We are happy to share some great news – the publication of our new paper in the journal Antioxidants. In this study, we investigated the phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of leaf and flower extracts from two invasive plant species – Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) and Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) – collected in the Istria region.
Using LC-DAD-MS methods and antioxidant assays (ABTS, DPPH, FRAP), we developed detailed phenolic profiles of both leaf and flower extracts. Our analyses confirmed high concentrations of flavonoids, phenolic acids, and ellagitannins, with strong correlations (r > 0.9) between total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Among the most notable findings were vescalagin isomer concentrations of up to 94 mg/g in Tree of Heaven leaves and 5-caffeoylquinic acid levels of up to 25 mg/g in Jerusalem artichoke leaves.
These results highlight the untapped potential of invasive plants as rich natural sources of antioxidants, with promising applications in the development of functional foods and phytopharmaceuticals.
Our small NATURALLY team continues to expand on the discoveries made during the original project. We are doing so as part of a new project entitled “A Recipe for Sustainable Coexistence – Invasive Species as Medicine and Food”, funded by the ADRIS Foundation.
On Friday, March 14, 2025, during the opening ceremony of the 4th Days of the Bee event in Pula, the new project was presented, along with a reflection on the NATURALLY project.
As part of the program, an expert lecture titled “Invasive (Honey) Species as Medicine and Food” was held by project leader Dr. Danijela Poljuha and Dr. Nediljko Landeka from the Teaching Institute of Public Health of the Istria County. Participants had the opportunity to learn more about both projects, the impact of invasive species, and their dual nature — the harm they can cause, as well as their potential benefits. Special attention was given to the most common invasive honey plant species in Croatia.
Following the lecture, visitors were invited to taste honeys made from several invasive plant species.
These activities, conducted as part of both projects, aim to raise public awareness about the importance of effective invasive species management and the need to adapt to sustainable coexistence with them.
The NATURALLY project continues under the initiative of the Institute titled “A Recipe for Sustainable Coexistence – Invasive Species as Medicine and Food”, funded by the ADRIS Foundation. As part of this new project, our team continues to explore the potential use of invasive plant species in phytopharmacy and beyond.
On Saturday, March 1, 2025, during the 19th edition of the Days of Honey fair held in Pazin, both the NATURALLY project and its continuation were presented to the public. An expert lecture titled “Invasive (Honey) Species as Medicine and Food” was delivered by project leader Dr. Danijela Poljuha and Dr. Nediljko Landeka from the Teaching Institute of Public Health of the Istria County. Attendees had the opportunity to learn more about the project, understand the harmful effects of invasive species, and explore how they may also be put to good use. A significant portion of the lecture focused on the most common invasive honey plant species found in Croatia.
Following the lecture, visitors were invited to a guided tasting of honeys derived from several invasive species. The tasting was organized by the Croatian Association of Honey Sensory Analysts (HUSAM), led by Prof. Dr. Dražen Lušić, Mr. Ivan Kovač, and Mr. Mirko Almaši.
These activities, carried out as part of both our projects, aim to raise public awareness about the importance of effective invasive species management, as well as the need for sustainable adaptation and coexistence with them.
Can alien invasive plant species be useful? Can they be utilized in the pharmaceutical industry? The results of our project NATURE AS AN ALLY: ALIEN INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES AS A SOURCE OF PHARMACEUTICALS – NATURALLY, funded by the Croatian Science Foundation, support this idea.
An original scientific paper titled “Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Invasive Solidago canadensis L.: Potential Applications in Phytopharmacy”, authored by Mirela Uzelac Božac, Danijela Poljuha, Slavica Dudaš, Josipa Bilić, Ivana Šola, Maja Mikulič-Petkovšek, and Barbara Sladonja, highlights the therapeutic potential of Canadian goldenrod, an invasive plant widespread in our region. The study emphasizes the need for further research on the bioavailability, efficacy, and safety of its compounds, potentially transforming this ecological threat into a valuable source of bioactive compounds for drug development. The paper was published in the journal Plants (IF 4.0) and is the result of international collaboration among researchers from five institutions.
How Do Climate Changes Shape Our Future Food? Are Invasive Plant Species the Food of the Future?
Our new review paper, “Climate Change and Plant Foods: The Influence of Environmental Stressors on Plant Metabolites and Future Food Sources”, explores how environmental stress conditions impact plant metabolites and essential nutrients. It examines the potential of resilient and genetically modified plants and the role of unconventional food sources—such as algae and invasive plant species—in ensuring sustainable nutrition. This scientific paper was published in the prestigious journal Foods (IF 4.7) and is the result of a collaboration between three projects funded by the Croatian Science Foundation: GinkoBiFlav, Temphys, and NATURALLY. The paper is part of joint research activities established under a 2023 cooperation agreement to strengthen research networks between the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, the Faculty of Science University of Zagreb, and the University North. The authors of this paper are Ivana Šola, Danijela Poljuha, Ivana Pavičić, Ana Jurinjak Tušek, and Dunja Šamec.
As the year draws to a close, so does our project. It seemed like the perfect moment to reflect on everything we have achieved this year and throughout the project. That’s why we seized the opportunity to bring top scientists and experts to Poreč, Croatia and spend a day dedicated to plants, pharmacy, and science, all under the conference title “FROM PLANT TO PHARMACY.”
The final conference of the #NATURALLY project, funded by the Croatian Science Foundation, was held in a hybrid format under the patronage of the Croatian Chemical Society. It gathered distinguished lecturers from South Africa, the United Kingdom, Serbia, and Croatia. The event provided an opportunity to present a summary of our project achievements, as well as the results of collaborations with other #HRZZ projects, #GinkoBiFlav and #Temphys. Through lectures by the three project leaders (Dunja Šamec, Ivana Šola, and Danijela Poljuha), we wanted to send a clear message: COLLABORATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS!
An outstanding contribution to the conference was made by lecturers from the University of Pretoria, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Novi Sad: Lyndy McGaw, Ljiljana Fruk, and Dragana Šunjka. We take this opportunity to thank them once again! A big thank you also goes to all the participants who joined us either in person or virtually.
And finally, if you are wondering whether invasive plant species can be useful to the pharmaceutical industry, we have one answer for you—YES, THEY CAN!
Our new project RECIPE FOR SUSTAINABLE CO-LIFE – INVASIVE SPECIES AS MEDICINE AND FOOD submitted to the ADRIS Foundation competition for donations has been selected for funding! 🎉😁
This project will bring together excellent biologists, oenologists, agronomists, gastronomists, chefs, designers, artists, beekeepers, tourist boards and citizens in search of quality answers to today’s challenges. The project has a scientific, but also an educational component aimed at the public.
Its goals are:
1. Investigate whether selected invasive alien plant species in Croatia have antitumor activity and whether they can benefit human health;
2. Promote the use of invasive species in food as a form of new ecosystem services that these species can provide, but also as an innovative form of controlling their spread and;
3. Raise public awareness of the importance of sustainable management of invasive species and adaptation to sustainable coexistence with them, as one of the scenarios for a healthy and balanced future.
Through simple activities such as being in nature, talking and cooking that unites the traditional and autochthonous with the new and still unexplored, we want to encourage social awareness, initiative and responsibility and a holistic approach to life in a new and changing environment and to that way to raise environmental standards in the local community. As environmental protection is a universal value and aspiration, and creativity knows no borders, we expect the spread of positive examples and the promotion of Croatian innovation beyond our borders.
Wish us luck in achieving these goals, and if you want to join us, you’re welcome!
On Monday, September 16, in the Multimedia Center “Macel” in Žminy, the publication “Monumental trees: a guide for researchers” was presented by the author, biologist, from the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Mirela Uzelac Božac, Danijela Poljuha, Barbara Sladonja and Nataly Milovan.
Istria, known for its rich history and beautiful nature, hides many more undiscovered stories – monumental trees. This is a project to preserve monumental trees in Istria, which was supported last year by the Adris Foundation and enabled the first edition of this publication in 150 copies. The manual contains detailed stories about 4 monumental trees and how to get to 10 of them. The manual comes with a map of Istria and stickers that can be collected by visiting and discovering the trees.
The stars of this guide are: The Honey Monument from Poreč, the Dancing Oak in Rojnići, the Guardian Linden from Ćićarija and the Cedrus brothers from Červar, which are waiting to be discovered and their stories told. These are trees that are almost 200 years old, which is why they are worth visiting.
Why are monumental trees important?
Monumental trees are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also play an important ecological role. They provide refuge for numerous animal species, clean the air and water, and help mitigate climate change. The preservation of these green giants is of crucial importance for the preservation of biodiversity and the sustainability of our planet.
3IN1 PROJECTS + SCIENTIFIC STORYTELLING + AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) IN SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
Summer Conference of Croatian Chemical Society Rijeka-Pula 2024
The results of the collaboration between three projects funded by the Croatian Science Foundation were presented to the public for the first time at the Summer Conference of Croatian Chemical Society Rijeka-Pula, held in Rijeka on September 5 and 6, 2024. The leader of the NATURALLY project, Danijela Poljuha, presented the projects slightly differently.
New Forms of Collaboration
We believe in the power of collaboration and know that we are stronger together. That’s why, in 2023, we signed a cooperation agreement between three projects funded by the Croatian Science Foundation. Three institutions (the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, the University North, and the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science) signed the agreement to strengthen research and dissemination potential during the implementation of research. The agreement pertains to the following projects:
“Nature as an ALLY: Alien Invasive Plant Species as a Source of Pharmaceuticals – NATURALLY” (IP-2020-02-6899), led by Dr Danijela Poljuha “Indirect Impact of Global Warming on Mammalian Physiological Parameters through Feeding Plants Grown at High Temperatures – TEMPHYS” (IP-2020-02-7585), led by Dr Ivana Šola “The Role of Biflavonoids in Plants: Ginkgo biloba L. as a Model System – GinkoBiFlav” (UIP-2019-04-1018), led by Dr Dunja Šamec.
For more information about WHO, HOW, and WHY, please check out our poster.
The Power of Visuals in Science Communication
If you looked at the poster, you probably noticed an unusual graphical representation of the collaboration created by Dr Kristina Grozić. At first glance, it may not seem like it, but it’s complex and contains several stories within a story. Scan the Visualization QR code in the center of the poster or read about our inspiration here.
Augmented Reality (AR) in Science Communication
This was an opportunity to test new tools that we believe are the future of science communication. We conducted a small experiment with AR on our poster. You can try it out, too.
Scan the code next to the poster or click the link, point your phone at the poster, and enjoy! There are only two scenes (effects), which switch by clicking the animated arrows.
I have always believed that every manuscript has its own life and destiny, unfolding independently of its author, and sometimes even pulling the author into its currents. This is particularly true for some manuscripts, and scientific manuscripts are no exception. Sometimes, the story flows smoothly, starting from an idea that quickly develops through text that grows and evolves almost by itself, with all co-authors contributing in a positive and enthusiastic atmosphere. Almost imperceptibly, the process reaches the publication phase, which passes almost unnoticed, where reviewers and editors recognize and understand the work, providing their benevolent and constructive input to its quality, and soon the publication sees the light of day, to the general satisfaction of everyone involved in the process.
This was not the case here. The stubborn manuscript entity had its own character and vision of creation, eluding control, resisting, hiding, wriggling, waiting, and influencing us in all sorts of ways throughout the process. It tirelessly tested our patience, persistence, systematic approach, discipline, and character at every step. It’s hard to find a reason for this, and allow us to admit, we stopped looking for one long ago. We explained it with one word – karma 😉
But today, we can proudly say – we have reached the end of this part of the story and are letting the publication continue its virtual life independently. Now it is a completely different text, and after all the revisions and changes, it has almost no common points with the initial version. This is, therefore, an opportunity to highlight all the good, because no story is black or white, it’s always somewhere among 50 shades of gray 😉
Or yellow 😊
So, let’s start with the yellow fields of Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) in beautiful Istria, where this species grows invasively but also melliferously. And phytochemically fascinating.
Scene from the field, recorded in 2021 during sampling for the NATURALLY project.
This is where we started, asking ourselves: Where does this species grow, both invasively and natively? What processes underlie its invasiveness? Can its phytochemical profile be linked to the biological activity of its parts? Can the new reality of “new ecosystems” where biological invasions are inevitable be somehow redirected to work for us, providing us with some beneficial services? We were particularly interested in ecosystem services such as using invasive plant species, in this specific case Canadian goldenrod, as raw materials for the pharmaceutical and medical industries, as a source of natural herbicides and pesticides for agricultural use, as biofuels, and many others. We also wondered, can these services be the basis for a bioeconomy and how to evaluate this for a particular species?
Find the answers to these and many other questions in our new publication, published in juournal Plants. This is a review paper in which we have tried to systematize the latest insights into biological invasions using the example of one of the alien invasive plant species, in the context of the present day, where the sustainable coexistence of species becomes an inevitable imperative.
For easier immersion in the text, here is a wonderful, artistically inspired graphic summary – the work of our talented colleague Kristina Grozic, PhD.
At the scientific conference 2nd European Symposium on Phytochemicals in Medicine and Food – 2-EuSPMF, held from June 3 to 6, 2024 in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), dr. Danijela Poljuha held an invited lecture titled UNVEILING NATURE’S ALLIES: INVASIVE PLANTS AS SOURCES OF PHYTOPHARMACEUTICALS. In the lecture, the results of the analysis of the biological activity of extracts of foreign invasive plant species – Jerusalem artichoke, Tree of heaven, Canadian goldenrod and Black locust – and the potential of their use as phytopharmaceuticals were presented.
This international meeting was organized by the University of Sarajevo, the Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Ingeb), the Association of Geneticists in Bosnia and Herzegovina (GENuBiH) and the International Association of Dietetic Nutrition and Safety (IADNS) with the aim of presenting the latest achievements in the field of phytochemicals in medicine and food.
