Phytochemicals are plant-derived bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and epigenetic modulatory effects that may contribute to the prevention and management of chronic diseases. This review synthesizes recent evidence on the molecular mechanisms through which phytochemicals influence oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, and epigenetic regulation. A targeted literature search of the PubMed and Web of Science databases (2015–2025) identified over 400 experimental and review studies investigating phytochemicals with documented antioxidant and epigenetic activities. Eligible articles were selected based on relevance to oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA or histone modification pathways in chronic diseases. Data were qualitatively analyzed to highlight mechanistic links between redox balance, transcriptional regulation, and disease modulation. The results indicate that several phytochemicals, including hesperidin, phloretin, lycopene, and silybin, modulate signaling cascades—NF-κB, Nrf2, and PI3K/Akt—while also influencing DNA methylation and histone acetylation to restore gene expression homeostasis. Despite strong in vitro and in vivo evidence, translation to clinical practice remains limited by low bioavailability, lack of standardized formulations, and insufficient human trials. Future research should prioritize integrative study designs linking molecular mechanisms to clinical endpoints. Understanding the epigenetic actions of phytochemicals may guide the development of nutraceutical strategies for chronic disease prevention.

This study investigates the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities of Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion) and Artemisia annua (Sweet Wormwood) extracts, along with their role in the green synthesis of gold (AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Bioreduction was achieved using aqueous and ethanolic extracts (100 mg/mL), enabling solvent-dependent comparisons. Nanoparticles were characterized using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and zeta potential analysis. Each technique revealed complementary aspects of nanoparticle morphology, size, and stability, with UV–Vis indicating aggregation states and DLS confirming solvent-related size variation even at 3–5% ethanol. Gold nanoparticles synthesized from Dandelion showed strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, while silver nanoparticles from both plants were effective against Escherichia coli. Cytotoxicity assays indicated that silver nanoparticles obtained from ethanolic Dandelion extract containing 3% ethanol in aqueous solution (AgNPsE_ETOH3%-D) significantly reduced LoVo (p = 4.58 × 10⁻³) and MDA-MB-231 (p = 7.20 × 10⁻⁵) cell viability, with high selectivity indices (SI), suggesting low toxicity toward normal cells. Gold nanoparticles synthesized from aqueous Dandelion extract (AuNPsEaq-D) also showed favorable SI values (2.16 for LoVo and 8.41 for MDA-MB-231). Although some formulations demonstrated lower selectivity (SI < 1.5), the findings support the therapeutic potential of these biogenic nanoparticles. Further in vivo studies and pharmacokinetic evaluations are required to validate their clinical applicability.

Background/Objectives: Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Despite significant advancements in treatment strategies and drug development, survival rates remain low and the adverse effects of conventional therapies severely impact patients’ quality of life. This study evaluates the therapeutic potential of plant-derived extracts in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment, with a focus on minimizing side effects while enhancing efficacy. Methods: This research investigates the in vitro synergistic effect of silver bio-nanoparticles synthesized from Clematis vitalba, Melissa officinalis, and Taraxacum officinale extracts (Clematis vitalbae extractum—CVE, Melissae extractum—ME, Taraxaci extractum—TE) in combination with liver cancer drugs, sunitinib (SNTB) and imatinib (IMTB), on HepG2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) and HUVEC (human umbilical vein endothelial) cell lines. The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antitumor effects were evaluated through cell viability assays after 24 and 48 h of exposure, with additional cytotoxicity tests on HUVEC cells. Results: Results indicated that Melissa officinalis-derived silver nanoparticles (ME AgNPs) and Clematis vitalba extract with silver nanoparticles (CVE AgNPs) significantly reduced HepG2 cell viability. Their efficacy improved when combined with conventional therapies (SNTB + ME AgNPs 1:1 vs. SNTB: 20.01% vs. 25.73%, p = 0.002; IMTB + ME AgNPs 1:1 vs. IMTB: 17.80% vs. 18.08%, p = 0.036; SNTB + CVE AgNPs 1:1 vs. SNTB: 18.73% vs. 25.73%, p = 0.000; SNTB + CVE AgNPs 1:2 vs. SNTB: 26.62% vs. 41.00%, p = 0.018; IMTB + CVE AgNPs 1:1 vs. IMTB: 12.99% vs. 18.08%, p = 0.001). Taraxacum extract exhibited similar cytotoxicity to its nanoparticle formulation but did not exceed the efficacy of the extract alone at 24 h. Selectivity index assessments confirmed that AgNPs-based formulations significantly improve cytotoxicity and selectivity to HepG2 cells. Among the tested extracts, CVE demonstrated the strongest antitumor effect, enhancing the efficacy of synthetic drugs (CI < 1). SNTB + TE AgNPs (5% EtOH) also demonstrated consistent synergy at high doses, while SNTB + CVE AgNPs provided broad-range synergy, making it suitable for dose-escalation strategies. Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential of nanoparticle-based formulations in combination therapies with targeted kinase inhibitors such as sunitinib and imatinib. Future research should focus on in vivo validation and clinical trials to confirm these findings.

Phytochemicals are bioactive plant-derived compounds with significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and epigenetic modulatory properties, offering promising avenues for the prevention and management of chronic diseases. Chronic conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, metabolic, and autoimmune disorders often involve oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic dysregulation. Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies indicates that phytochemicals, including flavonoids, carotenoids, phenolic acids, organosulfur compounds, and terpenes, can attenuate oxidative damage by enhancing endogenous antioxidant defenses, modulate inflammatory signaling pathways such as NF-κB and Nrf2, and influence gene expression through the regulation of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. Specific compounds—such as hesperidin, genistein, phloretin, lycopene, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, anacardic acid, allyl mercaptan, silybin, artemisinin, and geraniol—demonstrate multi-targeted actions, reversing aberrant epigenetic marks and restoring cellular homeostasis. By simultaneously acting on redox balance, inflammatory mediators, and epigenetic regulators, these natural compounds provide a mechanistic basis for chemoprevention and adjuvant therapy. However, translation into clinical applications requires rigorous trials to assess bioavailability, synergistic effects, and safety in humans. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of phytochemical action may advance novel, integrative strategies for chronic disease prevention and health promotion.

This study provides a comparative evaluation of two Salvia species, the widely cultivated Salvia sclarea L. and the comparatively underexplored wild species Salvia pratensis L., integrating phytochemical profiling, chemical safety assessment, and biological activity investigation. Dried hydroethanolic extracts and essential oils obtained from aerial parts were analysed. HPLC–PDA analysis revealed distinct phenolic acid profiles, with S. sclarea characterized by higher levels of rosmarinic and protocatechuic acids, whereas S. pratensis contained greater amounts of hydroxycinnamic acids such as caffeic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids. The total phenolic content was higher in S. pratensis (79.22 mg GAE/g dry extract) than in S. sclarea (52.50 mg GAE/g). GC–MS analysis showed that the essential oil of S. sclarea was dominated by oxygenated monoterpenes, mainly linalyl acetate and linalool, while S. pratensis exhibited a linalool-rich profile accompanied by sesquiterpene derivatives. Chemical safety assessment indicated minimal contamination, with pesticide residues detected only in S. sclarea at levels below regulatory limits and low concentrations of cadmium and lead in both species. The extracts showed strong antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ values of 6.67 µg/mL for S. sclarea and 3.16 µg/mL for S. pratensis) and moderate broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity (MIC 312.5–2500 µg/mL). In vitro assays on HEK 293 and HaCaT cells confirmed low cytotoxicity, with no evidence of membrane damage or pro-inflammatory effects. Overall, the results highlight the significant bioactive potential of the less studied S. pratensis, demonstrating that this wild species represents a promising alternative source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds comparable to the widely cultivated S. sclarea.

The incorporation of plant-derived oils into cosmetic formulations has attracted increasing interest due to their natural origin, skin compatibility, and multifunctional formulation roles. Argan and castor oils are widely used in cosmetic products as emollient lipid components with intrinsic antioxidant properties. However, limited studies have systematically evaluated the physicochemical stability and antioxidant performance of emulsions combining these two oils. The aim of this study was to develop and comprehensively characterize a stable oil-in-water (O/W) cosmetic emulsion based on argan and castor oils using a natural non-ionic emulsifier (C14–22 Alcohol (and) C12–20 Alkyl Glucoside). Particular emphasis was placed on formulation stability, as it represents a critical prerequisite for further product evaluation. Stability was investigated through thermal stress testing (4–37 °C), centrifugation assays, droplet size analysis, and zeta potential measurements. Complementary physicochemical and structural characterization was performed using rheological analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The formulated emulsion exhibited good physical stability with no phase separation under the tested conditions, a skin-compatible pH, a uniform droplet size distribution (4.15 ± 0.68 µm), and pseudoplastic, moderately thixotropic rheological behavior. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, yielding an IC₅₀ value of 19.21 ± 1.02 mg/mL. Overall, this study provides a formulation-oriented framework for the development and evaluation of stable natural oil-based O/W emulsions intended for cosmetic applications, supporting future optimization and biological validation.