Withania somnifera plantlets were produced in vitro from the shoot-tip of aseptically germinated seedlings. Culture conditions were optimized using different plant growth regulators which gave rise to 120 shoots from a single bud. The plantlets were then transferred to pots and maintained in greenhouse for 4 months. 90% of these in vitro propagated plantlets survived and showed normal growth. Leaves from these plants were used for isolation of the withanolides. Methanolic extract of leaves from plantlets growing in tissue culture and those transferred to the greenhouse were evaluated for immunomodulatory activity. While the extract from greenhouse samples showed potent immunosuppressive activity, those from tissue cultures samples did not show any activity. Fractionation and characterization of withanolides, using HPLC, NMR, MS methods revealed the presence of withaferin A in the greenhouse samples. Our results indicate that Withania species may require longer time and better differentiation and also natural environment for the production of withaferin A.

Phytotoxicity and potential genotoxicity of Radiowo municipal landfi ll leachate. The most common method of municipal solid waste disposal is storing at landfi lls. Many hazardous substances are present in garbage and some more are formed during degradation. They may be assimilated by numerous organisms, pass through the food chain and bioaccumulate by long-term exposure in animals and humans. Therefore it seems an important tusk to monitor the toxic and genotoxic potential of municipal landfi ll leachates, which may contaminate waters and soils. Higher plants provide a very useful, uncomplicated and inexpensive tool for fi rst-step screening of environmental pollutants. The objective of our study was to evaluate the phytotoxicity and potential genotoxicity of Radiowo municipal landfi ll leachate by the means of plant bioassays and to preliminary valuate the effi ciency of zeolite as a leachate purifi er. Phytotoxicity was assessed by the Allium cepa Root Elongation Bioassay and genotoxicity by the means of Allium and Vicia Root Tip Assays (RTA). Results were subjected to the F-test for the two way analysis of variance (ANOVA 2) and subsequently the Tukey's test, with statistical signifi cance set at p = 0.05. Applied plant bioassays indicated signifi cant phytotoxicity and potential genotoxicity of Radiowo landfi ll leachate The process of zeolite fi ltration did not eliminate, but evidently decreased phytotoxicity. It did not cause signifi cant change in genotoxic potential of 100% leachate, but resulted in its more rapid decrease in a concentration dependent manner.

Soil concentration of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons around the Petrochemical Plant in Płock in [1987][1988][1989][1990][1991][1992][1993][1994][1995][1996][1997][1998][1999][2000][2001][2002][2003][2004][2005][2006]. The Petrochemical Plant Orlen S.A. in Płock was constructed in the 1960s as one of the largest objects of this type in Europe. The facility was unfortunately located among agricultural areas. In the 1990s the plant implemented a number of investments aimed at lowering pollutant loads released to the environment. There is no information, however, whether these investments were successful in decreasing soil pollution with tar substances and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and raising the security level for agricultural production within the area. The aim of the research was, therefore, to provide this information. The research was conducted within the agricultural area around the plant. Soil samples were collected in the north-eastern direction from the facility, at fi ve research points at: 1 km, 3 km, 6 km, 12 km and 18 km distances. Concentration of tar substances and PAHs was evaluated and compared with the data from 1987. The results show that PAH emissions from the plant decreased due to the aforementioned environmental investments, which in turn resulted in a signifi cant drop of PAH concentration in soils in around the plant (1-3 km). Nevertheless, their level is still high (especially 1 km away from the refi nery) when compared with uncontaminated sites.

Celem badań była ocena fitotoksyczności i fitogenotok-syczności warszawskich komunalnych osadów ściekowych zmieszanych z dwoma różnymi ro-dzajami gleb przy użyciu standardowych biote-stów roślinnych: Phytotoxkit i Allium cepa Root Tip Assay. Fitotoksyczność mieszanin osadów z glebami była zależna od koncentracji osadu i rodzaju gleby. W przypadku mieszaniny osadu z piaskiem już 3% koncentracja działała fitotok-sycznie, podczas gdy mieszanina z substratem torfowym wywoływała efekt fitotoksyczny dopie-ro przy 25-procentowym stężeniu osadu. Niestety przy tym, a także niższym (6%) stężeniu osadu w mieszaninie z substratem torfowym stwier-dzono silny efekt fitogenotoksyczny. Wydaje sięzatem, iż tak zwane biologiczne wykorzystanie badanego osadu ściekowego jest raczej ryzykow-ne dla roślin, szczególnie w przypadku gleb piasz-czystych, ale także organicznych.