Platelet hyperactivity and platelet interaction with endothelial cells contribute to the development and progression of many cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and thrombosis. The impact of platelet activity with different pharmacological agents, such as acetylsalicylic acid and coumarin derivatives, has been shown to be effective in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Artemisia dracunculus, L. Asteraceae (Tarragon) is used for centuries in the daily diet in many Middle Eastern countries, and it is well known for its anticoagulant activity. The present study investigates the presence of coumarins in tarragon leaves and subsequently determines the extract with a major amount of coumarin derivatives. The solvents of different polarities and different pH values were used for the purpose of purifying the primary extract in order to obtain fractions with the highest coumarin content. Those extracts and fractions were investigated for their anticoagulant activity by determining prothrombin time (PT) and the international normalized ratio (INR), expressed in relation to the coagulation time of the healthy person. Purified extracts and fractions obtained from plant residue after essential oil distillation, concentrated in coumarin derivatives, showed the best anticoagulant activity, using samples of human blood. INR maximum value (2.34) and consequently the best anticoagulant activity showed the methanol extract at concentration of 5%.  The INR value of normal plasma in testing this extract was 1.05.

Many athletes use supplements in their diet as part of regular training or competition, thus enabling more intense training by encouraging faster recovery between workouts, minimizing interference caused by disease or injury and increasing competitive performance. These supplements, unlike medications, are not subject to rigorous efficiency and safety checks and tests. There is a risk with regard to those supplements which include positive doping test result as a consequence of presence of the prohibited substances not listed in the declaration of the preparation. The aim of this study was to examine the use of supplements among elite athletes by analyzing the forms for doping control, issued by the Agency for Anti-doping control of Bosnia and Herzegovina, performed in the period from 2010 to 2012. The study includes supplements whose use was reported by athletes in the period of the last 7 days (prior testing). The study results indicate the frequency of dietary supplements use of 34.5%. The most dominant group among users of dietary supplements were men aged between 18 and 29 years. From 152 users of dietary supplements 62.3% of them have used more than one product. The number of used supplements was an average of 2.9±2.8 products. Amino acids and proteins are the most commonly used dietary supplements. This study confirmed excessive use of dietary supplements among elite athletes and pointed to the need of necessary education and ensuring the availability of scientific and unbiased information, about the benefits and risks of dietary supplements use, to athletes..

The genus Mentha L., member of the family Lamiaceae, consists of approximately 14-25 species, grows widely throughout the temperate regions of the world (Harley, 1972; Gobert et al., 2002). Mentha longifolia, member of the family Lamiaceae is a perennial bushy plant and upright, reaches height of about 1 m. Strongly aromatic, the leaves are formed in pairs opposite to each other along the square-shaped stem. Mentha longifoliais is used in herbal medicine and is native to the Mediterranean region and Middle East. It is mainly used for the treatment of respiratory ailments, but many other uses have been recorded. Leaves are used the most , usually for preparation of tea against coughs, colds, stomach cramps, asthma, flatulence, indigestion and headaches (Gulluce et al., 2007). In the Lamiaceae family, essential oils are mainly produced in secretary structures known as glandular trachomes, of which there are two main kinds, peltate and capitates. The amount of essential oils produced is directly connected with the number and physiology of these structures. Essential oils are very complicated mixtures of Bulletin of the Chemists and Technologists of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Five methanolic extracts obtained from different parts of birch, Betula pendula, Roth. (external and internal bark, flowers, leaves and buds), were evaluated for their antibacterial activity in this study. Triterpene compounds, betulin, betulinic acid, oleanolic acid and lupeol, were isolated from the external parts of birch bark using the method of dry column chromatography (DCC) as well as preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC). These compounds were also investigated for their antibacterial activity. Taking into account that decoction is the most commonly used pharmaceutical form of herbal drug, decoctions made from external bark, leaf, flower and bud were investigated for their antibacterial activity. Antibacterial screening, against selected Gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P and Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 was carried out. The methods of diffusion and dilution were used for this investigation according to European Pharmacopoea, 1996. The most prominent antibacterial activity showed oleanolic acid against bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus, expressed as minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC): 1.25% and Bacillus subtilis MIC: 0.625%. Escherichia coli showed resistance on all investigated samples.

Introduction: Bosnia and Herzegovina has a high prevalence of smoking among women, especially among health care professionals. The goal of this study is to investigate the influence of the social environment of women employed in health institutions in relation to the cigarettes smoking habits.Methods: The study included 477 women employed in hospitals, outpatient and public health institutions in Sarajevo Canton Bosnia and Herzegovina. We used a modifi ed questionnaire assessing smoking habits of medical staff in European hospitalsResults: The results showed that 50% of women are smokers, with the highest incidence among nurses (58.1%) and administrative staff (55.6%). The social environment is characterized by a high incidence of colleagues (60.1%) and friends who are smokers (54.0%) at the workplace and in the family (p<0.005). One third of women (27.8%), mainly non-smokers, states that the work environment supports employees smoking (p=0.003).Conclusion: Workplace and social environment support smoking as an acceptable cultural habit and is contributing to increasing rates of smoking among women.

Introduction: Present study describes the antimicrobial activity and free radical scavenging capacity (RSC) of essential oil from Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds. Aim of this study to investigate the quality, antimicrobial andantioxidant activity of wild species Mentha longifolia essential oil from Bosnia and Herzegovina.Methods: The chemical profi le of essential oil was evaluated by the means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Antimicrobial activity was tested against 6bacterial strains. RSC was assessed by measuring the scavenging activity of essential oils on 2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH).Results: The main constituents of the essential oil of M. longifoliae folium were oxygenated monoterpenes,piperitone oxide (63.58%) and 1,8-cineole (12.03%). Essential oil exhibited very strong antibacterial activity.The most important antibacterial activity essential oil was expressed on Gram negative strains: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aerginosa and Salmonella enterica. subsp.enterica serotype ABONY. Antioxidant activity was evaluated as a RSC. Investigated essential oil was able to reduce DPPH radicals into the neutral DPPHH form (IC50=10.5 μg/ml) and this activity was dose –dependent.Conclusion: The study revealed signifi cant antimicrobial activity of the investigated essential oil. The examined oil exhibited high RSC, which was found to be in correlation to the content of mainly monoterpeneketones and aldehydes. These results indicate that essential oils could serve as safe antioxidant and antiseptic supplements in pharmaceuticals.

Considering that a register for cancer was established in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina only recently, basic reliable source for the analysis of cancer mortality trends are the data on death cases caused by such diseases. Lack of census as well as standardized mortality rate data makes the study even more difficult to make. The aim of the study is the analysis of the malign diseases trend in the post-war period according to the available data. The study is the descriptive work on the analysis of the system using linear regression methods for expected trend for the total population and age group from 0 to 64 years. Registered rate of cancer mortality in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2004 was 142 per 100000 inhabitants, and indicates input stream in the analyzed period. Total increase in mortality of males and females is 2.5% per year. It is expected that in 2020 around 5000 inhabitants of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina will die of some malign disease. Trend of mortality of malign diseases in males is higher than in females and more probable in older population. There is a tendency of mortality decrease in the group of 0-64 years of age. Mortality list of the most frequent locations of cancer has undergone changes. Liver cancer, colon cancer, sigma and rectum cancer as well as lung and breast cancer lead the list. Objective ageing of the population, technological drawbacks, insufficient primary and secondary prevention worsened by socio-economic life conditions will affect the increase in number of people with malign diseases in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Asthma is the most common chronic illness in children and adolescents. The pediatric "Asthma School" has been established to improve the health and quality of life of children with asthma through education and support. The purpose of work is evaluation of efficiency education adolescents, children and parents in prevention, adequate use medications and control of asthma. It was operational investigation. The study was enrolled 70 participants from 7 cities in FBiH, which were attended "Asthma School". Evaluations of efficiency of education program have been done through questionnaires using 5-point scale. Observing variables were: attitude about quality of education and level of knowledge about asthma at the end of the educational round. "Asthma School" attended 62 parents and 8 adolescents. The age of children was 6-14 years. The most of participants were with middle school education (64.3%). Successfulness of seminar was score with highest point of scale by 79%. Access to health information was important for patients in adequate treating illness (80.6%) and in prevention of asthma (15%). There was a significant improvement for 38,4% in the basic knowledge of asthma among participants, from 2.7 before to 3.8 after education. Among 20 children that have learned proper technique breathing there was not register worsening symptoms of asthma by 83.4%. There was a significant improvement in the condition of patient, following by greater value PEF (72.3% participants). The results implicate necessity of continuity such action in order to make life of young asthma patient.