The liver is a highly metabolically active organ, and one of the causes of its dysfunction is the damage caused by drugs and their metabolites as well as dietary supplements and herbal preparations. A common feature of such damage is drugs, which allows it to be defined as drug-induced liver injury (DILI). In this review, we analysed available research findings in the global literature regarding the effects of green tea and/or its phenolic compounds on liver function in the context of protective action during prolonged exposure to xenobiotics. We focused on the direct detoxifying action of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in the liver, the impact of EGCG on gut microbiota, and the influence of microbiota on liver health. We used 127 scientific research publications published between 2014 and 2024. Improving the effectiveness of DILI detection is essential to enhance the safety of patients at risk of liver damage and to develop methods for assessing the potential hepatotoxicity of a drug during the research phase. Often, drugs cannot be eliminated, but appropriate nutrition can strengthen the body and liver, which may mitigate adverse changes resulting from DILI. Polyphenols are promising owing to their strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well as their prebiotic effects. Notably, EGCG is found in green tea. The results of the studies presented by various authors are very promising, although not without uncertainties. Therefore, future research should focus on elucidating the therapeutic and preventive mechanisms of polyphenols in the context of liver health through the functioning of gut microbiota affecting overall health, with particular emphasis on epigenetic pathways.

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of cut vegetative shoots of chosen lawn grass cultivars of Festuca being left on the lawn sward surface on the species composition, sodding and appearance, and over-wintering of the lawn. The influence of decomposing biomass was studied in a field experiment between 2008 and 2014. Each cultivar was sown as a monoculture on microplots with an area of 1 m2. The control consisted of sites from which the cut sward had been removed immediately after cutting.The results obtained may indicate an allelopathic effect of the cut sward of the cultivars left on the lawn surfaces. The following had the most negative effects on the species composition of the lawn sward (from greater to lesser negative impact): F. ovina ‘Espro’, F. rubra ‘Areta’, F. arundinacea ‘Asterix’, and F. ovina ‘Pintor’. With the exception of ‘Espro’, these cultivars also limited the presence of dicotyledonous plants in the lawn sward. The cover of dicotyledonous plants and other unsown grasses was also recorded on the sites with F. rubra ‘Olivia’ and ‘Nimba’. The greatest negative influence on the sodding of the lawn swards was demonstrated by the latter F. rubra cultivar, whereas F. ovina ‘Espro’ had the greatest negative influence on the appearance. However, no differences were found in assessments of over-wintering of the cultivars at the study sites. However, taking into account the scale of these impacts on the characteristics evaluated, the cultivars of Festuca species tested can be recommended for extensive use, where a cut sward can be left on the surface of the lawn. Some caution in this respect is recommended when it comes to F. ovina ‘Espro’ and F. rubra ‘Areta’ and ‘Nimba’.

The paper presents floristic diversity of some plant communities in the Nadwieprzański Landscape Park (middle part of the Wieprz River valley). Phytosociological relevés were made in the years 2005-2007 with Braun-Blanquet method. Species richness was a base to calculate the Shannon-Wiener diversity index. The Wieprz River valley has the character of a floodplain. In its middle reaches, communities of the Molinio- Arrhenatheretea class accounted for nearly 75% of all plant communities in grasslands. Herbaceous communities were represented by associations from the Filipendulion alliance. The greatest diversity (H’ = 3.4) was characteristic for vegetation of the Valeriano-Filipenduletum association. It formed small patches in abandoned meadows. Small patches of plants from the Lythro-Filipenduletum ulmariae association, having a slightly smaller floristic diversity (H’ = 3.0) were found on abandoned meadows located in highly silted and poor organic soils. Characteristic species of herbaceous communities (Filipendula ulmaria, Valeriana officinalis and Lythrum salicaria) occurred also in the sward of abandoned thistle meadows. Typical thistle meadows (Cirsietum rivularis), with the predominance of Cirsium rivulare developed in land depressions, not far from the Wieprz River, in the vicinity of abandoned drainage ditches and along the edges of the valley. However, the total abandonment of these meadows leads to changes in floristic composition of the sward and to succession towards herbaceous communities.

Water deficiency is one of the major factors that limit crop production among those causing plant stress. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the effect of metabolically active compounds on reducing the negative effects of drought and stimulating physiological and biochemical processes in the spring wheat variety Provintsialka. In the study, wheat seeds were soaked in solutions of substances: PEG-6000 (EG); PEG-6000 + vitamin E (PEG+E); PEG-6000 + ubiquinone-10 (PEG+Q); PEG-6000 + methionine (PEG+M); PEG-6000 + parahydroxybenzoic acid (PEG+P); PEG-6000 + MgSO4 (PEG+Mg); PEG- 6000 + vitamin E + ubiquinone-10 (PEG+EQ); PEG-6000 + vitamin E + methionine + parahydroxybenzoic acid (PEG+EMP); PEG-6000 + vitamin E + methionine + parahydroxybenzoic acid + MgSO4 (PEG+EMPMg). The wheat seeds were then poured into a 12% PEG solution to simulate the water deficit and then germinated. The study determined the activities of ascorbate peroxidase and catalase, as well as the content of ascorbic acid and glutathione. It was found that the treatment of spring wheat seeds of the Provintsialka variety with meta-bolically active compounds and their combinations affected the activity of antioxidant protection enzymes in water-deficient conditions. Treat-ment of seeds with MgSO4 solution most effectively reduces catalase activity compared to the indicators of seedlings whose seeds were in simulated drought conditions. The treatment of wheat seeds with vita-min E most effectively stimulated the activity of ascorbate peroxidase, increasing it by 65.5% compared to the control and by 2.4% relative to the PEG treated seedlings. A decrease in the activity of catalase corre-lates with an increase in the activity of ascorbate peroxidase and indicates the compensatory effect of the enzymes of the antioxidant system. The treatment of wheat seeds with ubiquinone-10 (PEG+Q) most effectively increased the ascorbate content in seedlings by 46.3% compared to seedlings whose seeds were in water deficit conditions. An increase in the ascorbate content in wheat seedlings was also noted when wheat seeds were treated with EMP (PEG+EMP) and EMPMg (PEG+EMPMg). The highest levels of glutathione in drought-stressed seedlings were observed in those treated with vitamin E and EMP (PEG+EMP), exceeding control levels by 31.4% and 30.7%, respectively, and PEG-treated seedlings by 59.9% and 59.2%. This confirms the promising use of metabolically active substances for plant adaptation under conditions of slow water flow.

Progressive urbanization and increasing pressure on urban green areas necessitate the search for innovative, ecological, and efficient solutions for lawn management. The shallow root system of grasses, combined with a long vegetation period, makes these plants particularly sensitive to water and nutrient deficiencies. One research direction involves the use of zeolites, natural aluminosilicate minerals that, due to their porous structure and high sorption capacity, improve water retention and nutrient availability in soil. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different zeolite doses on the initial growth and development of two turfgrass species (Lolium perenne, Festuca rubra), as well as on selected lawn performance traits, and to determine the persistence of these effects over time. This research was conducted in 2020–2023 under pot and micro-plot experiment conditions, using mixtures containing the above species. Four levels of zeolite addition to the substrate were applied: 0% (control), 1%, 5%, and 10%. The results clearly confirmed the beneficial effects of zeolite. Its addition improved the germination, growth, and biomass yield of aboveground parts and roots, as well as enhancing turf aesthetics, ground cover, and winter hardiness, while reducing the proportion of dicotyledonous species. The best effects were obtained with the 5% dose, which should be considered optimal—it significantly improved lawn utility parameters with lower material input compared to the 10% dose. Species response varied: L. perenne responded more strongly to improved water–air conditions, whereas F. rubra utilized higher zeolite doses more effectively in root system development. The highest overall effectiveness was recorded with the 10% dose. Zeolite effectiveness was greatest in the first year after application, showing a declining trend in subsequent years, although a positive effect was still observed in the third year of use. The findings support the recommendation of zeolite as an ecological soil additive that enhances lawn quality and durability, particularly in low-fertility soils and under water deficit conditions. Its application may represent an important component of modern green space management technologies in line with the principles of sustainable development.