The paper presents a list of 64 moss species recorded in the Chochołowska Valley (including Wyżni... more The paper presents a list of 64 moss species recorded in the Chochołowska Valley (including Wyżnia Chochołowska Valley, Jarząbcza Valley and the surrounding peaks). Detected taxa belong to 25 families. Among them, the most commonly represented are Polytrichaceae (9 species), Dicranaceae (6), Pottiaceae (6), Hylocomiaceae (5), Hypnaceae (5), Grimmiaceae (4), and Bryaceae (4). Mosses were collected from different substrates, but they usually grew on humus (37 taxa), which sometimes covered with a thin layer of granite or limestone gravel. 15 species were found on epilithic habitats, especially on limestone rocks (10), while 8 species occurred on wood or tree trunks. Some mosses occupied synanthropic habitats (6 species). For example, apophytes widely distributed in the lowlands: <em>Tortula muralis</em>,<em> Dryptodon pulvinatus</em>, and <em>Schistidium crassipilum </em>were recorded on the wall near the PTTK shelter on the Chochołowska Glade, wher...
Fungi from the genus Candida are very important human and animal pathogens. Many strains can prod... more Fungi from the genus Candida are very important human and animal pathogens. Many strains can produce biofilms, which inhibit the activity of antifungal drugs and increase the tolerance or resistance to them as well. Clinically, this process leads to persistent infections and increased mortality. Today, many Candida species are resistant to drugs, including C. auris, which is a multiresistant pathogen. Natural compounds may potentially be used to combat multiresistant and biofilm-forming strains. The aim of this review was to present plant-derived preparations and compounds that inhibit Candida biofilm formation by at least 50%. A total of 29 essential oils and 16 plant extracts demonstrate activity against Candida biofilms, with the following families predominating: Lamiaceae, Myrtaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Apiacae. Lavandula dentata (0.045–0.07 mg/L), Satureja macrosiphon (0.06–8 mg/L), and Ziziphora tenuior (2.5 mg/L) have the best antifungal activity. High efficacy has also...
Among natural substances widespread in fruits, vegetables, spices, and medicinal plants, flavonoi... more Among natural substances widespread in fruits, vegetables, spices, and medicinal plants, flavonoids and organic acids belong to the promising groups of bioactive compounds with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of 13 common flavonoids (flavones, flavonols, flavanones) and 6 organic acids (aliphatic and aromatic acids). The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of selected plant substances were determined by the micro-dilution method using clinical strains of four species of pathogenic bacteria. All tested compounds showed antimicrobial properties, but their biological activity was moderate or relatively low. Bacterial growth was most strongly inhibited by salicylic acid (MIC = 250–500 μg/mL). These compounds were generally more active against Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa than Gram-positive ones: Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus. An analys...
Summary Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.) is a well-known medicinal plant traditionally used ... more Summary Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.) is a well-known medicinal plant traditionally used in the treatment of urogenital diseases, stomach and liver disorders, skin problems, etc. E. angustifolium extracts show anti-androgenic, antiproliferative, cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial activities. The unique combination of biological properties demonstrated by the results of some studies indicates that fireweed has a positive effect in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and potentially in the prostate cancer chemoprevention. However, the efficacy of E. angustifolium phytotherapy is still poorly tested in clinical trials, while numerous beneficial effects of extracts have been documented in the in vitro and in vivo tests. Fireweed is rich in polyphenolic compounds, particularly ellagitannins. Currently, polyphenols are considered to be modulators of beneficial gut microbiota. The literature data support the use of ellagitannins in the pro...
Background: Edible and medicinal plants are still an interesting source of promising biologically... more Background: Edible and medicinal plants are still an interesting source of promising biologically active substances to drug discovery and development. At a time of increasing cancer incidence in the world, alleviating the bothersome side effects of radiotherapy in debilitated cancer patients is becoming an important challenge. Objective: The aim of the study was to overview the literature data concerning the radioprotective activity of extracts, essential oils, and some chemical compounds obtained from 12 species belonging to the Lamiaceae family, gathering of numerous spice and medicinal plants rich in valuable phytochemicals. Results and Conclusion: The analysis of available publications showed radioprotective effectiveness of essential oils and complex extracts containing phenolic acids and flavonoids in various in vitro and in vivo models. Relatively welldocumented preventive properties exhibited the following species: Mentha × piperita, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Origanum vulgare, and...
Curcumin, a principal bioactive substance of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), is reported as a strong... more Curcumin, a principal bioactive substance of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), is reported as a strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agent. However, its antimicrobial properties require further detailed investigations into clinical and multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates. In this work, we tested curcumin’s efficacy against over 100 strains of pathogens belonging to 19 species. This activity was determined by the broth microdilution method and by calculating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Our findings confirmed a much greater sensitivity of Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria. This study exhibited a significantly larger variation in the curcumin activity than previous works and suggested that numerous clinical strains of widespread pathogens have a poor sensitivity to curcumin. Similarly, the MICs of the MDR types of Staphylococcus aureus, S. haemolyticus, Escherichia coli, and Proteus mirabilis were high (≥2000 µg/mL). However,...
Roseroot (Rhodiola rosea L.) belongs to important herbs in folk medicine of Scandinavia, Russia, ... more Roseroot (Rhodiola rosea L.) belongs to important herbs in folk medicine of Scandinavia, Russia, Mongolia, and China. Its therapeutic usage is mainly associated with the adaptogenic properties of this species. Roseroot is characterized by high morphological, phytochemical, and genetic differentiation. The aim of the present work was to determine the biometric and phytochemical co-variability of this taxon. Samples of Rh. rosea were collected from 4-year-old experimental field cultivation established by rhizome division in western Poland. For each plant, the biometric measurements of the clumps, shoots, leaves, and rhizomes with roots were carried out. In the underground plant parts (raw material), the contents of the main active compounds (phenylpropanoids, phenylethanoids, phenolic acids, and catechins) were determined by the HPLC-DAD method. K-means clustering analysis showed three well-separated plant groups of Rh. rosea that differed significantly in the level of most of the inv...
Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid produced by brown algae and diatoms. This compound has several biolog... more Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid produced by brown algae and diatoms. This compound has several biological properties such as antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities. Unfortunately, until now the latter effect has been poorly confirmed. The aim of this study was an evaluation of fucoxanthin activity against 20 bacterial species. Antimicrobial effect of fucoxanthin was determined by using the agar disc-diffusion and micro-dilution methods. The studied carotenoid acted against 13 bacteria growing in aerobic conditions. It was observed to have a significantly stronger impact on Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria. Mean zones of growth inhibition (ZOIs) for Gram-positive bacteria ranged between 9.0 and 12.2 mm, while for Gram-negative were from 7.2 to 10.2 mm. According to the agar disc-diffusion method, the highest activity of fucoxanthin was exhibited against Streptococcus agalactiae (mean ZOI 12.2 mm), Staphylococcus epidermidis (mean ZOI 1...
SummaryThe inflorescence ofThe research aimed to determine the local variation in yield and conte... more SummaryThe inflorescence ofThe research aimed to determine the local variation in yield and content of flavonoids and phenolic acids in the yellow everlasting inflorescence against the background of the layer structure of vegetation as the rate of plant succession.The plant raw material was collected from 30 plots of 1 mEverlastings reached a cover of up to 70% and the maximum air-dry matter yield of 46.42 g/mYellow everlasting is an important species of early fallows on poor sandy soils and these habitats constitute a rich natural source of herbal raw material. Inflorescences harvested from natural sites are distinguished by a high and similar content of polyphenols and usually meet the requirements of Polish Pharmacopoeia.
The paper presents a list of 64 moss species recorded in the Chochołowska Valley (including Wyżni... more The paper presents a list of 64 moss species recorded in the Chochołowska Valley (including Wyżnia Chochołowska Valley, Jarząbcza Valley and the surrounding peaks). Detected taxa belong to 25 families. Among them, the most commonly represented are Polytrichaceae (9 species), Dicranaceae (6), Pottiaceae (6), Hylocomiaceae (5), Hypnaceae (5), Grimmiaceae (4), and Bryaceae (4). Mosses were collected from different substrates, but they usually grew on humus (37 taxa), which sometimes covered with a thin layer of granite or limestone gravel. 15 species were found on epilithic habitats, especially on limestone rocks (10), while 8 species occurred on wood or tree trunks. Some mosses occupied synanthropic habitats (6 species). For example, apophytes widely distributed in the lowlands: <em>Tortula muralis</em>,<em> Dryptodon pulvinatus</em>, and <em>Schistidium crassipilum </em>were recorded on the wall near the PTTK shelter on the Chochołowska Glade, wher...
Fungi from the genus Candida are very important human and animal pathogens. Many strains can prod... more Fungi from the genus Candida are very important human and animal pathogens. Many strains can produce biofilms, which inhibit the activity of antifungal drugs and increase the tolerance or resistance to them as well. Clinically, this process leads to persistent infections and increased mortality. Today, many Candida species are resistant to drugs, including C. auris, which is a multiresistant pathogen. Natural compounds may potentially be used to combat multiresistant and biofilm-forming strains. The aim of this review was to present plant-derived preparations and compounds that inhibit Candida biofilm formation by at least 50%. A total of 29 essential oils and 16 plant extracts demonstrate activity against Candida biofilms, with the following families predominating: Lamiaceae, Myrtaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Apiacae. Lavandula dentata (0.045–0.07 mg/L), Satureja macrosiphon (0.06–8 mg/L), and Ziziphora tenuior (2.5 mg/L) have the best antifungal activity. High efficacy has also...
Among natural substances widespread in fruits, vegetables, spices, and medicinal plants, flavonoi... more Among natural substances widespread in fruits, vegetables, spices, and medicinal plants, flavonoids and organic acids belong to the promising groups of bioactive compounds with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of 13 common flavonoids (flavones, flavonols, flavanones) and 6 organic acids (aliphatic and aromatic acids). The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of selected plant substances were determined by the micro-dilution method using clinical strains of four species of pathogenic bacteria. All tested compounds showed antimicrobial properties, but their biological activity was moderate or relatively low. Bacterial growth was most strongly inhibited by salicylic acid (MIC = 250–500 μg/mL). These compounds were generally more active against Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa than Gram-positive ones: Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus. An analys...
Summary Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.) is a well-known medicinal plant traditionally used ... more Summary Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.) is a well-known medicinal plant traditionally used in the treatment of urogenital diseases, stomach and liver disorders, skin problems, etc. E. angustifolium extracts show anti-androgenic, antiproliferative, cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial activities. The unique combination of biological properties demonstrated by the results of some studies indicates that fireweed has a positive effect in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and potentially in the prostate cancer chemoprevention. However, the efficacy of E. angustifolium phytotherapy is still poorly tested in clinical trials, while numerous beneficial effects of extracts have been documented in the in vitro and in vivo tests. Fireweed is rich in polyphenolic compounds, particularly ellagitannins. Currently, polyphenols are considered to be modulators of beneficial gut microbiota. The literature data support the use of ellagitannins in the pro...
Background: Edible and medicinal plants are still an interesting source of promising biologically... more Background: Edible and medicinal plants are still an interesting source of promising biologically active substances to drug discovery and development. At a time of increasing cancer incidence in the world, alleviating the bothersome side effects of radiotherapy in debilitated cancer patients is becoming an important challenge. Objective: The aim of the study was to overview the literature data concerning the radioprotective activity of extracts, essential oils, and some chemical compounds obtained from 12 species belonging to the Lamiaceae family, gathering of numerous spice and medicinal plants rich in valuable phytochemicals. Results and Conclusion: The analysis of available publications showed radioprotective effectiveness of essential oils and complex extracts containing phenolic acids and flavonoids in various in vitro and in vivo models. Relatively welldocumented preventive properties exhibited the following species: Mentha × piperita, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Origanum vulgare, and...
Curcumin, a principal bioactive substance of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), is reported as a strong... more Curcumin, a principal bioactive substance of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), is reported as a strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agent. However, its antimicrobial properties require further detailed investigations into clinical and multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates. In this work, we tested curcumin’s efficacy against over 100 strains of pathogens belonging to 19 species. This activity was determined by the broth microdilution method and by calculating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Our findings confirmed a much greater sensitivity of Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria. This study exhibited a significantly larger variation in the curcumin activity than previous works and suggested that numerous clinical strains of widespread pathogens have a poor sensitivity to curcumin. Similarly, the MICs of the MDR types of Staphylococcus aureus, S. haemolyticus, Escherichia coli, and Proteus mirabilis were high (≥2000 µg/mL). However,...
Roseroot (Rhodiola rosea L.) belongs to important herbs in folk medicine of Scandinavia, Russia, ... more Roseroot (Rhodiola rosea L.) belongs to important herbs in folk medicine of Scandinavia, Russia, Mongolia, and China. Its therapeutic usage is mainly associated with the adaptogenic properties of this species. Roseroot is characterized by high morphological, phytochemical, and genetic differentiation. The aim of the present work was to determine the biometric and phytochemical co-variability of this taxon. Samples of Rh. rosea were collected from 4-year-old experimental field cultivation established by rhizome division in western Poland. For each plant, the biometric measurements of the clumps, shoots, leaves, and rhizomes with roots were carried out. In the underground plant parts (raw material), the contents of the main active compounds (phenylpropanoids, phenylethanoids, phenolic acids, and catechins) were determined by the HPLC-DAD method. K-means clustering analysis showed three well-separated plant groups of Rh. rosea that differed significantly in the level of most of the inv...
Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid produced by brown algae and diatoms. This compound has several biolog... more Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid produced by brown algae and diatoms. This compound has several biological properties such as antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities. Unfortunately, until now the latter effect has been poorly confirmed. The aim of this study was an evaluation of fucoxanthin activity against 20 bacterial species. Antimicrobial effect of fucoxanthin was determined by using the agar disc-diffusion and micro-dilution methods. The studied carotenoid acted against 13 bacteria growing in aerobic conditions. It was observed to have a significantly stronger impact on Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria. Mean zones of growth inhibition (ZOIs) for Gram-positive bacteria ranged between 9.0 and 12.2 mm, while for Gram-negative were from 7.2 to 10.2 mm. According to the agar disc-diffusion method, the highest activity of fucoxanthin was exhibited against Streptococcus agalactiae (mean ZOI 12.2 mm), Staphylococcus epidermidis (mean ZOI 1...
SummaryThe inflorescence ofThe research aimed to determine the local variation in yield and conte... more SummaryThe inflorescence ofThe research aimed to determine the local variation in yield and content of flavonoids and phenolic acids in the yellow everlasting inflorescence against the background of the layer structure of vegetation as the rate of plant succession.The plant raw material was collected from 30 plots of 1 mEverlastings reached a cover of up to 70% and the maximum air-dry matter yield of 46.42 g/mYellow everlasting is an important species of early fallows on poor sandy soils and these habitats constitute a rich natural source of herbal raw material. Inflorescences harvested from natural sites are distinguished by a high and similar content of polyphenols and usually meet the requirements of Polish Pharmacopoeia.
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