ADDITIONS TO THE VASCULAR PLANT FLORA OF THE REPUBLIC OF MORDOVIA (RUSSIA): CONTRIBUTION OF THE iNATURALIST PLATFORM

"The (re)check of the iNaturalist data related to the Republic of Mordovia (European Russia) allowed us to find 16 vascular plant species, considered to be new taxa for the vascular plant flora of this region, in comparison to Silaeva et al. (2010). These species are Nonea rossica, Erigeron strigosus, Medicago × varia, Dianthus chinensis, Symphytum × uplandicum, Lamprocapnos spectabilis, Petunia × atkinsiana, Oenothera villosa, Parthenocissus inserta, Reynoutria × bohemica, Eschscholzia californica, Quercus rubra, Digitaria sanguinalis, Lysimachia punctata, Acer ginnala and Stachys byzantina. In addition, we present new data about the distribution of the five species (Silene wolgensis, Amaranthus cruentus, Cruciata laevipes, Euphorbia cyparissias and Achillea leptophylla) found in the Republic of Mordovia since publication of Silaeva et al. (2010). A majority of the species under discussion are alien plants arrived in Mordovia accidentally or considered as cultivated plants escaping in the wild. Taking into account the newly revealed species, the vascular plant flora of the Republic of Mordovia currently includes 1464 species. In this study, we highlight again the relevance and feasibility of the use of the iNaturalist platform, as an effective tool for the study and monitoring of regional and national biodiversity."

Cytotoxic, Antioxidant, and Metabolic Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Euphorbia cyparissias Extracts

Plants of the Euphorbia genus present a wide range of therapeutic applications. This study is aimed at investigating new antidigestive enzyme agents from Euphorbia cyparissias through inhibition of lipid and carbohydrate absorption, to evaluate their potential applications for the treatment of metabolic syndrome. Lipase, phospholipase, protease, α-amylase, β-glucosidase, and xanthine oxidase activities under treatment with aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Euphorbia cyparissias were observed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of these extracts, as well as their antioxidant and cytotoxic effects. Results showed that ethanolic and aqueous extracts exhibited important inhibitory activity in a concentration-related manner on digestive enzymes, which is more effective than the commercial drugs used as controls. Results also showed that, out of the two extracts tested, the ethanolic extract presented the most promising results in inhibiting the activities of all digestive enzymes used. Moreover, the two extracts displayed a higher reducing power than that of the positive control used. The obtained results, together with previous reports in the literature, strongly suggest that Euphorbia cyparissias extracts may be natural inhibitors of the digestive enzymes and thus a potential new drug for metabolic syndrome treatment.

Metal accumulation and tolerance of selected plants of asbestos tailings (Stragari)

The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of 11 metals in the soil of asbestos tailings in Stragari, Serbia, and in the selected plant species that grow on it, to determine the ability of the plant species in accumulation and tolerance of researched metals. Concentrations of elements researched in the soil had this order: Mg> Fe> Ca> Ni> Cr> Mn> Co> Zn> Pb> Cu> Cd. Concentrations of the metals in plants was variable, dependent on the plant species and types of metals, and graded in the order: Mg> Ca> Fe> Ni> Mn> Cr> Zn> Co> Pb> Cu> Cd. The concentrations of Ni and Cr in the investigated soil were above remediation values, as well as the maximum allowable concentration of substances in the soil according to regulation of Republic of Serbia, and the concentration of Cd and Co were above limit values for a given metals in the soil. The metal uptake does not necessarily correlate with metal content in the soil. Metal uptake by plants depends on the bioavailability of the metal in soils, which in turn depends on the retention time of the metal, as well as the interaction with other elements and substances. However, the most Mg, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, Co and Cr were found in species Sanguisorba minor, Ca and Cu in Eryngium serbicum, Ni in Alyssum murale, and Zn in Euphorbia cyparissias. In the Euphorbia cyparissias, it were determined the biological absorption coefficients greater than 1 for Zn and Cu, and in the species Eryngium serbicum and Sanguisorba minor greater than 2 for Cu. The results of this study emphasize the tolerance of several metal by species Sanguisorba minor, present the ability of Euphorbia cyparissias in accumulation of Zn and Cu, as well as of Eryngium serbicum and Sanguisorba minor in accumulation of Cu. Obtained results present the momentary picture of investigated locality, open a lot of questions connected with relationships soil/plant, contents of elements in both systems, their interactions and influences and represented the base for further research.

Heavy metal content and localization in mycorrhizal Euphorbia cyparissias zinc wastes in southern Poland

Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) development, heavy metal uptake by the plant and localization of heavy metals within plant and AM fungal structures, has been investigated in <em>Euphorbia cyparissias</em> collected from zinc wastes in Poland and from two other stands differing in soil parameters. The plant was selected on the basis of preliminary research on mycorrhiza of plants colonizing zinc wastes. <em>E. cyparissias</em> was strongly mycorrhizal and arbuscules were abundant except at the very beginning of the vegetation period. Light microscopy after rhodizoniate staining and SEM equiped with an EDS system have been used to localize heavy metals within the fungal mycelium and mycorrhizal roots. About 80% of the total intraradical mycelium show an increased content of heavy metals in comparison to the remaining 20% where heavy metals were under detection limit. At the same time the number of arbuscules formed by mycelium stained by rhodizoniate is slightly lower than in mycelium containing a low level of these elements. Using the rhodizoniate staining lead was found in epidermal cell walls, root hairs, in mycorrhizal mycelium and in crystaloids deposited within latex and inside cortical cells, around fungal hyphae. SEM observations with EDS system confirmed that these crystaloid depositions contained higher concentrations of Zn than root cell wall and fungal structures.