Purpose: Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of UVA radiation and psoralens: 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP) or 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) on melanoma cells viability. Materials and methods: The amelanotic C32 and melanotic COLO829 human melanoma cell lines were exposed to increasing concentrations of psoralens (0.1–100 μM) in the presence or absence of UVA radiation. Cell viability was evaluated by the WST-1 assay. Results: We demonstrated that 8-MOP, in contrast to 5-MOP, has no cytotoxic effect on both melanoma cell lines. Simultaneous exposure of cells to 8-MOP and UVA radiation caused significant cytotoxic response in C32 cells where the EC₅₀ value was estimated to be 131.0 μM (UVA dose: 1.3 J/cm²) and 105.3 μM (UVA dose: 2.6 J/cm²). The cytotoxicity of 5-MOP on both C32 and COLO829 cells was significantly augmented by UVA radiation – the EC₅₀ was estimated to be 22.7 or 7.9 μM (UVA dose: 1.3 J/cm²) and 24.2 or 7.0 μM (UVA dose: 2.6 J/cm²), respectively. Conclusions: The demonstrated high cytotoxic response after simultaneous exposure of melanoma cells to psoralens and UVA radiation in vitro suggests the usefulness of PUVA therapy to treat melanoma in vivo.

(1): The Upper Silesia region of Poland is one of the most extensively altered regions of Europe due to human activity, especially coal mining. (2): We used cluster analysis to examine the floristic composition of three classified forest communities: forests developed on post-coal mine mineral heaps (HF), mixed deciduous forests (DECI), and managed secondary coniferous forests (CON). Vegetation data were collected from 44 randomly selected plots, and plant traits connected with persistence, dispersal, and regeneration were taken from commonly used plant trait databases. (3): Higher species richness, species diversity, and evenness (36, 2.7, and 0.76, respectively) were calculated for HF plots compared with those plots from DECI (22, 1.9, and 0.62) and CON (18, 2.0, and 0.71) plots. Higher functional richness (0.173, 0.76) and functional divergence were determined for HF compared with those calculated for DECI (FRic 0.090, FDiv 0.71) and CON (FRic 0.026, FDiv 0.69). In contrast, the substrate from HF forests had significantly lower soil respiration (0.76 mg-CO₂ h/m²) compared with substrates from both CON and DECI forests (0.90 and 0.96 mg-CO₂ h/m², respectively); (4): A set of complex abiotic stresses which plants suffer from on coal mine spoil heaps shaped different patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity. These findings demonstrate the importance of investigating successional aspects and carbon dynamics of de novo forests which have developed on post-coal mine spoil heaps in urban industrial areas.

Long-term exploitation of mineral resources has significantly changed the natural environment in urban-industrial landscapes. The changes on the surface of the extraction sites as a consequence of excavation of mineral resources provide specific mineral oligotrophic habitats on which plant species and thus vegetation can establish spontaneously. Some of these sites fulfill the prerequisites of novel ecosystems. This study was conducted on the spontaneous vegetation of post-extraction sites. Lists of species spontaneously covering these sites were prepared based on published data and our own records. This research revealed that species composition and vegetation types vary in time. These post-extraction novel ecosystems are also important for the presence of rare, endangered, and protected species noted in patches of different vegetation types. The variety of habitat conditions provided by these sites facilitates the occurrence of a wide spectrum of plants (both in terms of their socio-ecological origin and their ecological spectrum). This research proves how important these post-extraction novel ecosystems are for supporting plant and vegetation diversity in urban-industrial landscapes. Enhancing the biodiversity significantly increases the ecosystem services delivered by these sites and also the functioning of entire ecosystems. These natural processes on human habitats are essential in urban-industrial ecosystem landscape mosaics.

This comprehensive review paper describes how stressful environmental conditions affect the amounts and types of secondary metabolites synthetized by plants, with particular emphasis on plants that spontaneously grow on post-mining sites. Secondary metabolites are compounds that are not directly necessary for the performance of basic life functions by plants but play an important role in the protection against adverse biotic and abiotic factors. Stress conditions stimulate the synthesis of secondary metabolites. The challenging post-mining sites are spontaneously colonized by many plant species, including medical plants. This observation inspired us to conduct the present review study. Apart from the abiotic conditions, the synthesis of secondary metabolites is also influenced by symbionts such as mycorrhizal fungi. A common effect of abiotic stressors is oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Metabolites such as antioxidants maintain the level of ROS at a level safe for the organism. This article presents the current state of knowledge about the impact of habitat conditions on the synthesis of secondary metabolites, which could impact the plant species growing spontaneously in post-mining areas. It considers the possibility of using such post-mining, mineral habitats to enhance these physiological mechanisms for synthesizing secondary metabolites.

Human activity causes changes in habitat conditions. Where habitat conditions have been significantly altered by human activities, novel ecosystems emerge. This paper aims to analyse novel ecosystem parameters, particularly in relation to biodiversity and restoration law. It presents the role of novel ecosystems in ecosystem functioning and their significance within urban-industrial landscapes. Based on extensive literature reviews, that these ecosystems have been a subject of scientific interest for many years. However, comprehensive knowledge of these ecosystems still needs to be broadened. An interdisciplinary approach to their management is essential. The European Union (EU) has implemented various legislative and policy measures aimed at restoring and conserving natural ecosystems and biodiversity across different members states. Key initiatives include the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, EU Habitats Directive, and EU Funding Programs, all of which promote sustainable development and strengthen restoration laws. Only a proper identification and understanding of novel ecosystems and their ecological processes can contribute to implementing relevant legal actions. In the urban industry landscape, the poor mineral post-mining habitat sites have the unique potential to harbor and develop biodiversity hot spots in densely populated areas. Many of these sites with very harsh habitat conditions that have been left to spontaneous processes going on have become protected sites with outstanding biodiversity established (e.g., Bytom city). Such examples in Silesia (S Poland) provide proof that such solutions should be a constant element of the post-mining site management plans.

Ze względu na potrzebę usystematyzowania wiadomości o roślinach leczniczych wykorzystywanych w Polsce, podstawowymi celami prezentowanej pracy są: utworzenie listy roślin leczniczych wykorzystywanych w Polsce ze wskazaniem źródła rekomendacji medyczno-farmaceutycznych, surowców z nich pozyskiwanych, a także najważniejszych preparatów zawierających składniki/substancje z nich pochodzące i ich działań leczniczych; wskazanie źródła surowców pochodzących z poszczególnych roślin (pozyskiwanie z natury, uprawa, import); określenie zagrożeń dla flory (przede wszystkim rodzimej), jakie niesie ze sobą eksploatacja surowców zielarskich ze stanu naturalnego. Opracowanie przedstawia aktualny (do 2023 r.) stan wiedzy na temat roślin leczniczych aktualnie dopuszczonych do stosowania w medycynie konwencjonalnej w Polsce. /ze Wstępu/