Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flower is gaining attention for their rich nutritional and functional profile, positioning them as promising ingredients for health-oriented functional foods and beverages. However, limited studies have explored their direct application in functional foods and beverages. This study addresses that gap by assessing the nutritional composition, antioxidant potential, and incorporation of H. rosa-sinensis flower extract as a sustainable ingredient in clean-label functional tea formulations. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (20 kHz, 40 °C, 30 min; 1:20 solvent ratio) using various solvents was employed to obtain flower extracts. Functional teas formulations were developed by replacing green tea with flower extract at 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 % levels. Nutritional analysis of H. rosa-sinensis flower revealed high carbohydrate content (61.50 ± 1.18 %) and ash (3.71 ± 0.29 %), with calcium (1218 ± 26 mg/100 g), and potassium (1109 ± 40 mg/100 g) as dominant minerals. The H. rosa-sinensis flower extract exhibited strong antioxidant properties with total phenolic content (TPC) of 781.77 ± 4.66 mg GAE/100 g, DPPH inhibition activity of 84.72 ± 2.48 %, ABTS activity of 90.01 ± 2.32 %, and FRAP activity of 1654.4 ± 15.62 µg Fe/100 g. In tea formulations, the highest TPC and FRAP activity were in the control that was 100% green tea (429.98 ± 5.16 mg GAE/100 g, 1759.0 ± 4.48 µg Fe/100 g), while 75 % H. rosa-sinensis extract containing functional tea showed the highest DPPH inhibition activity of 70.05 ± 1.48 %, and ABTS activity of 71.79 ± 1.54 %. The sensory analysis indicated that the 50 % H. rosa-sinensis extract containing functional tea had the highest acceptability and optimal color attributes. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of key functional groups (O-H, C=C), indicating abundant polyphenols and flavonoids. Overall, H. rosa-sinensis flower demonstrated excellent potential as sustainable ingredient for functional food and beverages development, offering improved antioxidant benefits and appealing sensory properties.

Plant foods have been the cornerstone of human diets since ancient times, fueling civilization and shaping cultures. Plants became central to sustainable food systems, offering diverse and nutritious options for the future. Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) has attracted growing scientific interest due to the presence of bioactive compounds, polyphenols, fatty acids, phytosterols, carotenoids, vitamins, and minerals in its fruit, seeds, and leaves. Moreover, sea buckthorn exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, anticancer, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and metabolic regulatory properties supported by in vitro and in vivo models. The biological activity of these phytochemical compounds plays a crucial role in regulating the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathways, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Furthermore, its potential against microbial growth, including S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. intermedius, and S. pyogenes, among others, not only expands its applications in the pharmaceutical industry but also attracts researchers to incorporate it into food products. This could lead to the discovery of plant-based therapeutic products without significant adverse effects. However, further exploration of each component’s potential side effects is necessary to support the commercialization of formulated products in either the pharmaceutical or food industries, ensuring the highest safety standards for consumers. Including studies on bioavailability and pharmacodynamics could further strengthen the scientific evidence supporting the specific phytochemicals in sea buckthorn and their mechanistic interactions.

Manilkara zapota (M. zapota), commonly known as sapodilla, is a tropical fruit recognized for its nutritional value and diverse phytochemical composition. This review critically summarizes recent evidence (2013–2026) regarding the phytochemistry, biological activities, safety profile, and food industry relevance of M. zapota, using literature retrieved from Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and other scientific databases. Different parts of the plant, including its fruits, leaves, seeds, and bark, contain a wide range of bioactive compounds, such as gallic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin, catechin, myricetin, kaempferol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, triterpenes, and glycosides. Experimental studies have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, gastroprotective, glucose homeostasis, and antiproliferative activities associated with these phytochemicals. Mechanistically, M. zapota extracts have been reported to modulate oxidative stress markers, inflammatory mediators, apoptotic pathways, and lipid metabolism-related enzymes in in vitro and animal studies. Available toxicological evidence suggests that certain extracts were well tolerated under specific experimental conditions; however, further standardized safety assessments and clinical investigations remain necessary. In addition to its pharmacological relevance, M. zapota has potential applications in functional foods and food processing industries, including jams, jellies, spreads, fruit bars, beverages, and nutraceutical formulations. Overall, M. zapota represents a promising underutilized plant with potential relevance for food, nutraceutical, and future biomedical applications.

Redox homeostasis is the balance between oxidative processes and antioxidant defenses and is fundamental to cellular integrity. This review critically synthesizes current evidence on the phytochemical composition, redox-modulating mechanisms, and therapeutic bioactivities of Fagonia cretica L. (F. cretica), with the aim of evaluating its translational potential as a natural antioxidant and anticancer agent. F. cretica has emerged as a phytochemically rich candidate containing highly bioactive secondary metabolite for redox-targeted therapeutic applications. Its diverse secondary metabolite profile, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides, and phenolic compounds, confers broad biological activity. Bioactive constituents, particularly kaempferol, catechin, quercetin, and arbutin, directly neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) and modulate inflammatory pathways through inhibition of COX-1, COX-2, and nitric oxide production. These compounds influence important major ROS-sensitive redox signaling pathways: activation of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE axis to upregulate cytoprotective genes such as HO-1, NQO1, and GCL, suppression of the NF-κB pathway to attenuate pro-inflammatory cytokine transcription, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and interference with the MAPK-PI3K/Akt cascade to disrupt aberrant cancer cell survival and proliferation. Bioactive compound-rich extracts of F. cretica exhibit anticancer activity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells by inducing DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and apoptotic signaling through the FOXO3a/p53 pathways. Similar effects have been reported in colorectal (HCT-116) and prostate (PC-3) cancer cells through DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) downregulation, oxidative stress induction, and ER-β activation. Moreover, these extracts demonstrate cytotoxic effects in HepG2 and Caco-2 intestinal cancer cells, often associated with topoisomerase inhibition and caspase activation. Despite encouraging preclinical evidence, systematic studies encompassing pharmacokinetic profiling, toxicological characterization, and human clinical trials remain essential to translate these findings into safe, evidence-based therapeutic applications.