Total content of organic acids in plants from fire affected forest

In 2007 catastrophic fire on Vidlič Mountain had been occurred. It had been burned down nearly 1000 hectares of forest. That year vegetation was totally destroyed. Ecosystems affected by fire are those with great changes in variety of ecological parameters and they can recover by natural succession. Post fire areas are being occupied by pioneer plants which start one natural cycle. Total organic acids content in plants from fire affected forest was studied and the same plant species from forest which had not been affected by fire were taken as a control. Total organic acids content for all plants from forest affected by fire was higher than for plants from fire non affected forest except one plant (Aegopodium podagraria)

Antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of wild growing Silene baccifera (L.) Roth. (Caryophyllaceae) fruits juice

Silene baccifera is widespread plant species in Europe, Asia and North Africa, registered in the list of medicinal plants of India. Insufficiently known, biological activities of juice obtained from fresh fruits of this plant were investigated in this study. Antimicrobial activity of juice was tested against pathogenic gastrointestinal microbial strains, using microwell-dilution method, while antioxidant properties were evaluated employing DPPH and total phenolic and flavonoid content assays. To our knowledge, this is the first study of the juice from fruits of this plant species

Chemometric Analysis of Chlorophyll a, b and Carotenoid Content in Green Leafy Vegetables

Effects of cooking on chlorophyll a and b and total carotenoid content in seven leafy green vegetables (Brussels sprout, white cabbage, kale, chard, garden patience, broccoli and spinach) were evaluated. Pigment content varied between species. Chlorophyll a content was higher in all analyzed vegetables, compared to chlorophyll b and carotenoid content. Boiling caused significant loss of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids in kale (90.30%, 96.32% and 98.09%, respectively). Cluster analysis was applied on pigment content in fresh and boiled vegetables and two statistically significant clusters were obtained, with difference in spinach position

The validity of the one-dimensional fluid model of electrical breakdown in synthetic air at low pressure

In this letter the validity of the fluid model used to simulate the electrical breakdown in air at low pressure is discussed. The new method for the determination of the ionization source term for the mixed gases is proposed. Paschen's curve obtained by the fluid model is compared to the available experimental data. The electron and ions density profiles calculated by the fluid model are presented. Based on Ohm's law, the current and voltage waveforms are calculated and compared to the ones measured by the oscilloscope in the synthetic-air filled tube with stainless-steel electrodes. It is shown that the one-dimensional fluid model can be used for modeling the electrical breakdown at pd values higher than Paschen's minimum and to determine stationary values of electron and ions densities

Memory effect and time correlations in breakdown initiation of DC glow discharge in argon and synthetic air

The memory effect and correlations of the statistical and formative time delay in argon and synthetic air DC glow discharge at low pressure were studied. The memory coefficients and ratios and Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients were determined, ranging from about unity at low relaxation times and vanishing at the saturation region of the memory curves (determined by the background ionization). It was shown that the statistical ts and the formative time delay tf are correlated variables and the positive correlation between them was confirmed experimentally and theoretically

Resources of medicinal plants and herbs collector’s calendar of Pirot County (Serbia)

The results of study of medicinal plants from Pirot County (E Serbia), have been presented. The presence of a large number of plant species that are of accepted application in official and also in traditional medicine has been registered. The period of harvesting and collection of plant material by months related to natural characteristics of the area has been shown. For each species, plant drugs that are produced from have been listed, the type of habitat has been noted, as well as an overview of main active ingredients that effect remedial action. The representatives of the rare medicinal species are separately reviewed which is essential for their protection and management of resources of medicinal plants in the area

Update on element content profiles in eleven wild edible mushrooms from family Boletaceae

The aim of this study was to determine and evaluate the amounts of major elements (Ca, Fe, K, Na and P), essential trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn) and some other trace metals (Ag, Al, Co, Ni, Cr, Sr, Se, Bi, Rb) in eleven species of wild-grown common edible mushrooms from family Boletaceae (Boletus appendiculatus, Boletus edulis, Boletus regius, Boletus fechtneri, Boletus impolitus, Boletus purpureus, Boletus rhodoxanthus, Leccinum crocipodium, Leccinum pseudoscaber, Xerocomellus chrysenteron, Xerocomus badius) from Serbia. The measurements of major elements (Ca, Fe, K, Na and P) were carried out by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), while analytical measurements of the rest of studied elements were performed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), after microwave digestion. The results showed that the element concentrations were species-dependent. Potassium and phosphorous concentrations were found to be greater than those of the other mineral constituents in all tested species. Multivariate analysis included principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analyses (HCA). HCA grouped mushrooms in three statistically significant clusters, while PCA indicated connection between analyzed metals. Also, this paper highlights the importance of essential and nonessential elements of human health and their daily intake

First Report about Mineral Content, Fatty Acids Composition and Biological Activities of Four Wild Edible Mushrooms

The goal of this research was a comprehensive analysis of four wild edible mushroom species, Cantharellus cinereus, Clavariadelphus pistillaris, Clitocybe nebularis and Hygrocybe punicea, which have not been analyzed so far. Extracts of different polarities have been prepared and evaluated for their antioxidant activities by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, TRP and CUPRAC methods. For all extracts, total phenolic content was determined. Based on the analysis, it was shown that solvent type had a significant effect on the antioxidant capacities of mushroom extracts, so water extracts showed the highest activity. Furthermore, the analysis includes determination of mineral composition, fatty acid profiles and antimicrobial activity. Unsaturated fatty acids, which are very important for human health, are dominant in the studied mushroom species. Linoleic and oleic acid consist of over 50 % of the total fatty acid composition. Seventeen biologically important and toxic elements have been analyzed by ICP-OES and ICP-MS and results showed that the element concentrations were species-dependent. Also, it has been found that analyzed mushrooms did not show any antimicrobial activity. Chemometric analysis was used to understand the connection between the extracts of different polarities.Peer-reviewed manuscript: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2871