The fruits of Cornus mas and Cornus officinalis have been known and appreciated in folk medicine for years and have a high biological value, which is mainly connected with their polyphenols and iridoids content. However, hybrids of C. mas × C. officinalis have not been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the iridoids, anthocyanins, and flavonols content, and antioxidant capacity of Cornus mas, Cornus officinalis, and C. mas × C. officinalis. Iridoids and flavonoids were quantified by the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method. Antioxidant capacity (AC) was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^•), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS^•+), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) tests. Total phenolic content (TPC) was evaluated using the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent. Among the C. mas cultivars and C. officinalis genotypes, there was considerable variation in the content of iridoids, flavonoids, and AC. Interspecific hybrids C. mas × C. officinalis contained more iridoids than C. mas and more anthocyanins than C. officinalis and additionally had higher AC and TPC than C. officinalis and most C. mas. AC, TPC, and the presence of iridoids, anthocyanins, and flavonols in hybrids C. mas × C. officinalis are reported for the first time. The Cornus species deserve special attention due to their highly biologically active substances, as well as useful medicinal properties.

BACKGROUND: A diet rich in fruits and fruit-based products could improve human health. Jujube fruit is getting popularized in the world due to the high content of vitamin C, phenolic, flavonoids, polysaccharides and natural colorant properties. OBJEC

Background. Sea buckthorn is a good and possible source of a wide range of bioactive compounds with a positive effect on the human body, especially polyphenols and carotenoids. Materials and methods. The present study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Hippophae rhamnoides L. products - 100% oil, 100% juice, dry berries, and tea (dry berries, leaves, and twigs). The antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH radical scavenging and molybdenum reducing antioxidant power methods. The content of phytochemicals (polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids) was measured by colorimetric methods. The detection of antimicrobial activity was carried out using the disc diffusion method and an evaluation of minimal inhibition concentration against three species of Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli CCM 3988, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica CCM 3807, Yersinia enterocolitica CCM 5671, and three Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus thuringiensis CCM 19, Listeria monocytogenes CCM 4699, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus CCM 2461. Results. All the tested sea buckthorn products had a high antioxidant activity. The highest content of total polyphenols (204.26 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (30.00 mg QE/g), and carotenoids (0.34 mg/g) were identified in 100% sea buckthorn juice. Maximal values of the antioxidant activity were found using the DPPH method for 100% oil (8.75 mg TE/g) and molybdenum reducing power for tea (196.41 mg TE/g). All the tested products showed strong antimicrobial activity against the tested bacteria, confirmed by both methods - disc diffusion (especially for Yersinia enterocolitica CCM 5671) and minimal inhibitory concentration. Conclusion. The pronounced antioxidant and antibacterial properties of sea buckthorn products indicate the importance of sea buckthorn application in health promotion and agricultural practice.

Hydro distilled essential oils in air-dry samples of aerial parts of Solidago canadensis L., (Asteraceae) from eight local invasive populations were investigated by GC-MS analysis. A comparative study on quantity and composition of the essential oils obtained from plants, growing in different ecological and climatic conditions, ontogenesis phase and different plant organs was carried out The major compounds detected in oil samples of S. canadensis were α-pinene (1.3 - 61.27%), limonene (0.5 - 22.5%), bornyl acetat (3.4 - 29.8%) and germacrene D (1.8 - 39.2%). Samples from inflorescences contained the maximal percentage of monoterpene hydrocarbons, while the leaves' samples showed the maximal cumulative percentage of sesquiterpene and monoterpene hydrocarbons. Data obtained from our studies confirm the availability of alien invasive species Solidago canadensis for medicine and many other purposes. The variability of the qualitative and quantitative composition of essential oils in different geographical locations will allow futher selection of form containing the maximum amount of active substances.

BACKGROUND: Black mulberry is a good source of bioactive compounds and especially of anthocyanin. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological, biochemical, technological and antioxidant properties of black mulberry fruit

Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) is a fruit species, whose fruits have a high therapeutic value and therefore are used in many countries in traditional medicine. Chinese quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis Schneid.) is a lesser used species, although it is a relative of quince. The aim of the study was to evaluate some morphological characters of both kinds of fruit and antioxidant activity of morphological parts of the fruit. For these experiments, two genotypes were used from each species growing in the Arboretum Mlyňany (Slovakia). We determined the antioxidant activity of different parts by the DPPH method. In the genotypes from the evaluated species C. oblonga/P. sinensis we determined the average weight of the fruit in the fresh condition to be in the range 147.61 - 253.27 g / 197.85 - 466.38 g, the exocarp weight 28.50 - 43.89 g / 24.85 - 45.10 g, the mesocarp weight 116.36 - 204.99 g / 160.30 - 389.80 g, the seed weight 1.05 - 1.54 g / 9.22 - 17.42 g, the height of fruit 74.09 - 80.88 mm / 98.06 - 124.48 mm, average of fruit 60.11 - 81.51 mm / 62.33 - 88.64 mm. In aqueous extracts we determined antioxidant activity of the species C. oblonga / P. sinensis in dry exocarp in the range 43.52 - 67.73% / 52.76 - 82.20%, in fresh mesocarp 7.36 -14.78% / 15.30 - 23.50%, in dry mesocarp 30.92 - 41.30% / 41.68 - 50.15% and dry endocarp 55.19 - 76.44% / 91.20 - 92.72%. We determined antioxidant activity in methanolic extracts of the species C. oblonga / P. sinensis in dry exocarp in the range 93.29 - 93.32% / 91.87 - 93.25%, in fresh mesocarp 10.29 - 36.0% / 17.10 - 17.11%, in dry mesocarp 54.55 - 74.11% / 80.39 - 84.11% and in dry endocarp 95.14 - 95.39% / 94.97 - 95.62%. Results document that the fruits of both species can be practically used in the preparation of many dishes, while they can be used as raw material for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use.