Dental health is often neglected among the elderly because of the numerous comorbidities in this population, such as cardiovascular diseases. However, dental health influences general health and quality of life by impacting both the general health and the psychological state of the individual. The present review highlights the main dental comorbidities in the elderly population, their impact on the quality of life, the barriers towards access to dental care in the elderly and methods to improve their dental health. Information related to dental care and its importance must be provided both to older individuals and their caregivers in order to detect dental pathology and treat it adequately. Ensuring dental health involves the whole society of elders, caregivers, dental care providers, the public sector, health policymakers, and the private sector.

In recent years, mulberry has acquired a special importance due to its phytochemical composition and its beneficial effects on human health, including antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic and immunomodulatory effects. Botanical parts of Morus sp. (fruits, leaves, twigs, roots) are considered a rich source of secondary metabolites. The aim of our study was to highlight the phytochemical profile of each of the botanical parts of Morus tree, their health benefits and applications in food industry with an updated review of literature. Black and white mulberries are characterized in terms of predominant phenolic compounds in correlation with their medical applications. In addition to anthocyanins (mainly cyanidin-3-O-glucoside), black mulberry fruits also contain flavonols and phenolic acids. The leaves are a rich source of flavonols, including quercetin and kaempferol in the glycosylated forms and chlorogenic acid as predominant phenolic acids. Mulberry bark roots and twigs are a source of prenylated flavonoids, predominantly morusin. In this context, the exploitation of mulberry in food industry is reviewed in this paper, in terms of developing novel, functional food with multiple health-promoting effects.

There is growing interest from researchers, the food industry, and consumers in reducing or eliminating synthetic preservatives such as nitrites in meat products. In this context, medicinal plants have emerged as promising sources of natural compounds with multifunctional roles. This review summarizes recent advances in the application of medicinal plant extracts as natural antioxidants, antimicrobials, and color-preserving agents in the meat industry. A systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed and Lens databases, complemented by a bibliometric analysis with the VOS viewer, to identify research trends and key contributors in the field. The incorporation of plant-based ingredients in meat and meat analogues has the potential to enhance flavor, nutritional value, and shelf life while responding to the demand for clean-label and health-oriented products. Particular attention is given to the phytochemical composition, bioactivity, and practical application of selected medicinal plants that have demonstrated efficacy in preserving the oxidative stability, microbial safety, and visual quality of meat. Furthermore, the review highlights emerging plant species with potential in meat preservation and discusses the challenges related to their incorporation into meat matrices. These findings support the strategic use of plant-based bioactive compounds as sustainable and functional alternatives to synthetic additives in meat systems.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the status of the elderly patient with oral pathology, comparing two groups of elderly patients, from the point of view of presentation for periodic dental control (regular and irregular). In carrying out the study, the following parameters were analyzed: the epidemiological profile of the group of patients; associated chronic diseases; dental hygiene; the accessibility of, and attendance at, dental health services; quality of life; and dental clinical diagnosis. Of the 120 elderly patients included in the study, only 25% present regularly for dental checkups. Increasing age leads to a reduction in the share of patients who regularly present themselves for dental checkups, and patients with higher education and those with higher incomes regularly visit the dentist. Associated chronic diseases are found in both groups; patients with regular checkups have a statistically significantly lower drug consumption for dental pain in the last month compared to those who present irregularly for checkups. A better achievement of dental hygiene is observed in patients who regularly see the dentist. It is alarming that we find patients (10% among those who do not visit the dentist regularly) who do not use a toothbrush and toothpaste, and approximately 40% of the patients enrolled in the study do not know which toothpaste they use. Approximately 40% of the interviewed patients indicate a lack of money as the main reason for attending the dentist only when necessary. Difficult access is mentioned by 10% of the group of patients who regularly visit the dentist and who come from rural areas. The reasons for visiting the dentist are different in the two groups: patients who regularly visit the dentist request caries treatment or prosthetic work, or they present with dental bleeding; patients with irregular checkups especially request emergency services such as toothache treatment, assistance with denture problems, and tooth extractions. When undergoing odontal and endodontic examination, 60% of the respondents who go to the dentist as required suffer from periodontal disease, and 50% of them suffer from class I and II edentation. The results of the study demonstrated that elderly patients who regularly attend periodic dental checkups have better self-reported and dentist-confirmed oral health status.