The paper deals with the preparation and characterisation of hydroalcoholic polyphenolic extract from Sambucus ebulus (SE) leaves that was further loaded into three-types of lipid vesicles: liposomes, transfersomes, and ethosomes, to improve its bioavailability and achieve an optimum pharmacological effect. For Sambucus ebulus L.-loaded lipid vesicles, the entrapment efficiency, particle size, polydispersity index and stability were determined. All prepared lipid vesicles showed a good entrapment efficiency, in the range of 75–85%, nanometric size, low polydispersity indexes, and good stability over three months at 4 °C. The in vitro polyphenols released from lipid vehicles demonstrated slower kinetics when compared to the free extract dissolution in phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4. Either free SE extract or SE extract loaded into lipid vesicles demonstrated a cytoprotective effect, even at low concentration, 5 ug/mL, against hydrogen peroxide-induced toxicity on L-929 mouse fibroblasts’ cell lines. However, the cytoprotective effect depended on the time of the cells pre-treatment with SE extract before exposure to a hydrogen peroxide solution of 50 mM concentration, requiring at least 12 h of pre-treatment with polyphenols with radical scavenging capacity.

Lamium album and Lamium purpureum are species belonging to the genus Lamium . Aerial parts of the two species and roots of Lamium album have applications in human and veterinary traditional medicine. Haemostatic properties of butanolic extracts of Lamium species were investigated by two experimental models in Wistar rats: haemostatic test by tail bleeding time determination and acenocoumarolcarrageenan test. Results of the haemostatic test by tail bleeding determination demonstrated haemostatic activity of both extracts. In the acenocoumarol-carrageenan test, only the Lamium album extract showed haemostatic activity, comparable to that of vitamin K. Based on the qualitative chemical data on iridoid glycosides (HPTLC), 8-acetylshanzhiside methyl ester might be assumed to be responsible for haemostatic activity. Based on the acute toxicity test, none of the extracts showed toxicity.

In this study, six laser radiation (488 nm/40 mW, 514 nm/15 mW, 532 nm/20 mW, 552 nm/15 mW, 660 nm/75 mW, and at 785 nm/70 mW) were tested on the aqueous extracts of leaves of Plantago lanceolata L. to compare extraction efficacy and antioxidant and cell viability effects in vitro. Briefly, in comparison with the control extract, laser extracts at 488, 514, 532, and 552 nm revealed small acquisitions of total extractible compounds in samples (up to 6.52%; laser extracts at 488 and 532 nm also revealed minerals and micro-elements increases (up to 6.49%); the most prominent results were obtained upon Fe (up to 38%, 488 nm), Cr (up to 307%, 660 nm), and Zn (up to 465%, 532 nm). Laser extracts at 488, 514, 552, and 785 nm proved more intense antioxidant capacity than the control sample, while laser extract at 660 nm indicated clear pro-oxidant effects. Caco-2 cells study indicated stimulatory activity for the extracts at 488 nm, no effects at 532 nm, and the decrease of the cell viability in the case of extracts at 660 nm respectively. Further studies are necessary to understand the pro-oxidant effects observed in the case of extracts exposed to laser radiation at 660 nm.

In the context of sustainable practices and European strategy to reduce the chemical inputs in agricultural conventional systems, on field crops there are approached agroecological practices that targets the performance growing through effective measures that adjust the biodiversity of agroecosystems. The study presents the results of a field experience developed in a farmer participative approach on two years (2021, 2022). In his farm - from Buești, Ialomița, România - were established 30 multifactorial testing varieties composed from treatment with a special product for maize crop (BioZeaFert: BF) from Bacillus subtilis ICCF 84: 25%; Bacillus subtilis 284: 25%; Trichoderma harzianum ICCF 179: 50%. The treatments have been applied on seeds (Untreated, BF 10%, BF 20%, BF 30%, CuSO4 10%) and on vegetation period (Untreated, BF 75g/ha, BF 112.5 g/ha, BF 225 g/ha, CuSO4 300g/ha) for 3 maize hybrids (Iezer, Felix, F 423). Also has been integrated in his crop technology cover crops and the using of organic agriculture inputs. The application of the product and agroecological measures had positive effects regarding the protection against pest Tanymecus dilaticollis. The damage degree was 16-19% in the untreated maize, while for the treated maize it was between 6-11%, the lowest values were observed for BF 30% on Iezer hybrid. The biostimulator had positive effects on plant growth and therefore on yield. The treatments or the type of hybrids did not influenced the weeding degree.

(1) Background: Helleborus purpurascens Waldst. & Kit. (hellebore) is a plant species found mainly in Balkans and the Carpathians, and it is traditionally used for a variety of ailments since the time of Hippocrates. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of hellebore extracts correlated with relevant chemical compounds and the extraction method. (2) Methods: A methanolic (H1) and a hydroalcoholic extract (H2) were prepared by standard methods. Qualitative (HPTLC) and quantitative (HPLC) chemical analysis were conducted to reveal the ecdysones and polyphenolic compounds. In vitro studies were performed using rat macrophages, murine fibroblasts and immortalized human T-lymphocytes, and their viability was determined by MTS assay. In vivo studies involved a rat immunodepression model. (3) Results: In vitro assays revealed the stronger effect of H2 on cellular proliferation, compared to H1. In the in vivo assay, H2 revealed an immunostimulatory effect in the context of experimentally induced immunosuppression with dexamethasone, a superior effect to levamisole treatment according to the same regimen, in two doses every 24 h. There was no correlation between pharmacological effect and the reference compounds evaluated. (4) Conclusions: The immunomodulatory effect of methanolic and hydroalcoholic hellebore extracts is not due to ecdysones and polyphenolic compounds, but other polar substances, possible steroid glycosides.

The health benefits of coffee consumption are a very actual research subject, given the fact that is one of the most popular beverages in the world. The majority of the studies are concentrated to coffee beans (green or roasted) chemical composition (the most important non-volatile compounds investigated being phenols and alkaloids) and pharmacological activity. Green coffee is now in the market in the form of food supplements products. In the present, the chemical composition and bioactivity of the leaves occupy a small place in scientific papers. This research paper investigate, in terms of caffeine, phenolic compounds composition and antioxidant activities, the differences and similarities between hydroalcoholic extracts of Coffea arabica leaves and green and roasted beans. The extracts profiles, determined by HPTLC technique, shows the major phenolic compounds. Through chromatographic fingerprint, the presence and the amount of caffeine in the extracts were also determined. The total phenolic content (TPC) (Folin Ciocalteu method) expressed as gallic acid equivalents decrease from the leaves to green and roasted coffee beans extracts. The IC50 (concentration of sample required to inhibit 50% of the DPPH free radical) was determined by free radical scavenging activity of Dpph. The IC50 values were TPC concentration-dependent. The obtained results show that in the hydroalcoholic extracts of the leaves are almost the same major phenolic compounds as in the green coffee beans extract. Also, the leaves extract have a higher content in total phenols and a better antioxidant activity comparative to the other samples. Therefore, this paper can be the first step for further investigations of coffee leaves extracts, which might have important health beneficial effects and can be a reliable raw material for food supplements industry.