Arthrospira platensis is a filamentous cyanobacterium of the class Cyanophyceae and is the most cultivated photosynthetic prokaryote. It is used in the pharmaceutical sector, medicine and the food industry. It has a rich micro- and macro-element composition, containing proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals and raw fibers. It is a commonly used ingredient in food products and nutritional supplements. The wide range of biologically active components determines its diverse pharmacological properties (antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antineoplastic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, photoprotective, antiviral, etc.). This review summarizes research related to the taxonomy, distribution and chemical composition of Arthrospira platensis as well as its potential application in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Attention is drawn to its various medical applications as an antidiabetic and antiobesity agent, with hepatoprotective, antitumor, antimicrobial and antiviral effects as well as regulatory effects on neurodegenerative diseases.

In the present work, our research is focused on an innovative compact all-fiber-optic structure suitable for the development of fully integrated dye lasers. The structure is based on a standard fiber-optic glass ferrule with two parallel openings along its length with diameters of 125 μm. A Fabry-Perot cavity is formed in one of the openings using two fused silica optical fibers with flat end facets. An angle-polished optical fiber with a reflective metal coating is placed in the second opening through which the active medium is pumped transversely. The active medium used is the Rhodamine 6G dye dissolved in glycerine, which is pumped by the 337.1-nm wavelength laser pulses of a nitrogen TEA laser. The ferrule-based design allows for a simplified set-up procedure and the integration of the pumping system to the basic structure of the laser, thus making it very compact. The design of the light source presented allows its future use in applications, such as lab-on-a-fiber, lab-on-a-chip and total analysis micro systems.

Sempervivum tectorum L. is an evergreen plant with fleshy blue-green leaves forming a rosette. The plant is well-known in alternative medicine and has been used for thousands of years. Traditionally for medicinal purposes, the plant is used as a juice obtained by simple squeezing of fresh plants leaves. The total content of Ca, K, Na, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Al, V, Cr, Ni, Mo, Ba, Pb, Cd, Hg, As, and Tl in plant leaves of Sempervivum tectorum L. sampled from different habitats in Bulgaria was determined after microwave digestion and measurements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Furthermore, the bioavailable fraction of essential elements Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn was defined after extraction with a hydrochloric acid solution, mimicking stomach juice. The total element content showed a high bioavailability of essential human health elements, such as Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn. Additionally, essential and toxic elements concentrations were quantified in a fresh juice, obtained by squeezing from plant leaves, as most frequently used in folk medicine. The results obtained demonstrated high concentrations of K, Mg, Ca, Zn, and Cu, which could be accepted as an explanation and a further confirmation of the anti-inflammatory action of this plant.