Eastern and south-eastern Serbia is a cultural crossroads between East and West, and due to its economic underdevelopment, the traditional use of medicinal plants remains crucial in healthcare even today. This study aimed to collect and preserve ethnopharmacological knowledge about musculoskeletal, respiratory, circulatory, and genitourinary disorders, which are common in the local population. Information was collected using semi-structured anonymous ethnobotanical interviews with location informants. According to respondents, monographs of official international authorities (European Pharmacopoeia, ESCOP, WHO, EMA, and PDR) have been reviewed to confirm the traditional use of medicinal plants. Out of a total of 161 respondents, 58 (36%) declared that they use plants to treat musculoskeletal diseases, 147 (91.3%) to treat respiratory diseases, 113 (70.19%) to treat circulatory diseases, and 25 (15.53%) to treat genitourinary diseases. Among the plants that are traditionally used for the treatment of diseases of these organ systems, the following are highlighted for future research: Verbascum phlomoides, Inula helenium, and Rosmarinus officinalis for musculoskeletal; Ocimum basilicum, Robinia pseudoacacia and Primula vulgaris for respiratory; Urtica dioica, Allium ursinum, and Rosa canina for circulatory and Apium graveolens, Zea mays and Calendula officinalis for treatment of genitourinary system.

Objective: For centuries, some mullein species (species of the genus Verbascum L.) have been used to treat respiratory diseases and internal and external infections and as excellent skin softeners. The healing properties of Verbascum species are the basis for their use in both traditional and conventional medicine. The present work aimed to identify and quantify the bioactive compounds of the flower extracts of V. phlomoides , V. speciosum , and V. niveum , and to determine their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. Methods: After spectrophotometric determination of the total phenolic content, the bioactive compounds were identified and quantified by HPLC, and the biological activities were assessed by in vitro methods. Results: According to the obtained results, the major compounds in most of the tested extracts of Verbascum species were p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, verbascoside, aucubin, and catalpol. In both methods (DPPH and BCBT), the ethanol extracts showed stronger antioxidant activity than the water and propylene glycol extracts. All tested samples showed an anti-inflammatory effect in the BSA assay with an inhibition of protein denaturation of over 70%. The tested extracts were more active against Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria and showed the highest antimicrobial activity against Cutibacterium acnes and Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Based on the results obtained, the tested species ( V. phlomoides , V. niveum , and V. speciosum ) are rich in polyphenolic acids, iridoids, and verbascoside and show comparable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity. Conclusion: In conclusion, the studied Verbascum species can be considered a natural source of bioactive ingredients with great potential for the pharmaceutical industry.

Birch leaves and bark are traditionally used for folk medicine for centuries. Numerous research focused on the chemical composition and biological effects of birch extracts. The main pharmacologically active compounds found in extracts are flavonoids, saponins, tannins, essential oil, and triterpenes. Different species, age of the plant, geographical region, extraction methods, and analytical techniques influence the chemical composition. Possible role of birch extracts in preventing and treating numerous diseases is enabled by their diuretic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic activity. Therefore, this article is intended to give a general overview of the studies on birch leaves and bark.

The consumption of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) leaves has a long tradition, especially as a "general pregnancy tea", although the scientific data are insufficient and contradictory. Phytochemical comparation of extracts from cultivated and wild raspberry leaves, in silico prediction of their biological activities and acute toxicity followed by in vitro antiradical activity and effects on the viability/proliferation of HeLa cells and isolated rat uterus were performed. Leaves from cultured (v. Polka) and wild individuals were extracted with distilled water, 70% v/v ethanol or 70% v/v methanol. All samples exhibited high polyphenol content and antiradical activity, with the 70% v/v ethanol extract of wild R. idaeus showing the strongest free radical scavenging ability. In silico analyzes predicted that raspberry leaves possess numerous compounds with anti-inflammatory, apoptosis-agonistic, antinociceptive and NO signaling-related activities. Potentially toxic levels of the tested compounds could not be achieved with regular tea drinking. The tested extracts have no noticeable effects on the viability/proliferation of HeLa cells. The effects on spontaneous contraction of the isolated rat uterus were modest. Although safety is not a concern, further studies are needed to justify or deny the efficacy of raspberry leaf tea in folk medicine for healthy pregnancy and easy delivery.

The use of medicinal plants dates back to ancient civilizations, where they were the primary form of treatment. This interest has evolved with scientific advances and led to their modern use. Around 13000 medicinal plants are used worldwide, and 65-80% of the population uses them for therapeutic purposes. In Serbia, approximately 700 medicinal plant species are found, of which around 420 are actively used. An important medical field in which medicinal plants play a crucial therapeutic role is the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study aimed to collect and document the diverse uses of medicinal plants and the traditional knowledge in Serbia regarding their therapeutic applications in treating UTIs.

Naturally-derived anti-inflammatories, such as bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), are particularly interesting due to their health benefits. Bilberries are a rich source of primary metabolites such as sugars and organic acids, which give the fruit its taste. They also contain anthocyanins, the most abundant group of secondary metabolites, possessing various biological properties, including anti-inflammatory effects. This paper aimed to collect the current knowledge on the bioactive compounds of V. myrtillus berries, and to summarize clinical studies of the anti-inflammatory effects of different bilberry preparations. Literature review was conducted utilizing the databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, NCBI, Google Scholar and ClinicalTrials.gov. V. myrtillus was found to be a significant source of bioactive molecules since components of bilberry fruits, such as polyphenols, anthocyanins, and flavonoids, are well known for their ability to modify cellular pathways implicated in the pathophysiology of a number of diseases. A short review of the clinical study data related to the bilberry application highlighted its health-promoting effects, specifically the anti-inflammatory effect. The bilberry fruit is a rich source of phenolic compounds with high biological potential. These compounds can be used commercially in pharmacy, cosmetics, and natural products markets. However, due to the wide variety of constituents in the fruit, their potential interactions, and the complexity of their metabolism, further in-depth studies are needed to better define and characterize the contribution of each active component and possible synergies between different compounds. Numerous clinical studies have highlighted the anti-inflammatory properties of V. myrtillus fruits, which could help prevent various diseases.