Polyphenols are valuable group of phytoconstituents due to their high antioxidant activity and healing properties. Antioxidant properties of sages are attributed mainly to a high level of phenolic compounds. The aim of the present study was to elaborate an analytical procedure for the evaluation of the content of secondary metabolites of the polyphenol nature in the herb of Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea L.). Four crude extracts of Salvia sclarea herb obtained with different technologies were used to develop an analytical procedure for the total phenolic content (TPC) assay by spectrophotometric method. The optimum conditions for the analysis (time of the reaction, wavelength, and reference substances) were chosen and experimentally justified (60–80 min, 760 nm, gallic acid and rutin, respectively). Under these conditions, the developed analytical procedure is robust in the indicated time and easy for performing in phytochemical or technological laboratories. The yield of TPC from the herb of Salvia sclarea was the highest in the extracts prepared by heating at a temperature of 36–46 °C and with using the ultrasonic bath. TPC was the highest in the extract in which solvent-to-herb ratio was the least (10:1) and particle size was in the range of 2–5 mm. As a result of the studies, the analytical procedure of the determination of TPC was developed and its parameters were justified. This methodology complies with the requirements for pharmaceutical analysis to ensure the reliability of results during pharmaceutical development and routine control of Salvia sclarea extracts.

The aim of the research is the determination of the total antioxidant activity and the content of phenolic compounds of the leaves of 12 species of non-traditional plants, namely, Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem., Aronia mitschurinii A.K. Skvortsov & Maitul., Castanea sativa Mill., Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.) Lindl., Cornus mas L., Diospyros kaki L., Diospyros lotus L., Diospyros virginiana L., Lycium barbarum L., Lycium сhinense Mill., Pseudocydonia sinensis (Thouin) C.K. Schneid., Ziziphus jujuba Mill. Total phenolic content was evaluated using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent assay. Antioxidant activity was measured using two different methods (DPPH – 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, MRAP – molybdenum reducing antioxidant power). Significant variability was observed in phenolic compounds content and total antioxidant activity. Total polyphenol content ranged from 38.02 (Z. jujuba) to 80.58 (C. sativa) mg GAE.g-1 DM, total flavonoid content from 22.47 (P. sinensis) to 54.61 (L. barbarum) mg QE.g-1 DM and phenolic acids content from 3.51 (A. mitschurinii) to 24.67 (Ch. japonica) mg CAE.g-1 DM. All tested samples exhibited DPPH• radical scavenging activities with values from 6.92 (A. mitschurinii) to 9.0 (C. mas) mg TEAC.g-1 DM. Antioxidant activity by molybdenum reducing antioxidant power method ranged from 109.43 (A. mitschurinii) to 322.95 (C. mas) mg TEAC.g-1 DM. Differences between the species of non-traditional plants were significant in all observed parameters. Obtained results of phytochemical composition demonstrated the possibility of leaves' use of non-traditional plants as sources of valuable bioactive compounds with health-promoting and disease-preventing properties.

This scientific work was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of aromatic plants of Thymus spp. in the East of Ukraine. These plants are known as medicinal and food around the world. All antioxidant parameters were investigated spectrophotometrically: total content of polyphenols (TPC), the total content of phenolic acids (TPAC), the total content of flavonoids (TFC), molybdenum reducing power of extracts (MRP), and antioxidant activity by DPPH method (DPPH). Investigation of ethanolic extracts demonstrated that TPC varied from 57.89 to 123.67 mg/g gallic acid equivalent (GAE) DW for Th. pulegioides, from 61.43 to 168.18 mg GAE/g for Th. serpyllum, and from 47.36 to 115.67 mg GAE/g for Th. vulgaris. TPAC ranged from 27.36 to 50.22 mg/g caffeic acid equivalent (CAE) DW for Th. pulegioides, from 28.58 to 59.62 mg CAE/g for Th. serpyllum, and from 22.95 to 53.82 mg CAE/g for Th. vulgaris. TFC was determined in a range from 29.88 to 61.23 mg/g quercetin equivalent (QE) DW for Th. pulegioides, from 36.0 to 82.43 mg QE/g for Th. serpyllum, and from 24.59 to 55.41 mg QE/g for Th. vulgaris. MRP was detected in the range of 94.65 – 204.76 mg/g Trolox equivalent (TE) DW for Th. pulegioides, 96.06 – 219.0 mg TE/g for Th. serpyllum, and 87.56 – 215.43 mg TE/g for Th. vulgaris. The antioxidant activity of extracts by the DPPH method was 6.34 – 9.23 mg TE/g for Th. pulegioides, 8.11 – 9.21 mg TE/g for Th. serpyllum, and 4.97 – 9.53 mg TE/g for Th. vulgaris. It was established that polyphenol accumulation depended on the growth stage and species. For all species was found a strong correlation between TPC and TFC (r = 0.938, 0.908, and 0.854). Investigated Thymus spp. are a valuable source of antioxidants that can be used in pharmacological studies and the food industry.

In view of global changes, it is necessary to consider plant breeding as a process of developing new varieties and cultivars for present and future needs, with an emphasis on improving their quantitative and qualitative characteristics. The aim of this study was to compare wild-growing genotypes of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) with three registered cultivars Haschberg, Sambo and Bohatka in selected economic traits in Slovakia. Characters of selected genotypes and cultivars were tested in dynamics of inflorescences and fruit clusters, the morphological parameters such as the weight of fruit clusters, weight and number of drupes and weight of cluster without drupes. On the cv. Haschberg we evaluated the number of inflorescences for each individual plant for a period of three years. A high number of inflorescences was established in the first 3 years of plant growth. This is evidenced by the measurements from the 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year old plants with the number of inflorescences on average 21.3–25.7, 42.2–51.0, 65.1–73.7 and 99.0, respectively. The cultivars matured about two to three weeks later compared with wild-growing genotypes. The weight of the fruit clusters and the weight of drupes is an important trait in terms of plant production and efficiency of cultivation. For wild-growing genotypes, we also identified genotypes with a high weight of fruit clusters (111.1 g – SN-48) and weight of drupes (105.5 g – SN-48), which are determinant properties for selection of new genotypes for plant breeding and cultivation. The yield of juice is an important indicator for technological processing of elderberry fruit. For the cultivars the juice yield was found to range from 78.7% (cv. Sambo) to 82.9% (cv. Haschberg). We determined that the yield of juices of wild-growing genotypes ranged from 77.9–86.0%. The cultivar Haschberg had a better set of morphological traits compared to wild-growing genotypes, even though it was possible to find comparative genotypes in some characteristics. The results and knowledge obtained are useful for future breeders, cultivators, and processors of elderberries.

The aim of the work was to determined the basic morphological and morphometric traits of rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa Thunb.) and antiradical activity of fruit pulp canned in different kind of honeys and in beverages prepared from honey. In experiments there were used 4 genotypes of roses originated from arboretum Mlyňany (Slovakia). The evaluation of 11 morphometric traits of fruit showed that the average weight of the fresh fruit without pedicle reached up 5.14 – 5.46 g, the weight of pedicle was 0.05 – 0.08 g, weight of pulp and seeds 4.80 – 5.13 g, weight of calyx 0.25 – 0.31 g, length and width of fruit (16.10 – 18.13 mm, 21.38 – 22.46 mm), the number of seeds in fruit 48.45 – 71.05, thickness of pulp 2.63 – 2.97 mm. Separated fruit pulp was canned at 40 °C and 80 °C and premixed in robinia honey and honeydew honey. Beverages were prepared by mixture of fruit pulp in honey (15 g) with cold water (150 mL). Antiradical activity was determined by DPPH method in fruit pulp (in methyl alcohol and water extracts), in honeys (black locust honey and honeydew honey) and beverages. There had been confirmed statistically significant differences in morphological traits, especially in colour and shape of fruit. Antiradical activity of fresh fruit pulp in methyl alcohol extract was determined 94.59%, in water extract 89.71%. Antiradical activity of black locust honey was 7.63%, honeydew honey 6.54%. Antiradical activity was determined also adding honeydew honey and black locust honey to fresh pulp of fruit prepared at 80 °C (33.55% and 77.58%). In beverages prepared from fresh pulp, honey and water it was investigated the higher values of antiradical activity in samples with addition of honeydew honey (81.81 – 83.86%) in comparison with robinia honey (75.57 – 79.96%).

AGROBIODIVERSITY f o r i m p r o v i n g n u t r i t i o n , h e a l t h a n d l i f e q u a l i t y 2018

The publication aims to present some knowledge about the less-known but at the same time very scarce bituminous rock alginite with comprehensive practical use in the form of a brief overview. Alginite is an organic-bituminous rock that was formed about six million years ago from dead fossil algae Botryococcus braunii Kütz and diatoms in the area of today's Pannonian Basin. In Europe, alginite deposits have been discovered in Hungary, Austria and Slovakia in Pinciná village. Alginite mining is mostly used in Hungary in the Gerce area. Alginite is grey to dark grey, in the wet state dark laminated, clayey with the form of disintegrating clay. Alginite has very valuable physical, mechanical and chemical properties. It is a natural bituminous rock with a favourable content of basic nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg and S) for plants except for nitrogen content. Alginite contains a large number of microelements, which increase the agrochemical possibilities of its use. It can be applied in its natural form without chemical treatment. It is an ecological raw material that improves the soil and does not negatively affec the environment. Alginite has become the subject of research in many workplaces. The overview presents the basic physical, mechanical and chemical properties of alginite and selected knowledge and research results that have enabled the practical use of alginite in natural or technologically modified form in agriculture in the formation of growth, development and crop formation and quality of seeds and fruits of cultivated crops, forestry, remediation and improvement of soil and water properties, decomposition of herbicides, stabilization of beneficial microorganisms in animal organisms and other areas.

The aim of the research is to determine the effect of application of the developed product (extract) called ALGEX r 6 from natural mineral rock alginite in two different watering periods on the formation of root biomass and aboveground plant biomass of a selected group of medicinal plants (Melissa officinalis L., Malva verticillata L. and Ocimum × citriodorum Vis.) and determining the antioxidant activity in dried leaves and whole plants in aqueous and methyl alcohol extracts by DPPH method. The experiment was established in the Botanical Garden at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra throughout 2020. ALGEX r 6 was prepared by a research team at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra in the form of an extract from the natural mineral rock alginite with an application of thermal and chemical treatment. In the experiment, ALGEX r 6 was applied in the form of a watering in two variants with the same concentration of 3 % solution in 2 decilitres of water, but various application in terms of days in the pre-harvest stage of the above-ground plant biomass of 30 individual plants from each species. There are two diametrically opposite trends of ALGEX r 6 application that are manifesting themselves in M. officinalis and M. verticillata by reducing the root and above-ground part biomass compared to the control variant. The percentage proportionality of root/ above-ground part biomass in M. officinalis decreased from 62.48/30.31 % (control), to 45.57/18.85 % (variant 1) and to 36.07/17.27 % (variant 2), as well as in M. verticillata the root/above-ground part biomass decreased from 16.03/13.93 % (control), to 14.97/9.42 % (variant 1) and to 11.61/10.14 % (variant 2). In the species Ocimum × citriodorum Vis. the opposite trend manifested. The application of ALGEX r 6 watering resulted in increasing the antioxidant activity on the tested plant parts, especially in aqueous extracts in M. officinalis (from 19.30/control to 33.61 %/variant 1, 2), also in O. citriodorum (from 26.56/control to 44.16 %/variant 1), while in methyl alcohol extracts, the antioxidant activity showed a slight increase in all tested species.