The significant reduction in precipitation caused by global warming has led to a marked increase in the concentration of salts in the soil, thus causing the plants to tolerate a much higher salinity. The response of plants to salinity consists of numerous processes that must work together to alleviate both cellular hyperosmolarity and ionic imbalance. Salinity tolerance and plant growth stability are complex genetic traits that are difficult to establish in crops, as saline stress can occur as a catastrophic episode or be imposed continuously or intermittently, and can gradually become more severe at any stage of plant development.Given these conditions, we aimed to identify the influence of saline stress on the germination process of cucumber seeds. To perform the experiment, saline solutions were prepared in different concentrations: 0.25 mM and 0.12 mM, over which sea buckthorn extract (5 ml /l) was added. 18 repetitions were performed, 3 for each solution. Our results indicated that salt stress significantly reduced the cucumber seedlings shoots and roots growth. Also, the cucumber seeds germination was significantly inhibited at concentrations of 0.12 and 0.25 mM of NaCl solution supplemented with sea buckthorn extract.

Colonization of skin lesions with various infectious agents is still a major health threat. The misuse and abuse of antibiotics and synthetic drugs has led to increased resistance of pathogens and therefore difficulties in treating these medical conditions, requiring the development of new materials with antimicrobial efficacy. Thus, the aim of the study was to determine the therapeutic potential of hydrogels based on plant extracts (Chelidonium majus L., Arnica montana L., Calendula officinalis L., Aristolochia clematitis L., Hippophae rhamnoides L.) and zinc oxide nanoparticles in skin lesions by assessing cytotoxicity and cell viability. The two types of zinc oxide nanoparticles were obtained at 100 atmospheres and oven dried as well as at 100 atmospheres and spray dried. The data from our study suggest that none of the hydrogels tested show a notable cytotoxic effect on fibroblast culture. Dilution of the stock product in all experimental samples resulted in a cell viability of over 80%, reflecting that these hydrogels may be a therapeutic alternative in the wound healing process.