding with soybean carbohydrates alone and in combination with Lactobacillus helveticus BGRA43. Wistar rats were gavaged with soybean flour for 28 days. The parameters assessed included fecal volatile organic compounds, and L-lactate, reducing sugars, proteins, ammonia and water levels in the colonic lumen. The presence of lactic acid (LAB), sulfate reducing (SRB) and methanogenic bacteria was assessed by semi-quantitative PCR. Malondialdehyde levels as well as lymphoid tissue size in ileal and colonic mucosa were also evaluated. On the basics of the results obtained, correlation network was created, setting the parameters tested in research in two metabolic groups: saccharolytic and proteolytic fermentation group. The principal finding of the study is a negative correlation between oral administration of BGRA43 and increase of parameters related to carbohydrate fermentation in the gut, and a positive correlation to factors related to proteolytic fermentation. On the contrary, soybean carbohydrates were correlated with increased values of factors related to carbohydrate catabolism. Different effects of BGRA43 and soybean carbohydrates on metabolic processes in colonic lumen indicate the possibility of applying the BGRA43 in alleviating the gastrointestinal symptoms occurring after consuming hardly digestible carbohydrates. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173019]

Sweet flag rhizome (Acorus calamus L., Araceae) exhibits various biological activities such as sedative, anticonvulsant, immunosuppressant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory. This plant is protected in Serbia, but due to its high market requirements, the cultivation of this species could be the final solution. The content and composition of essential oils from 24 cultivated samples and five samples of sweet flag from natural populations, as well as the influence of nitrogen fertilization on the composition of essential oils were studied. Essential oils were analysed using GC and GC/MS. Statistical analysis included the ANOVA and PCA analysis. The total content of essential oil was not significantly different between the natural (0.80–1.10%) and cultivated samples (1.15–1.30%). In all essential oils main compounds were β-asarone (4.82–17.98%), cadinadienol (10.14–13.95%), camphor (3.55–13.20%), and acorenone (9.68–12.64%). The cultivation of sweet flag showed significant (p < 0.05) impact on the composition of essential oil and the content of β-asarone (4.82–17.07%, mean 11.95±4.76 vs. 17.51–17.98%, mean 17.71 ± 2.23). The PCA analysis also separated the essential oils from natural and cultivated conditions based on the content of β-asarone. On the other hand, the amount of the fertilizer did not show any effect (p > 0.05) on the composition of investigated samples. The process of cultivation increased the level of active, but potentially genotoxic and carcinogenic compound β-asarone. It would be significant to determine the content of β-asarone routinely in the sweet flag rhizome, especially in the cultivated plants.

The chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Eryngium palmatum, an endemic plant species from the Balkan Peninsula, were investigated. The flavonoids apigenin (9.5±0.3 mg g−1) and apigenin 7-O-glucoside (2.4±0.1 mg g−1) were determined in a methanol extract of aerial parts using HPLC analysis. The methanol extract of roots contained catechin (5.0±0.1 mg g−1), epicatechin (2.9±0.1 mg g−1), chlorogenic acid (1.6±0.0 mg g−1), gallic acid (0.9±0.0 mg g−1) and rosmarinic acid (0.9±0.2 mg g−1). GC-FID and GCMS analysis of a chloroform extract of aerial parts showed that the main volatile constituents were falcarinol, linoleic acid, hexadecanoic acid and methyl linoleate (comprising 32.6%; 24.4%; 19.9; 13.2% of the volatile fraction, respectively), while octanoic acid, tetradecanol and dodecanol dominated in the chloroform extract of the roots (34.9%; 25.8%; 22.2% of the volatile fraction, respectively). Investigation of antimicrobial activity by broth microdilution showed that the methanol and chloroform extracts of aerial parts and roots exerted a significant effect (MIC 3.5–15.6 μg mL−1) against tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The methanol extracts of aerial parts or roots exerted moderate ferric reducing antioxidant power, DPPH radical scavenging activity and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity.

The chemical compositions of the essential oils of seven natural populations of Seseli rigidum were analyzed. The essential-oil yield ranged from 0.16 to 2.09%. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that there were no statistically significant differences in the mean essential-oil yields between the populations, and no significant influence of the climate or soil type on the oil yield was observed. In all 67 analyzed samples, the polyacetylene falcarinol was the main compound, followed by octanal, methyl linoleate, α-muurolene, 3-butylphthalide, falcarinone, muurola-4,10(14)-dien-1β-ol, β-sesquiphellandrene, salvial-4(14)-en-1-one, δ-amorphene, spathulenol, and isospathulenol. The principal component analysis (PCA), the canonical discriminant analysis (CDA), and the cluster analysis (CA) revealed differentiation between the populations based on the climate. Three groups of populations were formed; the first group was composed of samples growing in regions with a humid climate, with oils having high falcarinol and low sesquiterpene contents, and the second and third groups comprised samples exposed to semi-arid climate, with oils characterized by a lower falcarinol and higher α-muurolene, δ-amorphene, β-sesquiphellandrene, and salvial-4(14)-en-1-one contents. The semi-arid populations were divided into two groups, which were distinguished based on the oil contents of sesquiterpenes, falcarinone, and 3-butylphthalide. On the other hand, no clear separation between populations based on the different soil types could be observed.

In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of the young shoots of the smoke tree, Cotinus coggygria Scop., Anacardiaceae. The acetone extract and the derived ethyl acetate fraction effectively inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (MIC 25–200 µg/ml), while the chloroform fraction showed pronounced activity against the yeast Candida albicans (MIC 3.12 µg/ml). The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited a significant ferric-reducing ability (10.7 mmol Fe2+/g extract), a very high DPPH radical scavenging activity (SC50 = 1.7 µg/ml) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (IC50 = 41.8 µg/ml). High amounts of total phenolics (929.8 mg/g), tannins (833.8 mg/g) and flavonoids (35.5 mg/g) were determined in the ethyl acetate fraction, which also exerted significant anti-inflammatory (76.7%) and cytotoxic effects (IC50 = 15.6 µg/ml). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Hypericum aegypticum subsp. webbii is an evergreen shrub spread in Mediterranean part of central and southeastern Europe. The chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and MeOH extract of H. aegypticum subsp. webbii were investigated. The monoterpenes alpha-pinene (63.4 - 68.5%) and beta-pinene (16.9 - 17.0%) were main compounds in the volatile oil from aerial parts. In the cluster analysis, the essential oil of H. aegypticum subsp. webbii was separated and chemically different from the oil of other subspecies of H. aegypticum as well as other Hypericum species from Greece. SIMPER analysis revealed that alpha-pinene (24.79%) was the component that contributed the most to differences between all oils. Also, there was extremely high overall dissimilarity between three subspecies of H. aegypticum. MeOH extract of aerial parts of H. aegypticum subsp. webbii contained flavonoids rutin (56.4 +/- 0.9 mg/g), hyperoside and quercetin, and phenolic acids chlorogenic and caffeic acid, while naphthodianthrones were not detected. The antimicrobial activity of essential oil was moderate (MIC from 100 to >200 mu g/ml), while MeOH extract inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Micrococcus luteus (MIC 50 - 100 mu g/ml), more pronounced than the extract of H. perforatum (MIC 200 - >200 mu g/ml).

The chemical composition of the essential oils of different parts of Seseli annuum from Serbia was investigated. beta-Selinene (0-21.4 %), germacrene D (3.4-19.1 %), caryophyllene oxide (1.2-18.1 %), germacrene A (0-14.6%), alpha-selinene (0-12.4 %), beta-elemene (0-11.4 %), E-caryophyllene (3.2-10.3 %), alpha-pinene (0.6-7.5 %), vetiselinenol (0-6.3 %) and isodaucene (0-5.4 %) were dominant compounds in the analysed essential oils. The cluster analysis revealed separation of two groups of essential oils: the first group of oils from fruit, inflorescence and aerial parts in flowering phase with high beta-selinene and alpha-selinene content and the second group of oils from leaf, stem and rosette with higher caryophyllene oxide amounts. The essential oil of rosette was separated from the oils of leaf or stem and contained the highest caryophyllene oxide content while alpha-selinene and beta-selinene were completely absent.

The essential oils of genus Seseli are known for their beneficial biological activities and could present novel targets in the development of safe and effective preparations of plant products. The objective was to test the essential oils of different parts of Seseli rigidum from two natural habitats for potential genotoxic and antigenotoxic activities against H202-induced DNA damage in human whole blood cells in vitro, by the comet assay. The essential oil analysis showed a high falcarinol content in oil from the root, while oils of the fruit and aerial parts contained α-pinene as the main compound. Genotoxicity was not detected at any of the concentrations of the essential oils from the three parts of the plant from localities I and II. Although the antioxidant activity (established by the FRAP and DPPH tests) of the investigated oils was low, all oils demonstrated a strong antigenotoxic effect against H2O2-induced damage post-treatment, when the oils were applied after the oxidant. Based on the lack of pretreatment activity and the post-treatment reduction in DNA damage, the antigenotoxic effect of S. rigidum essential oils was probably based on the stimulation of DNA repair mechanisms. Environmental conditions did not affect the antigenotoxic properties of the oils. In conclusion, our results revealed the antigenotoxic properties of S. rigidum essential oils and appropriate and safe doses with beneficial effects under the described conditions. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI 173034, 173021]

The effect of storage was studied on grain metabolites, functional properties and digestibility of three oat cultivars selected in Serbia – Dunav, Vrbas and NS Tara. During the 12 and 24 months of storage, there was a decrease on average in total proteins (10.98% and 15.95%) lipids (7.55% and 11.82%), crude cellulose (6.65% and 14.77%) and starch concentration (6.48% and 9.48%), and an increase in total ash concentration (4.8% and 9%) and dry matter (4.53% and 5.92%). Storage period caused a decrease in β-glucan concentration. The concentration of total phenolics (28.79–41.19%) and caffeic acid markedly decreased after 24 months of storage. The storage period significantly influenced the ferric reducing ability (FRAP) (36.34–43.12%) and the DPPH radical scavenging activity (76.92–237.14%). Organic matter digestibility of oat grains was slightly changed, but remained over 70%. Based on the present study, oat grain should not be stored longer than 12 months since phenolics contribute markedly to health promoting effect of oats.

The genus Eryngium L. (Apiaceae) with about 250 species is distributed all over the world. In Europe 26 species belong to this genus, while in Serbia five species are described: E. amethystinum L., E. planum L., E. campestre L., E. serbicum Pancic, and E. palmatum Pancic & Vis. [1, 2]. Species of this genus are used in traditional medicine for reproductive problems, against various inflammatory disorders, edema, sinusitis, and snake or scorpion bite [3]. Eryngium palmatum is a Balkan endemic species [1, 2]. Capetanos et al. obtained sesquicineole (21.3%), caryophyllene oxide (16.0%), spathulenol (16.0%), and sabinene (5.5%) as the main components in the essential oil of aerial parts of this plant [4]. The root essential oil of this endemic species and its antimicrobial activity were not previously investigated. Roots of E. palmatum were collected in Sicevacka Gorge, in Eastern Serbia in April 2007. Identification was confirmed by Dr. Marjan Niketic, curator botanist of the Natural History Museum, Belgrade, Serbia, and a herbarium specimen was deposited there (2007040201 BEO). The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation from air-dried and grounded herbal material in a Clevenger-type apparatus according to the procedure given in European Pharmacopoeia 7.0 [5]. The yield of the essential oil was calculated on a dry weight basis (w/w) after the evaporation of n-hexane. The root of E. palmatum yielded 0.06% (w/w) of yellow oil. The GC and GC/MS analyses were performed on an Agilent 7890A gas chromatograph equipped with a 5975 C inert XL EI/CI mass selective detector (MSD) and a flame ionization detector (FID). An HP-5MS capillary column (Agilent Technologies, 0.25 mm 30 m, 0.25 m film thickness) was used. GC oven temperature was programmed from 60C to 300C at a rate of 3C/min. Helium was used as carrier gas (constant pressure mode); inlet pressure 20.3 kPa; linear velocity 1 mL/min at 210C. Injector temperature 250C, injection mode split 50:1. Retention time was locked (RTL), lock compound was n-hexadecane with retention time 32.89 min. MS scan conditions: source temperature 230C; interface temperature 280C; EI mass spectra (70 eV) in the m/z range 35–550. The retention indices were experimentally determined using n-alkanes (C 8 –C 20 and C 21 –C 40 ) injected after the essential oil under the same chromatographic conditions. The identification of the compounds was based on the comparison of their retention indices (RI), their retention times (t R ), and mass spectra with those obtained from authentic samples and/or the NIST AMDIS (Automated Mass Spectral Deconvolution and Identification System) software, Wiley libraries, Adams database, and literature [6]. Relative percentages of the identified compounds were computed from the GC-FID peak area. 1 H NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker Avance III 500 NMR spectrometer (500 MHz in CDCl 3 ) in 5 mm standard tubes. Chemical shifts are given on the scale relative to TMS as internal standard. IR spectrum of the pure essential oil was collected in the transmission mode on a Thermo Scientific Nicolet 6700 FT-IR spectrometer using a KBr capillary film in the Mid-IR range (4000–400 cm –1 ). In the E. palmatum root oil, 21 components were identified, amounting to 98.9% of the total oil (Table 1). The oil was characterized by a high percentage of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons (78.9%). Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons represented 13.8% of the total oil. The main components were polyacetylene (Z)-falcarinol (34.9%) and saturated aldehyde octanal (31.7%), followed by -curcumene (5.9%), 2,3,6-trimethyl benzaldehyde (5.4%), and heptanal (4.5%).

In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of the young shoots of the smoke tree, Cotinus coggygria Scop., Anacardiaceae. The acetone extract and the derived ethyl acetate fraction effectively inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (MIC 25-200 µg/ml), while the chloroform fraction showed pronounced activity against the yeast Candida albicans (MIC 3.12 µg/ml). The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited a significant ferric-reducing ability (10.7 mmol Fe(2+) /g extract), a very high DPPH radical scavenging activity (SC50 = 1.7 µg/ml) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (IC50 = 41.8 µg/ml). High amounts of total phenolics (929.8 mg/g), tannins (833.8 mg/g) and flavonoids (35.5 mg/g) were determined in the ethyl acetate fraction, which also exerted significant anti-inflammatory (76.7%) and cytotoxic effects (IC50 = 15.6 µg/ml).

Seasonal variations in the composition of the essential oils obtained from the same individual (of the same genotype) of Lavandula angustifolia cultivated in Belgrade were determined by GC and GC/MS. The main constituents were 1,8-cineole (7.1–48.4%), linalool (0.1–38.7%), borneol (10.9–27.7%), β-phellandrene (0.5–21.2%) and camphor (1.5–15.8%). Cluster analysis showed that the 21 samples collected each month during the vegetation cycle were separable into three main clades with different compositions of essential oils. In the shoots with flowers, inflorescences and fruits of clade I, linalool is dominant, in the young leaves before flowering and old leaves of clade II, 1,8-cineole is dominant. In the young and incompletely developed leaves of clade III, β-phellandrene is dominant. The composition of the essential oils of lavender depended on the plant part and the stage of development.

Provedeno je istraživanje na 770 bračnih parova s ciljem da se utvrdi djeluju li predbračne osobine bračnih partnera na bračno zadovoljstvo i stabilnost braka. 78 predbračnih osobina bračnih partnera jesu nezavisne varijable, dok su zavisne varijable bračno zadovoljstvo muža, bračno zadovoljstvo žene i stabilnost braka. Rezultati diskriminativne analize pokazuju da je socijabilnost bračnih partnera najprediktivnija varijabla za zadovoljstvo u braku i stabilnost braka. Dobiveni rezultati mogu se primijeniti u svakodnevnoj praksi predbračnih i bračnih savjetovališta u nas., A research was carried out on 770 married couples to identify premarital variables which determine marriage satisfaction and marriage stability. 78 premarital variables were included as independent variables. Dependent variables were husband’s marital satisfaction, wife’s marital satisfaction and marital stability. According to the results sociability of the partners turned out to be the most predictive variable for both partners' marital satisfaction, as well as for their marital stability. The results could be used in marriage counselling.