Skin disorders are common and often chronic conditions with significant therapeutic challenges. Limitations of conventional treatments, such as adverse effects and antimicrobial resistance, have increased interest in plant-based alternatives. This article presents the phytochemical composition and pharmacological potential of several medicinal plants traditionally used in the treatment of skin diseases, including Rubus vulgaris, Plantago major, Artemisia terrae-albae, and Eryngium planum. Based on an analysis of scientific literature, the presence of bioactive compounds—including flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, tannins, and sesquiterpenes—is summarized, along with their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Emphasis is placed on the correlation between traditional ethnomedicinal applications and pharmacological mechanisms. The findings support the potential of these species as sources for dermatological phytotherapeutics. Further research is needed to standardize active constituents, assess safety, and conduct clinical validation.

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has long stood as the prevailing standard in drug delivery, celebrated for its capacity to enhance solubility, extend circulation, and improve pharmacological performance. Nevertheless, the emergence of anti-PEG antibodies, accelerated clearance, and limited biodegradability increasingly undermine its role as a universal solution. In response, a new generation of polymers has been developed to address these shortcomings, offering the potential to sustain or surpass PEG’s benefits while mitigating immunogenicity, improving biocompatibility, and enabling finer control over therapeutic fate. This review examines current research to articulate a coherent perspective on the replacement of PEG, tracing how advances in polymer design are reshaping the foundations of targeted drug delivery. Taken together, these developments signal not only a corrective to the limitations of PEG but also a broader paradigm shift toward safer, more versatile, and clinically translatable systems that define the next frontier in precision therapeutics.

The development of non-toxic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for medical and other diverse applications is steadily increasing. However, this study specifically aims to determine the cytotoxic effects of AgNPs synthesized via a green chemistry approach using aqueous-ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Artemisia terrae-albae. The photophysical, morphological, and size distribution characteristics of the synthesized AgNPs are analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A modified Allium cepa assay is employed to evaluate biological responses, including root growth, root number, and mitotic index. In this assay, the cell cycles of onion bulbs are synchronized and pre-incubated at 4 °C for 72 h prior to treatment. This study reveals that the AgNPs synthesized from the ethanol extract exhibit notable stability and higher cytotoxicity activity, with a root length of 0.6 ± 0.13 cm, root number of 16 ± 6.88, and mitotic index of 25.0 ± 2.6. These values are significantly more cytogenotoxic than those observed for the ethyl-acetate-derived nanoparticles, which show a root length of 0.8 ± 0.17 cm, root number of 18 ± 6.27, and mitotic index of 36 ± 3.6. These findings highlight the potential of green-synthesized AgNPs as effective cytotoxic agents, especially those obtained from ethanol extract, possibly due to a greater influence of the quantity of diverse phenolic compounds present in the complex mixtures than in the ethyl acetate extract, which otherwise enhanced their morphology, shape, and size. These, overall, contributed to the biological activity.

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has long stood as the prevailing standard in drug delivery, celebrated for its capacity to enhance solubility, extend circulation, and improve pharmacological performance. Nevertheless, the emergence of anti-PEG antibodies, accelerated clearance, and limited biodegradability increasingly undermine its role as a universal solution. In response, a new generation of polymers has been developed to address these shortcomings, offering the potential to sustain or surpass PEG’s benefits while mitigating immunogenicity, improving biocompatibility, and enabling finer control over therapeutic fate. This review examines current research to articulate a coherent perspective on the replacement of PEG, tracing how advances in polymer design are reshaping the foundations of targeted drug delivery. Taken together, these developments signal not only a corrective to the limitations of PEG but also a broader paradigm shift toward safer, more versatile, and clinically translatable systems that define the next frontier in precision therapeutics.

A phytopreparation based on the CO₂ extract of Arctium tomentosum Mill. root (AT) was evaluated for its safety and anti-inflammatory potential in Swiss albino mice. Acute and 28-day subacute oral toxicity studies demonstrated that AT, at doses up to 5000 mg/kg (acute) and 400 mg/kg (subacute), did not induce mortality, clinical signs of toxicity, or adverse effects on body weight, relative organ weights, or hematological and biochemical parameters. Histopathological analyses confirmed preserved tissue architecture in major organs, indicating the absence of structural toxicity. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using xylene-induced ear edema and LPS-induced systemic inflammation models. AT significantly reduced ear edema and suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, AT exhibited potent hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects, as reflected by the stabilization of ALT, AST, SCr, and BUN levels. Histological examination of inflamed tissues corroborated these findings. Overall, AT is well tolerated and demonstrates potent systemic anti-inflammatory and multi-organ protective properties, supporting its potential as a promising therapeutic candidate for inflammatory and oxidative stress-related conditions.

The growing scientific interest in medicinal and nutritionally valuable plants has highlighted the importance of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek), a species widely recognized for its diverse phytochemical, nutritional, and pharmacological significance. This member of the legume family is an annual self-pollinating herb widely cultivated across Mediterranean, Asian, African, and other regions due to its adaptability to different climatic conditions and its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. It is also traditionally used in culinary and medicinal traditional practices, particularly as spice and functional food ingredients. This review provides an updated overview of the botanical characteristics, geographical distribution, cultivation conditions, phytochemical composition, nutritional value, and biological activities of the plant, with particular emphasis on recent advances in nanoformulations, biomedical applications, hemocompatibility, and recent pharmacological advances. The seeds and leaves contain proteins, dietary fibers, minerals, vitamins, and various bioactive compounds such as saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenols, and galactomannans, which have been reported to exhibit antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antilipidemic, antimicrobial effects, as well as low hemolytic activity. By integrating recent findings on fenugreek characteristics, phytochemistry, and biological activities, this review provides an updated perspective on its scientific relevance and ethnobotanical applications.