Sulfonamides are the first successfully synthesized antimicrobial drugs. The mechanism of sulfonamides antimicrobial action involves competitive inhibition of folic acid synthesis which prevents the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. Due to this mechanism of action, sulfonamides belong to the group of bacteriostatic agents. Although they have been applied in therapy for more than 70 years, sulfonamides are still the drugs of choice for the treatment of several conditions and diseases. A wider sulfonamides application in the therapy is limited by bacterial resistance and sulfonamides side effects. Antimicrobial sulfonamides and their metabolites are classified as persistent organic pollutants. For sulfonamides degradation and removal from the environment, various techniques can be applied such as different oxidation techniques, including chlorination and advanced oxidation processes, adsorption processes, membrane processes and combined processes.

Phytoestrogens represent polyphenolic and non-steroid compounds that have a similar structure and biological activity as human estrogens. They are the plant secondary metabolites and widespread in over 300 various plant species. The phytoestrogens are divided into two main subgroups, isoflavonoids and lignans. The isoflavonoids are divided into isoflavones and coumestans. Isoflavones are most present in soybean and red clover. A great number of isoflavones has been identified in the plants in the form of non-active glycosides (daidzein and genistein) and in the form of 4'-methylated derivatives (formononetin and biochanin A). Coumestans can also be found in red clover and legumes, while lignans are most present in the flax seed. Coumestans have the most pronounced estrogenic effect of all phytoestrogens. The most famous representative of this subgroup of compounds is coumestrol. Lignans include matairesinol, secoisolariciresinol, lariciresinol, pinoresinol and their metabolites, enterodiol, enterolactone and equol. Numerous studies in animals and humans have shown that phytoestrogens can have protective effects in the estrogen-dependent conditions and estrogen-dependent diseases. It was also shown that the use of phytoestrogens can have a positive effect on insomnia and cognitive functions, i.e. neural disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. They can express the antioxidant activity in two ways, as the scavengers of free radicals or by the formation of chelating complexes with metal ions. Free metal ions increase the amount of reactive oxygen species by reduction of hydrogen peroxide resulting in a very reactive hydroxyl radical.

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