The effect of ethoxylated oleyl-cetyl alcohol (Henkel, "Merima", Serbia) on the growth and metabolic activity of Cladosporium cladosporioides, Geotrichum candidum and their mixed culture was in the focus of this paper. The cultures were grown in Czapek-Dox liquid nutrient medium with the addition of 0.5% pollutant and without it. The physico-chemical and biochemical changes of pH, the total biomass dry weight, the quantity of free and total organic acids, proteolytic activity and the quality of carbohydrates were evaluated from 4th to 19th day of fungal growth. The pollutant caused an inhibitory effect on biomass dry weight of C. cladosporioides and G. candidum for 10.36% and 4.65% respectively, and stimulatory effect on biomass of mixed culture for 3.80%. The pollutant had influence on the decrease in pH value of the media in the phase of culture growth, and pH changes were correlated with the amount of excreted total organic acids. The highest quantity of free and total organic acids was noted in media with pollutant of mixed culture and C. cladosporioides, respectively. The alkaline protease activities of C. cladosporioides, G. candidum and mixed culture were enhanced by addition of pollutant for 56.88%, 55.84% and 30.94% respectively. The obtained results indicate the potential of both pure and mixed cultures in mycoremediation environment contaminated by alcohol ethoxylated and detergent industry.

The aim of this study was to investigate the biological and chemical activity on two species of fungi of the genus Penicillium isolated from wastewater. On the selected species of fungi the different antioxidant activity assays were carried out: DPPH free-radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity, Fe2+- chelating ability and Fe3+- reducing power. Total phenol content was also determinate for ethanolic extract of mycelia. Penicillium chrysogenum ethanolic extract contained higher total phenolic content and better total antioxidant capacity as well as ferrous ion chelating ability. Penicillium fumiculosum ethanolic extract showed higher DPPH free-radical scavenging activity, as well as reducing power. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that two types of fungi are potential new sources of natural antioxidants.

The antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoid content of ethanolic, acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of Ruscus hypoglossum L. and Ruscus aculeatus L. (aerial parts) from Serbia were investigated in this paper. The best total antioxidant capacity (23.329 ?g AA g-1) and the highest DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 = 182.54 ?g mL-1) were found in acetone and ethyl acetate extract of R. aculeatus L. Ethanolic extract of R. hypoglossum L. showed the highest ABTS radical cation scavenging activity (IC50 = 3.04 ?g mL-1) as well as reducing power (IC50 = 0.143 ?g mL-1). The best inhibitory activity against lipid peroxidation (IC50 =651 ?g mL-1) and the best ferrous ion chelating ability (IC50 = 110 ?g mL-1) were found in acetone and ethyl acetate extract of R. hypoglossum L. The highest total phenolic (8.569 mg GAE g-1) and flavonoid content (0.136 mg RU g-1) were found in ethanolic and acetone extract of R. hypoglossum L. and R. aculeatus L, respectively.