Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmaceutical botanic and ecology Candidate: Barbora Staszková Supervisor: PharmDr. Jana Karlíčková, Ph.D. Title of Thesis: Plants as source of coumarins Plants are source of a wide range of substances called secondary metabolites. These substances include also coumarins, derivatives of a lactone of o-hydroxycinnamic acid. They are found in many plant species and are specific especially for the family Apiaceae, Rutaceae or Fabaceae. They can be produced by some microorganisms. They have many effects in the treatment of vascular, gastrointestinal or infectious diseases. Properties, uses and sources some of these are the subject of this diploma thesis. KEYWORDS: coumarins, secondary metabolites, effects