Gallic acid is a potent antioxidant known for its ability to neutralize free radicals and protect cells from oxidative stress, thereby reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions. The isolation of gallic acid using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADESs) offers significant benefits, as these solvents are eco-friendly, biodegradable, and enhance extraction efficiency. NADESs also help preserve the bioactivity of gallic acid, making this method a sustainable and effective alternative for its extraction in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of gallic acid extraction from medicinal plants of the Lamiaceae family, cultivated at the Institute for Medicinal Plant Research. The extraction was conducted using two natural deep eutectic solvents—choline chloride/urea (1:1) and choline chloride/glucose (1:2)—as well as 70% ethanol. Ten herbal drug samples, including rosemary, lemon balm, sage, mint, lavender, oregano, savory, wild thyme, garden thyme, and basil, were analyzed. Gallic acid content in the extracts was quantified via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Both NADESs demonstrated an effective extraction of gallic acid, with choline chloride/glucose exhibiting superior performance. Gallic acid was successfully extracted using choline chloride/urea in concentrations ranging from 113.80 to 134.05 µg/g of crude drug, while choline chloride/glucose achieved a broader range of 113.02 to 209.68 µg/g of crude drug, with the highest yield observed in oregano. Choline chloride/glucose also outperformed ethanol extraction (120.73–144.93 µg/g of of crude drug). Both choline chloride-based NADESs showed significant potential as environmentally friendly solvents for extracting gallic acid. The results highlight the suitability of choline chloride/glucose for gallic acid extraction, with broader implications for the application of NADESs in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Acknowledgement: This work is supported by Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research, Province of Vojvodina (Grant No. 142-451-3474/2023).

Cassia angustifolia, a plant which has been extensively used in traditional medicine, was explored for its total antioxidant and total antimicrobial activities. The leaf extract was prepared using maceration and the Soxhlet extraction method with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol solvents, which are non-polar and polar solvents, respectively. In the present study, DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays at 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 150, and 200 μg/mL concentrations exhibited a substantial free radical-scavenging activity in terms of the calculated IC₅₀ values. The extract was further tested against four bacterial pathogenic species, namely, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, using the agar well diffusion method, resulting in impressive proved zones of inhibition. The extract's antifungal effect was evaluated against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus fumigatus, and the extract showed great inhibition of fungal growth, indicating that the plant has high-spectrum antimicrobial activity. This study shows that C. angustifolia leaf extract has very high antioxidant potential activity, thus helping to combat oxidative stress. It also has the potential for broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Our results also suggest that the extract could be useful in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, food, and cosmetic industries, as the findings point to the fact that it is a natural source of antioxidant and antimicrobial substances. To establish and define its therapeutic use and identify its active compounds, more research is required in the future. Our findings will aid in future medicine and drug discovery, as well as in the exploration of the casia species and their medicinal properties.

Citrus medica, a member of the Rutaceae family, is renowned for its rich phytochemical profile and therapeutic potential. Its leaves, a less explored part of the plant, are abundant in phenolic compounds known for their antioxidant, antidiabetic, and cardiovascular benefits. This study aimed to extract, isolate, and characterize six phenolic compounds from C. medica leaves, including diosmin, naringenin, hesperidin, quercetin, naringin, and p-coumaric acid. Employing Soxhlet extraction with 80% ethanol, we optimized the isolation process to ensure maximal yield and purity.

The antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extract was assessed via DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and hydrogen peroxide radical-scavenging assays. In the DPPH assay, the extract exhibited a maximum inhibition of 74.8%, while ascorbic acid, used as the standard, achieved 89.2% inhibition. Similarly, the hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay demonstrated 69.1% inhibition for the extract compared to 85.1% for ascorbic acid, highlighting its significant free radical-scavenging potential.

A novel isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography–photodiode array detection (HPLC-PAD) method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of the six phenolic compounds. This method demonstrated exceptional specificity, linearity, sensitivity (LOD and LOQ), precision, and accuracy. Unlike gradient-based approaches, this isocratic method offers simplicity, reproducibility, and compatibility with systems featuring isocratic pumps. It enables efficient analysis in a single run, addressing a significant gap in the literature, as previous methods primarily targeted fruits and peels while neglecting the phytochemical richness of leaves.

Validation confirmed the robustness and suitability of the method for industrial applications, ensuring high-quality phenolic profiling for the food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical sectors. The findings underscore the potential of Citrus leaves as a valuable source of bioactive compounds and the utility of the developed method for advancing plant-based analytical research.

The agro-food industry faces a continuous challenge in sustainably managing the by-products generated during production processes. The implementation of circular economy strategies transforms these residues into high-value resources, thereby contributing to both environmental and economic sustainability. Within this framework, the present project focuses on the valorization of pomegranate peel (Punica granatum L.), a by-product predominantly discarded despite its richness in polyphenolic bioactive compounds, such as tannins and flavonoids. These compounds are widely recognized for their potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, dermocosmetic, and nutraceutical properties.

Through advanced biotechnological extraction processes, pomegranate peel extracts were obtained, demonstrating a remarkable phenolic content of 64.68 ± 7.43 (g GAE/100 g of dry extract) and a high antioxidant capacity of 977.08 ± 15.73 (mmol Trolox/100 g of dry extract). These results establish pomegranate peel as a valuable and competitive resource for the formulation of cosmetic and nutraceutical products. Additionally, the residual plant material from the extraction process was optimized for the development of innovative biomaterials, including gym flooring and construction panels, highlighting its versatility and maximizing the project’s sustainability impact.

In parallel, the bioactive compounds extracted from pomegranate peel were studied for their impact on the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are critical in mitigating oxidative stress and maintaining cellular health. The results indicate that these compounds support gut microbiota balance and may contribute to the prevention of oxidative stress-related diseases.

This project fosters collaboration among agricultural producers, biotechnological companies, and logistical sectors, thereby strengthening the value chain within the agro-food industry. This approach exemplifies an innovative and scalable model of sustainability and circular economy, delivering significant environmental, social, and economic benefits.

The release of reactive oxygen species accompanying oxidative stress is one of the most important damaging mechanisms during brain ischemia. Despite some failures in clinical trials, antioxidant therapy remains one of the best strategies for neuroprotection. Thyroid hormone signaling pathways can control redox status; however,the antioxidant effects of their bioactive metabolites are still less well known, especially for thyronamines.

The chemical species distribution at different pH values for 4-[4-(2-aminoethoxy)benzyl]aniline (Т0АМ thyronamine synthetic analogue) was estimated with the Marvin Protonation Plugin. The 2-{4-[(4-Aminophenyl)methyl]phenoxy}ethan-1-aminium cation is the main species in the pH 6.6-7.4 range. Molecular modeling of the structure and an evaluation of some structural descriptors were performed for the 2-{4-[(4-aminophenyl)methyl]phenoxy}ethan-1-aminium cation. A combination of the PM6-DH2 and B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory was used to investigate the intramolecular dynamics of the considered protonated thyronamine.

Some aspects of the antioxidant activity of 4-[4-(2-aminoethoxy)benzyl]aniline in the model of acute cerebral ischemia were experimentally studied and discussed. In a rat brain hemisphere ischemia model, ligation of the internal carotid artery through the administration of a synthetic analogue of the thyronamine T0AM was associated with significant changes in redox markers: a lower level of malondialdehyde in the ischemic hemisphere (p = 0.022) and increased activity of glutathione peroxidase (p = 0.004) and superoxide dismutase levels (p = 0.042) in the ischemic hemisphere. Also, in an FeCl₃ model of local brain infarction, the administration of a T0AM analog was associated with a significant increase in neuroglobin level in the intact hemisphere (p = 0.02), which is a cytoprotective factor. It was revealed that the Т0АМ thyronamine analogue could control redox status in acute brain ischemia. Further experimental studies are needed to evaluate its neuroprotective potential.

Keywords: thyronamines; protonation; intramolecular dynamics; DFT calculations; ischemic stroke; oxidative stress; lipid peroxidation.

The increase in white wine sales and the scarcity of studies on their bioactive potential compared to red wines motivated this study, which aimed to evaluate the total phenolic compounds (TPCs) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in five Chardonnay white wines, both before and after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, as well as to analyze the bioaccessibility (BA%) of TPCs. Phenolic compounds were determined using HPLC; TPCs (mg GAE/L) were quantified by the Folin–Ciocalteu method; and TAC (µM Trolox equivalent) was measured through the reduction of Cu²⁺ to Cu⁺. The in vitro digestion process included a gastric phase with pepsin (pH 1.3, 37°C, 1 hour), followed by an intestinal phase with pancreatin (pH 6.7, 37°C, 2 hours). The TPC concentrations varied as follows: Wine 1, from 290.9 ± 0.63 mg GAE/L to 119.4 ± 11.32 mg GAE/L (BA% 41.04%), with TAC decreasing from 2720 ± 47.02 µM to 1343.3 ± 55.89 µM; Wine 2, from 156.0 ± 11.68 mg GAE/L to 109.5 ± 6.85 mg GAE/L (BA% 70.19%), with TAC decreasing from 1753.8 ± 58.90 µM to 730.55 ± 228.72 µM; Wine 3, from 296.9 ± 14.03 mg GAE/L to 214.2 ± 37.45 mg GAE/L (BA% 72.14%), with TAC decreasing from 2586.66 ± 56.59 µM to 1229.44 ± 121.03 µM; Wine 4, from 184.5 ± 31.35 mg GAE/L to 144.5 ± 19.42 mg GAE/L (BA% 78.31%), with TAC decreasing from 2560 ± 23.51 µM to 958.55 ± 37.44 µM; and Wine 5, from 344.6 ± 43.69 mg GAE/L to 217.6 ± 18.09 mg GAE/L (BA% 63.14%), with TAC decreasing from 2985.55 ± 59.16 µM to 1647.22 ± 158.34 µM. The most prominent phenolic compounds identified were epicatechin and quercetin-3-rhamnoside. In summary, TAC decreased after digestion but remained at significant levels, as did BA%, suggesting that white wines may contribute to the intake of bioactive compounds with antioxidant potential. These findings emphasize the need for further investigation into the interaction between bioactive compounds from natural sources, such as white wine, and their role in modulating antioxidant enzyme systems, taking into account the biochemical transformations of phenolic compounds during gastrointestinal digestion and their effects on the human body.

This study aimed to evaluate the total phenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) involved the composition and antioxidant activity of Allium chamaemoly L. subsp. chamaemoly (Amaryllidaceae), known in Italy as “Agghiu di li maghi” [1]. Bulbs were dried for 10 days in the shade, blended, and then extracted with ethanol EtOH, giving us an extraction yield of 1.17%. The TPC and TFC were measured using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, whereas the aluminium chloride colorimetric assay was applied to evaluate just the TFC [2]. The antioxidant activity was assessed by using 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and β-carotene bleaching tests) [2]. Bulbs contained 56.22 and 18.88 mg/g extract of TPC and TFC, respectively. Different radical scavenging power was observed using ABTS and DPPH tests with IC₅₀ of 287.13 mg/mL and 44,32% inhibition at 1000 mg/mL, respectively. In fact, the differences between these activities can be ascribed to the reaction media. The DPPH assay is conventionally conducted under a concentration of 50% ethanol /water, while the ABTS assay is carried out in aqueous conditions. In our case, it was possible to observe that thebulb’s phenols are more soluble in aqueous reaction media. IC50 values of 66.23 and 62.47 μg/mL were found in the β-carotene bleaching test after 30 and 60 minutes of incubation, respectively. In conclusion, our investigation revealed that Allium chamaemoly L. subsp. chamaemoly is a healthy spice with a promising content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity.

[1] Pignatti, S.; Guarino, R.; La Rosa, M. - Flora d’Italia; Edagricole, Bologna, II edizione, 2017, vol. 1, pp. 248-249; [2] Loizzo, M.R.; Tundis, R.; Sut, S.; Dall'Acqua, S.; Ilardi, V.; Leporini, M.; Falco, T.; Sicari, V.; Bruno, M. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MSn) Analysis and Bioactivity Useful for Prevention of "Diabesity" of Allium commutatum Guss. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2020, 75, 124-130.

With the increasing problem of food waste, research on agro-industrial by-products has proven to be an asset in the search for bioactive compounds with biological activities, such as antioxidant properties. The kiwi industry generates many by-products such as the peel, bringing the possibility of using these residues effectively, recovering target molecules and developing new products, including nutritional supplements, medicines and food additives. Optimization plays a crucial role in identifying the "best" conditions and potential interactions among the parameters involved in the extraction process to maximize desired outcomes. This process not only boosts the circular economy but also promotes consumer health. The main objective is to evaluate the phenolic acids present in the peel of the species Actinidia chinensis (yellow kiwifruit) as a potential source of antioxidants, through the optimization of the heat-assisted extraction (HAE) technique through the response surface model. In this study, the peel of A. chinensis was shown to be rich in phenolic acids, of which the predominant is dihydroferulic acid 4-O-glucuronide, with a content of 67.32 mg/g E, accompanied by significant amounts of quinic acid (23.15 mg/g E) and 5-5-dehydrodiferulic acid (4.08 mg/g E), all of them reported for their antioxidant power. The conditions that maximized HAE extraction of phenolic acids were 5 min, 30 ºC and 100% water. This suggests that the compounds degrade with time and high temperature and have a strong affinity for water. All significant parameters were highly consistent (p<0.01) and the high R2 values also confirmed this hypothesis by indicating the percentage of variability calculated by the model. The high levels of these compounds in yellow kiwifruit waste underscore their potential for nutraceutical and industrial applications. Additionally, the antioxidant capabilities of these residues are directly linked to their phenolic acids content, suggesting that they could be effectively used in health-promoting products.

The traditional Indian diet, rich in spices, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, offers a unique repository of antioxidants that contribute significantly to overall health and well-being. Antioxidants, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids, are known to neutralize oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and support gut microbiome diversity. For Indian women, whose dietary practices are shaped by cultural traditions, regional cuisines, and socio-economic factors, antioxidant-rich diets play a crucial role in mitigating lifestyle-related diseases and promoting long-term health. This review explores the key sources of antioxidants in traditional Indian diets, including turmeric, ginger, amla, fenugreek, green leafy vegetables, and seasonal fruits, highlighting their biochemical properties and synergistic effects on gut microbiota. The role of these bioactive compounds in fostering beneficial microbes like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, reducing pathogenic strains, and supporting metabolic and immune health is emphasized. Despite the nutritional richness of traditional diets, urbanization, lifestyle shifts, and the increasing consumption of processed foods have altered dietary patterns among Indian women, leading to reduced antioxidant intake and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and obesity. This review identifies challenges in preserving traditional dietary practices, including limited awareness, changing food habits, and accessibility issues. Additionally, this study underscores the importance of integrating traditional dietary wisdom with contemporary nutritional science. Furthermore, gaps in research on bioavailability, regional variations, and long-term health impacts of antioxidants are highlighted, advocating for more targeted studies. This review concludes that preserving India’s culinary heritage is critical for promoting women’s health and offers insights into leveraging traditional diets as a sustainable approach to improving public health outcomes.

Seaweeds are recognized as valuable sources of nutrition. Among them, the red seaweeds Grateloupia turuturu and Porphyra umbilicalis are particularly noteworthy, commonly consumed as food in East Asia, and known for their unique bioactive compounds. Nonetheless, knowledge gaps remain in studies on their phytochemical composition and bioactivities. Hence, G. turuturu and P. umbilicalis hydroethanolic and aqueous (infusion and decoction) extracts were prepared to first characterize their reducing compounds. Then, the cytotoxicity of the seaweed extracts was evaluated in RAW 264.7 cells. Antioxidant activity was then assessed in three biochemical assays (ABTS^•+, ^•OH and ^•NO radical), and anti-inflammatory potential was measured in RAW 264.7 cells. Folin—Ciocalteau results showed a higher content in reducing compounds for aqueous extracts compared to hydroethanolic extracts for both seaweeds. RP-HPLC-DAD/LC-DAD-ESI-MS analyses showed the presence of myscoporine-like amino acids (MAAs), but not phenolics. P. umbilicalis had a higher MAA content than G. turuturu across all extracts, with porphyra-334 being the most concentrated MAA in P. umbilicalis and shinorine in G. turuturu. The highest carbohydrate content (39% extract) was shown by P. umbilicalis decoction. For cytotoxicity upon 24h exposure, a P. umbilicalis infusion extract had an IC₅₀ of 0.43 mg/mL, while other extracts showed IC₅₀ values above 0.75 mg/mL. G. turuturu and P. umbilicalis decoction extracts showed the highest ABTS^•+ scavenging, at 70 and 97 mmol TE/g extract, respectively. G. turuturu water extracts produced the highest scavenging against ^•NO, 54-56%, while both hydroethanolic extracts exhibited the highest ^•OH scavenging (55%). All seaweed extracts inhibited NO production/release in lipopolysaccharide-induced cells, with the highest anti-inflammatory activity shown in P. umbilicalis hydroethanolic extract, reducing NO levels to 41%. MAAs and carbohydrates are believed to be the main compounds accountable for the bioactivities. Thus, G. turuturu and P. umbilicalis reinforced their potential as nutraceuticals and sources of bioactive compounds.