This evaluation of the impact of behavioral risk factors on the incidence of urinary infections was based on a questionnaire in which 1103 respondents, predominantly women (883), participated. From the statistical processing of the data, it was observed that 598 of the respondents were of normal weight; the rest, more than half, were underweight or overweight (χ² = 32.46, p < 0.001), with male respondents being predominantly overweight or obese (169 out of a total of 220). Most of the respondents were young (χ² = 15.45, p < 0.001), under the age of 45 (840). According to the processed data, it was found that respondents in the age group of 26–35 years showed the greatest vulnerability to recurrent urinary infections, while the age group of 18–25 years recorded the highest number of responses related to the rare presence or even absence of episodes of urinary infections. A body weight-related vulnerability was also noted among the respondents; the majority of obese people declared that they face frequent episodes of urinary infections. Regarding diet quality, 210 respondents reported an adherence to an unhealthy diet, 620 to a moderately healthy diet, and 273 to a healthy diet. Of the respondents who adhered to a healthy diet, 223 were women (χ² = 2.55, p = 0.279). There was a close connection between diet quality and the frequency of urinary infections: from the statistical processing of the data, it was observed that the highest percentage of respondents who rarely (57.14%) or never got urinary infections (29.30%) were among those who adhered to a healthy diet, and the highest percentage of those who declared that they often got urinary infections were among those with increased adherence to an unhealthy diet (χ² = 13.46, p = 0.036). The results of this study highlight a strong impact of obesity, reduced consumption of fruit and vegetables, and sedentary lifestyle on the risk of recurring urinary infections.

Lysimachia nummularia L. is a perennial herbaceous plant rich in bioactive compounds, which can be utilized for medicinal purposes. The present work aims to analyze the phenolic compounds from different parts of the Lysimachia nummularia L. plant using the HPLC technique: Lysimachiae radix (the root part), Lysimachiae herba (the aerial part), Lysimachiae flores (flowers). In order to determine the phenolic compounds, extraction from the three categories of vegetable products was performed with ethanol 70% (v/v) using three extraction methods: (i) Soxhlet extraction, (ii) maceration and (iii) ultrasonic-assisted extraction. The content of polyphenols was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and the antioxidant activity was evaluated by the DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and CUPRAC methods. The antioxidant activity was correlated with the content of phenolic compounds in the analyzed extracts. The following phenolic compounds were separated, identified and quantified: 3-O-methylgallic, gallic, ferulic, caffeic, chlorogenic, p-coumaric acids and trans-resveratrol. According to the experimental data, the highest content of total polyphenols was observed in the hydroethanolic extract from Lysimachiae flores (22.10 ± 1.48 mg gallic acid/g), which also presented remarkable antioxidant activity.

Levisticum officinale (lovage) is an aromatic and medicinal plant traditionally used for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from leaves, roots and the whole plant, as well as to develop hydrogels with pharmaceutical potential. The hydroalcoholic extracts (70% ethanol) were characterized by spectrophotometric and HPLC-DAD methods to determine the total content of phenolic compounds, phenolic acids, flavonoids and condensed tannins. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and ABTS methods. The extracts were included in 2% carbopol-based hydrogels and tested for stability and antioxidant efficacy. The hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves showed the highest content of total phenolic compounds (20.84 ± 2.18 mg GAE/g), total flavones (11.39 ± 2.48 mg QE/g) and condensed tannins (1.98 ± 1.55 mg CE/g), and was also the richest in quercetin (3.32 ± 1.25 mg/g), kaempferol (1.84 ± 1.63 mg/g), luteolin (2.12 ± 1.19 mg/g), rutin (4.38 ± 1.84 mg/g) and apigenin (1.91 ± 1.44 mg/g). The root extract had the highest content of phenolic acids, including ferulic acid (3.86 ± 1.37 mg/g), vanillic acid (2.53 ± 1.76 mg/g) and caffeic acid (3.28 ± 1.28 mg/g). The antioxidant activity was highest in the leaves extract, with values of 276.2 ± 3.4 µmol TE/g (ABTS) and 246.4 ± 3.6 µmol TE/g (DPPH). The whole-plant extracts showed intermediate values, offering a balance between flavonoids and phenolic acids. Hydrogels formulated with 5% extracts demonstrated stability and sustained antioxidant activity over time. Leaf extracts, due to their high flavonoid content, are recommended for formulations with antioxidant and photoprotective effects, while root extracts are suitable for anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial applications. Hydrogels obtained based on 2% carbopol represent a promising delivery system for dermato-cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications because they exhibited significant antioxidant action.

The aim is to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal properties of the extracts obtained from Lysimachia nummularia L. in order to be able to introduce these extracts into pharmaceutical products and obtain useful products in the infectious and antifungal pathology of the oro-dental cavity. Extracts from different parts of the studied species have been obtained and chemically characterized: the total polyphenols in 40% ethanolic extracts have been determined and the caffeic and chlorogenic acids and trans-resveratrol, bioactive compounds involved in the antimicrobial properties of the studied species, have been identified, separated, and quantitatively determined. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the extract of Lisymachia nummularia L. were determined using the diffusion method against a set of bacteria isolated from samples from different patients with diseases of the oro-dental cavity. The extract of Lisymachia nummularia L. exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria more than Gram-negative, where the effect was weaker; however, it had no antifungal effects on Candida albicans. Another aspect that must be emphasized is that the best antibacterial results were obtained from the aerial segment of the plant, the part where the highest concentration of polyphenols was identified in the studies presented. These results indicate that the pharmacological effects of the studied bacterial species support the use of extracts in obtaining pharmaceutical products that can be used to optimize treatment schemes in oro-dental diseases.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the oral cavity and can ultimately lead to tooth loss. Oxidative stress has been identified as a key factor in the development of periodontitis. In recent years, natural polyphenols have gained attention for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This study aims to evaluate the potential of a bio-adhesive patch loaded with Semperivium ruthenicum Koch extract, rich in polyphenols, as a novel oral antioxidant delivery system for reducing oxidative stress in periodontitis. The plant extracts were prepared by maceration and were subjected to HPLC analysis for the identification and quantification of polyphenols. The bio-adhesive patches were prepared using a solvent-casting technique and characterized for their technical characteristics and release kinetics. The patches demonstrated satisfactory technical characteristics and followed Korsmeyer–Peppas release kinetics, with the active ingredients diffusing non-Fickian from the polymer matrix as it eroded over time. The bio-adhesive strength of the patches was comparable to other similar formulations, suggesting that the obtained patches can be tested in vivo conditions. The results suggest that treating oral periodontitis with natural polyphenols may effectively scavenge free radicals and regulate cytokine activity, leading to a reduction in oxidative stress. The non-smoking group had a mean saliva antioxidant activity of 7.86 ± 0.66% while the smoking group had a mean value of 4.53 ± 0.15%. Furthermore, treating oral oxidative stress may also contribute to overall gut health, as studies have shown a correlation between oral and gut microbiomes. Therefore, the use of bio-adhesive patches containing polyphenols may provide a promising approach for the treatment of periodontitis and its associated complications.

The total phenols concentration in two sage macerates has been estimated by Folin-Ciocâlteau method, identified and quantified using HPLC-DAD method in order to assess the biological activity. The results for total phenols values of Folin Ciocalteau method indicate that Salvia officinalis L macerate S2, presents a higher amount of phenolic compounds than macerate S1. By HPLC-DAD method, six individual phenolic compounds were identified in sage macerates among which where cinnamic acid was found in highest concentration (652.478 mg/100g d.w. in S2 and 473.381 mg/100g d.w. in S1). The antioxidant activity of sage macerates was evaluated using DPPH Radical Scavenging test. Sage macerates exhibited high antioxidant activity, between 439.5 mg GAE /mL and 400 mg GAE /mL. Antibacterial activity of sage macerates was evaluated against 20 Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains isolated from clinical specimens. Both macerates showed significant but variable antibacterial activity with inhibition zones ranging from 4.97 mm (S2) to 7.28.mm (S1). The effect was stronger on Gram positive (Enterococcus, Staphyococcus) than Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia sp, Proteus sp, Klebsiella sp). Eleven metals concentrations were determined by AAS method in sage leaves; it has been found that Cd, Ni and Pb concentrations are below the detection limits.