Inflammation is a natural protective response of the human body to a variety of hostile agents and noxious stimuli. Standard anti-inflammatory therapy includes drugs whose usage is associated with a number of side effects. Since ancient times, natural compounds have been used for the treatment of inflammation. Traditionally, the use of medicinal plants is considered safe, inexpensive, and widely acceptable. In Serbia, traditional medicine, based on the strong belief in the power of medicinal herbs, is the widespread form of treatment. This is supported by the fact that Serbia is classified as one of 158 world centers of biodiversity, which confirms that this country is a treasure of medicinal herbs. Some of the most used herbs for the treatment of inflammations of various causes in Serbian tradition are yarrow, common agrimony, couch grass, onion, garlic, marshmallow, common birch, calendula, liquorice, walnut, St. John’s wort, chamomile, peppermint, white willow, sage, and many others. The biological activity and anti-inflammatory effect of selected plants are attributed to different groups of secondary biomolecules such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, sterols, terpenoids, sesquiterpenes, and tannins. This paper provides an overview of plants with traditional anti-inflammatory use in Serbia with reference to available studies that examined this effect. Plants used in traditional medicine could be a powerful source for the development of new remedies. Therefore intensive research on the bioactive potential of medicinal plants in each region should be the focus of scientists around the world.

The genus Achillea has significant medical potential due to the presence of highly bioactive compounds in its chemical composition. To take advantage of plants’ biomedical potential, it is of great importance to use a proper extraction process. This study aimed to determine and compare the preliminary chemical composition of five different Achillea species extracted with two conventional (infusion and maceration) and two non-conventional (ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and Subcritical water extraction (SWE)) techniques. The extracts were prepared using the previously described procedures for infusion, maceration, UAE and SWE extraction. For all extracts, the extraction yield (dry extract (DE)) was determined. The analyzed extracts were preliminarily chemically characterized spectrophotometrically in terms of total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The obtained results showed that non-conventional techniques delivered higher values of TPC and TFC than conventional. There is a statistically significant increase in DE and TPC content when applying SWE for all observed Achillea species. The highest DE value, 48.80 ± 1.76%, was observed for A. asplenifolia. The highest TPC values were observed after applying SWE: 93.63 ± 1.01 mg GAE/g DE for A. millefolium, and 90.12 ± 0.87 mg GAE/g DE for A. crithmifolia. The results for TFC revealed a statistically significant difference in values, with A. nobilis subsp. nelreichii as the sample with the highest content of TFC (11.11 ± 0.22 mg QE/g DE) when using UAE. Consequently, it could be concluded that SWE is a superior non-conventional extraction technique, and A. nobilis subsp. nerleichii presents as the most promising plant.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to determine the phenolic composition of sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua L., Asteraceae) from controlled cultivation in Serbia and to assess the potential antioxidant effects and cytotoxicity. Methods: High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the phenolic composition of Artemisia annua ethanolic extract. The antioxidant activity was studied using in vitro tests of inhibition of the neutralization of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl (OH), and nitroso (NO) radicals, as well as the process of inhibiting lipid peroxidation and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The cytotoxicity was evaluated by the effect on three cell lines (the rat pancreatic insulinoma cell line (Rin-5F), the rat hepatoma cell line (H4IIE), and human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep G2)) using the MTT test of viability. Results: Ethanol extract showed the highest potency in inhibiting the DPPH radical, and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was 5.17 μg/mL. Chlorogenic acid was the dominant phenolic compound with an amount of 651 μg/g of dry extract. The results of the MTT viability test showed that the extract has the potential to inhibit the growth of the Rin-5F and Hep G2 cell lines, while no growth inhibition was observed on the H4IIE cell line. Conclusions: Undoubtedly, Artemisia annua is a powerful plant and a rich source of phenolic compounds. Inhibitory activity on causes of oxidative stress shows that the plant has a good antioxidant effect. Also, the anticancer activity shown through the inhibition of cell growth is not negligible.

Background: Aromatic plants like peppermint (Mentha x piperita, Lamiaceae) have a long tradition of use. Most of the plant material is used to produce herbal drugs and for the isolation of essential oils. However, since essential oils are present in very small amounts, the largest proportion of plants remains unused. Objectives: The aims of this study were the analysis of chemical, biochemical, antimicrobial, and pharmacological properties of peppermint waste material extracts (derived from stems, post-distillation waste, and deodorized leaves) in comparison with the officially prepared extract. Results: The obtained results revealed that the investigated peppermint waste extracts (PWEs) are a rich source of phenolic compounds, where rosmarinic acid was determined as the dominant one (7.05–21.19 mg/g d.e.). Antioxidant potential and hepatoprotective effect of PWE were comparable with the official extract, where the most active ones were those prepared by treating the deodorized leaves with both 45% and 75% ethanol. In addition, PWE exhibited notable antimicrobial and anticholinesterase activity. Results of pharmacological studies on experimental animals showed that peppermint extracts (official and those made from deodorized leaves) did not interfere with the effect of the tested drugs, midazolam and fluoxetine. The examined extracts neither exerted an influence on motor coordination nor acted as antidepressants. Results of the elevated plus maze test indicated that PWE affected the activity of the central nervous system. Conclusions: PWEs represent a significant source of phenolic compounds, especially rosmarinic acid, and they can be used in the pharmaceutical industry to produce various herbal products and in the food industry as natural additives.

Peppers (Capsicum spp.) represent not only a plant with a demonstrated history of diverse medicinal applications but also a species having non-neglectable adverse effects potential. “Chili burn” or Hunan hand syndrome represents a type of contact dermatitis rarely appearing after using chili peppers. Here, a case of “chili burn” with no specific treatments or sequelae is presented. A young woman presented with contact dermatitis after first- and second-time dermal exposure to a chili pepper. A strong burning sensation appeared shortly after on the hands and around the mouth after exposure to the plant. The patient applied non-specific measures (hand washing with mild soap and rinsing the affected areas with acidic solutions) with minor improvement; finally, the “chili burn” resolved itself. No other medicines were applied, and no consequences were recorded. Although rare, the use of chili pepper has the potential to cause contact dermatitis. The awareness of medical professionals of this entity should provide adequate diagnosis and treatment for patients.