The medlar (Mespilus germanica) is a deciduous tree that belongs to the Rosaceae family. This plant has been valued throughout history for its culinary uses and medicinal applications. Medlar fruit contains a high amount of vitamin C, carbohydrates, and pectin, making it a valuable remedy for treating scurvy. In folk medicine, medlar is used to treat constipation and other digestive issues. This study investigates the quantitative composition and seasonal variation in phenolic compounds in flowers, leaves, and fruits of Mespilus germanica L. using high performance liquid chromatography, as well as total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The predominant class of phenolics in flowers were flavonols, with 52.5% of the total phenolic content. On the other hand, dominant phenolics in fruits were flavan-3-ols, with procyanidin B2 and epicatechin being most abundant, whereas in leaves, hydroxycinnamic acids were the most prevalent phenolic compounds. Seasonal variations were noted for analyzed compounds in various plant parts. This study highlights significant changes in the phenolic profile of M. germanica during various harvesting periods and suggests that both fruits and leaves are rich sources of bioactive compounds. However, its nutraceutical potential might depend on harvesting time.

Antibiotics are among the most widely used classes of pharmaceuticals in modern medicine. Due to their frequent use, antibiotic residues have been detected in the environment, particularly in aquatic environments. In this study, HPLC method, with sample pretreatment was optimized and validated in order to analyze the presence of two commonly used antibiotics—cephalexin and tetracycline in water samples. Samples were collected from different sources, including wastewater, tap water, the Danube River and groundwater, in order to evaluate how the matrix affects the overall analysis. The main objective of this research was to develop an effective and reliable method for the detection of these antibiotic residues in water. A secondary aim was to establish the most effective sample preparation method. Samples were prepared using the dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) technique with modified diatomaceous earth as the sorbent. The dSPE procedure was applied primarily for sample clean-up and reduction in matrix effects prior to HPLC-DAD analysis. The sorbents were characterized prior to use to investigate the influence of modification on their sorption properties.

This study examines the concentration of essential minerals and toxic heavy metals in acacia honey samples collected in Serbia, highlighting their health implications and environmental influences. Among the 23 elements analyzed, calcium levels ranged from 38.35 to 1148.5 mg/kg, averaging 411.5 mg/kg, higher than previous findings for acacia honey, underscoring its nutritional value. Potassium averaged 208 mg/kg, consistent with the literature, whereas Na content was notably higher than the values reported in the literature. Zinc levels were higher than typical (average 11.57 mg/kg), likely due to pollution of acacia plant. Lead was the only detected toxic metal, with concentrations below the European safety threshold of 1 mg/kg. The findings highlight honey’s nutritional benefits and emphasize the need for monitoring environmental contaminants to ensure honey’s safety and quality.