Ramson—Allium ursinum L. is a medicinal and dietary plant species with a long tradition of use. This mini-review summarizes the current knowledge on the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of this valuable plant, with special emphasis on antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antioxidant, and cardio-protective effects.

The in vitro anti-denaturation and anti-hyaluronidase activities of Impatiens parviflora extracts and isolated galactolipids (MGDG-1, DGDG-1) were investigated. This is the first report on these compounds in I. parviflora. All extracts showed anti-hyaluronidase activity, but only methanolic extract from fresh leaves exhibited significant activity against heat-induced denaturation of BSA in a dose-dependent manner. At 500 μg/mL, the extract and the reference drug showed 79.05% and 99.81% inhibition of protein denaturation, respectively. These results indicate that fresh leaves of I. parviflora may be beneficial in inflammatory conditions, especially those associated with protein denaturation, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The study revealed that only MGDG-1 showed weak activity in anti-denaturation assay but both galactolipids were potent inhibitors of hyaluronidase. MGDG-1 completely inhibited the enzyme activity at the concentration of 127.9 μg/mL. These results indicate the potential of galactolipids in the treatment of diseases associated with the loss of hyaluronic acid.

Genipin is a non-glycosidic iridoid isolated mainly from the fruits of Gardenia jasminoides and Genipa americana. It is the active ingredient in extracts from these plants, responsible for their anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. In several in vitro tests, its anti-proliferative activity against tumour cell lines has been demonstrated, and due to its ability to specifically inhibit the UCP2 protein and inhibit STAT3 activation, a significant increase in the cytotoxicity of several anticancer drugs was observed in co-treatment with genipin. In recent years, the importance of genipin has increased due to the possibility of using this iridoid as a biocompatible and low cytotoxicity potent crosslinking agent in the manufacture of dressings, in tissue engineering, as a component of a drug carrier system and in the production of food packaging. Genipin is also a substrate in the production of a blue pigment used as a food additive and fabric pigment, and other applications. Due to documented cases of hepatotoxicity, genipin and the blue pigment derived from it are being investigated for effective and safe therapeutic and non-drug use. The current paper discusses selected aspects of chemistry, activity and use of this interesting compound.

The historical collections of the Department of Pharmacognosy in the Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków hold a variety of educational and research specimens. The most valuable are those from the nineteenth-century Pharmacognostic Cabinet collection, founded by the professor of pharmacy and chemistry Florian Sawiczewski. This paper presents a review of Sawiczewski’s progress from practising in his father’s pharmacy to his appointment as university rector. It also provides some historical background for the establishment of the first Polish chair of pharmacy and materia medica in 1783 and describes the formation of the Pharmacognostic Cabinet in the years 1835–57.

The genus Myricaria is one of the four genera within the Tamaricaceae family. It comprises 13 species distributed across Eurasia. Phytochemical studies carried out on Myricaria plants revealed the presence of flavonoids (including rare, sulfated derivatives), tannins, phenolic acid derivatives, triterpenoids, steroids, and alkanediols. Studies on the extracts and compounds isolated from the described to date have demonstrated various biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, analgesic, antinociceptive, cholinergic, and glucose absorption reducing properties. This work provides a comprehensive overview of the botanical and detailed phytochemical characteristics, ornamental value, pharmacological properties, and traditional uses of the Myricaria genus representatives. The article fills a longstanding gap in the literature as no other integrative description is currently available.