Plants produce a wide range of natural compounds that possess various beneficial properties, including antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activities. The present study aims to investigate the phytochemicals by total phenolic content and GC-MS analysis and to evaluate the antioxidant and anticancer properties of the peels of Manihot esculenta Crantz. The total phenolic content in fractions A5 and E5, determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, was remarkably high with values of 395.77 ± 0.65 mg GAE/g and 617.21 ± 0.62 mg GAE/g, respectively. In terms of antioxidant activity assessed by DPPH scavenging assay, fractions A3, A4, A5, E3, E5, E7 and E8 showed significant activity with IC50 values of 385.83 ± 0.12, 507.87 ± 0.01, 504.69 ± 0.04, 537.56 ± 0.30, 534.04 ± 0.56, 552.78 ± 0.58 and 508.26 ± 0.33 µg/ml, respectively, compared to the standard IC50 value of 555.00 ± 0.35 µg/ml. In addition, the acetone and ethanol extracts showed moderate cytotoxicity against lung cancer cells (H1792) in the MTT assay, with IC50 values of 115.80 ± 2.57 µg/mL and 111.33 ± 2.25 µg/mL, respectively. GC-MS analysis of fractions A3 and E8 identified 6 and 11 components, respectively. The major component of fraction A3 was identified as 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid dinonyl ester (50.59%), while fraction E8 consisted mainly of n-hexadecanoic acid (17.45%). These results suggest that the peel extracts and specific fractions of M. esculenta Crantz. are rich in phenolics and exhibit promising antioxidant activity, making them suitable candidates for development into health-promoting products and medical cosmetics.

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are major contributors to skin photoaging, highlighting the need for natural antioxidants with multifunctional bioactivities. This study developed an ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) strategy to recover an astaxanthin-rich extract from the underutilized freshwater macroalga Chara corallina and evaluated its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-photoaging properties. Different solvent systems were evaluated for extraction efficiency, and astaxanthin-equivalent recovery was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC–PDA). Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, whereas biological activities were assessed in human dermal fibroblasts and RAW264.7 macrophages using cell viability assays, quantitative real-time PCR, and extracellular matrix-related enzyme inhibition assays. The selected solvent system (48% ethanol in ethyl acetate) provided the highest astaxanthin-equivalent recovery (0.2598 ± 0.0086% w/w). The selected CCE exhibited DPPH radical-scavenging activity, modulated antioxidant- and inflammation-associated gene expression, increased COL1A2 mRNA expression, and inhibited collagenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase within the evaluated concentration range. HPLC–PDA analysis revealed a chromatographic component with retention-time and UV–visible spectral characteristics corresponding to those of an authentic astaxanthin reference standard; however, comprehensive structural and phytochemical characterization was not performed. Because CCE is a chemically complex extract, the observed biological responses cannot be attributed exclusively to astaxanthin. Overall, these findings provide an initial basis for further investigation of C. corallina as an underexplored freshwater source of carotenoid-containing bioactive extracts rather than establishing it as a commercially competitive source of natural astaxanthin.

Mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) may influence microbial and immune-related processes, but evidence concerning palm kernel meal (PKM)-derived MOS-containing products in goats remains limited. The experimental product was a chemically heterogeneous PKM-derived hydrolysate in which M2–M6 oligosaccharides were identified by HPLC–RID; residual sugars and other soluble constituents were also present. Twenty growing male goats received 0, 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 g hydrolysate/goat/day (n = 5 per treatment) for 90 days. Feed intake, growth, hematological and serum biochemical indices, circulating immune indicators, peripheral blood leukocyte gene expression, and selected ruminal measures were evaluated. Immune and gene-expression outcomes were measured in prefeeding blood collected on Day 90. Ruminal pH and acetate, propionate, and butyrate were measured in a single rumen-fluid sample collected 3 h after feeding on Day 90. Serum IgA showed a positive linear association with supplementation level, whereas IL-1β and IL-6 showed negative associations; these remained significant after false-discovery-rate correction (q = 0.036, 0.012, and 0.012, respectively). Selected immune-related transcripts also differed among treatments, but these endpoint patterns do not establish coordinated immunological regulation or a specific mechanism. Propionate and butyrate showed nominal positive linear associations, whereas the acetate-to-propionate ratio showed a nominal negative association (raw p = 0.028, 0.021, and 0.018, respectively); none remained significant after correction (q = 0.056 for each). Ruminal pH, the sum of the three measured VFA concentrations, feed intake, and growth did not differ detectably. No overt clinical abnormalities requiring veterinary intervention were observed, but the study was not powered to establish safety. These preliminary between-group endpoint associations concern the complete heterogeneous hydrolysate and cannot be attributed specifically to M2–M6 oligosaccharides. Larger, adequately powered studies with pretreatment and repeated measurements are required.

Bacterial and fungal skin infections are common in companion animals and often require antimicrobial therapy, contributing to antimicrobial resistance. This study developed shampoos containing red palm oil (RPO) and extracts of Rhinacanthus nasutus (RN), Curcuma longa (CL), Zingiber montanum (ZM), and Zingiber officinale (ZO), which provide antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. Extracts were obtained using MAE and were evaluated for phytochemical composition, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity (DPPH assay), anti-inflammatory activity (COX-2 inhibition), and antimicrobial activity. RPO contained high levels of vitamin E and β-carotene. Rhinacanthin, curcumin, terpinen-4-ol, and 6-gingerol were the major phytochemical constituents of RN, CL, ZM, and ZO extracts, respectively. All extracts significantly reduced COX-2 expression (p < 0.05), while RN exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 15.23 ± 0.53 µg/mL). RN and ZM demonstrated the strongest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 8 µg/mL; MBC = 8–16 µg/mL), while ZO exhibited the strongest antifungal activity against Malassezia pachydermatis and Microsporum gypseum (MIC = 2, 2 µg/mL; MFC = 2, 16 µg/mL). The developed shampoos containing RPO and the four herb extracts showed suitable pH values, stable viscosity, antibacterial inhibition, and antifungal inhibition (p < 0.05).

Bacterial and fungal skin infection are common in companion animals and often require antimicrobial therapy, contributing to antimicrobial resistance. This study developed shampoos containing red palm oil (RPO) and extracts of Rhinacanthus nasutus (RN), Curcuma longa (CL), Zingiber montanum (ZM), and Zingiber officinale (ZO), which provide antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. Extracts were obtained using MAE and were evaluate for phytochemical composition, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity (DPPH assay), anti-inflammatory activity (COX-2 inhibition), and antimicrobial activity. RPO contained high level of vitamin E and β-carotene. Rhinacanthin, curcumin, terpinen-4-ol, and 6-gingerol were the major phytochemical constituents of RN, CL, ZM, and ZO extracts, respectively. All extracts significantly reduced COX-2 expression (p< 0.05) while RN exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 15.23 ± 0.53 µg/mL). RN and ZM demonstrated the strongest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 8 µg/mL, MBC = 8–16 µg/mL). ZO exhibited the strongest antifungal activity against Malassezia pachydermatis and Microsporum gypseum (MIC = 2 µg/mL, MFC = 2 - 16 µg/mL). The developed shampoos, containing RPO and four herbs’ extracts showed suitable pH values, stable viscosity, antibacterial inhibition and antifungal inhibition (p < 0.05).