Background: The symptoms of COPD differ based on the stage of the disease, becoming more noticeable in its severe stages and during exacerbations. They are associated with temporary incapacity for work and cause a decrease in working capacity. Also, occupations with special working conditions and exposure to pollutants at work cause increased bronchial secretion and cough. This research aims to identify the most common symptoms in COPD patients and evaluate their work capacity based on symptom prevalence. Methods: 200 subjects were included in the prospective study. Participants were divided into two groups: a study group and a control group. Within each group, subgroups were created based on smoking habits, a key risk factor for COPD development. Results: The dominant symptom in both groups was cough, with 34.67%. In subjects with preserved working capacity, the most common symptoms are chest pressure with 13.33% and shortness of breath with 9.33%, while in the group with reduced working capacity, fatigue (30%) and dyspnea with 26%. In the control group, most subjects had obstructive bronchitis, asthma and chronic simplex bronchitis. Conclusion: According to the GOLD classification, modified working capacity decreased by 51.33%, while retained working capacity declined by 48.67% in relation to disease severity. Cough was the dominant symptom in both groups, while other symptoms varied independently of the stage of the disease.

Background: A doubt that occupational medicine specialists face is whether exposure to solvents is an independent risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Aim: The present study investigates the connection between the length of work experience (exposure) at workplaces that are exposed to organic volatile substances with eventual changes in the morphological structure of the liver parenchyma or laboratory parameters of liver function, and to investigate whether organic volatile substances, as an independent factor can lead to liver steatosis or changes in laboratory parameters of liver function.  Methods: A prospective study was conducted from January to April 2023. and included 62 coke industry workers who were divided into two groups of 31 workers each (experimental with workers exposed to organic volatile substances at the workplace and control with workers who were not exposed). Laboratory parameters of liver function were monitored, as well as ultrasound findings of liver parenchyma in coke industry workers undergoing examination. Exclusion criteria were known history of liver disease, blood transfusion, alcohol consumption and diabetes mellitus. Results: Changes in laboratory parameters of liver function and ultrasound findings of liver steatosis were found with high statistical significance in the workers of the experimental group, for which no statistically significant association with elevated values of lipid status was found. With diabetes as an exclusion factor and the insignificant prevalence of hypertension in the examined workers, it can be concluded that metabolic syndrome is not related to our results. During the correlation analysis, it can be concluded that organic volatile substances are an independent cause and trigger for fatty infiltration of the liver parenchyma and changes in the laboratory findings of liver function parameters. Conclusions: Exposure to organic volatile substances at the workplace as an independent factor causes liver steatosis with elevated values of laboratory parameters of liver function and it can be said that it is an independent cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. 

In this study, ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of commercial cloves were prepared and analyzed. Soxhlet extraction (SE) and ultrasonic extraction (UAE) were used to prepare the extracts. Phytochemicals from plant material were extracted for 2 hours, in the case of both extraction techniques. The content of total polyphenols and flavonoids, as well as their antioxidant and antibacterial activity, were analyzed in the extracts. The results show an extremely high content of total polyphenols, which was also confirmed by the high antioxidant capacity, confirmed by DPPH and FRAP methods. Antibacterial screening on reference bacterial strains from the WDCM collection shows high potency of clove extracts at the tested concentration. In terms of the efficiency of extraction of bioactive components, petroleum ether in combination with ultrasonic extraction is the most effective. These results may contribute to further research and optimization of the extraction of biologically active components from cloves and related plant materials.

This study aims to determine the antioxidant and antibacterial potential of aqueous extracts of six different plant species, which are widely used in traditional medicine: Salvia officinalis L., Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds., Urtica dioica L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Rubus fruticosus L. and Achillea millefolium L. The samples were collected in the Tuzla region between March and July 2025. All of the mentioned plants are important in traditional medicine and have been previously reported to have biological activity. The antioxidant activity was tested by the DPPH and FRAP methods, while the antibacterial potential was tested by the diffusion technique on reference bacterial strains from the WDCM collection. The extracts showed high antioxidant activity, with nettle and sage extracts showing the most potent in neutralizing DPPH radicals. Weak to moderate antibacterial activity was recorded in the case of nettle, sage, mint and rosemary extracts, and a complete absence of activity in the case of yarrow and blackberry leaf extracts.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant activity of cinnamon extracts obtained using different solvents (ethanol, methanol, acetone, water) and their mixtures with water. Additionally, the phenolic and flavonoid contents were analyzed to investigate their correlation with antioxidant activity. Materials and Methods: Cinnamon extracts were prepared using pure solvents (ethanol, methanol, acetone, water) and their mixture with water in different proportions. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as the antioxidant activity of the obtained extracts, were analyzed. Results and Discussion: The results showed that the extracts obtained from mixtures of ethanol and water had a high content of phenols and flavonoids, with the 40:10 ethanol-to-water mixture yielding the highest phenolic (240.69 mg/g) and flavonoid (0.275 mg/g) contents. Similarly, methanol and its mixtures with water showed variations in the content of these components, with pure methanol providing the highest values (252.12 mg/g for phenols and 0.2212 mg/g for flavonoids). Regarding antioxidant activity, ethanol extracts and their mixtures with water achieved the best results, with the 20:30 ethanol-to-water mixture displaying the highest antioxidant potential (937.775 µmol TE/g). Methanol-water mixtures, particularly in the 40:10 ratio, also exhibited high activity (928.675 µmol TE/g). Acetone extracts and their mixtures with water had somewhat lower values, while water-based extracts showed the lowest antioxidant activity (192.9 µmol TE/g). Conclusion: These results indicate a significant potential of solvent mixtures, particularly acetone-water mixtures, in enhancing bioactivity and antioxidant effects.

Origanum compactum, Melaleuca alternifolia, and Cinnamomum camphora essential oils are recognized for their therapeutic potential, including their selective cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines. Our research focused on examining the cytotoxic effects of these essential oils on three human carcinoma cell lines: lung carcinoma (H460), cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa), and colorectal carcinoma (HCT116). The MTT-based cell viability assay was used to assess the cytotoxicity of essential oils. The results demonstrated that all three essential oils exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxic potential, with varying levels of growth inhibition across the cell lines. Notably, the highest sensitivity was observed in H460 cells, and the lowest sensitivity was found in HCT116 cells. Origanum compactum demonstrated the strongest cytotoxicity across all cell lines (GI50 73 - 154 nL/mL), making it the most promising candidate for further investigation, particularly for lung and cervical cancer treatment.

2-acetoxybenzoic acid, also known as aspirin, is one of the most widespread and important pharmaceutical compound used in the treatment of pain, inflammation, and febrile conditions. In addition to its well-known therapeutic properties, 2-acetoxybenzoic acid is increasingly being investigated in the context of its interactions with metals, leading to new insights into potential applications in medicine, chemistry, and biotechnology. Among the metals that form complex compounds with 2-acetoxybenzoic acid, nickel is one of the most interesting due to its specific electrochemical properties and biological activity. The study of the 2-acetoxybenzoic acid-nickel complex plays a significant role in understanding the molecular mechanisms of interaction between drugs and metal ions, as well as the potential therapeutic benefits of these compounds. This research thoroughly examines the structural, chemical, and biological aspects of the 2-acetoxybenzoic acid-nickel complex, with particular emphasis on its potential application in the pharmaceutical industry and medicine. The structure of this complex was determined by various spectroscopic and analytical techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), mass spectrometry (MS), melting point methods, and optical microscopy. These methods contributed to the understanding of the interaction mechanisms between the ligand and the nickel ion center, opening the possibility for further investigation of the pharmacological properties and potential therapeutic applications of this complex. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the synthesized Ni(II) complex with 2-acetoxybenzoic acid was investigated, and it was found that the metal complex exhibits varying degrees of inhibitory effects on bacteria.

The aim of the research is to determine the effectiveness of ultrasonic extraction of nettle seeds (Urtica dioica) whose products can be used as potential metal corrosion inhibitors. Different solvents were used (water, methanol, ethanol, acetone) in terms of total phenol content (TPC), flavonoids (TFC) and antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP). The results show that the aqueous extracts have the highest TPC and antioxidant capacity in both tests. The high correlation between TPC and antioxidant activity (R ≈ 0.98) confirms that phenolic compounds are key contributors to antioxidant capacity. These findings suggest that nettle seeds can be examined as a potential metal corrosion inhibitor.

Bitter and sweet wormwoods are traditional plant species in the Asteraceae (Compositae). Their use in traditional medicine has long been known. Numerous preparations of bitter and sweet wormwood (teas, tinctures) are used in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system. The content of bioactive components (polyphenols and flavonoids) and antioxidant activity of Artemisia absinthium L. (bitter wormwood) and Artemisia annua L. (sweet wormwood) were examined in this paper. Extract's series were prepared by mixing selected organic solvents (methanol, ethanol and acetone) and water in different volume ratios for both analyzed species. Antioxidant activity was tested using FRAP and DPPH methods. Extracts of sweet wormwood contain more bioactive components and have a higher antioxidant capacity compared to extracts of bitter wormwood. In terms of extraction efficiency, the mixture of acetone and water (20:30 v/v) proved to be the most efficient. Regarding pure organic solvents, the most effective for the bioactive components isolation is ethanol, while acetone showed the weakest extraction power.

Two highly invasive plant species, Lysimachia vulgaris and Lythrum salicaria are well-known for its anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, and antidiaroic activity. These plants are most widespread on the territory of Euroasia, where their traditional medicinal use has been reported. Due to their invasiveness, they are undesirable plants in  other parts of the world. Till this day, many studies were conducted regarding the biological and pharmacological activity of L. salicaria. In this study, the polyphenol content of plant extracts was examined using the Folin-Ciocalteou method. Antioxidant activity of selected plant species was also determined, using DPPH and FRAP methods. Extracts of different polarities were prepared using methanol, water, and acetone. Extraction was performed by maceration and ultrasonic extraction. The results of the study show that both plant species possess antioxidant activity. Lythrum salicaria extracts show a significant polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity, with results notably higher than the results of studies conducted so far. The different antioxidant activity of the prepared extracts confirms the influence of solvents and extraction methods on the utilization of the antioxidant potential of plants. Additionally, for the aqueous extracts prepared by ultrasonic extraction method, an in vitro study of antibacterial activity was conducted. Both plant species show antibacterial activity, with an emphasis on the very strong antibacterial activity of L. salicaria extracts against selected bacterial strains.

The chemical composition of Pulicaria dysenterica(L.) Bernh. aerial parts essential oil (EO), growing wildin Bosnia and Herzegovina, was presented in the study. In addition to the EO composition, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities were also tested. The aerial parts of P. dysentericacontained 0.3% of yellow, liquid, fragrant EO. The 51 components identified accounted for 81.09% of the oil. The EO was characterized by the presence of a high concentration of oxygenated sesquiterpenes 51.83% while oxygenated monoterpenes constituted 15.57%, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons 9.32% and non-terpene compounds presented 4.37% of the EO. The dominant compounds were the sesquiterpenes caryophyllene oxide, (E)-nerolidol, β-caryophyllene and monoterpene nerol. The antimicrobial activity of EO was tested against selected ATCC strains of microorganisms, the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosaand Escherichia coli, and the fungus Candida albicans. The results showed that the investigated EO inhibited the growth of all selected ATCC strains of microorganisms. The best result was obtained against Escherichia colibacteria with MIC value of 1 mgmL-1. The cytotoxicity of EO was measured against the HeLa cell line using the MTT method with IC50of 188.52 μgmL-1.This study has provided scientific baseline data on the therapeutic properties of P. dysenterica. KEYWORDS:Pulicaria dysenterica, essential oil,antimicrobial activity,citotoxicity

Vaginal inflammation represents a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by infection, inflammation, or disruption of vaginal microflora. The most common causes of vaginal infection are Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coliand Candida albicans. Antibiotic resistance is a major global problem, which can be mitigated by using natural antimicrobial substances such as essential oils. Each essential oil has an extremely complex composition (some essential oilshave over 200 components), which prevents microorganisms from developing resistance. Therefore, essential oils retain their effects.The aim of our study was to investigate antibacterial activity Melaleuca alternifolia, Achillea millefoliumand Cinnamomumcamphoravaginal suppositories, and see which essential oil has the strongest potential to be used as active ingredient for vaginal infections.The antimicrobial activity of the vaginal suppositories was examined using the disk diffusion method. Standard bacterial strains were used for the ATCC collection: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) ATCC 25923, Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis)ATCC 51299, Escherichia coli (E. coli)ATCC 25922, Candida albicans (C. albicans)ATCC 10231.The results showed that Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil has an antimicrobial effect on all tested strains, with the strongest effect on Candida albicans(ZI 22.7 mm). Achillea millefoliumessential oil had no effect on Enterococcus faecalis, whereas Cinnamomum camphoraessential oil did not show zones of inhibition of Candida albicans.KEYWORDS:vaginal suppository, Melaleuca alternifolia, Achillea millefolium, Cinnamomum camphora,antimicrobial activity

Tussilago farfara L., also known as coltsfoot, is a plant that has been used since ancient times to relieve coughs. Subsequently, the effectiveness of coltsfoot in the treatment of bronchial asthma, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases was established. In this research, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of different coltsfoot extracts was analyzed. The antioxidant activity was monitored through the DPPH radical inhibition efficiency and the extract's reducing ability. Antibacterial activity was tested using the diffusion technique. Tussilago farfara L. extracts showed extremely high antioxidant activity in in vitro conditions. The highest antioxidant capacity was found in extracts prepared by mixing water and organic solvents. High antibacterial activity was found for ethanolic, acetone and aqueous-ethanolic extracts of coltsfoot.

Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. (known as shepherd's purse) is a plant whose parts are used as medicine in herbal medicine. It is applicable as a medicine in the treatment of all forms of internal bleeding, for the treatment of hemorrhoids, excessive menstruation, but also for the usual stopping of nosebleeds. Through this research, the influence of organic solvents and their aqueous mixtures on the efficiency of polyphenol extraction and antioxidant activity was compared. The inhibition of free radicals was tested by the DPPH method, while the FRAP method was used to test the reduction potential. Analyzes have shown that water is the most effective solvent in the isolation of polyphenols from the aerial parts of shepherd's purse. Mixtures of organic solvents with water also showed high efficiency in the extraction of bioactive components, while the weakest results were obtained for extracts prepared in pure organic solvents.