The Balkan endemic species, Hypericum rumeliacum, Guttiferae was introduced in vitro for the first time with the aim to study the type of morphogenetic response to plant growth regulators and ability to produce phenolics and flavonoid compounds. The morphoregulatory effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 1-naphtaleneacetic acid (NAA), 6-benzyladenine (BA) and combination of BA with NAA in Murashige-Skoog's basal medium on leaf lamina, internode stem segment, stem node and root cuttings was studied. Histological analysis of the structures regenerated from the primary explants proved the presence of both, embryoids and meristemoids. The node explants cultivated on BA-supplemented medium were the most favourable for regeneration through meristemoids. Therefore a double-stage culture approach, allowing an effective multiplication of large quantities of plant shoots in vitro along with maintenance of the biosynthetic capacity of the culture was developed. It comprised one subculture of three-nodal stem explants derived from the stock shoot cultures on MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/l BA followed by subculture of the induced multiple shoots on cytokinin-free MS medium. Determination of the total phenolics and flavonoids showed that the decrease of the levels of these secondary metabolites is transitional, as the exclusionof BA from the medium resulted in an increase of their total content.

Interest in the anti-inflammatory effects of Ligustrum vulgare L., which has been used traditionally in China and Japan prompted us to determine antiinflammatory effects of the plant's compounds in leukocytes. The leaves of L. vulgare were used to prepare a decoction which was successively extracted with organic solvents (dichloromethane (DCM), n-butanol, ethyl acetate) using liquid-liquid partition. Extracts were tested for inhibition of LTB 4 , resp. PGE 2 biosynthesis. Each extract was evaluated for its in vitro cyclooxygenase-1/2 (COX-1/2) inhibitory activity using assays with purified COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, as well as for their LTB 4 formation inhibitory activity using an assay with activated human neutrophil granulocytes. All extracts reported inhibitory actions against COXs in comparison with the synthetic inhibitors NS-398 (IC 50 = 2.6 µM) and indomethacin (IC 50 = 0.9 µM). The dichloromethane extract of privet leaves showed a considerable inhibitory effect against COX-1 and COX-2 enzyme activity. The DCM extract revealed 2.7 times higher inhibitory activity against LTB 4 formation in comparison with the known specific LT inhibitor zileuton (IC 50 = 5.0 µM). Additionally, oleuropein and echinacoside were detected by HPLC-DAD and LC-MS in the Ligustrum vulgare leaves. Both compounds exhibited weak inhibitory activity on cyclooxygenases and leukotriene formation.

SummaryEchinostomatid trematode Echinoparyphium limosorum n. sp. from the charadriiform bird Limosa limosa is described on basis of morphometrical study of museum material. The new species is characterized by medium-sized body up to 4.9 mm long, reniform head collar up to 511 wide, armed with 48 -51 collar spines up to 91 μm, arranged in double row. The new species is largely similar to Echinoparyphium recurvatum, however, the most remarkable difference lays in the higher number of collar spines which are 48 -51 in E. limosorum n. sp. but 45 in E. recurvatum. The authors discuss relative impact of numerical generic characters and propose an amending of the diagnosis of the genus Echinoparyphium given by Kostadinova (2005) as follows: Collar spines up to 51, sharply pointed, all in double row.

During a re-assessment of tapeworm collections from wild birds in Slovakia, two Anomotaenia spp. were recovered from the intestine of the little ringed plover Charadrius dubius Scop., 1786. One of them is described as Anomotaenia barusi sp. nov. The new taxon is distinguished from related congeneric species by the different shape and size of the rostellar hooks, the number of testes and the morphology of male and female reproductive organs. The other species was identified as Anomotaenia alata Spassky et Konovalov, 1969. The validity of this species has formerly been questioned because of its striking morphological similarity to the type-species of the genus, A. microrhyncha (Krabbe, 1869), described from the same host, Philomachus pugnax (L.). Present data revealed differences in the number and measurements of the rostellar hooks, the size of the cirrus-sac, the armament of the cirrus and the presence or absence of setae at the polar ends of the inner egg envelope, which supported the validity of A. alata. The finding of A. alata in C. dubius from Slovakia represents a new host and geographical record.

173 SummaryFuhrmanolepis beskydensis n.sp. from woodcock, Scolopax rusticola L. in Slovakia is described based upon light microscope observation. The medium sized species possess a single crown of 21'diorchid' (wrench-shaped) hooks, 28 -30 µm long. Irregularly alternating genital pores were combined with abnormal multiple shifting of pores within the lateral margins of strobila. Number of testes 18 -25. Cirrus-sac and evaginated cirrus are 115 -135 x 7 -12 and 26 x 6 -11 µm, respectively. The species is differentiated from closely related congeneric taxons and some other morphologically similar dilepidids. An attention is being paid to taxonomy and nomenclature of Fuhrmanolepis Spassky et Spaskaja, 1965 regarding an emendation of mentioned genus to Fuhrmannolepis by Bona (1994a) and modification of its diagnosis.