Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Infusions of Different Medicinal Plants for Use in Obstetrics

An X-band (9.3 GHz) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to examine the free radical scavenging activity of the following infusions, which were nonirradiated and exposed to UVA: root of Asparagus racemosus and herbs of Mitchella repens, Cnicus benedictus L., Galega officinalis L., and Eupatorium cannabinum L. The plant materials for obstetrics applications were chosen for analysis. The aims of these studies were to compare the free radical scavenging ability of the tested infusions and to determine the influence of UVA irradiation of the plant materials on interactions of these infusions with free radicals. Both the magnitude and kinetics of the interactions of the infusions with the model DPPH free radicals were examined. The ability to quench the free radicals for the examined plant infusions increases in the following order: Asparagus racemosus (root) < Mitchella repens (herb) < Cnicus benedictus L. (herb) < Galega officinalis L. (herb) < Eupatorium cannabinum L. (herb). The analyzed infusions differ in the kinetics of the interactions with free radicals. The fastest interactions with free radicals characterize the infusions of Galega officinalis L. herb and Eupatorium cannabinum L. herb. The infusion of Mitchella repens herb interacts with free radicals in the slowest way. UVA radiation reduces the antioxidant interactions of all tested infusions, especially the infusion of Eupatorium cannabinum L. herb, which should be protected against UVA radiation during storage. The weakest decrease of free radical scavenging activity was observed for the infusion of the root of Asparagus racemosus exposed to UVA radiation. UVA radiation affected the speed of the free radical interactions of the infusions, depending on the type of plant materials. EPR spectroscopy is useful to examine the free radical scavenging activity of plant infusions, which is helpful to find effective antioxidants for applications in obstetrics and their optimal storage conditions.

Dreimal Wasserdost

SummaryEupatorium cannabinum, E. purpureum und E. perfoliatum: Die drei Wasserdost-Arten sind in der Homöopathie bei fieberhaften Infekten angezeigt. In der Phytotherapie verwendet man hingegen nur E. perfoliatum.

Exchange of Radioactive Phosphorus 32P between the Components of an Artificial Plant Community

In artificial plant communities (wooden cases with soil) the following plants were grown together for one year: case No. 1: <i>Betula verrucosa</i> Ehrh. (2 specimens) and <i>Carex pilosa</i> Scop.; sases No. 2 and 3: <i>Alnus incana</i> (L.) Mnch., <i>Fraxinus excelsior</i> L., <i>Podus avium</i> Mili., <i>Aegopodiurti podagraria</i> L., <i>Eupatorium cannabinum</i> L. and others. Into the stalks or stems of one to three plants of every case ³²P was introduced. After 3 months all the plants in every case contained radiactive phosphorus. There were great differences in ³²P concentration (up to ten-fold) between plants grown in the same case. The concentration of ³²P in plants into which it had not been introduced was of the range of 0.1%.

Invasive species in ass. Trifolio-Agrostietum stoloniferae Markovic 1973 in Backa (Serbia)

In the vegetation of meadows and pastures, due to climate changes and an inadequate and intensive use of hydromeliorative measures, invasive species play a significant role in the degradation of biodiversity. Secondary development of ass. Trifolio-Agrostietum stoloniferae Markovic 1973 stands was observed in Backa, in periodically flooded pastures. Floristic composition of these stands consists of 117 plant species, of which 94 grow in the Danube riverbank region and 97 around the Tisa river. According to the floristic analysis, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Bellis perennis, Carduus nutans, Cirsium arvense, Eupatorium cannabinum, Linaria vulgaris, Lotus corniculatus, Lythrum salicaria, Rumex crispus, and Trifolium repens are characterized as invasive plants of the European region. Moreover, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Eleusine indica and Xanthium spinosum, included in the List of invasive species in AP Vojvodina, are also present. Lythrum salicaria is regarded as one of the 100 most dangerous invasive alien species in the world.