Ungernia sewertzowii (US) and U. victoris (UV) are medicinal plants and sources of biologically active compounds for pharmaceutical needs. The leaves of US contain 0.29–0.81% sum of alkaloids with a predominance of lycorine, which is 0.04–0.46% in leaves and 0.15–0.38% in bulbs. Lycorine is used to treat acute and chronic bronchitis. The leaves of UV contain 0.27–0.71% sum of alkaloids with a predominance of galanthamine—0.13–1.15%. Galanthamine is used to treat mild-to-moderate dementia (Alzheimer’s disease). The natural populations of US and UV are in danger as sources of income for local people. To resolve this problem, two protocols for microclonal propagation were developed to replace natural raw materials with in vitro regenerated plants. Callusogenesis of US and UV was induced on Murashige and Skoog (MS) nutrient media with 2.4D (0.5 mg/L) in combination with BAP (0.5 mg/L), Kin (0.5 mg/L), or Zea (0.5 mg/L). Direct (for US) and indirect (for US and UN) organogenesis were observed on MS with BAP (0.5 mg/L) or Kin (0.5 mg/L) in combination with IAA (0.5 mg/L) or NAA (0.5 mg/L). Direct organogenesis resulted in 3–5 bulbs of US on one explant; indirect organogenesis resulted in up to 100–150 bulbs of US and UV on one explant within 6 months, or five to six subcultures after transferring the callus to the nutrient medium. The tissue cultures of US and UV were characterized by very low data on antioxidant activity based on IC50 values for DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, whereas in vitro regenerated plants (leaves and bulbs) had higher data. We concluded that in vitro regenerated plants are valuable sources of lycorine and galanthamine, which allow the protection of the natural populations of these two species from extinction.

Since ancient times, plants have been a good source of natural antioxidants. Plants remove active oxygen through antioxidants and contain various active ingredients. These active ingredients of plants are used to alleviate skin aging and chronic diseases. Ajuga spectabilis Nakai (AS) is a perennial plant, is endemic to Korea, and has the characteristics of alpine plants. The aim of this study was to assure the possibility of using AS as a functional natural and cosmetic material. For this, we carried out biologically activated material characteristic evaluations about antioxidant, wrinkle reduction, and anti-inflammatory effects using AS extract. To carry out this experiment, we extracted AS extract from AS water extract (AS-W) and AS 70% ethanol extract (AS-E). AS-E showed the highest DPPH activity and tyrosinase inhibitory activity. After, the measurement of metalloprotease (MMP)-1 inhibition effect showed the AS-W and AS-E activation at the concentration of 100 µg/mL. In addition, at the same concentration, from the result of the measurement of the biosynthesis quantity of pro-collagen type-1 we knew that its excellent effect appeared in AS-E (CCD-986sk). The inhibition of NO production in AS-W and AS-E was confirmed in LPS-induced mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. On cell viability, it was judged that AS-E had no toxicity because it showed a high cell viability at a high concentration, and it was used for the anti-inflammatory activity. Inhibition of NO production worked only in AS-E; inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and IL-6 were suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner in AS-E. AS is believed to be used as a natural cosmetic material because it has been proven to have antioxidant, whitening, wrinkle-improving, and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, the results indicate that AS extract can play an important role as a functional natural material and a cosmetic material for whitening, wrinkle reduction, and anti-inflammatory effect.

This study investigated the antioxidant potential of callus cultures derived from the endangered medicinal plant Ferula tadshikorum Pimenov (Apiaceae Lindl.), an endemic species in Central Asia. The plant’s long life cycle and overharvesting threaten its survival, necessitating the development of in vitro microclonal propagation protocols as a sustainable solution for bioactive compound production. Two propagation methods, indirect organogenesis and indirect somatic embryogenesis, were optimized using zygotic embryos as explants. Callus cultures at early stages, cultivated on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, demonstrated antioxidant activity, with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values as low as 15.41 µg/mL, comparable to ascorbic acid (15.17 µg/mL), while the radical-scavenging activity in the 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay was even higher. Optimal bioactivity and extract yields were achieved on a Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2.4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (0.5 mg/l) and Kinetin or Thidiazuron. Statistical analysis confirmed the influence of hormonal treatments on antioxidant properties. These findings highlight the dual potential of in vitro propagation for conserving F. tadshikorum and providing a sustainable source of bioactive compounds with significant antioxidant properties, supporting pharmaceutical applications. However, challenges in translating these findings into large-scale production or commercial applications must be addressed, including the optimization of protocols for industrial scalability and cost-effectiveness.

Background: Camellia sinensis L.(CS) is a perennial evergreen species of plant whose leaves are used to produce tea. In this plant species, the parts used are the leaves, sub-branch parts are thrown out. Methods and Results: Ethanol extract of sub-branch parts was used for isolation of major compounds by column chromatography. Structures were identified as caffeine (1), (-)-epicatechin (2) and (-)-epicatechin gallate (3) by interpretation of spectroscopic analysis, including 1H- and 13C-NMR. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used to compare the quantitative level of marker compounds in various extraction solvents of sub-branch parts of CS. The content of caffeine, (-)-epicatechin, and (-)-epicatechin gallate in 30% ethanol extract showed higher value with 3.28 ± 0.57 ㎎/g, 5.53 ± 0.88 ㎎/g, and 1.29 ± 0.24 ㎎/g, respectively. Conclusions: These results indicated that not only leaves parts but also sub-branch, could be a good source for the functional material and pharmaceutical industry.

For centuries, four Rosaceae species—Malus sieboldii, Sorbus commixta, Duchesnea indica, and Prunus sargentii—have been prized for their pharmacological properties. In this study, solvent extracts from the seeds of these species were prepared, and their total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were measured. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays, as well as ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and Fe²⁺ chelation tests. Compounds in the extracts were identified through molecular networking with the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) platform. Among all samples, D. indica extract contained the highest polyphenol and flavonoid concentrations (335.63 ± 0.03 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per gram of extract and 230.14 ± 2.90 mg rutin equivalents (RE) per gram of extract, respectively). It also exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity in DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, with statistically significant outcomes. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis and molecular networking revealed a diverse metabolite profile corresponding to seven biosynthetic pathways in the extracts. Notably, D. indica extract was rich in shikimates, phenylpropanoids, and ellagic acid derivatives, which have potent antioxidant effects. These results suggest a strong relationship between the extract’s chemical profile and its biological activity, offering promising opportunities to use D. indica seeds as functional ingredients across various fields.

Ungernia victoris and U. sewerzowii (Amaryllidaceae J.St.-Hil.) are rare medicinal species of Central Asia known as sources of biologically active alkaloids, including galantamine. In this study, antioxidant activity was comparatively evaluated across different types of plant material, including natural populations, botanical garden specimens, in vitro regenerants, callus cultures, in vitro obtained bulbs, and seeds. Micropropagation systems based on direct and indirect organogenesis were developed using Murasige and Skoog and Vollosovich et al. media with various plant growth regulator combinations. Antioxidant activity was determined with the use of DPPH and ABTS assays and expressed as IC₅₀ values. Significant variability was observed depending on population origin, type of biological material, and in vitro cultivation conditions. U. sewerzowii demonstrated higher antioxidant activity than U. victoris in natural populations. The highest activity was recorded in callus cultures, whereas in vitro-derived bulbs showed relatively low activity. A strong positive correlation between DPPH and ABTS assays confirmed the reliability of the results and indicated the contribution of multiple types of secondary metabolites. These findings highlight the potential of Ungernia callus cultures as a promising biotechnological platform for the production of antioxidant-active compounds and support sustainable utilization strategies.