In this study, a novel silver(I) complex [Ag(HL¹)₂]NO₃ (AgHL¹) with coumarin derivative (3E)-3-(1-{[(pyridin-2-yl)methyl]amino}ethylidene)-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyran-2,4-dione (HL¹) was prepared. The compounds HL¹ and AgHL¹ were characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single crystal X-ray structural analysis. Specifically, the single crystal X-ray analysis determined the structures of both compounds HL¹ and AgHL¹ in their solid state, while NMR spectroscopy was used for structural determination in a solution. The HL¹ proved to be a monodentate ligand and is coordinated to the Ag(I) atom through a nitrogen atom from the 2-picolylamine fragment. In the complex AgHL¹, two molecules of neutral HL¹ are coordinated forming a nearly linear N-Ag-N arrangement. An uncoordinated nitrate anion balances the positive charge of the complex cation. NMR spectroscopy also confirmed the stability of AgHL¹ in DMSO-d₆ for 3 days. In vitro cytotoxicity of HL¹ and AgHL¹ was performed over two cancerous cell lines A549 and HT-29 and their selectivity was verified on a healthy CCD-18Co cell line. AgHL¹ exhibited low anticancer nonselective activity while the ligand was inactive. Also, the complex shows better antimicrobial activity than the positive controls on the Pseudomonas aeruginosa standard and clinical strain as well as on the tested molds.

LWater samples were collected from a tailings pond wastewater site in the Rudnik mountain area, where polymetallic ore flotation processes generate high concentrations of Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cu²⁺. The study aimed to identify microorganisms resistant to heavy metals and assess their potential for bioremediation. Growth capabilities under varying conditions, including temperature, pH, and NaCl concentrations, were analyzed using a spectrophotometer. Minimal inhibitory and lethal concentrations of tested substances were determined for both planktonic cells and their biofilms. Key isolates, namely Bacillus altitudinis PMFKG-R3, B. pumilus PMFKG-R15, B. cereus PMFKG-R46, Pseudomonas veronii PMFKG-R30, and Pantoea agglomerans PMFKG-R20, demonstrated growth ability at both 22 and 37°C and exhibited halotolerance, albeit sensitivity to acidic pH. Most isolates in both planktonic and biofilm forms displayed notable resistance to heavy metals, particularly Pb²⁺ and Zn²⁺, in line with the sampling location. Notably, planktonic cells were sensitive to antibiotics, while biofilms exhibited slightly higher resistance. Promising candidates for bioremediation purposes were identified in P. veronii PMFKG-R30 and P. agglomerans PMFKG-R20, which displayed resistance to heavy metals and sensitivity to antibiotics.

Uncontrolled, routine use of antibiotics has led to the development of antibiotic resistance in microorganisms, which is a clinical problem of global proportions. Many plants have been recognized as a resource of natural antimicrobial compounds that can potentially be effective in the treatment of bacterial infections. At the same time, technological progress has enabled the application of new materials in the field of medicine, such as micro and nanofibers. Therefore, the aim of this research is to examine the antimicrobial activity of nanofibers fabricated via electrospinning of solutions containing methanolic extract of Trapa natans L. and antibiotics. To determine the antimicrobial activity the microdilution method and the welland disk-diffusion method were used. The results indicated a promising potential in achieving antimicrobial activity, both for the plant and for the combination of nanofibers. The methanol extract of T. natans showed the highest activity against Bacillus subtilis ATTC 6633, by the microdilution method, while by the disk-diffusion method, the submerged variant of the nanofibers showed a zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, which was better than the nanofibers and the antibiotic in two of the three analyzed concentrations.

The growing demand for low- and non-alcoholic beverages has stimulated interest in the bioactive properties of dealcoholized wine. This comparative pilot study characterized three sample types derived from the same red wine: original wine (OW), processed dealcoholized wine (PDW), and fully evaporated dry wine extract (FDE). Phenolic composition was determined spectrophotometrically and by HPLC-DAD, and antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS), antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and in vitro DNA-protective activities were evaluated. Compared with OW, PDW showed higher total phenolic (831.91 vs. 773.56 mg GAE/L), flavonoid (82.49 vs. 72.84 mg RUE/L), tannin (70.73 vs. 60.58 mg/L), and epicatechin (159.59 vs. 52.38 mg/L) concentrations; however, because 500 mL of wine was reduced to approximately 100 mL, mass balances indicated that PDW contained only 22–30% of these constituents. FDE contained approximately 68% of the anthocyanins of the starting wine (19.02 mg/L wine equivalent). OW and PDW showed comparable antioxidant (0.98 and 1.17 mmol TE/L, DPPH) and antimicrobial activities, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most susceptible species (MIC ≤ 0.391 µL/mL). Only FDE inhibited biofilm formation, with MBIC values of 2.5–10 mg/mL after 24 h. All samples reduced hydroxyl- and peroxyl radical-induced DNA damage. These findings characterize the investigated samples and provide a basis for controlled studies of wine processing. Dealcoholized wine and dry wine extracts may represent potential starting materials for low-alcohol functional beverages or wine-derived food ingredients, although processing conditions that limit phenolic losses need to be optimized and their biological relevance confirmed in further studies.

The microorganisms isolated from water samples at the wastewater treatment facility Kruševac (Serbia) were screened for resistance to heavy metals and antibiotics. Isolates were identified using morphological and biochemical tests, as well as MALDI-TOF. The resistance to heavy metals was evaluated by determining the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal microbicidal concentration (MMC) using the microdilution method. The minimal inhibitory concentration and disc diffusion methods were used to assess antibiotic resistance. Isolates were identified as Morganella morganii PMFKG-K1, Klebsiella oxytoca PMFKG-K2, K. oxytoca PMFKG-K3, K. oxytoca PMFKG-K4, Serratia liquefaciens PMFKG-K5, S. liquefaciens PMFKG-K6, Escherichia coli PMFKG-K7, and Bacillus cereus PMFKG-K8. The obtained results indicated that most isolates in planktonic form showed resistance in the presence of heavy metals such as Pb2+ , Zn 2+ , Cu2+ , and Mn2+ , but showed sensitivity in the presence of Cd2+ , Hg2+ , and Cr6+ and antibiotics. All isolates exhibited desirable characteristics for potential use in bioremediation.