Eucalyptus essential oils (EEOs) have gained significant attention recently anticipated to their broad range of prospective benefits in various biological applications. They have been proven to have strong antibacterial properties against a variety of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This makes them valuable in combating infections and supporting overall hygiene. The active compounds present in these oils can help alleviate inflammation, making them valuable in addressing inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, respiratory ailments, and skin disorders. Respiratory health benefits are another prominent aspect of EEOs. Inhalation of these oils can help promote clear airways, relieve congestion, and ease symptoms of respiratory conditions like coughs, colds, and sinusitis. They are often utilized in inhalation therapies and chest rubs. They can be used topically or in massage oils to alleviate muscle and joint pain. Furthermore, these oils have shown potential in supporting wound healing. Their antimicrobial activity helps prevent infection, while their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties contribute to reducing inflammation and pain associated with wounds. In aromatherapy, EEOs are renowned for their invigorating and uplifting qualities, promoting mental clarity, relaxation, and stress relief. Overall, EEOs hold great promise in biological applications, offering a natural and versatile approach to promote health and well-being. Continued research and exploration of their therapeutic potential will further unveil their benefits and broaden their applications in various fields.

Across diverse cultures, herbal remedies have been used to alleviate oral discomfort and maintain dental hygiene. This review presents studies on herbal remedies with remarkable antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, anticaries, analgesic, and healing properties. The manuscripts demonstrate the depth of scientific inquiry into herbal remedies used for the management of various oral and dental health conditions. These include gingivitis, oral ulcers, mucositis, periodontitis, oral pathogens, carcinoma, xerostomia, and dental caries. Researchers have investigated the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of plant-derived compounds and their extracts evaluated their interactions with oral pathogens and inflammatory processes. The convergence of traditional knowledge and rigorous scientific investigation offers a compelling narrative, fostering a deeper understanding of herbal remedies as viable alternatives to conventional dental interventions. This work has the potential to provide patients with access to gentle, yet effective solutions, and simultaneously offer dental health professionals the opportunity to enrich their knowledge, and ability to provide personalized, holistic care. This review highlights the symbiotic relationship between herbal medicine and scientific understanding, emphasizing the importance of disseminating this knowledge to benefit both practitioners and patients, enabling evidence-based decision-making in dental care. The exploration of herbal remedies offers a promising alternative, potentially mitigating some of these side effects while promoting oral health in a more natural and holistic manner.

Introduction: Star anise fruits (Illicium verum Hook.) have been used as an important treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. The previous studies reported the activity of the non-polar fractions as potential sources of antibacterial metabolites, and little was done concerning the polar fractions of star anise. Methods: The antibacterial activity of the star anise aqueous methanolic (50%) extract against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii AB5057 and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA USA300) was investigated in vitro (disc diffusion assay, minimum bactericidal concentration determination, anti-biofilm activity and biofilm detachment activity). The antibacterial activity was further tested in vivo using a murine model of MRSA skin infection. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC/HRMS) approach was applied for the identification of the metabolites responsible for the antibacterial activity. The antioxidant potential was evaluated using five in vitro assays: TAC (total antioxidant capacity), DPPH, ABTS, FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) and iron-reducing power. Results: In vitro, star anise aqueous methanolic extract showed significant inhibition and detachment activity against biofilm formation by the multidrug-resistant and highly virulent Acinetobacter baumannii AB5057 and MRSA USA300. The topical application of the extract in vivo significantly reduced the bacterial load in MRSA-infected skin lesions. The extract showed strong antioxidant activity using five different complementary methods. More than seventy metabolites from different classes were identified: phenolic acids, phenylpropanoids, sesquiterpenes, tannins, lignans and flavonoids. Conclusion: This study proposes the potential use of star anise polar fraction in anti-virulence strategies against persistent infections and for the treatment of staphylococcal skin infections as a topical antimicrobial agent. To our knowledge, our research is the first to provide the complete polar metabolome list of star anise in an approach to understand the relationship between the chemistry of these metabolites and the proposed antibacterial activity.

The interest in herbal medicine as a source of drug leads is being reinforced, especially for tackling challenging therapeutic areas such as antimicrobial resistance, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. Friedelin and 3β-friedelinol are pentacyclic triterpenoids commonly distributed in plants and are found in edible fruits and vegetables. More than 400 naturally occurring friedelane triterpenoids have been identified. Friedelin and its derivative 3β-friedelinol are reported to have significant pharmacological potential, including antibacterial, anti-viral, and cytotoxic properties. Friedelane triterpenoids could be considered as promising candidates in drug development against human coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The natural sources of friedelane triterpenoids have been examined, which include the families Celastraceae, Hippocrateaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Flacourtiaceae, and Guttiferae. The purpose of this review is to summarize the structural elucidation, physicochemical properties, spectroscopic data, natural origin, biosynthesis, quantification techniques, and the reported pharmacological activities of friedelin and its derivative 3β-friedelinol. The review explores the potential beneficial effects of these bioactive triterpenes and discusses ways to enhance their pharmacological significance. Graphical Abstract

Medicinal herbs continue to play an important part in modern drugs and healthcare because customers think that most of them have fewer or milder side effects than traditional modern medicines. Bioactive compounds are typically isolated from plants before being used as a source of therapeutic medicines. As a result, extracting bioactive compounds from medicinal plants is an important step in developing plant-based medications. Orientin is a flavonoid C-glycoside found in many plants, is frequently used in bioactivity studies due to its numerous beneficial properties, which include antioxidants, antiaging, anti-inflammation, vasodilation and cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and adaptogenic effects. In this review, the comprehensive search for the health benefits of orientin was traced. The findings reflected that orientin could be considered one of the important natural candidates as a potential nutraceutical. This underscores its promising attributes and potential applications in health and wellness. Further research may be guaranteed to fully elucidate its benefits and mechanisms of action.