The effect of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead on the genotoxic activity of Boletaceae family mushrooms present in Serbia

The aim of this study was to determine accumulation of heavy metals and metalloids which are widely distributed in the environment and in food chain using wild edible mushrooms belonging to the Boletaceae family mushrooms. In addition, methanol extracts of mushrooms were tested for in vitro protective effect by the cytochalasin-B blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay using chromosome aberrations in human peripheral lymphocytes as a model. The genotoxic activity of methanol extracts prepared at 4 different concentrations (1, 2, 3 or 6 µg/ml) was examined using amifostine and mitomycin C as positive controls. Extracts of species B. regius and B. edulis exhibited the greatest reduction in the frequency of micronuclei (MN). Extract of B. regius at concentrations of 2 µg/ml showed the highest decrease in number of MN. In comparison, extract of mushroom B. edulis at a concentration of 3 µg/ml displayed less reduction. However, as heavy metals and metalloids are found in mushrooms, another aim was to examine whether these agents affected genotoxicity. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified clustering differences between control and heavy metals and metalloids groups and might explain the influence of heavy element content and genotoxic activity in mushrooms.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Micromeria Bentham species

Published papers considering antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Micromeria Bentham species were reviewed. Possible relationships between composition and bioactivity were discussed.

Antimicrobial synergism and antagonism of salicylaldehyde in Filipendula vulgaris essential oil

The leaf essential oil of Filipendula vulgaris, consisting mainly of salicylaldehyde (68.6%), was screened for its antimicrobial activity by the disk diffusion and microdilution broth assays. The essential oil remarkably inhibited the growth of all of the tested bacteria and fungi. It seems that the antimicrobial nature of F. vulgaris essential oil can be attributed to the synergistic interactions of the compounds constituting the oil rather than to the presence of a single inhibitory agent. A synergy in salicylaldehyde/linalool mixtures was observed with a maximum interaction situated in the range between 60:40 and 80:20 (mol ratio). At this concentration range (at a dose of 1.7 microg/disk) no microbial growth was observed while the respective pure compounds, at the corresponding quantities, are shown to be dramatically less active. The MIC value for the 60:40 mixture was determined to be less that 0.009 mg/ml. In addition, an antagonistic relationship between salicylaldehyde and methyl salicylate was established. The maximum (negative) interaction was shown to correspond approximately to the mixture at the 40:60 (methyl salicylate/salicylaldehyde) mol ratio resulting in the complete loss of activity at the investigated dose.

[The importance of changes in the septal Q wave induced by exercise in the detection of ischemic heart disease]

Among the numerous variables measured by the electrocardiogram during exercise little attention has been paid to the "septal" Q wave. We examined changes of the "septal" Q wave amplitude during exercise in 43 patients with chest pain. Coronary arteriography showed significant changes in 23 patients and normal arteries in 20. The Q wave amplitude was measured in leads V4-V6 immediately before and at the peak of submaximal bicycle exercise. The amplitude of "septal" Q wave increased during exercise in 11 (55%) patients, and decreased or was not changed in 9 (45%) of the normal subjects (p greater than 0.05). However, the Q wave amplitude increased in 6 (26%) patients, and decreased or was not changed in 17 (74%) patients with ischaemic heart disease (p less than 0.05). Thus, the sensitivity of Q wave analysis in the detection of coronary disease was 74% (p less than 0.05), but specificity was only 55% (p greater than 0.05).