The growing prevalence of mental health issues and cognitive impairment poses a significant challenge to global public health. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, neurodegenerative diseases, and stress-related cognitive dysfunction are becoming more common, while conventional pharmacotherapies are often limited by suboptimal efficacy, adverse side effects, and concerns about long-term use. Against this backdrop, neurophytochemistry—the study of plant-derived bioactive compounds—has emerged as a promising area of research. This review explores the potential of selected phytochemicals to support mental well-being and cognitive function via various molecular mechanisms. Compounds such as apigenin, hesperidin, and epigallocatechin gallate have been shown to have a significant impact on key regulatory pathways. These include enhancing neurogenesis via brain-derived neurotrophic factor, modulating neurotransmitter systems (such as GABA and serotonin), and attenuating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. The therapeutic relevance of these compounds is discussed in the context of depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and stress-related cognitive dysfunction, often referred to as ‘brain fog’. This review synthesizes evidence published between 2010 and 2025 from several scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. Preliminary evidence from in vitro studies and animal models indicates that neurophytochemicals could enhance synaptic plasticity, protect neurons from oxidative damage, and modulate inflammatory pathways, particularly those involving NF-κB and the Nrf2/ARE antioxidant response. In addition, early human clinical trials have shown that phytochemical supplementation can lead to improvements in mood regulation, stress response, and cognitive performance. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that the gut–brain axis plays a key role in mediating the effects of phytochemicals. Several compounds have been found to modulate the composition of gut microbiota in ways that could enhance the function of the central nervous system. While the initial results are encouraging, more high-quality clinical trials and mechanistic studies are required to validate these findings, optimize dosage regimens, and guarantee the safety and efficacy of long-term use. Thus, neurophytochemicals represent a promising integrative approach to alleviating the increasing burden of mental and cognitive disorders through naturally derived therapeutic strategies.

Background: Phytochemicals play a crucial role in determining the sensory qualities and nutritional value of plant-based foods. They influence flavour perception by interacting with aroma, taste, and texture. Terpenes, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids are particularly important as they contribute to the characteristic sensory profiles of foods while offering antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties that support the prevention of diet-related chronic diseases. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE, complemented by Google Scholar. The search focused on peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and meta-analyses published within the last two decades, prioritising studies on phytochemicals, their biosynthesis, the molecular mechanisms of flavour formation, and their functional properties in plant-based foods. Keywords included ‘phytochemicals’, ‘flavour development’, ‘flavonoids’, ‘terpenes’, ‘phenolics’, ‘plant foods’, ‘molecular pathways’, and ‘food processing’. Relevant studies providing mechanistic insights were selected. Results: Terpenes, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids modulate sensory attributes by interacting with taste and olfactory receptors, and they contribute to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Food processing influences the stability, bioavailability, and efficacy of these compounds, thereby affecting flavour and health-promoting potential. Modern analytical techniques enable the detailed characterisation of these compounds and their sensory and functional roles. Conclusions: By integrating insights from sensory science and nutrition, this review emphasises the dual importance of phytochemicals in enhancing consumer acceptance and promoting health. Understanding their mechanisms and how they respond to processing can inform the development of plant-based foods that are enjoyable and nutritious.

Guarianthe bowringianais one of the oldest samples cultivated at NBG’s orchid unit glasshouses since 1970s. An efficient protocol for asymbiotic in vitro seed germination ofG. bowringianahas previously been established. Given that acclimatization is a crucial step in micropropagation, this study assesses the structural adaptation and antioxidant response ofG. bowringianaseedlings during ex vitro acclimatization to ex vitro conditions.The leaf surface micromorphology of theG. bowringianajuvenile plants propagated in vitro from seeds as well as the leaves of adult plants cultivated in glasshouse were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The levels of lipid peroxidation (TBARS level), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and the photosynthetic activity were monitored for seven days from the transfer of seedlings from the in vitro cultivation vessels as they are markers indicating the response of the leaves of in vitro propagatedG. bowringianaplants to oxidative stress during the early stages of acclimatization to ex vitro conditions. During the initial 2 days of the monitored acclimatization period (0–7 days), the level of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylla,b, and carotenoid content) increased, followed by an insignificant increase during the successive period (by the seventh day) of acclimatization. At the same time, the level of the tested antioxidant enzyme (SOD) exhibited an increasing trend throughout the acclimatization period. The SOD activities in the leaves ofG. bowringianaseedlings were significantly affected when they were transferred from in vitro to ex vitro conditions due to drought stress.Thus, it was revealed that in the early stages of acclimatizing to the altered environments,G. bowringianaseedlings exhibited a rapid increase in photosynthetic pigments, superoxide dismutase activity, and lipid peroxidation levels after being transferred to ex vitro conditions.Comparison of the leaf micromorphologies ofG. bowringianaplants grown under in vitro and those grown under ex vitro conditions revealed that leaf development had undergone significant changes during acclimatization to the altered conditions. In vitro to ex vitro transfer leads to a transient decrease in photosynthetic parameters.

Nitrate-rich vegetables are increasingly recognised as a key subgroup of phytochemical-dense foods that have significant potential for preventing and managing chronic diseases. Although dietary nitrates were historically approached with caution due to concerns about nitrosamine formation, contemporary evidence highlights their beneficial effects on vascular, metabolic and cognitive functions. Ageing is characterised by endothelial dysfunction, impaired nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and increased oxidative stress, which elevates cardiovascular risk. In this context, nitrate-rich vegetables offer a natural way to restore NO bioavailability and support cardiometabolic health. This narrative review provides an integrative overview of nitrate-rich vegetables as sources of bioactive phytochemicals with therapeutic relevance. We summarise the biochemical pathways of nitrate and nitrite metabolism, including the enterosalivary nitrate–nitrite–NO cycle, the role of oral microbiota, and red blood cell-mediated nitrite reduction. Particular emphasis is placed on NOS-independent NO production, which becomes increasingly important with age, and on the synergistic interactions between dietary nitrates and other phytochemicals such as polyphenols, vitamin C, flavonoids and betalains. These compounds enhance NO stability, reduce oxidative stress, modulate inflammatory signalling and support mitochondrial function, thereby amplifying the health benefits of nitrate-rich vegetables. Beetroot, with its high nitrate content and distinctive antioxidant profile, is highlighted as a prime example. Clinical and mechanistic studies suggest that nitrate-rich vegetables may lower blood pressure, improve endothelial function and cerebral perfusion, enhance cognitive performance and muscle oxygenation, and increase exercise efficiency, particularly in older adults. Additional benefits include anti-inflammatory effects, modulation of platelet function and improvements in metabolic parameters, all of which are relevant to the prevention of chronic diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. While dietary nitrate is generally considered low-risk for healthy adults, caution is warranted in susceptible populations, such as infants and individuals with impaired renal function. Finally, significant research gaps remain, including the need for long-term, well-controlled trials and personalised strategies that account for variability in microbiota composition and nitrate metabolism between individuals.

The aim of the study was to compare the in vitro antibacterial activity of leaf extracts obtained from various Ficus species against four bacterial strains of fish pathogens ( Serratia liquefaciens , Yersinia ruckeri , Pseudomonas fluorescens , Shewanella putrefaciens ). In vitro tests for antibacterial activity assessment revealed that various Ficus species have notable antibacterial efficacy. The six most effective Ficus plants against S. liquefaciens that caused a zone of inhibition of at least 15 mm were F. lingua , F. erecta , F. rubiginosa , F. tinctoria , F. sur , and F. aspera . The maximum antimicrobial activity against the Y. ruckeri strain was observed for ethanolic extracts of F. hederacea , F. formosana , and F. hispida . Our results also demonstrated that the Pseudomonas fluorescens strain exhibited high susceptibility to ethanolic extracts derived from 20 plants (the mean value of inhibition zone diameters (IZD) was more than 15 mm). F. erecta , F. sur , and F. virens extracts were more effective against P. fluorescens. The Shewanella putrefaciens strain revealed a high level of susceptibility to ethanolic extracts derived from the leaves of 32 species (the highest value of the IZDs was observed for F. erecta ). The data presented in the current study indicated that ethanolic extracts derived from leaves of various Ficus species are a promising alternative to the use of antibiotics and chemotherapeutics in controlling infections caused by the Serratia liquefaciens , Yersinia ruckeri , Pseudomonas fluorescens , and Shewanella putrefaciens strains.

This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts obtained from the leaves of Aglaonema commutatum Schott and its cultivars («Malay Beauty», «Silver Queen», and «Silver King») against Escherichia coli (Migula) Castellani and Chalmers (ATCC® 25922™) strain. The leaves of Aglaonema commutatum plants and its cultivars, cultivated under glasshouse conditions, were sampled at M. M. Gryshko National Botanic Garden (NBG), National Academy of Science of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine). The leaves were brought into the laboratory for antimicrobial studies. Freshly sampled leaves were washed, weighed, and homogenized in 96% ethanol (in proportion 1:19) at room temperature. The extracts were then filtered and investigated for their antimicrobial activity. Escherichia coli (Migula) Castellani and Chalmers (ATCC® 25922™) strain was used in our study. Antimicrobial activities of various ethanolic extracts obtained from leaves of Aglaonema commutatum plants and its cultivars («Malay Beauty», «Silver Queen», and «Silver King») against Escherichia coli (Migula) Castellani and Chalmers (ATCC® 25922™) strain was screened in the current study. The testing of the antibacterial activity of the plant extracts was carried out in vitro by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. The leaf extracts from A. commutatum «Silver Queen» and A. commutatum 'Silver King' exhibited higher inhibitory activity than the extracts from A. commutatum and A. commutatum «Malay Beauty». Maximum in vitro inhibition was scored by A. commutatum «Silver Queen», followed by A. commutatum «Silver King», A. commutatum, and A. commutatum «Malay Beauty». In particular, the leaf extracts from A. commutatum «Silver Queen» and A. commutatum 'Silver King' exhibited higher inhibitory activity than the extracts from A. commutatum and A. commutatum «Malay Beauty». Maximum in vitro inhibition was scored by A. commutatum «Silver Queen», followed by A. commutatum «Silver King», A. commutatum, and A. commutatum «Malay Beauty», which presented inhibition zones of (18.6±1.2) mm, (16.1±0.9) mm, (15.7±1.1) mm, and (13.5±1.0) mm, respectively. In the case of the positive controls, 96% ethanol possesses a mild anti-E. coli effect, which presented inhibition zones of (9.5±1.2) mm. The inhibition zone diameters were increased by 96% (p<0.05) for A. commutatum «Silver Queen», by 69 % (p<0.05) for A. commutatum «Silver King», by 65 % (p<0.05) for A. commutatum, and by 42 % (p<0.05) for A. commutatum «Malay Beauty». Thus, the use of these plants in traditional medicine and veterinary medicine was experimentally confirmed as a potential source of raw materials for the development of medicines in the future, as well as for the development of innovative feed for farm animals.