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The medicinal plants Salvia officinalis , Trifolium pratense , Agrimonia eupatoria , Cichorium intybus and Vinca minor are traditionally used for the prevention and treatment of numerous diseases, including diabetes. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the most common diseases nowadays, often accompanied by oxidative stress and microbial infections. The aim of our work was to examine the antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of ethanol extracts of five medicinal plants for the purpose of their possible use in the treatment of T2D. The polyphenolic profile of the plant extracts was analyzed by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography with a diode array detector configured with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UHPLC/DAD/(−)HESI−MS2). In vitro antidiabetic activity of extracts was determined by measuring the percentage of α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition. The antioxidant activity of the extract was determined by different spectrophotometric methods, while the antimicrobial activity was determined by agar dilution and disc diffusion methods. A. eupatoria extract contains the highest percentage of flavonoids (94%, with isoquercetin, vitexin, and rutin as the most abundant) in relation to the concentration of total phenolic compounds and exhibits excellent antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity. S. officinalis extract contains 60% flavonoids (predominately cirsimaritin and epigallocatechin gallate) and 40% phenolic acids (with rosmarinic acid being the most abundant from this group) and exhibits weak antidiabetic activity, significant antioxidant activity, and excellent antibacterial activity. A 45% percentage of flavonoids (with isoquercetin as the most abundant one) and 55% of phenolic acids (with ferulic acid as the most abundant) were measured in the extract of T. pratense , which had excellent antidiabetic activity but weaker antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. A similar percentage of flavonoids (52%, with epigallocatechin gallate in the highest concentration) and phenolic acids (48%, with chlorogenic acid as the most abundant) was measured in the extract of C. intybus which showed moderate antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. The extract of V. minor was the richest in phenolic acids (80%, with the most abundant chlorogenic acid), which resulted in weaker antidiabetic and antioxidant activities (except for Fe2+ chelating ability) and antimicrobial activity. The results indicate that specific phenolic compounds are responsible for the different biological activities of the plant extracts. Among the investigated plants, the extract of A. eupatoria has the greatest potential for applications in the treatment of T2D. Created with BioRender.com. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scilla litardierei and S. lakusicii are closely related species endemic to the Dinarides. While S. litardierei is a characteristic species of wet meadows in karst fields, S. lakusicii inhabits open rocky habitats in the surroundings of karst fields. During their life cycle, plants in karst areas are subjected to the influence of drought, waterlogging, high temperature and high intensity of light. The goal of our investigation was a comparative analysis of the isoenzyme profiles and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Class III peroxidase (POX) in the roots, leaves and flowers of S. litardierei and S. lakusicii that grew in different karst localities within their native range in the Dinarides. Field research was performed on karst fields and neighboring karst areas in eastern Herzegovina (Bosnia and Herzegovina) during the vegetation season in 2017. SODs are key enzymes in plant antioxidant defense, while POXs, in addition to their antioxidant role, play an important role in plant growth and development. The highest protein concentration in roots was measured for S. litardierei from the Lastva locality (13.416 ± 4.213 mg/gFW), while the lowest was measured in S. lakusicii from Popovo Polje (2.516 ± 0.565 mg/gFW). The highest SOD activity was measured for all three plants' organs from Fatničko Polje. The highest POX activity in leaf samples was measured in S. litardierei from Dabarsko Polje (0.6012 ± 0.210 μmol/mg*min), in the flower samples also in S. litardierei from Dabarsko Polje (0.288 ± 0.005 μmol/mg*min), while in root samples the highest POX activity was measured in S. litardierei from Fatničko Polje. SOD and POX isoenzyme profiles vary depending on Scilla species, locality and plant organ. According to our results, SOD and POX could play an important role in the adaptive mechanisms of Scilla species in their natural karst habitats. • Karst is a challenging habitat for plants. • Scilla litardierei and S. lakusicii inhabit different karst habitats. • The most pronounced differences in protein content were detected in the roots. • SOD and POX may be an important part of the adaptive mechanism of Scilla species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capitulate inflorescence is a specific, strongly adaptive and rare feature in the genus Campanula. We studied morphologically eight capitulate Campanula taxa from the Balkans (1537 individuals/52 populations) and one more species from Caucasus at the molecular level (using chloroplast markers trnGUCC-trnSGCU and psbA-trnH, 130 individuals/58 populations) to assess their relations and evolutionary histories. Although all studied taxa were well circumscribed at both the morphological and molecular levels (except morphologically distinct but genetically invariable C. moesiaca which acquired its single haplotype via past cytoplasmic introgression from C. cervicaria), their relations inferred from the two datasets were incongruent possibly due to the homoplasy of morphological characters frequently reported in Campanula. Interspecific hybridization and introgression affected majority of studied species and may be more common in Campanula than previously thought. These processes, along with incomplete lineage sorting and retention of ancestral polymorphisms, hampered our phylogenetic reconstructions and prevented us to fully resolve species relations, and to support monophyletic origin of capitulate Campanula species. Nonetheless, several cryptic taxa were delineated, and C. daucoides was described as a new capitulate Campanula species. Different evolutionary histories and multiple glacial refugia were inferred for all species represented by multiple samples (except C. moesiaca). According to our dating, their speciation was in most cases triggered by various geo-historic events such as the uplift of the Alpide belt, Messinian Salinity Crisis, or desiccation of the Pannonian Sea/Pliocene Lakes from the central Balkans, while their further diversification was mainly driven by the onset of the Quaternary and cycles of glacials/interglacials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomically intricate Campanula lingulata complex confined to the Balkan Peninsula is reviewed using molecular and morphological data. An extensive sample of 62 individuals for phylogenetic analyses and 402 individuals for morphometric analysis from 17 populations across the species range was used. The phylogenetic analyses based on two chloroplast intergenic spacers (trnGUCC-trnSGCU and psbA-trnH) and morphological analysis based on 50 characters revealed two allopatrically distributed lineages of the C. lingulata complex that comprise individuals from the C and S Balkans, respectively. Both molecular and morphological data allowed us to re-establish C. cichoracea Sm., a species endemic to Thessaly in Greece. This species can easily be distinguished from C. lingulata s.str. by its calyx appendages hairy on the margins and adaxial side, and ovary continuously downwards hairy all over the surface. Molecular characters that can be used to distinguish these two species comprise four parsimony-informative substitutions within trnGUCC-trnSGCU, and a microsatellite with a dinucleotide (AT) motif present only within the psbA-trnH region in C. lingulata. Further studies are required for resolving the taxonomic status of the remaining Macedonian and Rhodopean sub-lineages from the S Balkans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The amount of nuclear DNA, expressed as the C-value, was estimated for 13 marine halophytic plant species from six families. Plant material was collected in the nature reserve of the Strunjan saltpan in the Northern Adriatic and comprised all halophytic species inside the investigated area. Reproductive region of the shoot or root tips of halophytes were dissected, nuclei were Feulgen stained and 2C-values were measured by DNA image cytometry as follows: Crithmum maritimum (4.38pgDNA), Artemisia caerulescens (6.43pg), Aster tripolium (21.43pg), Inula crithmoides (3.63pg), Atriplex portulacoides (1.83pg), A. prostrata (1.51pg), Salicornia europaea (2.75pg), Salsola soda (2.62pg), Sarcocornia fruticosa (5.91pg), Suaeda maritima (2.11pg), Limonium angustifolium (5.06pg), Puccinellia palustris (8.15pg) and Ruppia cirrhosa (4.65pg). With the exception of the C-value estimate for A. caerulescens, which has been listed in the Plant DNA C-values Database, the C-values represent the first estimates for all the examined species. In addition, the C-value for R. cirrhosa is also the first report for the family Ruppiaceae. The investigated halophytes had a smaller genome size compared to other known C-values for species within a particular family and also when compared to the mean values of dicots and monocots. The study also showed that halophylic annuals have a smaller genome size (2.49pg) than perennial ones (7.45pgDNA). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Among other negative effects, herbicides induce oxidative stress, leading to lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. Therefore, there is a growing need to identify natural compounds with sufficient antioxidant capacity and mitigate the negative effects of herbicides without side effects. Objective: Our study aimed to examine the protective effect of the phenolic extract of wild garlic (WG) leaves on terbuthylazine-treated erythrocytes. Material and methods: In human erythrocytes treated with the herbicide terbuthylazine (4.5 mg/L) alone and a combination of terbuthylazine and WG extract, we measured malondialdehyde (MDA) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations and the antioxidant activities of CuZn superoxide dismutase (SOD1; EC 1.15.1.1) and catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6) in vitro. Results: In comparison with terbuthylazine, WG extract reduced the concentrations of MDA and Hb from 59.69 to 43.45 nmol/gHb (27%, p < 0.001) and 165.08 to 128.64 g/L (22%, p < 0.05), respectively. Catalase activity was induced for samples treated with both WG extract and terbuthylazine compared with terbuthylazine alone (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results demonstrated that WG may reduce the toxicity of terbuthylazine, and the erythrocyte membrane may be the primary site of phenolic action. Therefore, the lipid peroxidation intensity could be a biomarker of oxidative damage caused by terbuthylazine and the protective effect of WG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Herbarium collection of the Institute for Nature Conservation of the Vojvodina province (PZZP) is one of the least known institutional collections in Serbia. In this article is presented the first part of results of the ongoing process of examination and revision of this collection. It covers data on interesting, new and noteworthy vascular plant taxa from 6 genera (Cytisus L., Lamium L., Lappula Moench, Lathyrus L., Leersia Sw. and Legousia Durande) included in 18 species, 5 subspecies, 3 varieties, 4 forms, as well as 4 taxa with undetermined status [stat. indet.] and one supposed nothospecies. One species and subspecies (Lappula heteracantha subsp. heterocarpa) and 5 taxa on the different infraspecific levels are new for a flora of Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antioxidant enzymes are one of the most important links in the plant defense system to various types of environmental stress, so their response to a particular type of stress may indicate the sensitivity or tolerance of the plant species. Our paper studied the difference in antioxidative enzyme [catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and Class III peroxidases (POD, EC 1.11.1.7)], isoenzyme pattern and activities between Rumex obtusifolius L. (Polygonaceae) plants grown on ash amended and uncontaminated soil. Modified SDS-PAGE electrophoresis revealed the presence of a new POD isoform in leaf samples growing on ash-amended soil, although the activity of POD in the leaves did not change significantly compared to control plants. On the other hand, in the roots of ash-growing plants POD activity decreased by 90%. Single CAT isoform was detected in both leaf samples, and results indicate 47% higher CAT activity in leaves of ash growing plants. Native electrophoresis detected two SOD isoforms in leaves and roots from the control plant. SOD isoforms were inhibited in the roots of plants grown on ash. The paper indicates the possible role of CAT, SOD and POD in the adaptive response of R. obtusifolius plants on ash amended soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the course of field research of flora and vegetation, carried out on wetland and saline habitats in Vojvodina (Serbia), we have collected specimens of genus Elatine L. belonging to the three species. One of them represents adventive species (E. ambigua Wight), recorded for the first time in Serbia at three localities in Srem, while the other two have been discovered at new localities: E. triandra Schkuhr at one locality in Srem and E. hungarica Moesz at three localities in Banat. They contribute significantly to the present knowledge concerning their recent distribution in Serbia and region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]