Plastic production has grown dramatically over the years. Microplastics (MPs) are formed from the fragmentation of larger plastic debris by combining chemical, physical, and biological processes and can degrade further to form nanoplastics (NPs). Because of their size, MPs and NPs are bioavailable to many organisms and can reach humans through transport along the food chain. In addition to the risk from ingesting MPs themselves, there are risks associated with the substances they carry, such as pesticides, pathogenic microorganisms, and heavy metals, and with the additives added to plastics to improve their characteristics. In addition, bioaccumulation and biomagnification can cause a cumulative exposure effect for organisms at the top of the food chain and humans. Despite the growing scientific interest in this emerging contaminant, the potential adverse effects remain unclear. The aim of this review is to summarize the characteristics (size, shape, color, and properties) of MPs in the environment, the primary sources, and the transport pathways in various environmental compartments, and to shed more light on the ecological impact of MPs and the potential health effects on organisms and humans by identifying human exposure pathways.

The aim of this study was to carry out a quali-quantitative analysis of the presence of non-essential and essential trace elements in freshwater crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) edible tissues to establish the healthiness of this product and to evaluate the pollution status of the sampling sites included in the present study. P. clarkii is one of the most common species of freshwater crustaceans in Italy, regularly consumed by local people. Moreover, the crayfish, due to its trophic position and diet, can be considered as an excellent bioindicator of the health status of the ecosystem. We collected sixty crayfish samples from two different sites in Campania (Italy): Villa Literno and Sessa Aurunca. Concentrations of trace elements were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Our data showed low concentrations of Cd, Hg and Pb, with values below the European Commission MRL (Commission Regulation (EC) 1881/2006). We suggest that data obtained from this study showed that crayfish collected from Villa Literno and Sessa Aurunca were safe for human consumption. Furthermore, the results of this research indicated mild contamination of heavy metals of the sampling sites, indicating a good health status of the area’s aquatic ecosystem.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor, widespread into the marine environment, which can be accumulated in marine organisms, representing a serious threat to human health, even if it is present at low concentrations. This study presents a new methodology for detecting BPA in the edible mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis which, compared to the existing ones, has several advantages. It is cheaper, faster, independent of the amount of organism material considered, and can be used even for the analysis of very small samples: LOD of 0.13 μg g^-1 was obtained extracting 50 mg of tissue. The detection of BPA was obtained by means of a tailored method able to spot the contaminant spiked or bioaccumulated by living mussels at different concentrations and time points. Under environmental conditions inedible mussels (not depurated) bioaccumulated up to 0.6 μg g^-1 (d.w.). Our methodology was applied to in vivo experiments whereas the concentration of BPA detected in mussels' tissues was found to depend on the quantity administered. This methodology may provide the baseline for future research and improve environmental regulation and risk assessment protocols.

Lavandula dentata is a medicinal and aromatic plant rich in specialised secondary metabolites, but the biomedical potential of leaf-surface metabolites recovered from pruning biomass remains poorly investigated. In this study, a pruning-derived leaf-surface extract of L. dentata was obtained by brief acetone immersion followed by n-hexane partitioning. Its chemical profile was investigated by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry analysis combined with feature-based molecular networking, which revealed an enrichment in methoxylated flavonoids and pentacyclic triterpenes, including oleanane- and ursane-like derivatives. The biological activity of the extract was evaluated in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells, and HaCaT keratinocytes. After 24 h treatment, the extract selectively reduced HCT116 cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC₅₀ of 27.8 ± 1.049 μg/mL, whereas MDA-MB-231 and HaCaT cells were less sensitive. Mechanistic analyses in HCT116 cells showed increased early and late apoptotic populations, mitochondrial membrane depolarisation, and enhanced cleavage of caspase-9, caspase-3, and PARP. These findings indicate that a chemically profiled L. dentata leaf-surface extract selectively impairs colorectal cancer cell survival by activating mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. The study also supports the valorisation of pruning-derived aromatic plant biomass as a source of bioactive natural products with potential biomedical relevance.

Background/Objectives: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) refers to a disease in which stomach acid rises into the oesophagus. Currently, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the most commonly used medications to treat GERD. However, long-term use of PPIs is not free from side effects, and new treatment strategies are needed. The present study was conducted to evaluate the gastroprotective potential of four different formulations containing both antiacids and medicinal plants considered useful for the treatment of GERD. Methods: The protective effects of the formulations on gastric ulcers in pyloric ligation-induced gastric mucosal lesions in mice were evaluated by measuring gastric emptying, the ulcer index, gastric content, total acidity, and the pH of the gastric fluid. Gastric damage was also assessed by measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Results: Formulations containing Glycyrrhiza glabra L. or Glycyrrhiza glabra L. plus Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. and Olea europaea L. (formulations 3 and 4, respectively) increased gastric emptying. All formulations decreased gastro-oesophageal damage (ulceration and MPO activity) and gastric contents and had no effects on total acidity or gastric fluid pH in the pyloric ligation ulcer model. Conclusions: Our results show that all formulations are able to exert cytoprotective and anti-ulcerative effects. However, among the formulations, formulation 4 seems to be the most promising because of its better effects on gastric injury and gastric emptying. These results support the hypothesis of the possible use of medicinal plants in combination with antacid agents in the treatment of GERD.