The purpose of this study was a comprehensive examination of the phenolic profile, the vitamin C content, and the antioxidant, anti-acetylcholinesterase, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of extracts and jams of fruits of two edible Sorbus species: well characterized S. aucuparia and two insufficiently explored forms of S. torminalis (torminalis and semitorminalis). Characterisation of 44 phenolics was realized using LC-MS/MS and 15 compounds were confirmed, with chlorogenic acid being the most dominant in S. aucuparia and ferulic acid in both S. torminalis forms. S. aucuparia demonstrated potent antioxidant activity, while that of both S. torminalis forms was moderate. Jam extracts had the highest content of vitamin C. S. aucuparia exhibited some anti-acetylcholinesterase activity, while S. torminalis f. torminalis showed the best antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and both forms (torminalis and semitorminalis) possessed the highest activity against Escherichia. coli. The results obtained herein are a great base for further research of edible Sorbus species with the aim of promoting their better usage as nutraceuticals.

As a result of an interest in natural derived metabolites around the world higher fungi (Basidiomycotina) have taken on great importance in biochemical investigations. A large number of structurally divergent compounds - both cellular components and secondary metabolites - have been extracted and found to possess significant biological activity, such as an immunomodulative effect on the human body. Effects of fungal biomolecules as potential natural antioxidants have not been examined so far. Biochemical analysis have included in vitro testing of the influence of different extracts (water methanol, chloroform) of selected fungal sporocarps on Fe2+/ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation (LP) in a lecithin liposome system by TBA assay, as well as various other procedures. Qualitative analysis by TLC revealed a distinction both between different extracts of the same fungal species and between similar extracts of different species. The results obtained on antioxidative activities (LP inhibition and "scavenging" activity) indicate that MeOH extracts manifested a degree of activity higher than that of CHCl3 extracts with respect to antioxidative activity, the extracts can be ranged in the following declining order: Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma applanatum Meripilus giganteus, and Flammulina velutipes. The obtained results suggest that the analyzed fungi are of potential interest as sources of strong natural antioxidants in the food and cosmetics industries, whereas synthetic ones have proved to be carcinogenic

Ganoderma lucidum, used in a traditional Chinese medicine, represents one of the most important medicinal mushrooms in the world, whose fruiting bodies and spores have been traditionally used because of a wide spectrum of biological activities such as antidiabetic, antioxidative, antiproliferative, cardioprotective, etc. Its ethnomedicinal importance in some parts of the Balkan region (Serbia and Croatia) is almost totally unknown and there should be more scientific investigations carried out. The aim of this work was to make a comparative study of antioxidative activities and total phenolic content of ethanol and hot water extracts of G. lucidum, collected from forests in Serbia (Morovicke sume, Fruska Gora) and Croatia (Donji Lapac, Pljesevica). The present study was carried out to evaluate antioxidant potential of examined extracts via scavenging potential on ABTS, DPPH, OH? and NO? radicals, as well as of chelating effects via FRAP assay, together with determination of their total phenolic content. Results showed that both GLS extracts possessed better antiradical activities (IC50=0.23?0.01 for H2O and 2.75?0.01 ?g/mL for EtOH for OH? and DPPH assay, respectively) than in the ABTS assay (151.40?1.07 mg TE/g d.w. for EtOH), while the phenolic content was generally equal in extracts of Serbian and Croatian samples (60.74?0.57 mg GAE/g d.w. for EtOH and 77.10?0.27 mg GAE/g d.w. for H2O, respectively). Therefore, these extracts could be considered as a good source of natural antioxidants. These results showed that examined G. lucidum extracts (especially ?2?) contain high amount of phenolic content which could significantly enhance the antiradical potential and reduce potential on iron ions. This is the first study reporting the comparison of antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of two different extracts between two G. lucidum strains from two different geographical origins from the Balkan region. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 43002]

These ubiquitous weeds and high prevalence of detected allergies have included Vojvodina into a risk zone for getting contact sensitivity to dandelion and common chickweed. Dandelion extract should be considered for Compositae screening series and common chickweed extract for specific plant series in Vojvodina.