Cervical cancer remains a major global public health concern, with persistent infection by high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) types recognized as the primary etiological factor. This review explores the multifactorial nature of the disease, focusing on the complex interplay between host genetic susceptibility and epigenetic alterations that drive cervical carcinogenesis. Evidence from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) is discussed, highlighting the contribution of specific genetic loci, predominantly within the HLA region, to susceptibility to HPV infection and disease progression. In parallel, the review examines the molecular mechanisms by which the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 promote genetic instability and epigenetic reprogramming, including histone modifications and dysregulation of non-coding RNAs. Particular emphasis is placed on DNA methylation, affecting both the viral genome and host genes such as FAM19A4, CADM1, PAX1, and MAL, as a promising biomarker for triage and detection of high-grade intraepithelial lesions (CIN2+). Finally, the review evaluates currently available methylation-based assays and self-sampling devices, highlighting their potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and increase participation in cervical cancer screening programs.

This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of dichloromethanic, methanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts of seventeen different selected Balkan medicinal herbs with ethnopharmacological interest, with the goal of identifying the most bioactive candidates for further investigation of their therapeutic efficacy in human diseases. A total of fifty-four extracts were initially screened; due to the high sample number, only the most active samples were advanced to subsequent assays in order to identify bioactive candidates with potential therapeutic efficacy in human diseases. The methanolic extract of Cotinus coggygria showed the highest radical scavenging activity (DPPH: 96.4% inhibition), the hydroalcoholic extract of Hypericum empetrifolium exhibited the most potent iron chelation (IC₅₀: 5.0 μg/mL) and the methanolic extract of Sedum sediforme presented the best anti-inflammatory activity in in vitro assays (LOX IC₅₀: 39.4 μg/mL, COX-1 inhibition: 93.1% and COX-2 inhibition: 94.0%). Furthermore, significant inhibition of tyrosinase and collagenase was observed for the methanolic extract of Cistus creticus (94.2% tyrosinase inhibition, 86.8% collagenase inhibition) and the methanolic extract of Cotinus coggygria (83.1% tyrosinase inhibition, 96.1% collagenase inhibition). In vivo, five promising plant extracts were selected and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity using a carrageenan-induced paw edema model in female C57BL/6 mice. The study aimed to assess the in vivo anti-inflammatory potential of these extracts under acute inflammatory conditions. The methanolic extract of Cotinus coggygria proved the most active, significantly reducing paw edema by 34% compared to the non-treated control, indicating a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect and supporting its potential as a source of bioactive compounds with therapeutic relevance. The results of this study indicate that several selected herbal extracts exhibit notable pharmacological activities. Given their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and inhibitory properties against enzymes related to skin function, these extracts warrant further in vivo and (pre)clinical investigation for potential use in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products targeting skin disorders associated with inflammation and oxidative stress.