Olea europaea L. is the most valuable species of the Olea type, and its products offer a wide range of therapeutical uses. The olive tree has been extensively studied for its nourishing qualities, and the “Mediterranean diet”, which includes virgin olive oil as a key dietary component, is strongly associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and various malignancies. Olive leaves, a by-product in the olive harvesting process, are valued as a resource for developing novel phytomedicines. For this purpose, two ethanolic extracts obtained from Olivae folium from Spain (OFS) and Greece (OFG) were investigated. Our findings contribute to a wider characterization of olive leaves. Both extracts displayed important amounts of phenolic compounds and pentacyclic triterpenes, OFG having higher concentrations of both polyphenols, such as oleuropein and lutein, as well as triterpenes, such as oleanolic acid and maslinic acid. The antioxidant capacity is similar for the two extracts, albeit slightly higher for OFG, possibly due to metal polyphenol complexes with antioxidant activity. The extracts elicited an antimicrobial effect at higher doses, especially against Gram-positive bacteria, such as Streptococcus pyogenes. The extract with lower inorganic content and higher content of polyphenols and triterpenic acids induced a strong anti-radical capacity, a selective cytotoxic effect, as well as antimigratory potential on A375 melanoma cells and antiangiogenic potential on the CAM. No irritability and a good tolerability were noted after evaluating the extracts on the in vivo Hen’s Egg Test−Chorioallantoic Membrane (HET-CAM). Therefore, the present data are suggestive for the possible use of the two types of olive leaf products as high-antioxidant extracts, potentially impacting the healthcare system through their use as antimicrobial agents and as anticancer and anti-invasion treatments for melanoma.

The metallic elements concentrations of medicinal plants (coriander, dill,Echinacea, lavender, chamomile, mint, and plantain, used for phytopharmaceutical products), cultivated in unpolluted region, were analyzed by neutron activation analysis. The essential nutrients, macro-, micro-, and trace elements (K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Rb, Sr, and Zn), potentially toxic elements (Al, As, Ba, Co, Sb, Cr, and V), and rare earth elements were monitored and were compared with those presented in the literature. An estimation of their contributions to intake and toxicity for a person was made, which revealed that (a) teas prepared from the examined plants represent useful contribution to the food provided intake of three essential macronutrients (K, Ca, and Mg); (b) the Cu, Mn, Rb, Sr, Zn, and rare earths levels are normal or low; (c) the quantities of As, Ba, Co, Sb, Cr, and V do not represent toxicological concerns; (d) the examination of the estimated Al and Fe quantities recovered in infusions in the conditions of usual daily tea consumption is below the Tolerable Daily Intake values. The strategy of cultivation of medicinal plants in unpolluted areas is efficient and beneficial. However, individual plants ability to concentrate preferentially certain elements suggests controlling the contamination level of raw materials.

Functionalized mesoporous silica particles were synthesized via a simplified sol–gel co-condensation method using mixed silica precursors—tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and (3-mercaptopropyl) triethoxysilane (MPTES)—in two different molar ratios, alongside a reference non-functionalized MCM-41 sample. The obtained materials were characterized by nitrogen adsorption–desorption (BET–BJH–DFT) to assess their textural properties. The results confirmed a significant decrease in surface area and pore volume upon functionalization (from 1213 to 72.35 and 16.06 m² g⁻¹), accompanied by narrower pore diameters (2.4–3.5 nm), indicating partial pore blocking and increased surface tortuosity in the M1 and M2 samples. All materials demonstrated excellent carrier capacity for the hydrophobic antifungal drug clotrimazole (CLZ), achieving loading efficiencies close to 99% in all tested solvent media. The release behaviour was evaluated in acidic and mildly acidic environments (0.1 N HCl, KCl–HCl buffer pH 2, and acetate buffer pH 4.5). The best performance was observed when the same buffer was used for both drug loading and release, with cumulative release values between 51–91% at pH 2, while release remained in the 11–20% range at pH 4.5 and around 45% in 0.1 N HCl after 6 h. These findings highlight the influence of surface chemistry and pore architecture on drug–matrix interactions, confirming the potential of thiol-functionalized silica carriers for controlled delivery of hydrophobic drugs under pH-relevant conditions. The measured release time was evaluated for 24 hours via classical evaluation and for 3 hours and 20 minutes for the experiments performed with the dissolution instrument. The water: propan diol mixture solution has been chosen in order to mimic the pH of the skin level conditions. The different acidic solution has been chosen in order to mimic the acidic pH around a cancercell or around an inflammation. The extreme pH conditions (1 or 2) were chosen in order to model the dissolution of a drug with very low water solubility in an acidic environment. Moreover, these systems are very rarely studied in the literature.

Black chokeberry (BCK), known as Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott, has been employed for various purposes throughout history, being exploited both for its nutritional properties (functional foods, beverages, food preservatives, and natural food colorants) and for its therapeutic benefits (including cardiovascular and metabolic settings). This paper presents the first report on the identification of inorganic elements in three standardized BCK extracts: frozen berries (FrozArs), dried berries (DryArs), and evaporated juice (EvArJ). Additionally, the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of these extracts on human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAECs) were evaluated. Concentrations ranging from 1 μg/mL to 10 μg/mL were tested. Inorganic element analysis revealed detectable levels of metals, including aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn). Notably, cadmium was found in very low amounts (0.026 μg/g in the FrozArs), while iron was the most abundant element in the juice (597.665 μg/g). MTT assays demonstrated that all three extracts exhibited antiproliferative activity against HPAECs. Cell cycle analysis revealed a decrease in the G2/M phase for all extracts, along with an appearance of the sub-G0 phase at the highest concentration tested. The DryAr extract also slightly reduced the number of cells in the G0-G1 phase. Annexin V/PI staining indicated a mild increase in the percentage of necrotic cells associated with the DryAr extract. The potential implications of these findings are significant, particularly for those interested in the health effects of dietary supplements.