Water soluble biomolecules from Nepeta nuda regulate microbial growth: A case study of apple juice preservation

The following study was designed to explore antimicrobial properties of the by-product obtained in a hydro-distillation process of essential oil from Nepeta nuda L. Based on the obtained decoction of N. nuda and apple juice, we strived to develop a novel drink that would have antimicrobial self-preserving properties. By using 96-well plate microdilution assay it was shown that the N. nuda decoction has antimicrobial potential towards 8 bacterial and 6 fungal species, with the range of minimal inhibitory concentrations 10 mg/mL - 300 mg/mL. By using actual food system, such as apple juice, in combination with and without short thermal treatment, we have shown that the decoction of N. nuda can inhibit the growth of food contaminant fungus Penicillium aurantiogriseum. It was determined that 3 volumes of decoction (500 mg/mL) and 22 volumes of apple juice should be mixed in order to obtain self-preserving drink resistant to P. aurantiogriseum contamination. Likewise, when thermal treatment (80 °C for 10s) is included, self-preserving mixture of decoction and apple juice should be made in volume ratios 3:47, respectively. The designed product maintained the pleasant taste as determined by panelists during the sensorial evaluation. Chemical investigations (UHPLC–Orbitrap MS analysis) of N. nuda decoction showed that the most abundant compound was 1,5,9-epideoxyloganic acid (0.410 mg/g of dried decoction). Since N. nuda is traditionally used as a tea, we presented the novel formulation of the antimicrobial self-preserving drink based on the N. nuda decoction and apple juice

Vulnerability to natural disasters in Serbia: spatial and temporal comparison

The frequency of natural disasters and the extent of their consequences at a global level are constantly increasing. This trend is partially caused by increased population vulnerability, which implies the degree of population vulnerability due to high magnitude natural processes. This paper presents an analysis of vulnerability to natural disaster in Serbia in the second half of the twentieth and the early twenty-first century. Vulnerability changes were traced on the basis of demographic–economic indicators derived from statistical data for local government units (municipalities) provided by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. Calculations were performed in the geographical information system environment. The results of the study show that spatial and temporal vulnerability variations are causally correlated with changes in the selected components. Significant rise of vulnerability is related to urban areas, while lower values are characteristic for other areas of Serbia; this is primarily a consequence of different population density

Diploid vs. tetraploid Centaurium erythraea Rafn: a comparative study of regenerative in vitro potential and biosynthetic capacity

The impact of ploidy level on both the regenerative potential under in vitro conditions and the production of major bioactive specialized metabolites, such are iridoids and xanthones, was examined in Centaurium erythraea Rafn. Shoot regeneration frequency was genotype dependent, but not affected by explant ploidy level. In most cases, the regenerated shoots of autotetraploid (4x) genotypes were more robust than diploid (2x) ones. Regeneration efficiency of root explants declined from the apical to the basal root segment. Shoot and root biomass production of two month-old shoots was not significantly different between 2x and 4x genotypes. Both 4x and 2x genotypes were characterized by the predominance of secoiridoid glucoside gentiopicrin in shoots and roots, which is followed by sweroside and swertiamarin. Loganic acid, loganin and secologanin were much less abundant. Methylbellidifolin was the major xanthone in both shoots and roots. Diploid plants showed higher biosynthetic capacity for the production of secoiridoids and xanthones in both shoots and roots. Results highlight a higher potential of diploid C. erythraea genotypes for biotechnology-based sustainable production of secoiridoids in comparison to tetraploid genotypes

Diasporas and democratization in the post-communist world

If diaspora communities are socialized with democratic values in Western societies, they could be expected to be sympathetic to the democratization of their home countries. However, there is a high degree of variation in their behavior. Contrary to the predominant understanding in the literature that diasporas act in exclusively nationalist ways, this article argues that they do engage with the democratization of their home countries. Various challenges to the sovereignty of their homelands explain whether diasporas involve with procedural or liberal aspects of democratization. Drawing evidence from the activities of the Ukrainian, Serbian, Albanian and Armenian diasporas after the end of communism, I argue that unless diasporas are linked to home countries that enjoy both international legal and domestic sovereignty, they will involve only with procedural aspects of democratization. Diasporas filter international pressure to democratize post-communist societies by utilizing democratic procedures to advance unresolved nationalist goals

CHARACTERIZATION OF DRY EXTRACTS OF EVERLASTING INFLORESCENCES, Helichrysum plicatum DC., AND ASSAYING THEIR ANTIOXIDANT, CYTOTOXIC, SPASMOLYTIC AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

In this doctoral dissertation, the characterization of dry extracts of everlasting inflorescences, Helichrysum plicatum DC., and assay of their antioxidant, cytotoxic, spasmolytic and antimicrobial activity were carried out. Special attention was paid to investigation of correlation between chemical composition and pharmacological effects of dry extracts to determine potentially active substances or active markers.In the preformulation study, the herbal drug Helichrysi flos (Helichrysum plicatum DC.) was precisely defined, identified and tested. The dry extracts were prepared from powdered herbal drug by triple percolation method and purification of obtained liquid extracts by means of re-extraction method and vacuum evaporation. The following factors varied in the extraction procedures at three levels: degree of fineness of herbal drug, type of extragens (40%, 50%, 60% ethanol/water ratio) and re-extraction solvent (5:5, 9:1, 100:0 ethilacetate/ethanol ratio; v/v).The HPTLC fingerprint method was developed for rapid and reliable identification of glycosides and aglicone flavonoids present in the herbal drugs and extracts H.plicatum. This identification was based on the color fluorescence, and application of the standards and the tentative LC-UV-MS analysis of purified extracts. . In the chemical characterization of Helichrysi flos (Helichrysum plicatum DC.) dry extracts, the total content of phenols has been determined in all extract samples.Naringenin, apigenin and kaempeferol content was determined by HPLC methods in hydrolyzed and nonhydrolysed samples of dry extracts, and by application of standards. Extraction process optimization, based on factor analysis, showed different optimum extraction performance depending on the extraction target. In order to increase the dry extract yields, the extraction process optimization was based on the influence of various factors (degree of fineness of herbal drug, type of extragens and re-extraction solvent) on the extraction yields.Antioxidant activity of dry extract samples was evaluated on the basis of the ability of DPPH radical reduction.Cytotoxic activity of selected extracts of Helichrysi flos (Helichrysum plicatum DC.) and standard substances (naringenin, apigenin and kaempeferol) was tested in vitro on three types of human cancer cells: Cervix Aden carcinoma Hela cells, PC3 prostate cancer cell lines and myelogenous leukemia K562 cells. The in vitro spasmolytic activity of selected extract of Helichrysi flos (Helichrysum plicatum DC.), assayed on isolated rat ileum, spasmolytic effect of dry extract on spontaneous ileum contractions and contractions induced by acetylcholine, histamine, barium and potassium ions.Antimicrobial activity of selected extract of Helichrysi flos (Helichrysum plicatum DC.) was tested by in vitro micro dilution method against 20 microorganisms, including bacerias, pests and phytopathogene yeasts.The results of Helichrysi flos (Helichrysum plicatum DC.) chemical composition and pharmacological activity analyses indicated on potential active substances or active markers used for H.flos extract standardization (biological source Helichrysum plicatum DC.).The results, as demonstrated above, justify the traditional use of Helichrysum plicatum DC., and indicate the similarity to H. arenarium (L.) Moench, which could be considered as a good basis for further investigations.

Cluster analysis of higher-education competitiveness in selected European countries

The subject of research in this paper is higher-education competitiveness on account of its impact on the enhancement of social and economic competitiveness, as well as on the growth of human capital and creation of social knowledge. The purpose of this paper is to group the selected European countries according to higher-education competitiveness, by means of the hierarchical cluster analysis method, with a special focus on the position of Serbia. Higher-education competitiveness in the chosen countries is analysed by means of three indicators of competitiveness: the ratio of the number of students per number of inhabitants, the number of students per number of employed, as well as the amount of budgetary funds allocated per student. The research results indicate different higher-education competitiveness in the analysed countries and also the fact that, according to this analysis, Serbia is in the group of countries with low competitiveness of higher education

Diabetes and hypertension increase the placental and transcellular permeation of the lipophilic drug diazepam in pregnant women

Background: Previous studies carried out in our laboratories have demonstrated impaired drug permeation in diabetic animals. In this study the permeation of diazepam (after a single dose of 5 mg/day, administered intramuscularly) will be investigated in diabetic and hypertensive pregnant women.Methods: A total 75 pregnant women were divided into three groups: group 1 (healthy control, n = 31), group 2 (diabetic, n = 14) and group 3 (hypertensive, n = 30). Two sets of diazepam plasma concentrations were collected and measured (after the administration of the same dose of diazepam), before, during and after delivery. The first set of blood samples was taken from the mother (maternal venous plasma). The second set of samples was taken from the fetus (fetal umbilical venous and arterial plasma). In order to assess the effect of diabetes and hypertension on diazepam placental-permeation, the ratios of fetal to maternal blood concentrations were determined. Differences were considered statistically significant if p=0.05.Results: The diabetes and hypertension groups have 2-fold increase in the fetal umbilical-venous concentrations, compared to the maternal venous concentrations. Feto: maternal plasma-concentrations ratios were higher in diabetes (2.01 ± 1.10) and hypertension (2.26 ± 1.23) groups compared with control (1.30 ± 0.48) while, there was no difference in ratios between the diabetes and hypertension groups. Umbilical-cord arterial: venous ratios (within each group) were similar among all groups (control: 0.97 ± 0.32; hypertension: 1.08 ± 0.60 and diabetes: 1.02 ± 0.77).Conclusions: On line with our previous findings which demonstrate disturbed transcellular trafficking of lipophilic drugs in diabetes, this study shows significant increase in diazepam placental-permeation in diabetic and hypertensive pregnant women suggesting poor transcellular control of drug permeation and flux, and bigger exposure of the fetus to drug-placental transport

Constitutional Court of the Republic of Serbia

Constitutional Court of the Republic of Serbi