Sadržaj toksičnih i esencijalnih metala u ljekovitom bilju koje raste u onečišćenim i neonečišćenim područjima u Makedoniji

The aim of this study was to determine and compare Ba, Cr, Cd, Fe, Sr, Pb, and Zn content in medicinal herbs Urtica dioica L., Taraxacum officinale, and Matricaria recutita growing in polluted and unpolluted areas of the Republic of Macedonia. The metal content was determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). In the unpolluted area of Mt. Plačkovica the metal content in Taraxacum officinale was in the descending order: Fe>Sr>Zn>Ba>Cr, while Pb and Cd were below the limit of detection. In the polluted area of Veles, the order was as follows: Fe>Zn>Sr>Pb>Ba>Cd>Cr. Our results suggest that quality assurance and monitoring of toxic metals is needed for plants intended for human use and consumption. Medicinal plants should be picked in areas free of any contamination sources.Cilj je ovoga istraživanja bio utvrditi i usporediti sadržaj Ba, Cr, Cd, Fe, Sr, Pb i Zn u ljekovitom bilju Urtica dioica L., Taraxacum offi cinale i Matricaria recutita koje raste u onečišćenome odnosno neonečišćenome području u Republici Makedoniji. Sadržaj metala utvrdili smo s pomoću atomske emisijske spektroskopije induktivno spregnutom plazmom (engl. inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, krat. ICP-AES). U neonečišćenome području planine Plačkovice, sadržaj metala u Taraxacum offi cinale kretao se kako slijedi: Fe>Sr>Zn>Ba>Cr, dok su Pb i Cd bili ispod granice detekcije. U onečišćenome području blizu talionice olova i cinka u Velesu redoslijed je bio ovakav: Fe>Zn>Sr>Pb>Ba>Cd>Cr. Naši rezultati upućuju na potrebu za osiguranjem kakvoće i praćenjem razina toksičnih metala u biljaka namijenjenih ljudskoj uporabi. Ljekovito bilje valja brati u područjima bez izvora onečišćenja

Determination of selected microelements in polish herbs and their infusions

Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined in birch leaves (Folium Betulae), dandelion roots (Radix Taraxacae), hawthorn blossom (Inflorescentia Crataegi) and their infusions by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) after microwave digestion of plant samples. Infusions were made from herbs according to prescription for patients, provided by the producer of medicine on the package. The results obtained were compared with daily requirements for each element. Results show high content of cadmium in the medicinal plants analyzed. The highest level in infusions was observed for Ni and Zn (over 90% of the total element concentration for Ni and in most cases over 50% for Zn), and the lowest for Cd and Pb. The calculated daily intake of majority of the analyzed elements was very low (under 1% of daily requirements)

Can riparian vegetation shade mitigate the expected rise in stream temperatures due to climate change during heat waves in a human-impacted pre-alpine river?

Global warming has already affected European rivers and their aquatic biota, and climate models predict an increase of temperature in central Europe over all seasons. We simulated the influence of expected changes in heat wave intensity during the 21st century on water temperatures of a heavily impacted pre-alpine Austrian river and analysed future mitigating effects of riparian vegetation shade on radiant and turbulent energy fluxes using the deterministic Heat Source model. Modelled stream water temperature increased less than 1.5 °C within the first half of the century. Until 2100, a more significant increase of around 3 °C in minimum, maximum and mean stream temperatures was predicted for a 20-year return period heat event. The result showed clearly that in a highly altered river system riparian vegetation was not able to fully mitigate the predicted temperature rise caused by climate change but would be able to reduce water temperature by 1 to 2 °C. The removal of riparian vegetation amplified stream temperature increases. Maximum stream temperatures could increase by more than 4 °C even in annual heat events. Such a dramatic water temperature shift of some degrees, especially in summer, would indicate a total shift of aquatic biodiversity. The results demonstrate that effective river restoration and mitigation require re-establishing riparian vegetation and emphasize the importance of land–water interfaces and their ecological functioning in aquatic environments

Up-regulation of 12(S)-lipoxygenase induces a migratory phenotype in colorectal cancer cells

12(S)-Lipoxygenase (LOX) and its product 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenic (HETE) acid have been implicated in angiogenesis and tumour invasion in several tumour types while their role in colorectal cancer progression has not yet been studied. We have analysed 12(S)-LOX expression in colorectal tumours and found gene expression up-regulated in colorectal cancer specimens for which the pathology report described involvement of inflammation