The Importance of Pine Species in the Ethnomedicine of Transylvania (Romania).

The geographical and ecological features of Transylvania enable the wide ethnobotanical use of pine species. The aim of this study was to survey the current ethnomedicinal and other traditional use of pine species of Hungarian-speaking ethnic groups in Transylvania and to compare them with earlier reports performed in Transylvania and from other countries related to the Carpathian Basin. Information on pine species was obtained using semi-structured interviews with 515 Transylvanian informants from 18 villages in the period 2007-2019. The young shoots of Abies alba Mill., Picea abies (L.) H. Karst., Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold, and Pinus sylvestris L. were applied to treat respiratory diseases, while the resin was used for dental problems. Syrup and decoction were made from the cones of all species, except Abies alba. Picea abies was the most frequently documented with seven preparations from different parts (even needles), and this species was mentioned in the treatment of 21 diseases. The least recorded was Abies alba, which was applied for coughs and decayed teeth. We recorded the use of the cones and needles of Picea abies for dyspnoea, thyroid glands, and kidney disorders, previously unknown in ethnomedicinal literature. Our data on the pine species confirm their current use and significance in Transylvania.

Ethnomedicine survey on folk dermatology in Transylvania, Romania.

From the beginning of recorded history through the present day, dermatologic disorders have been treated with ethnomedicine remedies. We present the ethnodermatologic practices in Transylvania, Romania. We conducted ethnomedicine surveys in 35 villages in Transylvania (2007-2019). The 650 people interviewed were questioned about the treatment of dermatologic disorders by drugs derived from plant, animal, human, or other origins. Collected data were compared to earlier records of the regions and other European countries, completed with relevant pharmacologic studies of some plants. A total of 180 drugs were documented for 45 skin problems, including 112 plants, 1 fungus, 19 animals, 5 humans, and 43 other materials used in 11 preparation forms. Among these, 144 drugs were mentioned in humans, 10 in veterinary medicines, and 26 included in both therapies with overlapping human/animal (eg, Petroselinum crispum) and specific uses (eg, Daphne mezereum, Scrophularia nodosa). Compared to data from other countries, the local use of 32 plants and various animals and minerals was described only in the study area. The present study demonstrates that ethnomedicine practices are a valuable source of knowledge for skin diseases and highlight the relevance of fieldwork in the selected regions of Transylvania.

Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Natural Drugs.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common urinary diseases affecting men, generally after the age of 50. The prevalence of this multifactorial disease increases with age. With aging, the plasma level of testosterone decreases, as well as the testosterone/estrogen ratio, resulting in increased estrogen activity, which may facilitate the hyperplasia of the prostate cells. Another theory focuses on dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the activity of the enzyme 5α-reductase, which converts testosterone to DHT. In older men, the activity of this enzyme increases, leading to a decreased testosterone/DHT ratio. DHT may promote prostate cell growth, resulting in hyperplasia. Some medicinal plants and their compounds act by modulating this enzyme, and have the above-mentioned targets. This review focuses on herbal drugs that are most widely used in the treatment of BPH, including pumpkin seed, willow herb, tomato, maritime pine bark, Pygeum africanum bark, rye pollen, saw palmetto fruit, and nettle root, highlighting the latest results of preclinical and clinical studies, as well as safety issues. In addition, the pharmaceutical care and other therapeutic options of BPH, including pharmacotherapy and surgical options, are discussed, summarizing and comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each therapy.

Determination of polyphenols and in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull.

Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull belonging to Ericaceae family occurs mostly at sour habitats in subalpine regions in Europe. The species is cultivated in many countries, but it is known as medicinal plant because of polyphenols and aucubin as main compounds. In this work, the polyphenolic, flavonoid, and tannin content, as well as the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the aerial part, were evaluated. In phytochemical analyses, methanol extract showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid content, followed by ethanol, methanol/water, and aqueous extracts. In antimicrobial tests, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water extracts inhibited the growth of S. aureus and MRSA, while butanol and water fractions were effective against E. coli, and water extract for E. coli ESBL and K. pneumoniae ESBL. Water extract showed the most inhibitory effect for the tested 2 g-positive and 3 g-negative strains including both bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity. Data analysed by Pearson coefficient correlation showed positive correlation between polyphenol and flavonoid content. The determined antioxidant capacity of the herb ranged from 0.145 to 0.296 mg/mL. The results highlight the significance of the plant as possible antioxidant source and as an antimicrobial agent for further studies.

Cytotoxic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant Properties and Effects on Cell Migration of Phenolic Compounds of Selected Transylvanian Medicinal Plants.

Medicinal plants are widely used in folk medicine but quite often their composition and biological effects are hardly known. Our study aimed to analyze the composition, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial, antioxidant activity and cellular migration effects of Anthyllis vulneraria, Fuchsia magellanica, Fuchsia triphylla and Lysimachia nummularia used in the Romanian ethnomedicine for wounds. Liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to analyze 50% (v/v) ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the plants' leaves. Antimicrobial activities were estimated with a standard microdilution method. The antioxidant properties were evaluated by validated chemical cell-free and biological cell-based assays. Cytotoxic effects were performed on mouse fibroblasts and human keratinocytes with a plate reader-based method assessing intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), nucleic acid and protein contents and also by a flow cytometer-based assay detecting apoptotic-necrotic cell populations. Cell migration to cover cell-free areas was visualized by time-lapse phase-contrast microscopy using standard culture inserts. Fuchsia species showed the strongest cytotoxicity and the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. However, their ethanolic extracts facilitated cell migration, most probably due to their various phenolic acid, flavonoid and anthocyanin derivatives. Our data might serve as a basis for further animal experiments to explore the complex action of Fuchsia species in wound healing assays.

Analysis of aristolochlic acids and evaluation of antibacterial activity of Aristolochia clematitis L.

INTRODUCTION: Several Aristolochia species were used as medicinal herb across Europe and in recent years, their antimicrobial activity has also been investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, A. clematitis was selected to evaluate the aristolochic acids I and II (AA I and AA II) concentrations and the antimicrobial activity of methanol, hexane, butanol, and ethyl acetate extracts of the root, stem, leaf, root, and fruit. AA I and AA II contents were measured by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet method. RESULTS: Each fraction of the plant contained AA I and AA II and the root was found to have the highest contents of AA I (1.09%) and AA II (0.7454%). The minimum inhibitory concentrations of all extracts were determined by standard microdilution method. The fruit's extracts showed the most efficient antimicrobial effect against both methicillin sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. CONCLUSION: Correlation between the AA I and AA II concentrations and the antimicrobial effect was not found.

[Health effects of sour cherries with unique polyphenolic composition in their fruits]. / A különleges és egyedi polifenol-összetételu meggy egészségi hatásai.

Health effects of fruit consumption are confirmed by many studies. Such effects are attributed to the polyphenolic compounds accumulating in fruit skin and mesocarp tissues. They contribute to the regulation on transcriptional, post-transcriptional and epigenetic levels. Since people consume much less fruits than the recommended quantities, a new approach includes the promotion of super fruits that are extremely rich sources of specific health compounds. A comparative analysis of Hungarian stone fruit cultivars detected a huge variability in fruit in vitro antioxidant capacity and total polyphenolic content. Two outstanding sour cherry cultivars ('Pipacs 1' and 'Fanal') were identified to accumulate elevated levels of polyphenolic compounds in their fruits. Sour cherries with different polyphenolic compositions were tested against alimentary induced hyperlipidemia using male Wistar rat model. Consumption of cherry fruit had different consequences for different cultivars: consumption of 'Pipacs 1' and 'Fanal' fruits resulted in 30% lower total cholesterol levels in the sera of hyperlipidemic animals after only 10 days of treatment. However, the consumption of 'Újfehértói fürtös' fruit has not induced significant alterations in the same parameter. Other lipid parameters also reflected the short-term beneficial effects of 'Pipacs 1' and 'Fanal' fruits. We suggest that not only some tropical and berry fruits might be considered as super fruits but certain genotypes of stone fruits as well. These have indeed marked physiological effects. Since 'Pipacs 1' and 'Fanal' are rich sources of colourless polyphenolics (e.g., phenolic acids and isoflavonoids) and anthocyanins, respectively, the protective effects associated with their consumption can be attributed to different polyphenolic compounds. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(18): 720-725.

A novel luminol-based enhanced chemiluminescence antioxidant capacity microplate assay for use in different biological matrices.

INTRODUCTION: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are normal metabolic products of living cells. However, a decrease of the defense mechanisms against the effects of ROS or increased ROS production maybe one important causative factor of cellular damage. A non-enzymatic scavenger system is considered to be responsible for the maintenance of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as a protection against oxidative injuries that exist in all higher plants and in mammals as well. METHODS: In our work, we optimized and validated a luminol-peroxidase-4-iodophenol-H2O2 enhanced chemiluminescence-based (ECL) TAC measurement technique. BSA was applied in the reagent to prevent peroxidase from auto-oxidation. The ECL method was suitable for plant extracts and for human blood serum as well. Our TAC technique was adapted to microplates and compared to ORAC assay using plant extracts. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The ECL method is fast (10min) with an interassay precision of <10% as CV. TAC values of ethanolic extracts of 10 plant species did correlate (ECL vs ORAC assay data: r=0.84, 95% confidence interval, CI=0.78-0.89, P<0.001) but with systematic bias. Analysis of serum samples obtained from septic and control patients showed significantly higher TAC values in the patient group compared to those of controls (p<0.01). Moreover, we could discriminate between surviving and non-surviving patients, based on their TAC values (p<0.01). Pearson's statistics showed the strongest positive correlation with serum uric acid (r=0.73). Besides the routine laboratory parameters, our novel TAC method might give complementary information on the severity of systemic inflammation.

Histological and antimicrobial study of Ononis arvensis L.

In this study field restharrow (Ononis arvensis) was investigated for histological and antimicrobial features. The aerial part and the root were embedded in synthetic resin and investigated following sectioning by a rotation microtome. The antimicrobial activity and minimum inhibitory concentration of the solvent fractions of the aerial part were studied against four bacterial strains and one fungus. According to histology, the root covered by rhizodermis contains contiguous vascular elements, which are surrounded by sclerenchyma cells. The epidermis cells are anisodiametric in the stem, sepal, and petal. The bundles of the stem form a Ricinus type thickening. The adaxial side of the heterogeneous leaf is covered by unbranching non-glandular and capitate glandular trichomes. The stipule, petiole, sepals and petals are isolateral having mesomorphic stomata. Pollen grains are tricolpate. The different extracts of the herb showed antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Data show that the extracts of the leaf contain compounds which may be responsible for the antifungal effect, while extracts obtained from display against the tested bacteria, except Escherichia coli. Further studies are required to complete the phytochemical analysis and identify the antimicrobial compounds of extracts.

The bear in Eurasian plant names: motivations and models.

Ethnolinguistic studies are important for understanding an ethnic group's ideas on the world, expressed in its language. Comparing corresponding aspects of such knowledge might help clarify problems of origin for certain concepts and words, e.g. whether they form common heritage, have an independent origin, are borrowings, or calques. The current study was conducted on the material in Slavonic, Baltic, Germanic, Romance, Finno-Ugrian, Turkic and Albanian languages. The bear was chosen as being a large, dangerous animal, important in traditional culture, whose name is widely reflected in folk plant names. The phytonyms for comparison were mostly obtained from dictionaries and other publications, and supplemented with data from databases, the co-authors' field data, and archival sources (dialect and folklore materials). More than 1200 phytonym use records (combinations of a local name and a meaning) for 364 plant and fungal taxa were recorded to help find out the reasoning behind bear-nomination in various languages, as well as differences and similarities between the patterns among them. Among the most common taxa with bear-related phytonyms were Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng., Heracleum sphondylium L., Acanthus mollis L., and Allium ursinum L., with Latin loan translation contributing a high proportion of the phytonyms. Some plants have many and various bear-related phytonyms, while others have only one or two bear names. Features like form and/or surface generated the richest pool of names, while such features as colour seemed to provoke rather few associations with bears. The unevenness of bear phytonyms in the chosen languages was not related to the size of the language nor the present occurence of the Brown Bear in the region. However, this may, at least to certain extent, be related to the amount of the historical ethnolinguistic research done on the selected languages.

Bioactive Constituents and Antioxidant Activity of Some Carpathian Basin honeys.

Unifloral honeys have a high commercial value and should undergo a strict quality control before marketing. This study aimed at determining floral origin, polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in 7 samples marketed as lavender and thyme honeys. The samples were subjected to pollen analysis to confirm their botanical origin. Coupled chromatographic techniques (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS) were optimized for the separation and identification of polyphenolic compounds. The antioxidant properties of the samples were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Pollen profile analysis revealed that only 3 out of 5 alleged lavender honeys contained a low percentage (0.6-1.5) of lavender pollen; and there were only traces (0.1-0.6%) of thyme pollen in the alleged thyme honeys. Polyphenolic constituents did not allow for the clear separation of honey samples, revealing no marker compounds previously associated with lavender and thyme honeys. All samples contained large amounts of chlorogenic acid, chrysin, hesperetin, kaempferol and p-coumaric acid; as well as abscisic acid, a plant hormone known to be present in floral nectar and honey. Our results suggest that only one of five alleged lavender honeys and neither of the two alleged thyme honeys are true unifloral honeys. However, they can still provide various health benefits, such as being good sources of antioxidants. There was no relationship between the antioxidant activity and the uni- or multifloral character of the honey samples. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity was the lowest in the honey sample with lavender and the highest in one of the alleged lavender honeys. Our findings highlight the importance of microscopical and phytochemical analyses of honeys before marketing, to ensure satisfactory quality for customers.

Comparative Histological and Phytochemical Study of Fallopia species.

Fallopia species which belong to the Polygonaceae family have several data related to their use in the Asian herbal medicine. In this work, some histological and phytochemical parameters of Fallopia japonica, F. sachalinensis, and F. x bohemica were analysed and compared. Rhizome and leaf samples were collected before, during, and after the flowering period at 3 habitats in Szombathely and 4 habitats in Baranya County, Hungary. The main histological characteristics of the stem, leaf and petiole were studied by light microscopy in cross section. Total tannin and anthraquinone contents were determined according to the official methods of the Hungarian Pharmacopoeia VIIIth (equal to the European Pharmacopoeia 6th). No species-specific markers were found in any plant part. In the rhizome, the highest tannin content was measured in Japanese knotweed, followed by Bohemian and giant knotweed in each period. The tannin content measured in each plant was higher in the leaves than in the rhizomes except F. japonica. The rhizome of F. japonica had the highest anthraquinone content before the flowering period, followed by F. x bohemica and F. sachalinensis. According to earlier and our preliminary data, Fallopia taxa are of great therapeutic promise in the future.

Antihyperlipidemic Effects of Sour Cherries Characterized by Different In Vitro Antioxidant Power and Polyphenolic Composition.

The aims of the present study were to clarify in vivo effects of three sour cherry cultivars characterized by different polyphenolic composition in hyperlipidemic animals in a short term experiment. The three different sour cherry cultivars were chosen based on their total in vitro antioxidant capacity, total polyphenolic, monomeric anthocyanin and flavonoid content. Male Wistar rats were divided randomly into eight groups: rats kept on normal diet (control) and normal diet supplied with sour cherry powder of one of the three cultivars; others were kept on fat-rich diet and fat-rich diet supplied with sour cherry powder prepared from one of the three cultivars. The treatment lasted 10 days. Lyophilized sour cherry administered in the diet decreased both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, and increased the HDL cholesterol concentration in sera of hyperlipidemic animals. Significant differences were found in the efficacy of different sour cherry cultivars in case of hyperlipidemia. Sour cherries characterized by higher polyphenol content seem to have a more pronounced effect on serum cholesterol levels. Our results suggest that besides anthocyanins, colourless polyphenols also have lipid lowering effect.

Ethnoveterinary practices of Covasna County, Transylvania, Romania.

BACKGROUND: Ethnoveterinary medicine is a topic of growing interest among ethnobiologists, and is integral to the agricultural practices of many ethnic groups across the globe. The ethnoveterinary pharmacopoeia is often composed of ingredients available in the local environment, and may include plants, animals and minerals, or combinations thereof, for use in treating various ailments in reared animals. The aim of this study was to survey the current day ethnoveterinary practices of ethnic Hungarian (Székely) settlements situated in the Erdovidék commune (Covasna County, Transylvania, Romania) and to compare them with earlier works on this topic in Romania and other European countries. METHODS: Data concerning ethnoveterinary practices were collected through semi-structured interviews and direct observation in 12 villages from 2010 to 2014. The cited plant species were collected, identified, dried and deposited in a herbarium. The use of other materials (e.g. animals, minerals and other substances) were also documented. Data were compared to earlier reports of ethnoveterinary knowledge in Transylvania and other European countries using various databases. RESULTS: In total, 26 wild and cultivated plants, 2 animals, and 17 other substances were documented to treat 11 ailments of cattle, horses, pigs, and sheep. The majority of applications were for the treatment of mastitis and skin ailments, while only a few data were reported for the treatment of cataracts, post-partum ailments and parasites. The traditional uses of Armoracia rusticana, Rumex spp., powdered sugar and glass were reported in each village. The use of some plant taxa, such as Allium sativum, Aristolochia clematitis, and Euphorbia amygdaloides was similar to earlier reports from other Transylvanian regions. CONCLUSIONS: Although permanent veterinary and medical services are available in some of the villages, elderly people preferred the use of wild and cultivated plants, animals and other materials in ethnoveterinary medicine. Some traditional ethnoveterinary practices are no longer in use, but rather persist only in the memories of the eldest subset of the population. A decline in the vertical transmission of ethnoveterinary knowledge was evident and loss of practice is likely compounded by market availability of ready-made pharmaceuticals.

Of the importance of a leaf: the ethnobotany of sarma in Turkey and the Balkans.

BACKGROUND: Sarma - cooked leaves rolled around a filling made from rice and/or minced meat, possibly vegetables and seasoning plants - represents one of the most widespread feasting dishes of the Middle Eastern and South-Eastern European cuisines. Although cabbage and grape vine sarma is well-known worldwide, the use of alternative plant leaves remains largely unexplored. The aim of this research was to document all of the botanical taxa whose leaves are used for preparing sarma in the folk cuisines of Turkey and the Balkans. METHODS: Field studies were conducted during broader ethnobotanical surveys, as well as during ad-hoc investigations between the years 2011 and 2014 that included diverse rural communities in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey. Primary ethnobotanical and folkloric literatures in each country were also considered. RESULTS: Eighty-seven botanical taxa, mainly wild, belonging to 50 genera and 27 families, were found to represent the bio-cultural heritage of sarma in Turkey and the Balkans. The greatest plant biodiversity in sarma was found in Turkey and, to less extent, in Bulgaria and Romania. The most commonly used leaves for preparing sarma were those of cabbage (both fresh and lacto-fermented), grape vine, beet, dock, sorrel, horseradish, lime tree, bean, and spinach. In a few cases, the leaves of endemic species (Centaurea haradjianii, Rumex gracilescens, and R. olympicus in Turkey) were recorded. Other uncommon sarma preparations were based on lightly toxic taxa, such as potato leaves in NE Albania, leaves of Arum, Convolvulus, and Smilax species in Turkey, of Phytolacca americana in Macedonia, and of Tussilago farfara in diverse countries. Moreover, the use of leaves of the introduced species Reynoutria japonica in Romania, Colocasia esculenta in Turkey, and Phytolacca americana in Macedonia shows the dynamic nature of folk cuisines. CONCLUSION: The rich ethnobotanical diversity of sarma confirms the urgent need to record folk culinary plant knowledge. The results presented here can be implemented into initiatives aimed at re-evaluating folk cuisines and niche food markets based on local neglected ingredients, and possibly also to foster trajectories of the avant-garde cuisines inspired by ethnobotanical knowledge.

Survey of traditional beliefs in the Hungarian Csángó and Székely ethnomedicine in Transylvania, Romania

Transylvania, part of Romania, has a long-standing culture of Hungarian ethnomedicinal practices. The aim of this study was to review the unexplored ethnopharmacological use of plants, animals and other materials, focusing mainly on the beliefs surrounding them; and compare them with traditional uses from other countries and with scientific literature. An ethnobotanical inventory was conducted among Csángó and Székely Hungarians in three areas of the country between 2007 and 2012. Questionnaires included medical and non-medical uses of plants, animals, and other substances with rational and irrational elements. Altogether 22 plants, twelve animals, and ten other substances had documented uses for various beliefs. The treatments utilize magical numbers, like 3 and 9, to define peculiar order, tools, and like-minded aspects. Plants were used for prediction (e.g. Phaseolus vulgaris L.), protection (e.g. Corylus avellana L.), and as symbols (e.g. Arctium lappa L.). In addition to the use of animals (e.g. Salamandra salamandra L.) or no longer used elements (use of Lytta vesicatoria L.), the employment of other substances (e.g. ash, milk) was also documented. The frequency of the documented uses is in continuous decline due to environmental and social changes, and the increased prevalence of conventional healthcare. Hence, the priority of their conservation is of pivotal importance nowadays. .

Phytochemical evaluation of Lythrum salicaria extracts and their effects on guinea-pig ileum.

n-Hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and 50% ethanol in water extracts prepared from the air-dried flowering parts of Lythrum salicaria L. were tested for in vitro pharmacological properties on Guinea-pig ileum, which is suitable for detecting a whole range of neuronal and smooth muscle effects. UHPLC-MS was used to evaluate polyphenol components of the extracts. In the ileum, the most prominent response (46.4% related to 0.5 microM histamine) of the extracts causing smooth muscle contractions were triggered by the 50% ethanol in water extract in a concentration-dependent manner. Atropine, indomethacin and PPADS plus suramin significantly reduced the contractile response caused by this extract. The strongest inhibition was due to atropine. The results suggest that L. salicaria extracts have a moderate muscarinic receptor agonist effect in Guinea-pig ileum and that prostanoids and purinoceptor mechanisms are involved to some extent. Therefore diluted extracts of L. salicaria p.o. could be used as a mild stimulant of gastrointestinal motility. The 50% ethanol in water extract was rich in polyphenols. n-Hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts failed to contain catechin, caffeic acid, quercetin-3-D-galactoside and rutin, but they all showed spasmogenic effects, and, therefore we do not think that these compounds could be involved in the spasmogenic activity.

Variability of total flavonoid, polyphenol and tannin contents in some Lythrum salicaria populations.

Lythrum salicaria L. can vary in some morphological and phytochemical features according to its habitat. The present study investigates and compares the total flavonoid, polyphenol and tannin composition of twelve populations of L. salicaria collected from different ecological habitats in south-west Hungary. We studied the plant heights and soil moistures of the habitats analyzing the potential correlation between the morphological and environmental factors and chemical compositions. Total flavonoid, polyphenol and tannin contents were determined according to the valid spectroscopic methods of the European Pharmacopoeia. Total flavonoid content was higher in the populations collected during the main blooming period in August than at the beginning of flowering in July. Higher values for total polyphenol and tannin were detected in flowering branch tips in August than in July, and higher ones in leaves and shoots in July than in August. The highest flavonoid content was measured in the leaves, followed by the flowering branches and shoots as opposed to the total polyphenol and tannin contents, which were higher in the flowering branch tips than in the other organs.

Traditional uses of medicinal plants for respiratory diseases in Transylvania.

Inhabitants of some Transylvanian farms in Romania have a valuable archaic knowledge of medicinal plants because of their isolation and the insufficiency of official medical treatment. In this work we present ethnobotanical data about the use of medicinal plant taxa for various respiratory diseases in the villages Lövéte and Nagybacon. Altogether 34 plant taxa were documented in Lövéte and 26 species in Nagybacon with 15 concordant data of the villages. This information plays an important role in the documentation of the disappearing indigenous medical information of the villages.

Histological study of some Echium vulgare, Pulmonaria officinalis and Symphytum officinale populations.

Plants living in different ecological habitats can show significant variability in their histological and phytochemical characters. The main histological features of various populations of three medicinal plants from the Boraginaceae family were studied. Stems, petioles and leaves were investigated by light microscopy in vertical and transverse sections. The outline of the epidermal cells, as well as the shape and cell number of trichomes was studied in leaf surface casts. Differences were measured among the populations of Echium vulgare in the width and height of epidermis cells in the stem, petiole and leaf, as well as in the size of palisade cells in the leaves. Among the populations of Pulmonaria officinalis significant differences were found in the length of trichomes and in the slightly or strongly wavy outline of epidermal radial cell walls. Populations of Symphytum officinale showed variance in the height of epidermal cells in leaves and stems, length of palisade cells and number of intercellular spaces in leaves, and the size of the central cavity in the stem. Boraginaceae bristles were found to be longer in plants in windy/shady habitats as opposed to sunny habitats, both in the leaves and stems ofP. officinalis and S. officinale, which might be connected to varying levels of exposure to wind. Longer epidermal cells were detected in the leaves and stems of both E. vulgare and S. officinale plants living in shady habitats, compared with shorter cells in sunny habitats. Leaf mesophyll cells were shorter in shady habitats as opposed to longer cells in sunny habitats, both in E. vulgare and S. officinale. This combination of histological characters may contribute to the plant's adaptation to various amounts of sunshine. The reported data prove the polymorphism of the studied taxa, as well as their ability to adapt to various ecological circumstances.