<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The current ethnobotanical study summarizes the use of medicinal plants by locals in the region of the Northern Black Sea Coast, Bulgaria. The survey was conducted in the period between 2014 and 2020. After prior informed consent, 709 local residents from 32 settlements were interviewed. The interviews with the local population were conducted using the “face to face” technique with the help of pre-prepared original questionnaires. The study presents quantitative ethnobotanical information on the use of medicinal plants in the study area. The results were analyzed using quantitative indices: Respondent Consensus Ratio (FIC), Loyalty Level Index (FL) and Significance Value Index (IVs). A total of 332 species of medicinal plants belonging to 250 genera of 90 families have been identified for the region of the Northern Black Sea Coast. The largest number of citations are registered for the use of medicinal plants for culinary purposes and for use in human medicine. The use of medicinal plants in other household applications has been studied.
</abstract>

Comparative ethnobotanical analysis of the used medicinal plants in the region of the Northern Black Sea coast (Bulgaria)

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This work aims to analyze the quality of groundwater in the riparian areas of the bauxitic plateaus of N'Dangara and Boundou Wandé in operation by the CBG (Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée). The geology of the study area consists mainly of sedimentary formations of the Devonian faro, Neogene and Quaternary. Three water measurement and sampling campaigns on the two plateaus were carried out with determination of piezometric measurements and physic-chemical parameters. This study showed that the general flow direction of groundwater is dispersed. The flows at Boundou Wandé are from the center of the plateau to the north and that at N'Dangara is from the center to the south and southwest. It can be seen that the direction of groundwater flow reflects overall the relief of the deposit conditioned by its geomorphological framework. It emerges from the analysis of physical and chemical parameters that well water is consumable. However, the water from wells MW15, MW16, MW17, MW18 and MW21 with a low pH (4.84 to 5.13) may present a certain nuisance for its consumption and because it can be corrosive. Analysis of the Piper diagram showed two hydrogeochemical facies (calcium and magnesium bicarbonate facies and sodium and potassium carbonate facies). However, this study strongly suggests continuous monitoring of groundwater in and around the study area in order to meet the demand for water supply to communities without compromising the ability of future generations to meet water quality requirements.
</abstract>

Hydrogeochemical characterization of the areas of exploitation of the CBG sites: cas of the plateaus of N'Dangara and Boundou Wandé, Sangarédi sub-prefecture, Prefecture of Boké, Republic of Guinea

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Every scientist at the beginning of his professional career inevitably encounters difficulties in developing scientific publications. These obstacles are often related with the preparation of the introductory section, which relies on existing research and from the mastery of various statistical approaches, understanding results and their interpretation. The aim of this study is to assess to what extent ChatGPT can streamline the process of writing scientific publications in the field of plant breeding and how it can be beneficial as an auxiliary tool. ChatGPT cannot entirely write the introductory section for you, but it can generate adequate ideas and fundamental aspects that the author can utilize and further develop for the elaboration of this part. ChatGPT can perform basic statistical analyses commonly used in such studies, which adequately align with the developments implemented in other statistical software.
</abstract>

Enhancing efficiency in scientific writing in the field of plant growing: Collaborating with AI assistant ChatGPT for enhanced productivity

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
During the recent years, there is an increased interest in the problems of wild mushrooms and medicinal plants in all over the world. An intensive research is currently performed in order to further clarify the peculiarities of numerous edible, toxic and cultivated wild mushrooms and medicinal plants. Both traditional and contemporary knowledge of the population is assessed by means of a variety of ethnomycological and ethnobotanical methods. The manners of usage by the population of wild edible mushroom and medicinal plants are intensively studied in many countries, too. In the present review article, the results from some recent investigations by Bulgarian and foreign authors devoted to the knowledge and use of some popular wild mushrooms and medicinal plants are summarized. The necessity for the intensification of the collaborative ethnomycological and ethnobotanical research in Europe is outlined.
</abstract>

Ethnomycological research in the field of wild mushrooms and medicinal plants

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Fenugreek is an herb that has the ability to resist multiple environmental insults, pests, diseases and many pathogens through the synthesis of substances allowing this plant protection, these substances are called phytochemical compounds or secondary metabolites. The aim of this study is to characterize these secondary metabolites in the extracts of fenugreek seeds grown in Algeria and compare the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of the aqueous extracts obtained by maceration and decoction. We carried out a “phytochemical screening” on both types of extracts in order to highlight the different classes of secondary metabolites and assaying total polyphenols by the method of Follin ciocaltchu, total alkaloids and tannins contained in these aqueous extracts and appreciate their antioxidant activity using the FRAP technique. A characterization of phytochemical molecules of the two types of Fenugreek extracts was done by chromatographic method with HPLC. Several phytochemical groups were identified in the extracts of fenugreek: tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenes and reducing nitrogen compounds. Chromatographic analysis of the samples show that 4 phytochemical molecules were identified in the aqueous maceration extract: kaempferol, genistein, vanillin and myrecitine and 3 molecules for the aqueous extract of decoction are: rutin, kaempferol and vanillin. The aqueous extract of decoction was characterized by the total polyphenols content (31.7 ± 0.031 mg GAE / 100 g of extract), total alkaloids (2.12 ± 0.015%) and tannins (9.75 ± 0.06%) that are higher than those obtained in the aqueous extract of maceration: total polyphenols (18.9 ± 0.12 mg GAE / 100g of extract), total alkaloids (1.71 ± 0.02%) and 8.69 ± 0.02% for the tannins. A non-significant difference was marked for antioxidant activity found in both types of extracts (56.90 ± 0.013 mg AAE / 100g decoction extract against 56.37 ± 0.24 mg AAE / 100g maceration extract). In the end we conclude that fenugreek may be a promising plant genetic resource responsible for an important biological activity, except its nutritional and therapeutic properties due to their phytochemical compounds.</abstract>

Phytochemistry, HPLC profile and antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts of fenugreek (<italic>Trigonella foenum graecum</italic> L.) seeds grown in arid zones of Algeria

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The aim of this work is to study the effect of digestion on the total polyphenol content, flavonoids and the antioxidant activity of Aloe vera. Total polyphenol contents and flavonoid spectrophotometric methods: The evaluation of the antioxidant activity was carried out by three methods, DPPH, ABTS and CUPRAC. To confirm the results obtained we carried out an analysis by ATR-FTIR. The total phenol content found in the Aloe vera extract studied was 1.3638 mg EAG/100 g, while the content of flavonoids found in the Aloe vera extract studied was 0.690 mg EQ/100 g. The values of total polyphenols and flavonoids decreased under the effect of gastrointestinal digestion. The spectra obtained during the ATR-FTIR analysis show that Aloe vera is rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Intense bands corresponding to O–H bonds, C=C bond, C–H, CO, CH3 and CH2 confirm the presence of these bioactive compounds. For both the DPPH and CUPRAC methods, Aloe vera extract reveals a strong antioxidant activity, which gradually decreases during the oral and gastric phase and then increases after the intestinal digestion. For the ABTS method, the antioxidant activity decreases during the oral phase, increases during the gastric phase and then decreases again during the intestinal phase.</abstract>

Effect of <italic>in vitro</italic> gastrointestinal digestion on phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of <italic>Aloe vera</italic>

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The presence of oceanic crust on the Black Sea bottom indicates that this sea basin was a section - a Pontic Ocean gulf at the northern margin of the Phanerozoic Tethys Ocean. The late Phanerozoic subduction of the Tethys oceanic crust under the European continental massif in this area took place in the subduction zone, whose modern traces are found today south of the Crimean Peninsula. On the surface of the subducted oceanic crust were numerous fragments of the destroyed continental crust on the northern margin of the Gondwana continent. These relatively lighter than oceanic crust crustal fragments (or a significant part of them) were not subducted. They accumulate in the immediate vicinity of the subduction zone on the unsub ducted remnants of oceanic crust. Such is the case with the Black Sea. It is not an imposed subcontinental basin, but a last modern relict of the northern margin of the Late Phanerozoic Tethys Ocean.
</abstract>

Black Sea Morphotectonic Nature

Editorial Note: Balkan Mountains – a symbol of liberty – Part I (Eastern Balkan)

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The contemporary trends of globalization and enhanced international cooperation, as well as the aim at building a knowledge-based society, have put higher education institutions in an ever-increasing public interest. The fast-developing digitalization, the implementation of artificial intelligence and especially the generational characteristics of the learners determine the need for new approaches in teaching and learning tailored to individual needs. One of them is the competence approach, which represents one of the leading pedagogical concepts of the 21st century and is the basis for the formation of ecological competence. Its application in pedagogical practice is a serious challenge for both teachers and students – future Biology teachers. The article analyses on a structural and functional basis the components of environmental competence. A theoretical model for the formation of ecological competence in the discipline “Forms and methods of ecological education and upbringing in Biology education”, included in the curriculum of Master degree students is presented. The model is aimed at updating the vision of the learning process in the relevant discipline, the main part of which is environmental education.
</abstract>

A competency-bazed approach in the environmental education of the students - future biology teachers

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Socially significant diseases are defined as widespread diseases causing great economic, social and demographic damage. Nowadays traditional health practices have gained increasing interest. The aim of this online survey was to establish the knowledge of a random sample of Bulgarian people about traditional medicines in order to find out: 1) the knowledge about the use of medicinal plants for some socially significant diseases; 2) the attitudes of respondents towards the medicinal plants safety; 3) the statement whether the herbs can replace conventional drugs. In present survey the most used medicinal plants reported was Crataegus monogyna Jacq., Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Allium sativum L., Valeriana officinalis L., Sambucus nigra L., Cinnamomum verum J. Presl and Curcuma longa L. Current scientific studies proved appropriate use reports of these plants. One of the reasons for the renewed interest in phytotherapy is the assumption that anything natural is safe, but there are data that herbal chemical constituents could exert toxic effects. The demographic features of our respondents revealed the importance of the level of education for the self-health care. So, more efforts should be focused on the spread of disease prevention information in low educated populations.
</abstract>

Herbal medicines for treatment of socially significant diseases in current Bulgarian society

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
During the period 2018-2020 in the experimental field of the Agricultural Institute, Shumen, on calcic chernozem soil type, a field experiment with triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) was conducted. The experiment was based on the block method, in four replications with a size of the experimental plot of 10 m2. Sowing was carried out in October with a sowing rate of 500 germinate able seeds/m2 after the predecessor sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). In the appropriate periods treatments were made in 4 variants: 1) Control-untreated variant. 2) Treatment with biodynamic preparations: Preparation 500 (5% solution) + Fladen preparation (1.5% solution) + preparation 501 (1.5 g for 300 l H2O/ha). 3) Treatment with biological preparations: Heliosulfur (500 ml/ha) + Free N (500 ml/ha). 4) Combined treatment with the same biodynamic and biological preparations. The following indicators were studied: plant height, number of spikelet’s per spike, number of grains per spike, grain weight per spike. After the statistical analysis for the first year of the study, a proven positive difference was found in all indicators in the combined biodynamic + biological method of cultivation, as well as in the stand-alone biological. In the second year of the study, a proven positive difference was obtained in all studied indicators in the variants treated with biodynamic preparations and the combination of biodynamic + biological preparations, with statistical significance for p&lt;0.001. A positive correlation was found between all variants of the observed indicators at p&lt;0.05.
</abstract>

Structural elements of grain yield in triticale (х <italic>Triticosecale</italic> Wittmack) grown under organic farming conditions

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The Pev and Rv functions were introduced as a way of summarizing the mechanical phenomenon of root-soil interactions and the effect of root growth on soil volume. The Mohr-Coulomb criterion was applied to the Rv function to demonstrate the relationship between root morphology, soil mechanical properties, and soil stability. The theory of elasticity and plasticity was applied in the analysis of the Bio-Geo Interface, which showed that the force F generated by the roots increased with time due to the growth of the roots and the increase in their volume. The forces acting on the Bio-Geo Interface were represented mathematically through the use of vector arithmetic, which helped to calculate the direction of the forces acting on the system. The Pev function was used to study the evolution of the plant and how it affected the Rv function. The results showed that the interplay between plant growth and soil mechanics is crucial in understanding the behavior of the Bio-Geo Interface, and can provide valuable insights into the interactions between plants and soil in natural and engineered systems. In the study of soil-insect interaction, a mathematical function, Iev, was proposed to represent the insect’s evolution in the soil environment. The function takes into account factors such as food sources and void ratio, which are important indicators of the biological and geotechnical aspects of the soil respectively. Despite the potential impact of insects on the soil environment, it has been concluded that their force resulting from their movement and behavior is negligible according to theories of elasticity and plasticity. This means that the impact of insects on the soil is minimal and does not significantly affect the soil’s mechanical properties. However, the biological aspects of the soil, such as food sources, remain important factors in the study of insect evolution in the soil environment.
</abstract>

Deciphering Soil-Plant and Soil-Insect Interactions: A Mathematical Modeling Approach

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The present work focuses on an ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in the Belezma National Park (BNP), which is located in Batna city. It was conducted to precise on the medicinal plants in the park and gathers all the information on the therapeutic practice used by the local inhabitants of the study area. Using 300 questionnaire cards, ethnobotanical surveys of BNP were conducted during two campaigns (2017 and 2018). The obtained results allowed us to identify 50 medicinal plants used by the population of the region, which are divided into 27 families and 46genus.The obtained results show both leaves and stems are mostly used for diseases’ treatment in the form of a decoction with a rate of 42.34%. For the treated diseases, the digestive disorders occupy the first place with a rate of 34.01%, followed by uro-genital diseases with a rate of 17.56%, 11.20% for respiratory diseases, 11.84% for orthopedic diseases and 6.23% for cardiovascular.The founded results could be a database for research on phytochemistry and pharmacology for the national medicinal flora and the population of the BNP region. Also, they constitute a very valuable source of information.</abstract>

Ethnobotanical study of Belezma National Park (BNP) plants in Batna: East of Algeria

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The aim of the present study aims to establish the impact of different restoration techniques (soil and vegetation works) of five pioneer species of the Doui Thabet forest (Mounts of Saida, West of Algeria): Pinus halepensis, Pistacia lentiscus., Tetraclinis articulata, Juniperus oxycedru,. and Stipa capensis (= S. tenacissima L.) between 2018 and 2020. An experimental field device covering an area of 1 ha has been installed in the Doui Thabet forest in a Pinus halepensis massive more than 80 years old. The following work was carried out: mechanical grinding of the vegetation (chopping), turning (scarification of soil) to a depth of 10 cm, tillage (Deep ploughing) to a depth of 20 cm, controlled burning of branches, clearing of Stipa capensis, seedlings planted in different seasons for certain species (Stipa capensis = S. tenacissima L.), monitoring of stump rejections and natural sowing. The sowing result varies according to the species and restoration techniques, it is high for Pinus halepensis and Stipa capensis. It is low for Tetraclinis articulata and Juniperus oxycedrus and none for Pistacia lentiscus while for Stipa capensis it is quite high when planted in autumn compared to spring. Turning and burning have proven to be the most abundant treatments for regeneration and growth. Grinding has medium seedling density and growth, while deep tillage and natural sowing showed low seedling density and growth.</abstract>

Impact of ecological restoration techniques on the dynamics of degraded ecosystems of the mounts of Saida: Case of the forests of Doui Thabet (West Algeria)

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> Nepeta nuda subsp. nuda is a medicinal plant growing wild in Bulgaria. Different species of Nepeta genus have been reported to possess allelopathic potential. The present study was conducted to observe its phytotoxic effects on T. aestivum and C. sativus L. seeds in laboratory conditions. Nepeta water extracts (NWE) prepared from aerial parts of plants at concentrations 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 g/l were tested. The rate of seed germination, the root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight of seedlings were observed after treatment with NWE. As a control served seeds treated with distilled water. Germination was not affected, but NWE showed deterioration in seedling growth. Roots were more affected than shoots. The fresh and dry weights were reduced upon treatment with the extracts tested. These negative effects were dose-dependent. The overall results indicate presence of water soluble allelochemicals in Nepeta nuda subsp. nuda.</abstract>

Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, “K. Preslavsky” University, 115 Universitetska Str., 9712 Shumen,

Sofia University, Faculty of Biology, 8 "Dragan Tsankov" Blvd., 1421 Sofia,

Allelopathic activity of Nepeta nuda L. subsp. nuda water extracts

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> The foaming and emulsifying properties of pectins obtained from waste rose petals, citrus pressings, grapefruit peels and celery were studied. It was found that the highest foaming capacity showed pectin derived from celery. The effect of pectin concentration on the foaming capacity of pectin solutions was investigated. For all the investigated pectins increasing the concentration led to increase of the foaming capacity. Emulsifying activity and emulsion stability of model emulsion systems (50 % oil phase) with 0.6 % pectic solutions were determined. The highest emulsifying activity and stability showed pectin isolated by dilute acid extraction from waste rose petals.</abstract>

Foaming and emulsifying properties of pectin isolated from different plant materials

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>In this study, phenolic compounds from Crithmum maritimum L. n-butanol soluble fraction were quantified and identified spectrophotometrically and by using HPLC-DAD technics. They equally investigated for their antioxidant potential utilizing six in vitro assays: DPPH•, ABTS•+, O2•−, Bleaching of β-carotene in linoleic acid, CUPRAC and Ferric reducing power. High amounts of total phenolics and flavonoids were recorded: 161.57± 0.479 μg GAeq.mg−1 and 31.56± 0.291 μg Qeq.mg−1 respectively. Nine compounds among them hydroxicinnamic acid and hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, coumarins and flavonoids were identified. Chlorogenic acid known for their various pharmacological properties was detected as major compound of the extract. Rutin, vanillin, trans-2-hydroxycinnamic acid, ellagic acid, ferrulic acid, 6,7 dihydroxy coumarin, methyl 1,4 benzoquinone and trans-cinnamic acid were also detected. The extract was found to exhibit strong antioxidant capacities in all systems. Based on these results, it is right to conclude the n-butanol extract is promising source of natural antioxidants.</abstract>

HPLC-DAD profiling and antioxidant activity of the <italic>n-</italic>butanol extract from aerial parts of Algerian <italic>Crithmum maritimum</italic> L.

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Acta Scientifica Naturalis

 Acta Scientifica Naturalis is the official journal of the Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen and has been published with no major interruptions since 1973 under the name of the Annual...

 Acta Scientifica Naturalis is the official journal of the Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen and has been published with no major interruptions...

Acta Scientifica Naturalis

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