The study of the R&D in this paper is to determine the range of essential oils (EOs) in the raw materials of species of the genus Thymus of the natural flora in the Carpathian region and their antimicrobial activity. It was found that the component range of EO in species of the genus Thymus depends on the microclimatic conditions of the population. The range of essential oils in the raw material of Th. Serpyllum and Th. Pulegoides is 7–9 mL and Th. Marschallianus is 3.5 mL. The research found that the plants Th. Serpyllum and Th. Pulegoides that grow in sunny habitats have an aromatic mono- and bicyclic monoterpenoid chemotype (K/α-T-neol/ G/p-C/B), with total dominance of carvacrol and p-cymene. The populations of Th. Serpyllum, which grow on the edges of sparse pine forests, and populations of Th. Pullegioide, with denser plant cover and which grow in meadows, have an acyclic and bicyclic monoterpene chemotype (G/α-T-neol/B/K). Plants that grow in the communities of meadow-steppe vegetation have the following chemotypes: Th. Serpyllum—L/K/G with 63% of linalool, Th. Pullegioides—G/α-T-neol/L/B, and Th. Marschallianus—α-T-neol/K/L/α-T-nen/G/B. Of these, the dominant chemotypes are α-terpineol and carvacrol (28:6.5%). A wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity was registered in samples of Th. Pullegoides and Th. Serpyllum that have an aromatic-monoterpenoid chemotype. Essential oils of Th. Pullegoides were dominated by carvacrol, and p-cymene had the highest fungicidal action (41.00 ± 1.0%). Plant populations of Th. Pullegoides and Th. Serpyllum with the aromatic-monoterpenoid chemotype are suggested by R&D to be of use in the pharmaceutical industry. They have high contents of natural components, which are effective in a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity. The EO of Th. Marschallianus had the lowest influence on the inhibition of bacterial and fungal reproduction.

The objective of this work was to map population of common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) in the territory of Slovak Republic. Common juniper is not protected by Slovakian law or the authorities; therefore, there is no law to preserve these plant populations. Biotopes of common juniper consist of light- to heavy-density trees and shrubs. The expansion of its habitat is also connected to human involvement. The loss of juniper naturally in observed plants is caused by a change in land use, loss of feeding pastures for cattle and sheep, and eutrophication of the environment. The current study was focused on monitoring the population of this plant species in the years of 2018–2020, the isolation of essential oils, and the identification of qualitative and quantitative characteristics. It was confirmed that juniper berries usually contain from 0.5 ± 0.05 to 1.8 ± 0.06%, usually 1.2 ± 0.16%, volatile oil depending on geography, altitude, ripeness, and other factors. Volatile oil is made up mostly of monoterpenes, mainly α-pinene (from 37.60 ± 2.23 to 61.00 ± 0.60%), β-myrcene (from 8.03 ± 2.02 to 10.56 ± 0.05%), and sabinene (from 3.50 ± 0.30 to 22.0 ± 0.96%). The dendrogram was constructed after a hierarchical cluster analysis based on the essential oil substances, which showed four different confirmed chemotypes. The essential oil is widely used in medicines, perfumes, insect repellents, insecticides, shoe polish, and in microscopy as a clearing agent of an immersion oil. The quality and chemotypes of juniper berries are very important for the Slovak national beverage “Borovicka” and the distillery industry on a whole in this country.

Juniper cones are widely used in the food industry and medicine. The aim of this study was to identify juniper growth sites with the highest concentrations of carbohydrates, fats, organic acids and phenols in their cone berries, as well as to assess their antioxidant properties. Research was conducted on 23 different populations from Slovakia, along with fruits purchased from commercial sources in Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic. The content of fermentable sugars in industrial samples was higher in Juniperus communis than in J. oxycedrus (360 and 197 g/kg, respectively), and 20% higher in samples from Albania than those from Slovakia. The carbohydrates included glucose and fructose; the latter was 35% less. We selected groups based on a cluster analysis of the content of organic substances in juniper cone berries and their antioxidant activity, collected from different Slovakian populations. So, based on the conducted research, it was established that the content of organic substances, particularly sugars, in cone berries decreased with elevation in the mountains and was the best at medium altitudes. At the same time, the antioxidant effect was better in cone berries collected on the north side at all altitudes. The best in terms of the content of phenols and antioxidant activity were the populations located on the northern, rather steep slopes in the lowlands of the Slovak Carpathians. These indicators fell with the increase in altitude in the mountains, especially from the southern side. The best places to collect raw materials are populations from middle latitudes: Chhrámec, Teplá dolina, lokalita 1, Horné lazy, Iliaš, Priechod-South, Priechod-West, Spišsky hrad, Selčianske sedlo, Cerovo, Poprad, Kišovce–Hôrka, Ostrá hora, Teplá dolina 2, Kráľová 2, and Kráľová 1. The cone berries can be used as the raw material base for producing the Slovak national alcoholic drink “Borovichka”.

Biol. Stud. 2020: 14(2); 27–38 • DOI: https://doi.org/10.30970/sbi.1402.621 ANTI-MICROBIAL, ANTI-BIOFILM-FORMING PROPERTIES OF ORIGANUM VULGARE L. ESSENTIAL OILS ON STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND ITS ANTIOXIDANT ACTION

The article deals with the history of development of veterinary medicine in the Eastern Europe (Austria-Hungary) and Galicia from the Middle Ages to our days. Particular attention is paid to the history of use of plants in veterinary practice. Herbal treatment of animals in the past times was described in Martin Cech's book The book of Horses Treatment (Budapest, 1797). An analysis of modern literature was conducted with the issue of use of plants in veterinary medicine. Basically, it is the use of phytodactyls for feed as an alternative to antibiotics, dyes or other synthetic medicines in pig breeding, poultry farming, fish farming, dairy cattle-breeding and for reducing the bacteriological contamination of food, feed additives and veterinary drugs as well. These actions ensure the ecological safety of livestock products. In modern veterinary plants and their extracts are used as phytodactyls for feed, in particular: Silybum marianum, Echinacea purpurea, Tagetes erecta that increase chickens’ and piglets’ body weight gain, decrease level of diseases and improve organoleptic indicators of carcasses of broiler chickens. Due to the content of various biologically active substances herbal preparations have antimicrobial, immunostimulating, general health improving effect on an animal’s organism. Phytopreparations are used to improve digestion, enhance immunity, growth and reduce morbidity of animals. Phytopreparations are used as bactericidal medications for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. With prophylactic and curative aim are used phytodactylos, such as “Fitovet”, “Aciprogentin” і “Progentin”, “Species chamomillae SPOFA”. Galega orientalis, Origanum vulgare, species of the genus Philadelphus and other medical plants that contain a huge amount of flavonoids and essential oils. They have bactericidal properties and can be used for prophylactic and treatment of diseases and air disinfections on farms. Unfortunately, we still do not know much about the herbal treatment of animals. The modern veterinarian does not have enough knowledge about the possibilities of using medicinal plants in veterinary medicine.

Biol. Stud. 2015: 9(1); 163–176 • DOI: https://doi.org/10.30970/sbi.0901.394 ANALYSIS OF SYNANTROPIC FLORA OF YAVORIV NATIONAL NATURE PARK