Availability of the large number of sources of extractable human DNA poses the challenge to find the easiest way to obtain large quantities of DNA from those sources. We have used Maxwell and Qiagen methods for DNA extractions from various samples that could be found at the crime scene or used in paternity disputes. Samples of buccal, vaginal and ear swabs, cigarette tips, chewing gum, urine, contact lenses, hair and dandruff were collected from ten voluntary donors. We used commercial Qiagen and Maxwell systems for DNA isolation. The success of isolation was demonstrated by horizontal gel electrophoresis, spectrophotometry analysis and PCR amplification of 15 STR loci (PowerPlex® 16 System). Our results confirmed that the Maxwell system was the fastest and easiest and a very reliable way of getting high-quality DNA from different sources. We have got 9 of 10 complete DNA profiles by this system, whereas DNA extraction according to Qiagen protocol resulted in generating only two out of ten completed DNA profiles. In conclusion, the Maxwell system appears to be the method of the choice for DNA extraction from large numbers of biological samples because of its reliability, simplicity and cost-effectiveness.

Aim To present the results obtained in the identification of human remains from World War II found in two mass graves in Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods Samples from 10 skeletal remains were collected. Teeth and femoral fragments were collected from 9 skeletons and only a femoral fragment from 1 skeleton. DNA was isolated from bone and teeth samples using an optimized phenol/chloroform DNA extraction procedure. All samples required a pre-extraction decalcification with EDTA and additional post-extraction DNA purification using filter columns. Additionally, DNA from 12 reference samples (buccal swabs from potential living relatives) was extracted using the Qiagen DNA extraction method. QuantifilerTM Human DNA Quantification Kit was used for DNA quantification. PowerPlex ESI kit was used to simultaneously amplify 15 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci, and PowerPlex Y23 was used to amplify 23 Y chromosomal STR loci. Matching probabilities were estimated using a standard statistical approach. Results A total of 10 samples were processed, 9 teeth and 1 femoral fragment. Nine of 10 samples were profiled using autosomal STR loci, which resulted in useful DNA profiles for 9 skeletal remains. A comparison of established victims' profiles against a reference sample database yielded 6 positive identifications. Conclusion DNA analysis may efficiently contribute to the identification of remains even seven decades after the end of the World War II. The significant percentage of positively identified remains (60%), even when the number of the examined possible living relatives was relatively small (only 12), proved the importance of cooperation with the members of the local community, who helped to identify the closest missing persons’ relatives and collect referent samples from them.

The objective of this study was to determine total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of methanolic extracts from the leaves and barks of three Alnus species. The phenolic and flavonoid contents of extracts were determined spectrophotometrically using Folin–Ciocalteau and aluminium chloride methods, respectively. In addition, antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging method. The antimicrobial activity was performed by disc diffusion assay against six reference bacterial strains including Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and two fungal strains. Extract of Alnus viridis bark contained the highest amounts of total phenolics (780 mg CAT/g), while extract of A. viridis leaves had the highest amount of flavonoids (30.01 mg RUT/g). All extracts showed antioxidant activity higher than thymol, which was used as a positive probe. The largest diameters of inhibition zone (25 mm) were recorded with Bacillus subtilis 168 M and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538.

The goal of this study was to examine the effectiveness of 6 STR markers application (D21S1435, D21S11, D21S1270, D21S1411, D21S226 and IFNAR) in molecular genetic diagnostics of Down syndrome (DS) and to compare it with cytogenetic method. Testing was performed on 73 children, with the previously cytogenetically confirmed Down syndrome. DNA isolated from the buccal swab was used. Previously mentioned loci located on chromosome 21 were simultaneously amplified using quantitative fluorescence PCR (QF PCR). Using this method, 60 previously cytogenetically diagnosed DS with standard type of trisomy 21 were confirmed. Furthermore, six of eight children with mosaic type of DS were detected. Two false negative results for mosaic type of DS were obtained. Finally, five children with the translocation type of Down syndrome were also confirmed with this molecular test. In conclusion, molecular genetic analysis of STR loci is fast, cheap and simple method that could be used in detection of DS. Regarding possible false results detected for certain number of mosaic types, cytogenetic analysis should be used as a confirmatory test.

Despite their known toxic properties, various Helleborus species are used as medicaments in folk medicine to treat some diseases and health conditions. As the main mechanism of many cytostatic drugs is based on their cytotoxic activity, there is potential for the toxicity of hellebore to be used in anticancer therapy. This study tested the geno- and cytotoxic effects of extracts of three hellebore taxa (Helleborus odorus, Helleborus multifidus and Helleborus hercegovinus) on meristemic onion (Alliumcepa L.) cells and human lymphocytes. Treatments with Helleborus extracts induced cytotoxic and cytostatic effects in meristemic onion cells as well as in cultivated cytokinesis-blocked human lymphocytes. Cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay indicated that treatments with hellebore extracts induce genotoxic effects in human lymphocytes, and that the significant mechanism of their antiproliferative activity is apoptosis induction.

Despite the fact that Asplenium scolopendrium L. is a wide spread fern which has been used as a human remedy for centuries, there are very poor or no data about activity and genotoxicity of A. scolopendrium extracts. In this work, vacuum dried water and ethanol extracts of A. scolopendrium fronds were tested for their antimicrobial, cytotoxic and genotoxic potential. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disk diffusion assay (concentration of extracts 35 mg/ml, 7 mg/ml and 1,4 mg/ml) and there was no inhibition zone for all extracts and for all microorganisms examined (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans). Cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of extracts (70 mg/ml, 7 mg/ml and 0,7 mg/ml) was tested using cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay in human lymphocyte cultures. Ethanol blocked division of cells in negative control so only water extracts were analyzed. Extracts didn’t show genotoxic properties but they showed weak cytotoxic properties. NDI (nuclear division index) decreased with increasing concentration of extracts, but there was no statistical significance when compared to negative control (p=0,055).

Environmental conditions may have impact on plant metabolism, especially on secondary metabolism. As a result of different stress circumstance, plants have developed different protective mechanisms and major one is production of secondary metabolites. Plant growth conditions could be controlled and modified in in vitro plant culture, which usually results in higher or lower contents of secondary metabolites. We have established a rapid protocol for in vitro germination and cultivation of Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plank. Three, ten, twenty and thirty days old seedlings, cultivated on three different Murashige-Skoog (MS) media, as well as two types of spontaneously induced calli were used for extraction. Ethanolic plant extracts were tested for their antioxidative potential using 2,2’-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method. Extracts from three days old seedling demonstrated the highest antioxidative potential. On the other hand, extract of broccoli seedlings cultivated on basal MS medium have shown prooxidative properties that can be contribute to prooxidative properties of some unknown component in the presence of free transition metal ions, the type of oxidizable substrate in use, as well as to the biological environment in which they act. Article info Received: 06/12/2012 Accepted: 17/12/2012

Aim To detect polymorphisms of 23 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci, including 6 new loci, in a reference database of male population of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to assess the importance of increasing the number of Y-STR loci utilized in forensic DNA analysis. Methods The reference sample consisted of 100 healthy, unrelated men originating from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sample collection using buccal swabs was performed in all geographical regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period from 2010 to 2011. DNA samples were typed for 23 Y STR loci, including 6 new loci: DYS576, DYS481, DYS549, DYS533, DYS570, and DYS643, which are included in the new PowerPlex® Y 23 amplification kit. Results The absolute frequency of generated haplotypes was calculated and results showed that 98 samples had unique Y 23 haplotypes, and that only two samples shared the same haplotype. The most polymorphic locus was DYS418, with 14 detected alleles and the least polymorphic loci were DYS389I, DYS391, DYS437, and DYS393. Conclusion This study showed that by increasing the number of highly polymorphic Y STR markers, to include those tested in our analysis, leads to a reduction of repeating haplotypes, which is very important in the application of forensic DNA analysis.

This study was undertaken in order to evaluate possible antioxidative and antiproliferative activities of three Helleborus taxa. The dry leaves and roots of three Helleborus taxa were extracted with ethanol and water. A phytochemical evaluation of the selected extracts was performed using spectrophotometric methods and a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay was used for measuring the antioxidative activity of extracts. The antiproliferative activity of the three Helleborus taxa was studied using Burkitt's lymphoma B cells (BJAB) cell lines. The phytochemical evaluation showed that the leaves contain high levels of total phenolic and flavonoid content. Results from the DPPH assay indicated that the activity of the ethanol and water extracts of the leaves was higher than that of positive control (thymol). Extracts from the roots of H. odorus also displayed higher antioxidant activity than the positive probe, while H. mulifidus and H. hercegovinus root extracts were less effective. A statistically significant correlation between total phenolic content and antioxidative properties indicates that these compounds contribute to the antioxidant activity. The highest percentage of cell growth inhibition was observed when testing the water root extracts of H. multifidus (50.14%) and H. hercegovinus (49.04%). In contrast, the water leaf extract of H. hercegovinus exhibited the lowest inhibition of cell growth (8.59%), although it showed strong antioxidant activity.

Lilium martagon L. var. cattaniae Vis. (Liliaceae) is endemic plant of Dinaridi mountain. In this work we established protocol for fast in vitro propagation and multiplication of Lilium martagon var. cattaniae. The aim was to enable fast production of plant material as potential source of pharmaceutically valuable secondary metabolites. Seeds of L.martagon var. cattaniae were germinated on a Murashige and Skoog basal medium with a supplement of 0.15 mg/l gibberellic acid (GA3), and multiplication was performed on MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/l gibberellic acid (GA3), 0.2 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.5 mg/l 6-ben- zylaminopurine (BAP). We used ultrasound assisted extraction to prepare extracts of leaves and bulbs of Lilium martagon var. cattaniae, which were evaluated for their genotoxic potential using Allium test and cytokinesis-block micronucleus test in human lymphocytes culture. There was statistically significant difference between all used concentrations of lilium extracts and control on proliferation of cells of root tip of onion (Allium cepa). In cytokinesis-block micronucleus test no statistically significant difference between frequencies of analyzed parameters in samples treated with tested concentrations of extracts and control was obtained.