The samples of stinging nettle were collected during June in the Tuzla region. Aqueous extracts were prepared from fresh and dried leaves in order to determinate and compare content of bioactive components and antioxidant potential. Conventional soxhlet, ultrasound assisted extraction and traditional maceration extraction were used as extraction methods. Quantitative determination of phenols and flavonoids was carried out using spectrophotometric methods. Antioxidant activity of nettle aqueous extracts was determined using ferric reducing antioxidant power and DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Extracts obtained by Soxhlet extraction showed the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content and expected the highest antioxidant capacity, while extracts obtained by maceration gave the lowest results. KEYWORDS:stinging nettle extract;bioactive components;extraction;antioxidant

Cadmium (Cd) is abundant heavy metal with highly toxic effect on plants. The aim of presented study was to investigate the effect of seed priming using salicylic acid on cadmium tolerance in lettuce. The tolerance level was evaluated using germination speed and percentage, fresh and dry seedling weight, water and photosynthetic pigments content. Control seeds were primed using distilled water. In control plants cadmium induced reduction of germination rate, fresh and dry weight, water and chlorophyll content. Seed priming using salicylic acid, on the other hand, induced increased resistance of lettuce to cadmium toxicity. Increase in germination rate, fresh mass and water content were recorded for plants subjected to 5 mM Cd, grown from seeds primed using salicylic acid. Results obtained by this study suggested that salicylic acid can be used as priming agent in order to alleviate Cd toxicity on lettuce.