The aim of this study was to determine the effect of gold and silver nanoparticles on the activity of antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (POX), and catalase (CAT)), the free radical scavenging capacity, and the total polyphenol capacity of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) cultivar “Munstead” propagated in vitro. In the experiment, fragments of lavender plants were cultivated in vitro on medium with the addition of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 mg∙dm⁻³ of AgNPs or AuNPs (particle sizes 24.2 ± 2.4 and 27.5 ± 4.8 nm, respectively). It was found that the nanoparticles increase the activity of the antioxidant enzymes APX and SOD; however, the reaction depends on the NP concentration. The highest APX activity is found in plants propagated on media with 2 and 5 mg∙dm⁻³ of AgNPs. AuNPs significantly increase the APX activity when added to media with a concentration of 10 mg∙dm⁻³. The highest SOD activity is recorded at 2 and 5 mg∙dm⁻³ AgNP and AuNP concentrations. The addition of higher concentrations of nanoparticles to culture media results in a decrease in the APX and SOD activity. The addition of AuNPs to culture media at concentrations from 2 to 50 mg∙dm⁻³ increases the POX activity in comparison to its activity when AgNPs are added to the culture media. No significant influence of NPs on the increase in CAT activity was demonstrated. AgNPs and AuNPs increased the free radical scavenging capacity (ABTS^•+). The addition of NPs at concentrations of 2 and 5 mg∙dm⁻³ increased the production of polyphenols; however, in lower concentrations it decreased their content in lavender tissues.

The aim of this study was determined how an addition of gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) and silver NPs (AgNPs) into culture media affects plant development and formation of oil glands in narrow-leaved lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) cv. ‘Munstead’. Plant shoots were propagated on media supplemented with 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mg dm⁻³ AuNPs or AgNPs (diameter of 24.2 ± 2.4 nm and 27.5 ± 4.8 nm). Both of NPs positively influenced the growth and development of lavender propagated in vitro. The culture media with NPs stimulated formation of shoots and increased plant weight. Roots of plants propagated on the media supplemented with NPs were usually longer than those in the control. Only high concentrations of NPs (20 and 50 mg dm⁻³) in the culture media were toxic to plants, as demonstrated by restricted shoot length and gradual decrease in the value of other morphological features. Increases in AgNPs concentration caused the number of secretory trichomes to decrease. The diameter of the trichomes on both sides of the leaf blade was larger when the plants were propagated on the media supplemented with 1 and 2 mg dm⁻³ NPs. The diameter of trichomes formed on the adaxial surface of the leaf blade was greatest in the media enriched with 2 mg dm⁻³ AgNPs and 5 mg dm⁻³ AuNPs, and smallest in the media enriched with 5 mg dm⁻³ AgNPs. The diameter of trichomes formed on the abaxial surface was largest in plants exposed to 1, 2, 5 and 10 mg dm⁻³ AuNPs, 1 mg dm⁻³ AgNPs, and smallest in plants exposed to 5 mg dm⁻³ AgNPs.

The aim of this study was to determine how the addition of gold and silver nanoparticles to culture media affects the composition of essential oils extracted from Lavandula angustifolia propagated on MS media with the addition of 10 and 50 mg·dm⁻³ of gold (24.2 ± 2.4 nm) and silver (27.5 ± 4.8 nm) nanocolloids. The oil extracted from the lavender tissues propagated on the medium with 10 mg·dm⁻³ AgNPs (silver nanoparticles) differed the most with respect to the control; oil-10 compounds were not found at all, and 13 others were detected which were not present in the control oil. The addition of AuNPs (gold nanoparticles) and AgNPs to the media resulted in a decrease of lower molecular weight compounds (e.g., α- and β-pinene, camphene, δ-3-carene, p-cymene, 1,8-cineole, trans-pinocarveol, camphoriborneol), which were replaced by those of a higher molecular weight (τ- and α-cadinol 9-cedranone, cadalene, α-bisabolol, cis-14-nor-muurol-5-en-4-one, (E,E)-farnesol).

Purpose: Non-specific inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. More and more often attention is paid to the possibility of dietary support for inflammatory bowel diseases. Methods: The following review article considers the role of dietary components in the treatment of IBD as: pteridines, probiotics, bovine immunoglobulin, vitamin D, omega-3, flavonoids, polyphenols, curcumin and phosphatidylcholine. The article also discusses plant raw materials of arjuna, soy protein and nettles, trying to summarize their effect on quenching the inflammatory process within the intestines. This review focuses on the possibilities of dietary components and supplementation use to improve the pharmacotherapy response as well as the general clinical patients’ condition. Results: The mechanism of action of supportive therapy is based on reduction in oxidative stress, maintaining the adequate balance between Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes by affecting cytokines, increasing riboflavin supply for macrophages, increasing expression of vitamin D receptor, regulation by decreasing the expression of NF-κB in liver cells and ability to inhibit the COX2 entrance and inactivate prostaglandins that are involved in the inflammatory process and 12-lipoxygenase pathway inhibition. Conclusion: Considering clinical researches, it seems that the use of the above-mentioned ingredients in the diet of patients suffering IBD may positively influence the treatment process and maintenance of remission.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) mediate the transmission of signals between the microbiome and the immune system and are responsible for maintaining balance in the anti-inflammatory reaction. Pregnancy stages alter the gut microbiota community structure, which also synthesizes SCFAs. The study involved 90 pregnant women, divided into two groups: 48 overweight/obese pregnant women (OW) and 42 pregnant women with normal BMI (CG). The blood samples for glucose, insulin, and HBA1c were analyzed as well as stool samples for SCFA isolation (C2:0; C3:0; C4:0i; C4:0n; C5:0i; C5:0n; C6:0i; C6:0n) using gas chromatography. The SCFA profile in the analyzed groups differed significantly. A significant positive correlation between C2:0, C3:0, C4:0n and anthropometric measurements, and between C2:0, C3:0, C4:0n, and C5:0n and parameters of carbohydrate metabolism was found. SCFA levels fluctuate during pregnancy and the course of pregnancy and participate in the change in carbohydrate metabolism as well. The influence of C2:0 during pregnancy on anthropometric parameters was visible in both groups (normal weight and obese). Butyrate and propionate regulate glucose metabolism by stimulating the process of intestinal gluconeogenesis. The level of propionic acid decreases with the course of pregnancy, while its increase is characteristic of obese women, which is associated with many metabolic adaptations. Propionic and linear caproic acid levels can be an important critical point in maintaining lower anthropometric parameters during pregnancy.

The popularization of the gluten-free diet brings with it a fashion for its use, which can harm the treatment of Hashimoto’s disease. The few studies in this regard do not confirm positive changes resulting from a gluten-free diet. At the same time, the presence of other comorbid autoimmune diseases in this group of patients is increasing. This may have important implications for the interpretation of test results and the need for a gluten-free diet in some patients. In this review, the PubMed database was searched for links between a gluten-free diet, Hashimoto’s disease, and autoimmune diseases. When analyzing the available literature, we found no basis for introducing a gluten-free diet for the standard management of Hashimoto patients. The recommended diet is instead an anti-inflammatory diet that levels the supply (to compensate for deficiencies) of vitamin D, iodine, and selenium, which are found in plant products rich in polyphenols, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids, as illustrated in this article.