The focus of the presented study is the in vitro anti-oxidant activity and anti-diabetic potential of water extracts from the following four herbal substances, not traditionally used for treatment of diabetes mellitus – leaves of Sambucus ebulus L. and Prunus mahaleb L., and flowering stems of Cichorium intybus L. and Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. The water extracts are obtained through ultrasonication. The extract of S. kitaibelii stands out due to its highest values in all studied indicators – total phenolic content, scavenging potential (DPPH, ABTS) and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity which was six times higher than acarbose. The extract of C. intybus also showed significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity compared to acarbose. The flowering stems of both species are promising sources of biologically active substances for blood sugar control in diabetes mellitus.

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According to the current food legislation in Bulgaria the dried herbs are classified under the large group of food supplements and their trade is allowed in pharmacies, drugstores and grocery stores. The aim of this study is to assess the morphological pharmacognostic characteristics of the content and the additional information on the labels of food supplements containing dried herbs in Bulgaria, in the light of key standard and regulatory documents related to the quality of herbal substances and food supplements. 91 herbal substances of 10 main groups were studied, which included 103 commercial products from 8 companies. The authenticity of the herbal substances was confirmed with macro-and microscopic tests. The macroscopic morphological indicators which were used as elements of trade-commodity analysis were changes in color, presence of other parts of the same or different plants, organic and mineral impurities, evidences of diseases and pest infestations. The phenological phase in which the herbal substances had been collected was determined also. We found that very small part of the studied products meet the standards for all of the selected criteria according to the considered documents which implies the need of strengthening control.

The influence of stress factors on the plant can lead to deterioration of plant functioning and loss of yield. The use of biological preparations based on plant cell elicitors in the technology of grain cultivation makes it possible to regulate the antioxidant activity of plants under abiotic stress. Treatment with the biopreparation Nigor++ in the tillering phase leads to noticeable changes in the balance of antioxidant substances in winter wheat plants Moskovskaya 39. Repeated treatment of Nigor++ after 16 days in the earing phase reduces AOA by 21.8, and by the flowering phase leads to a drop in this indicator by 51% relative to the tillering phase and by 59% relative to control plants. The use of Nigor++ increases the immune status of plants, reduces the concentration of antioxidant substances or reduces their activity due to the formation of stable complexes with magnesium ions included in BP, as well as binding them to highly active free radicals that occur during autoxidation, converting them to low-activity. Keywords: ANTIOXIDANTS, BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS, WINTER WHEAT, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY, REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES, ELICITORS, BIOFLAVONOIDS