Milica Rat

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: green algae Cosmarium formosulum and Tetraspora gelatinosa, fungi Coprinopsis melanthina, Heteroxylaria oxyacanthae, Lophodermium petiolicolum, Peziza ostracoderma, and Phylloporia ribis, lichen Sphaerophorus globosus, liverworts Scapania curta and Solenostoma gracillimum, mosses Buxbaumia viridis, Sphagnum cuspidatum var. viride, and Sphagnum medium, dicots Hippuris vulgaris and Viola orbelica and monocots Arundo donax, × Gymnigritella suaveolens, Ophrys insectifera, and Ornithogalum montanum.

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: brown alga Heri­baudiella fluviatilis, fungi Holmiella sabina, Lysurus cruciatus, and Psathyrella ammophila, lichen Umbilicaria subpolyphylla, liverwort Kurzia pauciflora, mosses Climacium dendroides, Dicranella howei, Fissidens rivularis, F. viridulus, and Sphagnum papillosum, dicots Hesperis matronalis subsp. candida, Hieracium gaudryi, Lythrum hyssopifolia, Lythrum tribracteatum, and Taraxacum janchenii and monocots Allium moschatum, Cyperus esculentus, Dactylorhiza × aschersoniana, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Ophrys insectifera, and Schoenoplectus litoralis.

The limited data on biological potential of the genus Hypericum sect. Drosocarpium species initiated the current research aimed at the chemical characterization of samples of six selected taxa (H. barbatum, H. montbretii, H. richerii subsp. grisebachii, H. rochelii, H. rumeliacum, and H. spruneri) and the evaluation of their biological potential (antioxidant and antihyperglycaemic potential, acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidases inhibition). The obtained results suggest greater abundance of biologically active compounds, hypericin (H. rochelii, H. barbatum, and H. richerii subsp. grisebachii), amentoflavone (H. richerii subsp. grisebachii), quercetin and rutin (H. richerii subsp. grisebachii), and chlorogenic acid (H. richerii subsp. grisebachii, H. barbatum, H. rumeliacum), when compared to H. perforatum. Also, the scavenging potential of DPPH (median RSC₅₀ = 3.34 µg/mL), NO (median RSC₅₀ = 26.47 µg/mL) and OH radicals (median RSC₅₀ = 76.87 µg/mL) of evaluated species was higher, or at least comparable to H. perforatum, while the same trend was noticed in the case of anti-MAO-A (median IC₅₀ = 19.41 µg/mL) and antihyperglycaemic potential (inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase (median IC₅₀ = 29.47 µg/mL)). The study results highlight sect. Drosocarpium species as a valuable source of biologically active secondary metabolites and suggest a wide spectrum of possible applications in the food and medicine industries.

Lemon catnip (Nepeta cataria var. citriodora) is an underutilized aromatic and medicinal plant known for its high essential oil yield and distinctive lemon-like scent, and is widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, and biopesticide industries. Unlike typical catnip, it lacks nepetalactones and is rich in terpene alcohols, such as nerol and geraniol, making it a promising substitute for lemon balm. Despite its diverse applications, little attention has been paid to the valorization of byproducts from essential oil distillation, such as hydrolates and their secondary recovery oils. This study aimed to thoroughly analyze the volatile compound profiles of the essential oil from Lemon catnip and the recovery oil derived from its hydrolate over three consecutive growing seasons, with particular emphasis on how temperature and precipitation influence the major volatile constituents. The essential oil was obtained via semi-industrial steam distillation, producing hydrolate as a byproduct, which was then further processed using a Likens–Nickerson apparatus to extract the recovery oil, also known as secondary oil. Both essential and recovery oils were predominantly composed of terpene alcohols, with nerol (47.5–52.3% in essential oils; 43.5–54.3% in recovery oils) and geraniol (25.2–27.9% in essential oils; 29.4–32.6% in recovery oils) as the primary components. While sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were mostly confined to the essential oil, the recovery oil was distinguished by a higher presence of monooxygenated and more hydrophilic terpenes. Over the three-year period, elevated temperatures led to increased levels of geraniol, geranial, neral, and citronellal in both oils, whereas cooler conditions favored the accumulation of nerol and linalool, especially in the recovery oils. Higher precipitation was associated with elevated concentrations of nerol and linalool but decreased levels of geraniol, geranial, and neral, possibly due to dilution or degradation processes.

The flowers of Santolina chamaecyparissus have a distinct aroma and taste, with a wide range of applications in medicine, food, and packaging. Its essential oil offers numerous health benefits, including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antidiabetic, spasmolytic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and antiparasitic properties. Additionally, it is used as a flavoring agent in food and beverages and as a natural preservative in edible coatings for food packaging. This study investigates the chemical composition and sensory properties of the S. chamaecyparissus essential oil from Serbia, obtained via hydrodistillation, and includes a literature-based analysis of the existing profiles. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) was employed for identifying the essential oil composition, while chemometric techniques like the genetic algorithm (GA), quantitative structure–retention relationship (QSRR) analysis, artificial neural network (ANN), and molecular descriptors were applied to ensure accurate and reliable results for authenticating the oil. Among the 47 identified compounds, oxygenated monoterpenes, especially artemisia ketone (36.11%), and oxygenated sesquiterpenes, notably vulgarone B (22.13%), were the primary constituents. Chemometric analysis proved effective in predicting the oil’s composition, and sensory evaluation revealed a herbal aroma with earthy, woody, and camphoraceous notes. A literature review highlighted the variability in oil composition due to geographical, environmental, and extraction factors, underscoring its chemical diversity, bioactivity, and potential applications.

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: green alga Cosmarium crenulatum, fungi Calvatia fragilis, Hypoxylon fuscum, Myriostoma coliforme and Zeus olympius, mosses Antitrichia curtipendula, Buxbaumia viridis, Homalothecium meridionale, Physcomitrium arenicola, Sphagnum inundatum and Syntrichia calcicola, monocots Anacamptis ? nicodemi nothosubsp. nicodemi, Ornithogalum montanum and Parapholis incurva and dicots Cardamine waldsteinii and Suaeda salsa.

This study proposes a novel nomenclatural combination and establishes a previously unrecognized synonym. We have also designated lectotypes for Pedicu-laris brachyodonta and P. heterodonta. Our research identifies three vascular plant taxa as new additions to the Serbian flora and confirms the occurrence of four species within the country. Furthermore, one native plant taxon is reported as new to the territory of Serbia proper and one spontaneous hybrid for the Kosovo and Metohija province. Conversely, we have refuted the reported presence of five taxa within Serbia or its constituent regions.

A comparative study of volatile compounds in four Achillea spices cultivated (A. aspleniifolia and A. filipendulina) and wild‐grown (A. crithmifolia and A. virescens) in Serbia was analysed by headspace gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (HS‐GC‐MS). A total of 59 compounds were identified, representing 98.7–100 % of the total volatile compounds. In A. aspleniifolia, the dominant compound was β‐pinene, while in the other three Achillea species the dominant was 1,8‐cineole in combination with cis‐thujone in A. crithmifolia, α‐pinene, and p‐cymene and chrysanthenone in A. virescens. According to the sensory analysis of odour, A. aspleniifolia has the highest herbal intensity (due to β‐pinene) and significant citrus and spicy notes originate from other minor compounds. In other investigated species, the odor is herbal (due to 1,8‐cineole), but other compounds determine odor; A. filipendulina is notably minty, A. crithmifolia is strong woody and terpenic, with notable thujonic characteristics, while A. virescens has terpenic, camphoraceous and spicy notes.

Helichrysum italicum (immortelle) essential oil is one of the most popular essential oils worldwide and it has many beneficial properties, including antimicrobial. However, in this plant, the chemical diversity of the essential oil is very pronounced. The aim of this work was to process the GC-MS results of four samples of H. italicum essential oil of Serbian origin by chemometric tools, and evaluate the antimicrobial activity in vitro and in silico. Overall, 47 compounds were identified, the most abundant were γ-curcumene, α-pinene, and ar-curcumene, followed by α-ylangene, neryl acetate, trans-caryophyllene, italicene, α-selinene, limonene, and italidiones. Although the four samples of H. italicum essential oil used in this study were obtained from different producers in Serbia, they belong to the type of essential oil rich in sesquiterpenes (γ-curcumene and ar-curcumene chemotype). In vitro antimicrobial potential showed that five were sensitive among ten strains of tested microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Candida albicans. Therefore, these microorganism models were used further for in silico molecular docking through the mechanism of ATP-ase inhibitory activity. Results showed that among all compounds from H. italicum essential oil, neryl acetate has the highest predicted binding energy. Artificial neural network modeling (ANN) showed that two major compounds γ-curcumene and α-pinene, as well as minor compounds such as trans-β-ocimene, terpinolene, terpinene-4-ol, isoitalicene, italicene, cis-α-bergamotene, trans-α-bergamotene, italidiones, trans-β-farnesene, γ-selinene, β-selinene, α-selinene, and guaiol are responsible for the antimicrobial activity of H. italicum essential oil. The results of this study indicate that H. italicum essential oil samples rich in γ-curcumene, α-pinene, and ar-curcumene cultivated in Serbia (Balkan) have antimicrobial potential both in vitro and in silico. In addition, according to ANN modeling, the proportion of neryl acetate and other compounds detected in these samples has the potential to exhibit antimicrobial activity.