Hyssopus officinalis L. is a well-known aromatic plant used in traditional medicine and the food and cosmetics industry. The aim of this study is to assess the antioxidant, genotoxic, antigenotoxic and cytotoxic properties of characterized hyssop essential oils and methanol extracts. Chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography with diode array detection and mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-MS), respectively. Antioxidant activity was examined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) tests; genotoxic and antigenotoxic activity were examined by the comet assay, while cytotoxicity was evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide dye (MTT) test against tumor cell lines (SW480, MDA-MB 231, HeLa) and non-transformed human lung fibroblast cell lines (MRC-5). The essential oils were rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons (e.g., limonene; 7.99–23.81%), oxygenated monoterpenes (1,8-cineole; 38.19–67.1%) and phenylpropanoids (methyl eugenol; 0.00–28.33%). In methanol extracts, the most abundant phenolics were chlorogenic and rosmarinic acid (23.35–33.46 and 3.53–17.98 mg/g, respectively). Methanol extracts expressed moderate to weak antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 56.04–199.89 µg/mL, FRAP = 0.667–0.959 mmol Fe²⁺/g). Hyssop preparations significantly reduced DNA damage in human whole blood cells, induced by pretreatment with hydrogen peroxide. Methanol extracts exhibited selective and potent dose- and time-dependent activity against the HeLa cell line. Results of the current study demonstrated notable H. officinalis medicinal potential, which calls for further investigation.

Background/Aim. Plant essential oils (EOs) can have a significant antibacterial effect especially through additive or synergistic action as antibiotic adjuvants. We investigated the composition and activity of EOs of two species of genus Salvia (S) from Greece with the aim to determine their antimicrobial activity as well as the activity in combination with selected antibiotics. Methods. The aerial parts of wild-growing S. fruticosa and S. ringens were subjected to a steam distillation and the obtained EOs were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The broth-microdilution method was used in order to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of EOs on seven strains of bacteria and one yeast. Antimicrobial activity of the combination of EO and antibiotics was investigated by checkerboard method and estimated by calculating fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) of each component and fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI). Results. Dominant component of S. fruticosa EO was transthujone (54.2%) and for S. ringens EO i t w as ?-pinene (28.1%). The MICs of EOs of both species were in the range from 200 ?g/mL to > 500 ?g/mL. The strongest antimicrobial effect was achieved against Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans. According to FICI values, EO of S. fruticosa had additive effect with ciprofloxacin against most of bacterial strains but not with amikacin. Conclusion. The essential oils of S. ringens and S. fruticosa showed modest antimicrobial activity. However, the essential oil of S. fruticosa showed a promising additive effect in combination with ciprofloxacin.

In this work, the overall morpho-anatomical variability of Teucrium montanum sensu lato on the Balkan Peninsula was described. A total of 60 populations were collected all over the Balkans. For each analysed individual, the morphological characters of the stem, leaves, and flowers, as well as the anatomical characters of leaves were measured. The habitats of each population were characterized by altitude zone, type of geological substrate, vegetation, and climate type. Basic descriptive statistics were calculated for each character state, and multivariate analyses were used to compare all assessed characters and groups. The results showed that the analysed populations exhibit high morphological variability and broad ecological preferences. Five of the seven morphologically defined groups fit the already described taxa (T. montanum subsp. montanum, T. montanum subsp. helianthemoides, T. pannonicum, T. skorpili, T. montanum var. parnassicum), whereas two groups are morphologically specific but did not fit the existing taxonomic concepts. The patterns of observed morphological variability only partially match the patterns of ecological differentiation of the habitats of the analysed populations. The occurrence of different morphological groups inhabiting similar habitats in the same biogeographic region suggests that the morpho-anatomical differentiation of T. montanum s.l. may be due to genetic or evolutionary factors.

Based on the previously known therapeutic properties of the active principles from essential plant oils, we investigated the antinociceptive effects of p-cymene (PC) and cinnamaldehyde (CNA) on carrageenan (CG)-induced inflammatory hyperalgesia in female Wistar rats, as well as their relationship with the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway. Hyperalgesia was induced by intraplantar administration of CG (500 µg) into the rat hind paw, lasting 6 hours. The electronic von Frey apparatus measured the paw withdrawal threshold induced by pressure. Motor coordination in PC-treated animals was assessed using the Rota-rod test. PC and CNA (5, 25, 50 mg/kg BW), administered orally 50 minutes before CG, reduced CG-induced hyperalgesia, with PC showing a significantly dose-dependent (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001) and stronger antinociceptive effect (p<0.001) than CNA. Compared to diclofenac (10 mg/kg), PC (50 mg/kg) demonstrated superior antinociceptive activity (p<0.001), while CNA (50 mg/kg) had a lower effect (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). Co-administration of PC (5 mg/kg) or CNA (5 mg/kg) with NOS inhibitors L-NAME (5 mg/kg) or AG (0.3 mg/kg) significantly enhanced the antinociceptive effect (p<0.01, p<0.001), with PC+L-NAME showing greater potentiation (p<0.001) than PC+AG. L-ARG (10 mg/kg), an NO donor, significantly reduced or reversed the antinociceptive effect of PC/CNA+NOS inhibitors (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). In the Rota-rod test, PC (100 mg/kg BW) did not impair motor coordination or cause CNS depression in female rats. Given their significant antinociceptive effects on CG-induced hyperalgesia, the close relationship between the L-arginine-NO system and their mechanism of action, and the fact that PC does not adversely affect the CNS, both PC and CNA are promising candidates for the development of new analgesic drugs in veterinary practice