In recent years, the supercritical CO₂ extraction method has gained attention due to its use of environmentally friendly, non-toxic solvents, ability to operate at lower temperatures that do not cause the degradation of bioactive compounds, and capacity for rapid extraction. This method is particularly notable for isolating bioactive compounds from plants. The extracts obtained have shown superior properties due to their activity against diseases such as cancer, which is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The aim of this study is to provide an in-depth understanding of the supercritical CO₂ extraction method, as well as to discuss its advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, the study includes specific data on various plant materials, detailing the following parameters: plant name and region, bioactive compounds or compound classes, extraction temperature (°C), pressure (bar), time (minutes), co-solvent used, and flow rate. Additionally, this study covers extensive research on the isolation of bioactive compounds and the efficacy of the obtained extracts against cancer.

Antibiotic-resistant infections present a serious health concern worldwide. It is estimated that there are 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections and 35,000 deaths in the United States every year. Such microorganisms include Acinetobacter, Enterobacterioceae, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Mycobacterium. Alternative treatment methods are, thus, necessary to treat such infections. Bacteriophages are viruses of bacteria. In a lytic infection, the newly formed phage particles lyse the bacterium and continue to infect other bacteria. In the early 20th century, d’Herelle, Bruynoghe and Maisin used bacterium-specific phages to treat bacterial infections. Bacteriophages are being identified, purified and developed as pharmaceutically acceptable macromolecular “drugs,” undergoing strict quality control. Phages can be applied topically or delivered by inhalation, orally or parenterally. Some of the major drug-resistant infections that are potential targets of pharmaceutically prepared phages are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Acinetobacter baumannii.

Cancer is a leading cause of death in the world today. In addition to the side effects of the chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat cancer, the development of resistance to the drugs renders the existing drugs ineffective. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel anticancer agents. Medicinally important phytochemicals such as curcumin, naringenin, quercetin, epigallocatechin gallate, thymoquinone, kaempferol, resveratrol, genistein, and apigenin have some drawbacks, including low solubility in water, stability and bioavailability issues, despite having significant anticancer effects. Encapsulation of these natural compounds into polymer nanoparticles (NPs) is a novel technology that could overcome these constraints. In comparison to the free compounds, phytochemicals loaded into nanoparticles have greater activity and bioavailability against many cancer types. In this review, we describe the preparation and characterization of natural phytochemical-loaded polymer NP formulations with significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, their in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities, as well as their possible cellular targets.

In this study, Rheum tataricum L. extracts were obtained using various green extraction techniques, including supercritical CO₂, subcritical ethanol, and ultrasound-assisted extraction, each performed under optimized parameters. The phytochemical content of the extracts was analyzed using the LC-MS/MS technique, quantifying 53 phytochemicals. Additionally, the in vitro antioxidant properties and antibacterial activities of the extracts were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis as gram-positive bacteria, and Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as gram-negative bacteria. According to the results, the extracts were rich in catechin, epicatechin, cyranoside, and chlorogenic acid. Extracts obtained via ultrasonic extraction demonstrated stronger antioxidant properties. The IC₅₀ values for the DPPH radical scavenging activity of obtained extracts ranged between 0.0173 mg/mL and 0.0400 mg/mL. The highest total phenolic content was found in the UAE-M-4h extract (213.44 mg GAE/mL). The extracts prepared with UAE-MeOH-2h-4h, UAE-EtOH-2h-4h, Sbc-EtOH-E-140-60-80, Sc-90 atm, and Sc-400 atm showed antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria at varying rates (MIC range: 31.25 to 250 μg/mL). Based on the all results, the ultrasound assisted extraction proved superior to the other techniques. This study, utilizing three different extraction methods with varying variables such as temperature, pressure, and extraction time, has provided significant insights into which extraction method should be employed for isolating specific phytochemicals or for therapeutic purposes, based on the differing antibacterial results observed. The findings highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate extraction method depending on the target phytochemical or desired antibacterial effect in treatment applications.