Influence of habitat conditions on macroelements and trace elements in selected fruits grown in the Lublin region

Oznaczono zawartość makroelementów oraz pierwiastków śladowych w owocach porzeczki czarnej, porzeczki czerwonej, maliny, śliwki węgierki i winogrona białego. Materiał do badań pobrano w województwie lubelskim na terenach potencjalnie narażonych i nienarażonych na ekspozycję zanieczyszczeń (ogrody działkowe w Lublinie oraz ogrody działkowe na wsi). W badanych owocach stwierdzono bardzo wysoką zawartość kadmu - od 0,192 mg-kg-1 do 0,545 mg-kg-1 świeżej masy, co wielokrotnie przekraczało wartość dopuszczalną 0,03 mg-kg-1 dla owoców jagodowych oraz 0,02 mg kg-1 dla owoców pestkowych. Zawartość badanych makroelementów (Na, K, Ca, Mg) i pozostałych pierwiastków śladowych (Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn) była dosyć niska i nie stanowiła zagrożenia dla zdrowia człowieka.The content of some macroelements as well as trace elements in blackcurrant, redcurrant, raspberry, sweet prune and white grape fruits collected in Lublin region was determined. Samples for determinations were taken from areas potentially exposed and unexposed to pollution (gardens in the town of Lublin and in the countryside). The analysed fruits were characterised by a very high Cd content, ranging from 0.192 mg-kg-1 to 0.545 mg-kg-1 of fresh mass. Such concentrations considerably exceeded the permissible level of 0.03 mg-kg-1 for berries and 0.02 mg-kg-1 for drupes. The content of the remaining macroelements (Na, K, Ca, Mg) and trace elements (Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn) was low enough and did not create danger to human health

Contents of tannins and oxalic acid in the selected forest fruits depending on the harvest site

Oznaczono zawartość garbników oraz kwasu szczawiowego w owocach: borówki czarnej, maliny właściwej oraz poziomki pospolitej, pozyskanych z terenów potencjalnie wolnych od zanieczyszczeń (Gmina Kraśniczyn) oraz z miejsc bardziej narażonych na emisję zanieczyszczeń (Rejowiec Fabryczny). Zawartość garbników w owocach poziomki pospolitej oraz koncentracja kwasu szczawiowego w owocach borówki czarnej, pochodzących z okolic potencjalnie nie narażonych na ekspozycję zanieczyszczeń była wyższa, niż w surowcach pozyskanych z okolic Rejowca Fabrycznego. Średnie zawartości garbników oraz kwasu szczawiowego w analizowanych owocach leśnych były niskie.Contents of anti-nutritional components (tannins and oxalic acid) were determined in samples of forest fruits: blueberry, raspberry and wild strawberry harvested in Lublin region from areas considered as potentially not exposed to pollution (Skierbieszów Landscape Park) and potentially polluted areas (Cement Factory Rejowiec S.A.). Study revealed that blueberry and raspberry fruits collected on potentially polluted area were characterized by higher tannins contents than those harvested on potentially not polluted area. Oxalic acid level in studied material indicated its significantly higher concentration in wild strawberry fruits collected both from not exposed and polluted areas as compared to raspberry and blueberry. Tannins and oxalic acid contents in analyzed berries may be accepted as low and safe for human's health

Medicinal plants - prophylactic and therapeutic options for gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets lead to significant economic losses in livestock husbandry. A high morbidity has been reported for diarrhea (calves ≤ 35 %; piglets ≤ 50 %) and for respiratory diseases (calves ≤ 80 %; piglets ≤ 40 %). Despite a highly diverse etiology and pathophysiology of these diseases, treatment with antimicrobials is often the first-line therapy. Multi-antimicrobial resistance in pathogens results in international accordance to strengthen the research in novel treatment options. Medicinal plants bear a potential as alternative or additional treatment. Based on the versatile effects of their plant specific multi-component-compositions, medicinal plants can potentially act as 'multi-target drugs'. Regarding the plurality of medicinal plants, the aim of this systematic review was to identify potential medicinal plant species for prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases and for modulation of the immune system and inflammation in calves and piglets. RESULTS Based on nine initial sources including standard textbooks and European ethnoveterinary studies, a total of 223 medicinal plant species related to the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases was identified. A defined search strategy was established using the PRISMA statement to evaluate 30 medicinal plant species starting from 20'000 peer-reviewed articles published in the last 20 years (1994-2014). This strategy led to 418 references (257 in vitro, 84 in vivo and 77 clinical trials, thereof 48 clinical trials in veterinary medicine) to evaluate effects of medicinal plants and their efficacy in detail. The findings indicate that the most promising candidates for gastrointestinal diseases are Allium sativum L., Mentha x piperita L. and Salvia officinalis L.; for diseases of the respiratory tract Echinacea purpurea (L.) MOENCH, Thymus vulgaris L. and Althea officinalis L. were found most promising, and Echinacea purpurea (L.) MOENCH, Camellia sinensis (L.) KUNTZE, Glycyrrhiza glabra L. and Origanum vulgare L. were identified as best candidates for modulation of the immune system and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS Several medicinal plants bear a potential for novel treatment strategies for young livestock. There is a need for further research focused on gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets, and the findings of this review provide a basis on plant selection for future studies