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Tea made from Veronica spicata L. (syn. Pseudolysimachion spicatum (L.) Opiz, family Plantaginaceae) herb is used in traditional medicine as expectorant for cough and throat rinsing. To get insight into chemical compounds of V. spicata, the essential oil content (analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS), the content of phenolic compounds (analysed by HPLC), the content of macroelements and trace elements (analysed by ICP-AES), quantity of total phenols and total flavonoids (analysed by UV/Vis spectrophotometer), and antioxidant and antimicrobial properties were investigated. The main compounds of the essential oil were phytol (21.13%), heptacosane (10.22%) and pentacosane (8.91%). The most abundant investigated macroelement was K (8261 mg/kg) while Fe was the most represented element (32.49 mg/kg) among investigated micronutrients. Ten phenolic compounds (chrysin, rutin, quercitrin, quercitrin, and cichoric, ferulic, protocatehuic, rosmarinic, syringic and tannic acid) were identified and quantified. Additionally, V. spicata extract demonstrated notable radical-scavenging and chelating properties. The bacterial and fungal strains used in study were found to be susceptible toward methanolic and ethyl-acetate extracts with MIC values between 1.25 and 5.00 mg/mL using microdilution method. Aquose extracts were found to be antimicrobial inactive.

Three spectrophotometric methods for the quantitative determination of different flavonoid groups and total phenolics in Croatian propolis samples were optimised and validated. The assay based on the formation of aluminium chloride complex (with galangin as a standard) was applied to the quantification of flavones and flavonols, while the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method (with pinocembrine as a reference) was used for the quantification of flavanones. Total phenolic content was measured by the Folin-Ciocalteau method using reference solution of caffeic acid:galangin:pinocembrine (1:1:1). Through analytical validation, the most suitable extraction conditions (with respect to time, temperature and concentration of extraction solvent) were determined, and final conditions for the extraction were established (80% ethanol, 1 h at the room temperature). The appropriate ratio between the mass of raw propolis and the extraction solvent volume was also established. By the application of the optimised method of extraction, 10 propolis tinctures were prepared and subjected to the analysis of general pharmacopoeial parameters, which are fundamental for the creation of quality specification (relative density, dry residue of extract, content of ethanol, methanol and 2-propanol). Additionally, the content of waxes as the main inactive constituents was determined in order to observe the level of their migration from crude propolis to the prepared tinctures.

Three winter wheat cultivars were grown under low-N and high-N fertilization rates over two growing seasons. In spite of smaller 1000-grain weight, the high-N fertilization produced higher grain yields as well as grain N and trace element concentrations in both growing seasons. Trace element increments with high-N rate averaged 14.0% for Fe, 9.2% for Zn, 19.7% for Mn, 13.2% for Cu, 15.1% for Ni, and 23.0% for Cd. Only Na concentration was unaffected by N fertilization, whereas Pb and Cr were below detection limits. Absolutely small, but significant differences existed among tested cultivars for all trace elements and these cultivar effects were uniform on both N fertilization rates. However, cultivars differed in their rankings for trace element concentrations across two growing seasons and these specific responses appeared to be closely related to grain N.

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