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Traditional medicine usage at the preventive medicine level is comprehensive and plant-based remedies are being prescribed for the treatment of a large scale of diseases by indigenous medical practitioners around the world. The phytochemicals being observed in the fruits and vegetables as well as herbal plants are getting investigated intensively as their important role in the avoidance of diverse human diseases is undoubtful. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of selected medicinal herbs were evaluated in this study. Aerial parts of plants from Hypericaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Plantaginaceae, Rubiaceae growing wild in Slovakia (locality Zobor) were investigated to characterize their polyphenol content, flavonoid content, as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Inspection of the metabolic profile combined with HPLC data showed that the ethanol extract contained mainly eight polyphenols with apigenin, daidzein, kaempferol, rutin, quercetin, vitexin, and cynaroside as the main chemicals. Among them, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, trans-p-caffeic acid, trans-p-coumaric acid, trans-p-sinapic acid, trans-p-ferulic acid, rosmarinic acid were identified. The antioxidant capacity of ethanol extracts was evaluated by employing DPPH radical scavenging and phosphomolybdenum assays. All samples were also tested against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Micrococcus luteus, Staphyloccocus epidermidis) and Gram-negative (Citrobacter koseri, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas proteolytica, Hafnia alvei, Salmonella enterica, Yersinia enterocolitica) bacterial species using the disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration assays

Pomegranate represents a rich source of phytocompounds with high medicinal value. Nowadays, many studies have shown that the pomegranate extract also possesses anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects on cancer cells, thus leading to increased popularity as a functional food and nutraceuticals. The aim of the study was to determine the biological effect of dry pomegranate extract (at concentrations 5, 10, 20 and 40 µg/ml; for 24h) on the viability of ovarian cells and the secretion of steroid hormones. Cultures of human ovarian granulosa cells (HGL5) and human ovarian carcinoma cells (OVCAR-3) were used such as a model cell system. The metabolic activity was evaluated by AlamarBlueTM assay, the release of steroid hormones was assayed by the ELISA method. Experimental results indicated a significant (P≤0.001) increase of proliferation in HGL5 cells after the addition of the extract at the concentrations 5, 10 and 20 µg/ml. Moreover, the number of viable OVCAR-3 cells significantly (P≤0.05; P≤0.01; P≤0.001) decreased after the addition of the extract at the concentrations 10, 20 and 40 µg/ml compared to the control. In addition, the secretion of 17ß-estradiol by the HGL5 cells was significantly (P≤0.05; P≤0.001) increased at all used concentrations of the extract. Despite to increasing of the 17ß-estradiol secretion, progesterone levels produced by the HGL5 cells were not significantly (P≥0.05) affected at all used concentrations of the extract. The current study provided experimental evidence that the pomegranate extract might be a promising candidate as a potential modulator of steroidogenesis and as a potential chemoprotective agent.

Plant diseases caused by pathogenic fungi are a severe problem for agriculture, and some organic fertilizers have shown a suppressive capacity due to the antagonistic action of microbial communities inhabiting those substrates. The purpose of this work was to isolate and identify actinomycetes from soil, compost and vermicompost able to antagonize phytopathogens. In total, out of 352 actinomycetes successfully recovered on Pochon medium and of which were selected representative 22 mycelium forming isolates, which were subjected to morphological and genotypic characterization. Genetic characterization based on 16S rDNA fragment sequencing revealed that, all the actinomycete isolates belong to the genus Streptomyces. The antifungal activity of isolates was tested against eight phytopathogenic fungi, and they were most activated against Rhizoctonia solani, Alternaria tenuissima, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium expansum. Isolates 51VK13 (Streptomyces sampsonii) and 12VK13 (Streptomyces flavovariabilis) isolated from soil amended with vermicompost showed the greatest antagonistic activity. Their bioactive potential was also confirmed by presence of genes for nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and polyketide synthase types I and II (PKS-I and PKS-II). It can, therefore, be concluded that soil amended with organic fertilizers such as compost, and in particular vermicompost, provides a lower incidence of phytopathogens, especially fungi. Isolated actinomycetes have also shown high potential for the production of bioactive compounds useful in the control of plant diseases.

Bacteria, their endotoxin and mold found on pollen can be a reason of respiratory symptoms in sensitized individuals. This question concerns an anemophilous pollen more acute. In this work quantitative by dilution plating method and qualitative microbial analysis by MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper of pollen and other plants organs of Pinus sylvestris L., P. nigra Arnold, P. mugo Turra, P. armandii Franch., P. wallichiana A.B. Jacks from Nitra, Slovakia are performed which shows quantitative and species differences in mesophilic aerobic (0.00-6.27 log cfu/g) and anaerobic bacteria (0.00-3.70 log cfu/g), enterococci (0.00 log cfu/g), coliform bacteria (0.00-5.29 log cfu/g), lactobacilli (0.00-4.20 log cfu/g), microscopic fungi and yeasts (2.60-5.29 log cfu/g) content. Representatives of Pseudomonas (14), Bacillus (2), Acinetobacter (1), Arthrobacter (1), Pantoea (1), Klebsiella (1), Penicillium (6), Aspergillus (4), Cladosporium (1), Debaryomyces (1) genera were revealed on pine trees. The allergenic potential of the identified association of microorganisms on pollen has been evaluated based on published data. The results may be useful for aerobiologists, allergists and microbiologists, at least at the local level.

In this paper the antimicrobial activity of 1 year old crude ethanolic extracts obtained from Cordyceps sinesis, Laricifomes officinalis, Oudemansiella mucida and Coprinus comatus were investigated. The antimicrobial activities of extracts against two Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis, Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes) were determined by disk diffusion and microbroth dilution method according by EUCAST in 96-well microplates. Microorganisms were obtained from Czech Collection of Microorganisms. Absorbance after and before the experiment were substracted, converted to binary system and obtained values to Probit analysis were used. Not all macromycetes ethanolic extracts showed antimicrobial activity against tested bacteria. Antimicrobial activity determined by MIC methodology showed extracts from Oudemansiella mucida, Cordyceps sinesis, Coprinus comatus in the tested range. Conversely, the best antimicrobial activity tested by disc diffusion methods showed extract from Laricifomes officinalis. Equally, more better studying of antimicrobial activity in these mushrooms will needed.

Metschnikowia pulcherrima is common yeast on grape berries and can grow on special cultivation media with iron (e.g. FeSO4.7H2O) (max. 0.02 g/L) to produce reddish (maroon) pigment pulcherrimin. Many studies confirm that pulcherrimin has antimicrobial activity against postharvest pathogens, microscopic fungi and other yeast species. In this study, two strains of M. pulcherrima, isolated from grapes and identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, were used : VML and CBS 610NT. Sixteen yeast species: Aureobasidium (1), Candida (5), Hanseniaspora (1), Kregenvanrija (1), Pichia (2), Rhodotorula (2), Saccharomyces (1), Zygosaccharomyces (2) and Wickerhamomyces (1) were selected to test the antimicrobial capacity of these two M. pulcherrima strains. The results showed CBS 610NT had a stronger ability than VML to inhibit the tested yeasts. Among the yeast, Candida spp. and Pichia manshurica were the most sensitive to the pigment pulcherrimin.

The aim of this study is to determine and compare microbiological contamination of anemophilous pollens (Betula verrucosa Ehrh., Betula verrucosa Ehrh. 'Youngii', Pinus sylvestris L., Pinus nigra Arnold, Pinus mugo Turra, Pinus armandii Franch., Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jacks) after collection and after not long-term storage. Samples were picked by hands aseptically in the territory of the same environmental conditions in Slovakia. Colonies of mesophilic aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, lactobacilli, total coliforms, fungi and yeast were found on pollen samples by dilution plating method. It was found significant differences in content of lactobacilli for birch pollens and fungi and yeast on pine pollens, depending on the stages – collection and storage. The microbiological quality of Betula pollen is better than Pinus pollen after collection and storage. Species factor affects the microbiota of anemophilous pollen.

Antibiotic resistance and identification of strains in Enterobacteriaceae genera isolated from milk, milk products and rectal swabs of chicken was examined in this experiment. After samples collection cultivation and identification of bacterial strain was done. MALDI TOF MS Biotyper for identification of Enterobacteriaceae strains was used. For susceptibility testing disc diffusion methodology was used according by EUCAST. Results showed high level of ampicillin resistance in isolates from milk and milk samples. The highest streptomycin resistance was detected in isolates from rectal swabs of chicken. After identification, we determined that S. enterica ser. Typhimurium, which was isolated from rectal swabs of chicken showed the most multi-resistance from all identificated strains of Enterobacteriaceae. The most isolates bacterial strain was E. coli, which showed resistance against four antibiotics from rectal swabs of chicken. Also our results showed that the higher resistance level is in rectal swabs of chicken like in milk samples.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of raw materials used for preparation of confectionery products. For microbiological evaluation total count of bacteria, mesophilic aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, yeast and microscopic filamentous fungi in samples of raw materials used in the manufacture and creams of confectionery products were detected. In addition to these groups of microorganisms the presence of pathogenic microorganisms Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus in creams was monitored. Products are assessed according to the limit values of the number of microorganisms defined in the Codex Alimentary of the Slovak Republic. For microbiological analysis of confectionery products, sampling of components of confectionary products and cream was carried out according to current health regulations and altogether 65 samples of components and creams were collected: 10 samples of raw materials sugar, 10 samples of flour, 10 samples of butter and 10 samples of eggs, 5 samples of butter yolk from cream-filled disposable bag without rum addition, 5 samples of butter yolk from cream-filled disposable bag with rum addition, 5 samples of cream-filled multiple use paid bag, 5 samples of cream-filled newly purchased paid bag, 5 samples of Venček corpus and 5 samples of the French cubes corpus. From raw material the highest TBC (2.65log CFU) was in flour, but the lowest in sugar (1.35 log CFU), the highest years counts was found on flour (2.42), but lowest in butter (1.18), while wasn’t in egg. In samples of creams and corpus were increased occurrence of yeast, coliform bacteria. Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus weren’t isolated from any tested sample.

The goal of the present study was to evaluate fresh chicken thighs quality (microbiological and sensory) after treatment by ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), Pimpinella anisum L. and Mentha piperita essential oils in 1% concentration, stored under vacuum packaging (VP), at 4±0.5°C for a period of 16 days. The following treatments of chicken thighs were applied: air-packaged (AC, control samples), vacuum-packaged (VPC, control samples), vacuum-packed with EDTA solution 1.50% v/w (VPEC, control samples), VP with Pimpinella anisum L. and Mentha piperita essential oil at concentrations 0.1% v/w (VP+AEO and VP+MEO). The quality assessment of VP product after EDTA treatment, Pimpinella anisum L. and Mentha piperita oils was done by microbiological testing and the total viable counts, Enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were detected. The using of Pimpinella anisum L. and Mentha piperita oils and EDTA with combination of vacuum packaging has significant effect (P < 0.05) to reduction of microorganisms compared with control group without vacuum packaging and untreated control group.

The medicinal use of genus Drosera, as an important antitussive for different respiratory diseases, has been known for centuries. Many of extracts from carnivorous plants exhibit various antibacterial and antifungal activities. Naphthoquinones containing extracts from Drosera have antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic, antileprosy, antisclerotic and anticancer properties. The aim of the present study was to detect antibacterial activity of Drosera rotundifolia against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by the testing of MIC. For the study six strains of microorganisms were selected and there were Gram-positive bacteria -Bacillus thuringiensis (CCM 19T), Clostridium perfringens (CCM 4991), and Listeria monocytogenes (CCM 4699), as well as and Gram-negative bacteria - Escherichia coli (CCM 3988), Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica (CCM 3807) and Yersinia enterocolitica (CCM 5671). Plant extracts were isolated from three plants of Drosera rotundifolia L. (S1, S2 and S3) in different time range. The most effective extract with MIC50 value of 17.07 μg.ml-1 was S3, while forMIC90 of 19.05 μg.ml-1 were extracts S2 and S3 exhibiting antimicrobial activity against Bacillus thuringiensis, Clostridium perfringens and Listeria monocytogenes. Extracts S1, S2 showed MIC50 value 25.53 μg.ml-1for all the microorganism tested, but S3 extract revealed the same antimicrobial activity against Yersinia enterocolitica, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica and Escherichia coli. Extract S1 has MIC90 value of 27.14 μg.ml-1 against all the microorganism tested, but S2 and S3 shared the same MIC90 for Yersinia enterocolitica, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica and Escherichia coli.