Beebread is processed pollen stored in the cells of the honeycomb, with the addition of various enzymes and honey, which undergoes lactic acid fermentation. Ethanolic extracts (EBBs) were obtained from three different samples of beebread from Poland. Assays were carried out for the determination of chemical composition (GC/MS), for the total phenolic content, and for the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. The effects of beebread extracts (10, 20, 30, 50, 100 μg/mL) on the viability of the glioblastoma cell line (U87MG) were studied after 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Our results indicated a time-dependent inhibitory effect on the viability of U87MG cells treated EBB. The main inhibitory effect of EBB was observed after 72 h; EBB treatment decreased cell viability to 49 - 66%.

Dietary habits and adequate dietary intake of antioxidants in the diet may be one of the most important environmental factors for the prevention of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Psoriasis is a common, an inflammatory skin disease. Trace elements may play an active role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The aim of this study was to estimate the concentration of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and Cu/Zn ratio as well as total antioxidant status (TAS) and c-reactive protein (CRP) in the serum of patients with psoriasis. In this case-control study sixty patients with psoriasis and fifty-eight healthy people were examined. Serum levels of Se, Zn and Cu were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Cu/Zn ratio was calculated. TAS was measured spectrophotometrically. CRP was analyzed by immunoturbidimetric method. Clinical activity of psoriasis was evaluated using Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Serum concentration of Se in patients with psoriasis (71.89±16.90μg/L) was lower as compared to the control group (79.42±18.97μg/L) and after NB-UVB. Cu level of patients was higher (1.151±0.320mg/L) as compared to controls (1.038±0.336mg/L), but Zn level did not differ. We observed higher Cu/Zn ratio (p<0.05) in examined patients than in the control group and after NB-UVB. We found decrease TAS before and after NB-UVB. CRP levels was found to be normal range. A significant correlation coefficient between CRP and Cu/Zn was observed. The study showed some disturbances in the serum levels of trace elements and TAS in psoriatic patients.

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are toxic elements which, when ingested excessively in food and drinking water, accumulate in selected organs and pass through the placenta barrier to the foetus, showing teratogenic effects. The aim of the study was to determine the concentration of Cd and Pb in blood and placental tissue in women who miscarried. The study group consisted of 83 women who miscarried. The control group included 35 women in the first trimester of pregnancy and after childbirth. The experimental materials consisted of whole blood and fragments of placental tissue. The concentrations of Cd and Pb were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) with electrothermal atomization in a graphite furnace and by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) in standard mode. The average concentration of Cd (2.730 ± 2.07 µg/L) and Pb (35.54 ± 11.0 µg/L) in the blood of women with miscarriage was higher in comparison to the level of these toxic metals in the blood of women from the control group (Cd 1.035 ± 0.59 µg/L; Pb 27.11 ± 4.6 µg/L). The average Cd (214.4 ± 514 µg/L) and Pb (199.6 ± 348 µg/L) content in the placenta of women with miscarriage was higher in comparison to the amount of these elements in the placenta of women from the control group (Cd 127.4 ± 85 ng/L; Pb 26.35 ± 7.9 ng/L). Tobacco smoking significantly affected cadmium blood levels and the placental tissue content in women who miscarried. Elevated Cd and Pb concentrations in the blood and placenta of pregnant women may be connected with the occurrence of miscarriage; therefore, the levels of these heavy metals should be monitored in women who plan pregnancy. It seems that determining the level of molar ratio between toxic metal and antioxidant elements can be analyzed as a marker for selection for control examinations as a valuable complement to existing diagnostic procedures in prevention, especially in early pregnancy. Additional diagnostic methods should be established as new tools in perinatal care in order to enable early diagnosis of pregnancy pathology and, especially, to prevent miscarriage.