Satureja hortensis L. is an annual herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae Lindl. family. S. hortensis L., related to thyme and rosemary, is used as spice and traditional medicinal herb in Europe. Mainly due to the polyphenols contained in S. hortensis L., this plant exhibits multiple biological effects. However, therapeutic effects on cells, including skin tumors, have not yet been studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the composition and the resulting antioxidant as well as biological properties [on melanocytes and melanoma cells] of summer, savory growing in botanical garden of Vytautas Magnus University in middle Lithuania climatic conditions, collected during various phases of vegetation. It has been shown that the budding phase alcohol extract of this plant contains the largest amounts of polyphenols, including rutin and rosemary acid, which promote the radical scavenging activity and antioxidant properties. In contrast, the extract from the massive flowering phase already at a concentration of 12.5 µg/mL reduces the survival of melanoma cells to 60% with 90% melanocytes survival. In addition, extracts from beginning of flowering and end of flowering at a concentration of 25 µg/mL, containing significantly less rutin and rosmarinic acid, in combination with irradiation of cells with UVB, significantly increased the lipid peroxidation process, particularly in melanoma cells. These data indicate the possibility of using extracts from S. hortensis L. to modulate/differentiate the metabolism of normal and tumor skin cells.

Expansion of the microfluidics field dictates the necessity to constantly improve technologies used to produce such systems. One of the approaches which are used more and more is femtosecond (fs) direct laser writing (DLW). The subtractive model of DLW allows for directly producing microfluidic channels via ablation in an extremely simple and cost-effective manner. However, channel surface roughens are always a concern when direct fs ablation is used, as it normally yields an RMS value in the range of a few µm. One solution to improve it is the usage of fs bursts. Thus, in this work, we show how fs burst mode ablation can be optimized to achieve sub-µm surface roughness in glass channel fabrication. It is done without compromising on manufacturing throughput. Furthermore, we show that a simple and cost-effective channel sealing methodology of thermal bonding can be employed. Together, it allows for production functional Tesla valves, which are tested. Demonstrated capabilities are discussed.

This work involves a comprehensive chemical composition analysis of leaf and cone samples of Lithuanian hop varieties. This study aimed to determine the chemometric properties of the leaves and cones of five Lithuanian hop varieties. Determined properties were the following: (a) xanthohumol content, (b) phenolic compounds, (c) flavonoids, (d) radical scavenging activity, and (e) the qualitative composition of volatile compounds. The total content of phenolic compounds in aqueous 75% methanolic extracts varied between 31.4–78.2 mg of rutin equivalents (RE)/g, and the concentration of flavonoids was between 11.0–23.3 mg RE/g. Radical scavenging activity varied between 34.4–87.2 mg RE/g. A QUENCHER analysis procedure showed 91.7–168.5 mg RE/g of the total phenolic compound content, 12.7–21.4 mg RE/g of flavonoids, and 48.4–121.0 mg RE/g of radical scavenging activity. ‘Fredos taurieji’ and ‘Fredos derlingieji’ varieties have shown maximum values of phenolic compounds and radical scavenging activity both in leaf and cone suspensions. These varieties accumulated a higher amount of xanthohumol in leaves. The concentration of xanthohumol in the samples varied between 0.0014–0.2136% of dry mass, with the highest concentration in the cones of ‘Kauno gražieji’. We identified 19 volatile compounds in leaves, and in cones, we identified 32. In both of them, α-humulene and β caryophyllene dominated. ‘Raudoniai’ leaves were exceptional in their aroma due to dominating compound nagina ketone (Kovats index 1306). The QUENCHER procedure has shown a great potential for the unextractable residue of hop raw material. Further investigation and valorization of different hop biomass components, not only cones, are essential.

Cancer remains a major global health challenge, prompting the search for natural therapeutic agents with selective anticancer activity. This study investigated extracts from 12 medicinal plant species (a total of 21 samples) rich in phenolic compounds, particularly ellagic acid and its derivatives, to evaluate their antioxidant properties and ability to inhibit cancer cell viability. Spectrometric analysis and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection (ED) and ultraviolet–visible (UV-VIS) detection were used for compound identification. The anticancer activity of plant extracts was tested using the MTS cell proliferation assay to determine anticancer activity on 4T1, A549, Caki-1, HCT116, and MCF7 cancer cell lines. The HEK-293 healthy cell line was used to determine extracts cytotoxicity. Study results indicate that black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium L.), and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) have the highest contents of bioactive compounds. Among tested extracts, fireweed showed the lowest IC₅₀ values, thus the strongest anticancer activity against 4T1 cells (IC₅₀ = 0.28 ± 0.01 RE (rutin equivalents) mg/g), while black walnut was most effective against Caki-1 and HCT116 (IC₅₀ = 1.56 ± 0.01; 2.56 ± 0.02 RE mg/g). IC₅₀ values are reported in rutin equivalents (RE) to maintain consistency with antioxidant normalization parameters used throughout the study. Extended incubation increased anticancer activity across most medicinal plant extracts, with fireweed and Canadian goldenrod demonstrating rapid and sustained potency already at 24 h. After 72 h, the most active fireweed extract inhibited approximately 104–190 million cancer cells per gram of dried plant material, demonstrating substantial antiproliferative activity consistent with the IC₅₀ findings. Importantly, none of the extracts showed cytotoxicity to healthy HEK-293 cells. Overall, the findings highlight several plant species with significant anticancer potential, underscoring their promise as sources of natural bioactive compounds for future cancer prevention and treatment research.

The study evaluates different preparation methods for identifying the best strategy for extracting biologically active compounds from raw Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Holub plant material. The methodologies include direct aqueous methanol extraction with a combination of natural aerobic and anaerobic fermentation for 24–72 h, followed by 35 °C and 60 °C drying. Furthermore, the study also focuses on determining the different temperature storage conditions on the stability of biologically active compounds. UV-VIS spectroscopy was used to quantitatively evaluate the total content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and radical scavenging activity. For qualitative analysis, chromatographic separation with electrochemical detection (ED) of extracted compounds, a gradient high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system was used. Study results indicate that 48 h natural aerobic fermentation followed by 35 °C drying and 75% (v/v) aqueous methanol extraction yielded the maximum amount of biologically active compounds in Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Holub leaves, blossom, and stem samples. Freezing samples in liquid nitrogen had the lowest impact on the total content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and radical scavenging activity. HPLC-ED system results identified chlorogenic acid, oenothein B, trans-p-Coumaric acid, ellagic acid, and rutin in Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Holub leave samples.

This paper introduces a novel contactless single-chip detector that utilizes impedance-to-digital conversion technology to measure impedance in the microfluidic channel or capillary format analytical device. The detector is designed to operate similarly to capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detectors for capillary electrophoresis or chromatography but with the added capability of performing frequency sweeps up to 200 kHz. At each recorded data point, impedance and phase-shift data can be extracted, which can be used to generate impedance versus frequency plots, or phase-shift versus frequency plots. Real and imaginary parts can also be calculated from the data, allowing for the generation of Nyquist diagrams. This detector represents the first of its kind in the contactless conductivity class to provide spectrum-type data, as demonstrated in capillary electrophoresis experiments.