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The study was conducted at the Clinical Centre Kragujevac, during the period March-May 2016. The study population consisted of patients older than 65 that were treated at different departments of the Clinic for Internal Medicine. Data were collected from hospital medical records of patients and anonymous semi-structured questionnaires. STOPP (screening tool of older people's prescriptions)/ START (screening tool to alert to right treatment) criteria from 2014 were used to monitor the outcome of interest. Based on the outcome PIM (potentially inappropriate drugs)/PPO (potential prescribing omissions), respondents were divided into groups of cases - patients to whom at least one potentially inappropriate drug determined by STOPP criteria was prescribed and those with at least one potential prescribing omission determined by START criteria. Control groups were patients without these outcomes. Most commonly, PIM was detected in the treatment of cardiovascular system diseases (27.12%), followed by the use of drugs that predispose falls in elderly (20.34%). The most important risk factors for the occurrence of PIM were female gender (OR=3.27; 95% CI 1.01-10.64), polypharmacy (5-8 drugs used simultaneously) (OR=3.10; 95% CI 1.11-12.04) and with whom the patient lives (OR=11.26; 95% CI 1.46-86.68). The use of STOPP/START criteria is proved to be efficient in the detection of PIM/PPO at the secondary level of health care. Full attention should always be paid to patients who are at the highest risk for inappropriate drug prescription. Doctors should make their decisions conscientiously and in line with clinical evidence, not blindly believing the pharmaceutical representatives.

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is a herbaceous plant from family Astereaceae, that has a long history of use in traditional medicine. The first written report of chamomile was found in Ancient Egypt: crushed chamomile flower-heads were used to relieve skin inflammation, prevent dermatitis, and in cosmetic preparations. The subject of this study was to examine the ethnopharmacological application of chamomile in the Pirot County of Serbia. The study was conducted in the form of a population survey on the population of four municipalities: Pirot, Babusnica, Bela Palanka, and Dimitrovgrad. This study shows that chamomile has been one of the ten best known medicinal plant species in Pirot County. The most common way of the application was a herbal tea for oral use against cold, stomach diseases, throat infection, and mild sedation. Externally, in the form of compresses, it has been used against eye swelling, skin inflammation, and infections, while the oily form was used in the treatment of wounds and burns.

Objective. The literature provides data on the antioxidant activity of different botanical parts of walnut (Juglans regia L., Juglandaceae) growing in various countries. This research has evaluated the antioxidant activity of pericarp (green husk) of unripe walnut fruit, originated from Sumadija region in Serbia. Methods. The methanol extract of walnut husk was characterized by the total phenol and tannin content, while antioxi­dant evaluation was done by DPPH radical scavenging assay. Results. It has been found that the antioxidant activity of walnut pericarp is within the range 25.32-79.35 % and is concentration dependent. The IC50 is 1.223 mg/ml. The total phenol content was 119.8 mg GAE/g and tannin 2.645 %. Conclusion. The investigated parameters of the green walnut pericarp from Sumadija region fit the range of values documented for different parts of walnut species growing in other areas in the world.

Prescribing of drugs could be considered inappropriate if a drug and dose selected bear unbeneficial benefit/harm ratio to the patient (PIP - Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing), as well as if a drug that the patient needed was not prescribed (PPO- Potential Prescribing Omissions). This is a major public health problem, since it carries risk to the patient due to adverse drug effects, interactions or complications, but also creates major economic burden for both the patient and the healthcare system. The study was designed as a qualitative research method based on the principles of grounded theory. In order to obtain data, interviews were conducted with each of the respondents. Main factors that predispose for inappropriate prescribing in the elderly are: poor communication (physician-patient, physician - physician, physician - pharmacist), habits of physicians and patients, polypharmacy, lack of motivation, lack of time and avoidance of reference texts. High prevalence of inappropriate prescribing is unacceptable and unjustifiable. It is necessary to use the guidelines, established criteria, relevant and official publications during prescribing and administration of drugs, which should be regular supplement to clinical experience.