Agnes Farkas

Agnes Farkas
University of Pecs | PTE · Department of Pharmacognosy

Ph.D.

About

101
Publications
29,371
Reads
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1,420
Citations
Additional affiliations
January 2006 - June 2006
Cornell University
Position
  • visiting scientist
January 2002 - present
University of Pecs
Position
  • Phytochemical and histological evaluation of medicinal plants
Education
October 2001
University of Pecs
Field of study
  • botany
June 1997
University of Pecs
Field of study
  • biology

Publications

Publications (101)
Article
Full-text available
Background/Objectives: Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a major problem in healthcare, complicated by the ability of bacteria to form biofilms. Complementary therapy for infectious diseases can rely on natural substances with antibacterial activity, e.g., essential oils and honeys. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of linden...
Article
Full-text available
The eradication of bacterial biofilms remains a persistent challenge in medicine, particularly because an increasing number of biofilms exhibit resistance to conventional antibiotics. This underscores the importance of searching for novel compounds that present antibacterial and biofilm inhibition activity. Various types of honey and essential oil...
Article
Full-text available
Grafting alters the genetic and anatomical features of plants. Although grafting has been widely applied in plant propagation, the underlying processes that govern the effects of the procedure are not fully understood. Samples were collected to study the long-term influence of grafting on the leaf-shoot morphology, leaf-shoot anatomy, and genetic s...
Article
Full-text available
Today, antibiotic therapies that previously worked well against certain bacteria due to their natural sensitivity, are becoming less effective. Honey has been proven to inhibit the biofilm formation of some respiratory bacteria, however few data are available on how the storage time affects the antibacterial effect. The activity of black locust, go...
Article
Full-text available
The irresponsible overuse of antibiotics has increased the occurrence of resistant bacterial strains, which represents one of the biggest patient safety risks today. Due to antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation in bacteria, it is becoming increasingly difficult to suppress the bacterial strains responsible for various chronic infections. Hone...
Preprint
Full-text available
Today, antibiotic therapies that previously worked well against certain bacteria due to their natural sensitivity, are becoming less effective. Honey has been proven to inhibit the biofilm formation of some respiratory bacteria, however few data are available on how the storage time affects the antibacterial effect. The activity of black locust, go...
Article
Various medicinal plants find their use in cough treatment, based on traditions and long-term experience. Pharmacological principles of their action, however, are much less known. Herbal drugs usually contain a mixture of potentially active compounds, which can manifest diverse effects. Expectorant or antitussive effects, which can be accompanied b...
Article
Full-text available
Honey is a valuable source of nutrients, minerals and phenolic compounds. Phenolic acids and flavonoids are associated with health benefits of honey and can serve as markers for distinguishing honey types. This study aimed at determining the phenolic profile of four Hungarian unifloral honeys that were not analyzed previously. After verifying their...
Article
Full-text available
Honey is known as an alternative remedy for the treatment of wounds. To evaluate the potential of five Hungarian honey types against wound-associated bacteria, in vitro microbiological assays were conducted on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Minimum inhibitory concentration...
Chapter
Full-text available
Although Hungary is one of the biggest honey producers in the EU, there is little information on diagnostic traits, nutritional value, and potential health benefits of the honeys produced in this Central European country. The aim of this study was to perform a complex analysis of eight Hungarian summer honeys, focusing on melissopalynology, antioxi...
Article
Full-text available
The aim of the study was to assess the impact of four unifloral honeys on the food-borne pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, by analyzing the honeys’ antibacterial and biofilm degradation effects, as well as their antioxidant activity and element content. Linden and milkweed honeys represented light colored honeys, while gol...
Article
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The goldenrod (Solidago) species are flowering plants that produce nectar and can be the sources of unifloral honeys. S. canadensis and S. gigantea are native to North America and invasive in several European countries, while S. virgaurea is native to Europe. The aim of this work was to determine and compare the antioxidant capacity of goldenrod ho...
Article
Full-text available
The goal of the study was to evaluate the pollen spectrum, antioxidant capacity and mineral content of four Hungarian honey types, using multivariate statistical analysis. The light colored honeys were represented by milkweed honey and a multifloral (MF) honey with dominant pollen frequency of linden (MF-Tilia); the darker ones were goldenrod honey...
Article
Full-text available
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 facilita...
Article
The impact of invasive plants on vegetation can vary greatly depending on the characteristics of the invaders and community invasibility. As to the factors that influence a plant’s ability to invade, recent studies suggest that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may be important regulators in plant inva- sions. To better understand the interactions...
Article
Full-text available
Honey is a rich source of carbohydrates, while minor compounds such as amino acids and polyphenols contribute to its health-promoting effects. Honey is one of the oldest traditional remedies applied for microbial infections, due to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibac...
Article
Full-text available
Melissopalynology, antioxidant capacity and mineral and toxic element contents were analyzed in eight types of Hungarian honeys. Based on color, two groups were distinguished: light honeys comprised acacia, amorpha, phacelia and linden honeys; while dark honeys included sunflower, chestnut, fennel and sage honeys, with 100 to 300 and 700 to 1500 mA...
Article
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Recent studies revealed that from various ecological factors influencing nectar yield and quality of a plant, soil properties can be as important as microclimatic features. To date, few studies have investigated the relationship of soil characters to nectar traits of bee pollinated plants growing in natural associations. Our study intended to revea...
Article
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The use of hellebore (Helleborus) species for medical purposes has a long-standing tradition. Our work aimed at providing a historical survey of their medicinal application in Europe, and data on current ethnobotanical use of H. purpurascens Waldst. et Kit. in Transylvania (Romania), compared with earlier records of this region and other European c...
Article
Two types of early spring Hungarian honeys, purchased as rape (Brassica napus L.) and ramson (Allium ursinum L.) honeys were identified and characterized. The 42 samples originated from various geographical locations, harvested in two different years. The unifloral origin of rape honeys was supported using melissopalynological analysis, while the s...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose The toxicological significance of human exposures to angel's trumpet plants (Brugmansia and Datura species) in their native American and non-native regions (Asia, Africa, and Europe) was highlighted, and the poisoning potential of various plant parts was discussed. Methods Nearly 2500 cases of human plant exposures, reported to the Hungari...
Conference Paper
The majority of vascular plant species are associated with a special group of soil fungi known as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in their natural habitats. These AMF symbioses are essential components in different terrestrial ecosystems, however, increasing number of publications suggest that reduced mycorrhizal associations may also benefit in...
Article
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Helianthus tuberosus agg., an herbaceous perennial plant from the Asteraceae family, is native to North America and was introduced as a crop to Europe in the seventeenth century. The status of this plant has been rather controversial in the Carpathian Basin. This paper reviews its taxonomy, chorology, and ethnobotany in this region, using data obta...
Conference Paper
Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke) is native to North America. It was introduced to Europe in the 17th century and is now considered an aggressive invasive plant. This work focused on describing the effects of H. tuberosus on species richness and diversity both in its native (North America) and non-native (Europe) ranges. We also acquired m...
Chapter
Carotenoid epoxides are widely distributed in nature. Carotenoids that possess an 5,6-epoxy group are common in plants and algae, and include the major leaf xanthophylls violaxanthin and neoxanthin as well as the algal products fucoxanthin and peridinin which are the most abundant of all natural carotenoids. Violaxanthin and neoxanthin are also pre...
Chapter
Antibiotics used for prevention and treatment in agriculture, veterinary, and human medicine can cause selective pressure leading to the spread of resistant mutants. Since development of resistance is becoming more common, there is a greater need for alternative treatments. However, there has been a continued decline in the number of newly approved...
Article
Full-text available
Helianthus tuberosus L. (Jerusalem artichoke), a perennial plant native to North America, is one of the most dangerous invasive species in Europe. The fast spread of the plant may be enhanced by its allelopathic effects, through the release of chemical compounds into the environment. The goal of this work was to determine the allelopathic effect of...
Article
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Ethnomedicine using mostly plants is of pivotal importance in several Transylvanian regions in Romania nowadays. In this study (2007–2015), 9 Székely, 3 Csángó, one Hungarian and one Swabian village were selected to collect ethnomedicinal treatments for various gastrointestinal diseases. Some of the studied villages are partially or not provided by...
Article
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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 chromat...
Article
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The family Solanaceae includes several melliferous plants, which tend to produce copious amounts of nectar. Floral nectar is a chemically complex aqueous solution, dominated by sugars, but minor components such as amino acids, proteins, flavonoids and alkaloids are present as well. This study aimed at analysing the protein and alkaloid profile of t...
Article
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In Homoród-valley in Transylvania, ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in 2010-2014. From these data, ethnomedicinal uses of Thymus, Mentha and Salvia taxa are presented in this work. During the interviews which were performed with 42 informants, the local name vadcsombor was mentioned as the most commonly used phytonym of wild thyme species, wh...
Article
Full-text available
In Homoród-valley in Transylvania, ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in 2010-2014. From these data, ethnomedicinal uses of Thymus, Mentha and Salvia taxa are presented in this work. During the interviews which were performed with 42 informants, the local name vadcsombor was mentioned as the most commonly used phytonym of wild thyme species, whi...
Article
Floral rewards such as nectar and pollen have a major influence on successful pollination and fruit-set, even in self-fertile Rubus sp. (Rosaceae), which include most cultivated raspberries and blackberries. A 2-year study was designed to examine the diurnal dynamics of nectar secretion and pollen shedding in the raspberry cultivars 'Autumn Bliss'...
Article
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Absrtact Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) is valued as fodder and its tuber is also part of human nutrition, being particularly beneficial in the diet of people suffering from diabetes, due to its high inulin content. At the same time wild Jerusalem artichoke has become a dangerous invasive plant in several parts of Europe, which can b...
Chapter
Several cultivated plants are used in a variety of ways: as ornamentals, spices, food plants, as well as medicinal plants. Other decorative plants may be dangerous if ingested or applied externally, due to their toxic compounds. Although the active principles and biological activities of several ornamentals are supported by scientific evidence, the...
Article
Full-text available
Bergenia species (Saxifragaceae) are important sources of herbal medicines in Asia, mainly in Russia. Various plant parts are valued for their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant sand adaptogenic effect, and used for the dissolution of kidney and bladder stones. In this study a rapid reversed phase liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method h...
Chapter
Full-text available
Traditional ethnobotanical knowledge concerning plant use can be attributed to the archaic folklore system in Romania, particularly in Transylvania, which forms a considerable part of the country. Various regions of Transylvania are inhabited by Hungarians and Romanians. This chapter provides an overview of the first herbal books from the sixteenth...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Library of Hungarian Scientific Works Search... Evaluation of herbal products of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) and turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Bencsik T , Mehrabi M , Modirrousta A , Jesionek W , Papp N , Farkas Á Evaluation of herbal products of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) and turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) In: 9th International Symposium...
Article
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Leaf epidermal (micromorphological and micromorphometric) features of the leaf blade were examined with light and scanning electron microscopy in 49 Central European natural populations of species belonging to subgenera Schedonorus and Drymanthele within the genus Festuca L. In addition, molecular biological (random amplified polymorphic DNA) studi...
Conference Paper
Wild Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus s. l.) is one of the most dangerous invasive plant species in Europe. Its spread may be enhanced by its allelopathic effects, which in turn can be attributed to phenolic and sesquiterpene lactone compounds. Present work aimed at determining whether allelopathic effects of Jerusalem artichoke can be re...
Article
Full-text available
A hatvanhat fajt magába foglaló, amerikai honosságú Helianthus nemzetség 15 évelı faját Európa-szerte termesztik díszértékük, illetve gumójuk inulintartalma miatt. Ezek közül több taxont özönnövényként tartunk számon, melyek erıteljes vegetatív szaporodásuk és árnyékolásuk folytán gyakran kiterjedt, sőrő, egynemő állományokat alkotnak (BOTTA-DUKÁT...
Article
Cross-pollination is of primary importance for quince (Cydonia oblonga), whose flowers reward pollinators with pollen and nectar. Characteristics of the nectar from two self-fertile (SF) and two self-sterile (SS) cultivars of quince were compared in a 3-year study, in order to establish if the two fertility groups differed from each other in terms...
Article
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The morphology and histology of the cyathial nectary were studied in 8 European leafy spurge (Euphorbia) species, revealing that certain histological traits of the glands are in close correlation to each species' habitat, underlining the importance of morphological evidences in determining relevant ecological tolerance spectra of plants.The structu...
Article
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Floral nectar volume and concentration of ramson (Allium ursinum L. ssp. ucrainicum) were investigated in three different habitats, including two types of sessile oak-hornbeam association on brown forest soil with clay illuviation and a silver lime-flowering ash rock forest association on rendzina. Daily nectar production ranged from 0.1 to 3.8 μL...
Article
Full-text available
Due to their isolation and insufficiency of official medical care, the inhabitants of several Transylvanian "Csángó" farms in Romania have valuable archaic knowledge of plants. Such ethnobotanical data reported previously from different regions of the country are available only in Hungarian. Of the various ethnic groups constituting the Csángós' cu...
Article
Hyoscyamine (atropine) and scopolamine are the predominant tropane alkaloids in the Datura genus, occurring in all plant organs. The assessment of the alkaloid content of various plant parts is essential from the viewpoint of medical use, but also as a potential risk of toxicity for humans and animals. Therefore, a reliable method for the determina...
Article
Full-text available
Erwinia amylovora, the causative agent of fire blight, colonizes primarily the flowers of the sub-family Maloideae. Commercially important fruit tree species such as apple (Malus domestica) and pear (Pyrus communis) are also affected by the disease. Epiphytic bacterial populations develop on the stigma, from where the pathogen colonizes the hypanth...
Article
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Several representatives of the Rosaceae family display a periodic nectar secretion pattern. Our research aimed at investigating patterns of nectar secretion in some raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and blackberry (R. caesius) cultivars, members of subfamily Rosoideae. Fifteen tagged flowers per cultivar were bagged and sampled hourly. Nectar volumes were m...
Article
Often it is difficult to clearly distinguish between medicinal/poisonous/ ornamental plants. In case of several species, such as lavenders, oreganos and sages, a large number of taxa are available for the cottage garden both as ornamentals and as sources of home remedies. Our investigation directed at the medicinal value of ornamental sage cultivar...
Article
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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 sec...
Article
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Cotoneasters are widely planted as ornamentals, which at the same time can serve as a sources of nectar for honey bees and bumble bees. The present study gives a detailed description of the nectary anatomy of Cotoneaster roseus. The floral nectary is located within the receptacle, with well distinguishable regions of the epidermis, glandular tissue...
Article
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The present study aimed at determining selected alkaloid components in the nectar of Datura species, to elucidate whether the alkaloid content of the floral nectar can lead to intoxication. A simple and rapid liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray mass spectrometry analysis was developed for the quantitative determination of atropine and s...
Article
Full-text available
The current research project aimed at the carotenoid analysis of total extracts of the inflorescences of Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.), and the flowers of greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L.). The plant extracts were separated and analyzed by column liquid chromatography (CLC) and LC. Carotenoids were identified on the basis of th...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
A pawpaw (Asimina triloba) variety trial was established near Ithaca, N.Y. in April 1999, consisting of 28 advanced selections and cultivars from the USDA PawPaw Germplasm Repository in Kentucky. Eight replicate trees of each genotype were obtained as dormant bench-grafts on seedling rootstocks, and planted in a randomized block design at a site ne...
Article
The essential oil composition and genetic variability of common sage ( Salvia officinalis L.) and its three ornamental cultivars ('Purpurascens', 'Tricolor', and 'Kew Gold') as well as Judean sage ( Salvia judaica Boiss.) were analyzed by GC-FID, GC-MS, and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Common sage and its cultivars contained the same vo...
Article
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Four Salvia officinalis L. populations were examined for the extent of genetic variability and compared with S. judaica Boiss., by extracting genomic DNA and generating a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker profile. Hierarchical cluster analysis separated the common sage populations into two groups. The two Hungarian S. officinalis L. sa...
Article
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The use of the Hungarian energy grass cultivar, 'Szarvasi-1', as a renewable energy resource can be of high importance, but first its genetic variability should be clarified. The between-species RAPD analysis of four Agropyron and Elymus species and the 'Szarvasi-1' cultivar showed very different DNA-patterns. The 'Szarvasi-1' specimens used in thi...
Article
In May 005, nectar production and sugar composition was studied in Hungary in three oilseed rape {Brassica napus L. van napus) cultivars ('Baldur', 'Bekalb Catonic', and 'Colombo'). Nectar production was determined after isolation of flowers using a covering of tulle netting for 24 hours. Volume of nectar was measured with calibrated microcapillari...
Article
Full-text available
The receptaculo-ovarial nectary of quince is located on the adaxial surface of the hypanthium. The glandular tissue is protruding out of the basal part of the receptacular tissue, but the apical part of the nectary is epimorphic. The glands can have various shapes if observed in the median longitudinal section of the flower and gland shapes are cha...