Over the past ten years, particular attention has been paid to Artemisia L. genus plants and their chemical composition. Artemisia abrotanum L. and Artemisia absinthium L., which are traditional medicinal, aromatic plants with a strong digestive activity that is determined by the various phytochemicals. The research aim was to determine the variation in polyphenols in the samples of different vegetation stages of two Artemisia species and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts in vitro. Phytochemical analysis of the Artemisia samples was carried out using spectrophotometric methods and HPLC-PDA techniques, while antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays. Significant differences in the diversity of phenolic compounds were found among Artemisia species during vegetation stages. Chlorogenic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, and rutin were predominant among the phenolic compounds. The study provides valuable insights into the composition of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in Artemisia plants at different growth stages, shedding light on their potential pharmacological effects and antioxidant activities. These findings contribute to the knowledge of the quality and safety of herbal materials derived from Artemisia species.

Antimicrobial natural polymer film with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesized using aqueous plant root extracts as reducing capping agents and for film formatting show extensive applicability for pathogenic microorganism problems. The formation of AgNPs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) techniques. The antimicrobial activity of biofilm with green AgNPs was analysed by inhibiting the growth of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria culture using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility test. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were slightly higher in aqueous extracts of Sym. Radix than in Sym. Radix/AgNPs. The antimicrobial effect of polymer film/AgNPs against selected test bacteria cultures was substantially more robust than with pure film. Pictures of AgNPs obtained by TEM revealed the presence of spherical-shaped nano-objects with an average size 27.45 nm. SEM–EDS studies confirmed the uniform distribution of metal nanoparticles throughout the biopolymeric matrix. Morphological studies of the surface showed that the obtained surface of the films was even, without holes or other relief irregularities. These apparent Symphyti radix polymer film/AgNPs’ biological functions could provide a platform for fighting pathogenic bacteria in the era of multi-drug resistance.

In the last decade, special attention has been paid to Artemisia (L.) genus plants, the possibilities of using their medicinal raw material for therapeutic purposes. The aim of the research was to determine the variability of the phenolic compounds in the medicinal raw material of four introduced Artemisia L. species and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of extracts in vitro. The highest total amount of phenolic compounds (297.37±9.18 mg RE/g DW) and flavonoids (77.73±7.40 mg RE/g DW) evaluated via spectrophotometry was detected in Artemisia annua L. medicinal raw material samples. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of individual phenolics in the samples of Artemisia extracts was carried out by applying the HPLC method. In the studied extracts, the predominant phenolic compounds were chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. It was determined that the methanol extracts of A. annua medicinal raw material have the strongest antiradical and reducing properties.

Variations between fruit cultivars can significantly impact their biochemical composition. The present research examined the variability in the qualitative and quantitative content of phenolic compounds in berry extracts of Actinidia kolomikta and Actinidia arguta cultivars. Additionally, antioxidant activities of berry extracts were evaluated. The total phenolic, flavonoid, proanthocyanidin contents and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were determined using the appropriate methodologies. The average amount of phenolic compounds in A. kolomikta berries (177.80 mg/g) was three times higher than that of A. arguta (54.45 mg/g). Our findings revealed that berries of A. kolomikta and A. arguta accumulated, on average, 1.58 RE/g DW (rutin equivalent/g dry weight) and 0.615 mg RE/g DW of total flavonoids, 1439.31 mg EE/g DW (epicatechin equivalent/g dry weight) and 439.97 mg EE/g DW of proanthocyanidins, and 23.51 mg CAE/g DW (chlorogenic acid equivalent/g dry weight) and 5.65 mg CAE/g DW of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, respectively. The cultivars of both species were characterized by higher antioxidant activity of total phenolic compounds determined using CUPRAC and FRAP methods compared to the ABTS^•+ method. The variability in phenolic compounds’ qualitative and quantitative content in tested berry extracts was evaluated by applying ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to mass spectrometry in tandem with electrospray ionization. Significant intraspecific differences in the amounts of total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid compounds, proanthocyanidins, and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were determined among cultivars. Four phenolic acids, eight flavonols, two flavones, and five flavon-3-ols were identified in the berry extracts.

Silver nanoparticle (AgNP) biosynthesis using propolis extracts as capping and reducing agents presents multiple opportunities for solving many biological challenges. This study demonstrates a sustainable, low toxicity, and high production cost phytochemical synthesis of AgNPs using propolis extracts and microwaves. Biosynthesized with propolis, AgNPs are analyzed by various methods: phytochemical, physicochemical, and morphological, such as TEM. The determined antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of propolis extracts is compared with the activity of green synthesized AgNPs with propolis. The green synthesized AgNPs are spherically shaped with an average size ranging from 6 to 40 nm. The biosynthesized AgNPs demonstrate potential antibacterial activity on tested microorganism strains two folds higher than pure propolis extracts.