This paper aims to evaluate the influence of preparation and extraction methods on the phytochemical profile and microbiological activity of 12 medicinal plants from the west side of Romania. First, the proximate composition (humidity, proteins, lipids, and ash) and elemental composition of the raw material were evaluated. Two levels of plant shredding were used: coarse shredding (CS) and fine grinding of plants to obtain powder (FG), and three extraction methods: conventional solvent extraction (CES), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and microwave extraction (MWE). The phytochemical profile investigated referred to antioxidant activity (AA), total polyphenol content (TPC), and flavonoid content (TFC), using spectrophotometric methods, and individual polyphenols detected using the LC/MS method. The preparation/extraction method for each medicinal plant was optimized using statistical analysis. The optimized extracts for each medicinal plant were tested to evaluate the antimicrobial potential against 9 standard strains. The results showed that the sample preparation method before extraction (shredding or grinding) influences the content of phytocompounds by increasing them in powder form. The use of green technologies, especially MWE, leads to the highest content of TPC, TFC, and AA. The TPC value ranged between 4.83–19.2 mgGAE/g DM in the samples CS and between 19.00–52.85 mgGAE/g DM in the samples FG. The highest antioxidant value was found in the Origanum vulgare extract, both in the case of the crushed sample (22.66 mM Fe2+/100 g) and the powder sample (81.36 mM Fe2+/100 g), followed by Melissa officinalis, The TFC values varied in the range of 1.02–3.46 mgQE/g DM when CES was used, between 2.36–12.09 mgQE/g DM for UAE, and between 1.22–9.63 mgQE/g DM in the case of the MWE procedure. The antimicrobial activity highlighted the effectiveness of the extracts, especially on the strains of H. influenzae, C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, S. aureus, and S. flexneri. Reduced antimicrobial activity was recorded for the strains of S. pyogenes and P. aeruginosa. The best antimicrobial activity was registered by Thymus serpyllum, with an inhibition rate of 132.93% against E. coli and 78.40% against C. albicans.

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The plain grasslandsin Western Romania are real germplasm reservoirs for Birdsfoot trefoil. The Birdsfoot trefoil occupies all the gaps in the natural meadows, where other legumes fail because it has a great capacity to adapt to harsh conditions. Wild Birdsfoot trefoil populations, from the grassland flora, are reservoirs of genes with tolerance to environmental factors, resistance to diseases and pests. In this context, the paper aims to evaluate the genetic potential of some populations of trefoil, obtained from seeds harvested from the spontaneous flora of the plain grasslandsof Western Romania, in terms of important quantitative features, which will have a theoretical basis for obtaining new varieties. Birdsfoot trefoil populations analyzed in the paper come from seed harvested in natural grasslandsin the plains of the Banatregion,in WesternRomania. The seeds were sown in vegetation pots and in the spring of 2019 the plants were transplanted in the field. In this study,all data on the main characteristics analyzed were obtained in the second year of culture (2020).Birdsfoot trefoil analyzed populations fluctuate the studied characters and can be successfully used in breeding programs for creating new varieties. The Lv8population proved promising for its characters: the number of generative shoots per plant, the number of umbels per plant, the number of pods per plant, the number of seeds per plant, and the weight of seeds per plant.In the future, plant breeding will require an expansion of the genetic base to meet the challenges posed by climate change and the need to ensure food security,which requires the use of more local people in raising the productive level of Birdsfoot trefoil culture.

Background. Quercetin’s role in the homeostasis of certain trace elements in dyslipidemia induced in mice was assessed. Methods. Forty BALB/c mice were allocated into 4 groups as follows: control; HFD, received fat diet; HFD + Q group, received HFD +500 mg/L quercetin; and blank control (Q)—normal food + 500 mg/L quercetin in drinking water. Results. By analyzing the values of total proteins, albumins, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and the levels of several trace elements in blood and organs, we perceived a statistically significant increase ( ∗ ∗ , p < 0.01 ) of TP, ALB, TC, TGE, and LDL-c. A nonsignificant decrease was ascertained to HDL-c value in the HFD and quercetin groups ( p > 0.05 ). In the HFD group, all analyzed elements in the kidney and spleen increased, also Cu, Li, Mg, Mn, Pb, and of B, Ba, Cr, Cd, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the heart increased, but furthermore, Ag, B, Ba, Cd, Cr, Fe, Ni, and Zn in blood, Ag and Zn in the liver, and Cd in the spleen decreased. In the HFD group who received quercetin, elements (except B) were decreased in kidney and liver, also increased Ag, Ba, Cr, Fe, Li, Ni, Zn in blood, but similarly, Ag, B, Ba, Cd, Cu, Mn, and Pb declined in the spleen and heart. Conclusions. Results proved the quercetin beneficial role.

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