The vast socio-economic impact of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has prompted the search for new neuroprotective agents with good tolerability and safety profile. With its outstanding role as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, alongside its anti-acetylcholinesterase activity, the artichoke can be implemented in a multi-targeted approach in AD therapy. Moreover, artichoke agricultural wastes can represent according to the current United Nations Sustainable Development goals an opportunity to produce medicinally valuable phenolic-rich extracts. In this context, the UPLC-ESI-MS/MS phytochemical characterization of artichoke bracts extract revealed the presence of mono- and di-caffeoylquinic acids and apigenin, luteolin, and kaempferol O-glycosides with remarkable total phenolics and flavonoids contents. A broad antioxidant spectrum was established in vitro. Artichoke-loaded, chitosan-coated, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were prepared and characterized for their size, zeta potential, morphology, entrapment efficiency, release, and ex vivo permeation and showed suitable colloidal characteristics, a controlled release profile, and promising ex vivo permeation, indicating possibly better physicochemical and biopharmaceutical parameters than free artichoke extract. The anti-Alzheimer potential of the extract and prepared SLNs was assessed in vivo in streptozotocin-induced sporadic Alzheimer mice. A great improvement in cognitive functions and spatial memory recovery, in addition to a marked reduction of the inflammatory biomarker TNF-α, β-amyloid, and tau protein levels, were observed. Significant neuroprotective efficacy in dentate Gyrus sub-regions was achieved in mice treated with free artichoke extract and to a significantly higher extent with artichoke-loaded SLNs. The results clarify the strong potential of artichoke bracts extract as a botanical anti-AD drug and will contribute to altering the future medicinal outlook of artichoke bracts previously regarded as agro-industrial waste.

A shift towards natural anti-aging ingredients has spurred the research to valorize traditionally used plants. In this context,Rosmarinus officinalisL. was evaluated for its photoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-wrinkling properties. GC/MS and LC-ESI-HRMS based phytochemical profiling of rosemary leaves hexane extract resulted in the identification of 47 and 31 compounds, respectively and revealed rich content in triterpenoids, monoterpenoids and phenolic diterpenes. In vitro assays confirmed the antioxidant, anti-aging, and wound healing potential of rosemary extract along with a good safety profile, encouraging further development. A systematic molecular modelling study was conducted to elucidate the mechanistic background of rosemary anti-aging properties through the inhibitory effects of its major constituents against key anti-aging targets viz. elastase, collagenase, and hyaluronidase. Development of rosemary extract lipid nanocapsules-based mucoadhesive gels was performed to improve skin contact, permeation, and bioavailability prior to in vivo testing. The developed formulae demonstrated small particle size (56.55–66.13 nm), homogenous distribution (PDI of 0.207–0.249), and negatively charged Zeta potential (− 13.4 to − 15.6). In UVB-irradiated rat model, topical rosemary hexane extract-loaded lipid nanocapsules-based gel provided photoprotection, restored the antioxidant biochemical state, improved epidermal and dermal histological features, and decreased the level of inflammatory and wrinkling markers. The use of rosemary hexane extract in anti-aging and photoprotective cosmeceuticals represents a safe, efficient, and cost-effective approach.

The genus Foeniculum is known for its wide ethnobotanical use in the Mediterranean region. Herein, we explored the compositional differences of volatile oils and headspace aroma of Florence fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum (Mill.) Thell.) based on its different organs and various geographical origins via gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Sixty-seven volatile components were detected with phenylpropenes and monoterpenes, including trans-anethole, limonene, α-pinene, trans-β-ocimene, fenchyl acetate, and fenchone, as major constituents. Phenylpropenes were dominant in fennel hydro-distilled oils, whereas monoterpenes were dominant in most of the headspace aroma. The infraspecific variability was assessed using the unsupervised multivariate data analysis tools PCA and HCA, resulting in segregate clustering of accessions from different organs and locations with trans-anethole, limonene, trans-β-ocimene, fenchone, myristicin, and apiole as major phytomarkers contributing to this segregation. The antiviral activities of samples against hepatitis A and C viruses were investigated using the plaque reduction assay, HAV 3C proteinase and HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitory assays with a percentage inhibition between 66% and 85% and IC₅₀ values from 1.8 to 26.7 μg mL⁻¹. In silico molecular docking scores in latter enzyme binding pockets revealed key allosteric interactions with trans-β-ocimene and β-fenchyl acetate showing the best Gibb's free energy. Florence fennel exhibited interesting new perspectives for medicinal and industrial applications.