Characteristics of Germination and Biomass Production of Ocimum Basilicum L. Cultured In Vitro

The aim of this study was to investigate impact of nutrient medium on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) in vitro germination, early growth and biomass acumulation. Two different nutrient media (MS and B5 full and half of strait), most commonly used in tissue culture, demonstrated different impact on sweet basil. According to the results, B5 medium significantly outperformed all other media used in this study. We suggest that B5 medium are better for a variety of uses in sweet basil biotechnology, research and production system

Alelopatska aktivnost autohtonih i invazivnih vrsta biljaka plavnih staništa Velike Morave

The allelopathic activity of the selected native (Salix alba L., Populus alba L., Populus nigra L.) and invasive (Acer negundo L., Amorha fruticosa L., Celtis occidentalis L., Robinia pseudoacacia L.) species were studied through the inhibition of seed germination and seedling growth of indicator species Lactuca sativa L. Sandwich allelopathic bioassay was used - allelopathic biotest with agar substrate. The results of allelopathic biotests show that the allelopathic potential of donor species decreases in the following order: A. fruticosa > C. occidentalis > R. pseudoacacia > S. alba > A. negundo > P. alba > P. nigra. Invasive species show greater allelopathic activity than natives, which can be a contribution to the „novel weapon hypothesis“ of invasive species.Alelopatska aktivnost izabranih autohtonih (Salix alba L., Populus alba L., Populus nigra L.) i invazivnih (Acer negundo L., Amorha fruticosa L., Celtis occidentalis L., Robinia pseudoacacia L.) vrsta plavnih staništa Velike Morave ispitana je kroz inhibiciju klijanja i rasta klijanaca indikatorske vrste Lactuca sativa L. U radu je korišćena sendvič metoda – alelopatski biotest sa agaroznom podlogom. Rezultati alelopatskih biotestova pokazuju da alelopatski potencijal donorskih vrsta opada po sledećem redu: A. fruticosa > C. occidentalis > R. pseudoacacia > S. alba > A. negundo > P. alba > P. nigra. Invazivne vrste pokazuju veću alelopatsku aktivnost u odnosu na autohtnone, što može biti doprinos hipotezi o alelopatiji kao „novom oružju“ invazivnih vrsta

Secondary metabolite content and in vitro biological effects of Ajuga chamaepitys (L.)Schreb. subsp. chamaepitys

The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and contents of total phenolics and flavonoids of Ajuga chamaepitys (L.) Schreb. subsp. chamaepitys (Lamiaceae) were investigated. Five different extracts from aboveground flowering plant parts were obtained by extraction with water, methanol, acetone, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether. The total phenolic content was determined spectrophotometrically using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and expressed as the gallic acid equivalent (mg GA/g of extract). The highest value was obtained in the ethyl acetate extract (57.02 mg GA/g). The concentration of flavonoids, determined using a spectrophotometric method with aluminum chloride and expressed as the rutin equivalent (mg RU/g of extract), was highest in the ethyl acetate extract (91.76 mg RU/g). The antioxidant activity was determined in vitro using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) reagent. The highest antioxidant activity was detected in the acetone extract (SC50 value = 330.52 μg/mL). In vitro antimicrobial activities were determined using a microdilution method, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC) were determined. The most effective antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus was demonstrated by the acetone extract, with MIC and MMC values of 1.25 mg/mL. Based on the results of this study, A. chamaepitys subsp. chamaepitys could be considered as a valuable source of natural compounds with important biological activities

Antioxidant and anticancer properties of leaves and seed cones from European yew (Taxus baccata L.)

Plant extracts of the leaves and seed cones of European yew Taxus baccata L. (Taxaceae) were analyzed for total phenolic content, flavonoid concentrations, antioxidant and anticancer properties (cytotoxic and proapoptotic activity). The total phenolic content ranged between 8.23 and 210.01 mg Ga/g, with the IC 50 values for antioxidant activity between 25.24 and 533.66 μg/ml. The MTT test showed that the methanolic extract of leaves had better activity on HCT-116 cells than the extract of seed cones, with IC 50 values of 14.3 for 24 h and 4.59 for 72 h. The MDA-MB-231 cell line displayed significantly lower sensitivity to both extracts as compared to the HCT-116 cell line. Microscopic examination indicated that the extracts induced apoptosis in both cell lines. These results suggest that T. baccata leaves and seed cones are a potential source of phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, as natural antioxidant, cytotoxic and strong proapoptotic substances of high value

Efekat formi i koncentracija azota na rastenje i sadržaj pigmenata Ocimum basilicum L. u kulturi in vitro

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of nitrogen on the growth and concentration of photosynthetic pigments of Ocimum basilicum L. cultured in vitro. Six media were used for research, which differed in form and concentration of nitrogen. According to the obtained results, a significant effect on the roots and shoots length, as well as the concentration of chlorophyll and carotenoids had a nitrate form of nitrogen in contrast to the combination of nitric and ammonium forms. Based on obtained results, it is recommended cultivation basil plants inmedia withpotassium nitrate.Cilj istraživanja obuhvata utvrđivanje uticaja azota na rast i koncentraciju fotosintetičkih pigmenata bosiljaka (Ocimum basilicum L.) proizvedenog u kulturi in vitro. Za istraživanjeje upotrebljenošesthranljivih podloga, koje su se razlikovale po formi i koncentraciji azota. Prema dobijenim rezultatima, značajniji efekat na rast i koncentraciju hlorofila i karotenoida imala je nitratna forma azota u odnosu na kombinaciju nitratne i amonijačne forme. Utvrđeno je da je u procesu gajenja bosiljka kalijum-nitrat pogodan za oplemenjavanje zemljišta

Antioksidativna aktivnost vrsta Mentha longifolia, M. piperita i M. pulegium (Lamiaceae)

The aim of this study was to determine the quantity of total phenolics including flavonoids, as well as the antioxidant activity of extracts from the aboveground parts from species of the genus Mentha L. (M.piperita, M.pulegium and M.longifolia). The tested plant species characterized high content of secondary metabolites. In addition, correlation between total phenolic content and antioxidant activity is observed. The highest concentration of flavonoids was obtained in acethonic extracts. The highest content of total fenolics, as well as highest antioxidant activity was recorded in methanolic extracts from M. pulegium. The species M. piperita, M. pulegium i M. longifolia can be regarded as promising sources of components with biological properties.Cilj istraživanja je utvrđivanje količine ukupnih fenolnih jedinjenja, kao i flavonoida i antioksidativne aktivnosti ekstrakata nadzemnih delova odabranih vrsta roda Mentha L. (M. piperita, M. pulegium i M. longifolia). Vrste karakteriše visoka koncentracija sekundarnih metabolita, pri čemu je uočena veza izmedju količine fenolnih jedinjenja i antioksidativne aktivnosti. Najveća količina flavonoida dobijena je u acetonskim ekstraktima ispitivanih vrsta. Najveća količina ukupnih fenola, takođe i najveća antioksidativna aktivnost, zabeležena je u metanolnom ekstraktu vrste M. pulegium. Vrste M. piperita, M. pulegium i M. longifolia mogu se smatrati značajnim izvorima bioaktivnih komponenti

Biology contents in curricula of compulsory education in Serbia, Finland and England

At this moment in time, which is marked by extremely negative human influences on the environment, and when a sustainable development of nature is needed, school has a significant role in developing students' knowledge, skills and attitudes towards natural sciences. In European countries, students gain biological knowledge during primary school either through integrated or specific subjects. This paper contains the results of a comparative analysis of the biological content in teaching programs and curricula in three European countries - Serbia, Finland and England. In Serbia, biological contents are included in two integrated subjects (The World Around Us and Nature and Society) during the first cycle of compulsory education, while during the second cycle they are included in a separate subject - biology - and are linearly arranged. Throughout compulsory education in Finland and England, biological contents are concentrically arranged and are realized through the students' research work in their surroundings in several school subjects

Characteristics of in vitro seed germination of three basil genotypes under different nutrition

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of different basal medium composition on germination characteristics in three basil genotypes under in vitro conditions. Ocimum basilicum var. basilicum cv. Genovese, Ocimum basilicum var. purpurascens cv. Dark Opal and Ocimum x citriodorum seeds were grown in media with a quarter, half, and full-strength of macroand micronutrients and under different levels of nitrate alone or in combination with different levels of ammonium. Evaluated parameters included germination percentage, mean time to germination, rate of germination, and germination uniformity. Seeds of the studied basil genotypes demonstrated significant differences in germination characteristics depending on the availability of nutrients, but also the nitrogen form used. It was concluded that in order to obtain a high level of germinated seeds with significant speed and uniformity of germination under in vitro conditions culture media composition must be adjusted according to the investigated genotype. The results of this study could improve overall tissue culture conditions for a particular basil genotype.Publishe

Fitotoksični efekti soli natrijuma na klijavost i porast klice tritikalea

The limiting factor for increasing agricultural production for numerous crops is land salinity. The aim of the study was to determine stress effect of sodium salt (NaCl, NaHCO3, Na2SO3 i Na2CO3) on germination and growth triticale varieties – Vojvoda and Smaragd variety, in order to determine degree of tolerance of these varieties on the examined salts. Based on the toxic effect on percentage of germination, germination energy, root length and hypocotyl of the triticale Vojvoda variety and Smaragd variety, the most toxic effect has Na2CO3 and the weakest toxic effect has NaCl. The Smaragd variety is more susceptible to the presence of sodium salts in relation to theVojvoda variety.Limitirajući faktor za povećanje poljoprivredne proizvodnje za brojne biljne vrste je salinitet zemljišta, odnosno povećana koncentracija lako rastvorljivih soli u zemljištu, naročito natrijumovih. Cilj proučavanja bio je da se utvrdi efekat stresa soli natrijuma (NaCl, NaHCO3, Na2SO3 i Na2CO3) na klijanje i rast klijanaca tritikalea sorte Vojvoda i Smaragd, kako bi se odredio stepen tolerantnosti ovih sorti na ispitivane soli. Rezultati pokazuju obrnutu korelaciju između korišćenih koncentracija soli i procenta klijavosti i rasta korenka i hipokotila. Na osnovu toksičnog efekta na procenat klijavosti, energiju klijavosti, dužinu korenka i hipokotila semena triikalea sorte Vojvoda i sorte Smaragd najjači toksični efekat ima Na2CO3 a najslabiji NaCl. Sorta Smaragd osetljivija je na prisustvo soli natrijuma u odnosu na sortu Vojvoda

Antioxidant and Anticancer Properties of Leaf and Fruit Extracts of the Wild Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.)

In this study the leaves and fruits of wild raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) populations from the central Balkan region were examined to determine the level of secondary metabolites and related antioxidant activity, as well as biological activity, upon existing ethnobotanical evidence, primarily linked to gastrointestinal disorders. The values obtained for total phenols ranged from 59.68 to 96.83 mg GA g-1 and 24.29 to 38.71 mg GA g-1 in leaf and fruit extracts, respectively. The highest values of tannins and anthocyanins were determined for leaf extracts from a population of east Serbia at a level of 1.27 mg mL-1 and 9.00 mg mL-1. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the scavenging capacity of the extracts on DPPH. Higher antioxidant activity was detected in the leaf extracts than in the fruit extracts. Leaf and fruit extract were the most effective against Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739). Anticancer activity was studied on a human colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116. Leaf extracts exhibited anticancer activity with IC50/24 h 162.38 μg mL-1 and IC50/48 h 95.69 μg mL-1. Wild raspberry leaf and fruit extracts contain numerous secondary metabolites providing marked antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activity