Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a rich source of polyphenols, including ellagitannins and ellagic acid. The plant is used in traditional medicine, and its purified components can provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity and support of host defenses during viral infection and recovery from disease. Current data show that pomegranate polyphenol extract and its ellagitannin components and metabolites exert their beneficial effects by controlling immune cell infiltration, regulating the cytokine secretion and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species production, and by modulating the activity of the NFκB pathway. In vitro, pomegranate extracts and ellagitannins interact with and inhibit the infectivity of a range of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. In silico docking studies show that ellagitannins bind to several SARS-CoV-2 and human proteins, including a number of proteases. This warrants further exploration of polyphenol–viral and polyphenol–host interactions in in vitro and in vivo studies. Pomegranate extracts, ellagitannins and ellagic acid are promising agents to target the SARS-CoV-2 virus and to restrict the host inflammatory response to viral infections, as well as to supplement the depleted host antioxidant levels during the stage of recovery from COVID-19.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a polyphenol-rich food and medicinal plant containing flavonols, anthocyanins, and tannins. Ellagitannins (ETs) are the most abundant polyphenols in pomegranate. A growing body of research shows that polyphenol-rich pomegranate extracts and their metabolites target multiple types of brain cell and support their redox balance, proliferation and survival, as well as cell signaling. Independent studies have demonstrated that the significant neuroprotective effects of ETs are mediated by their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, their chelating properties, by their ability to activate various signaling pathways, as well as the ability to influence mitochondrial damage, thus regulating autophagy, apoptosis and neurotransmitter signaling. The multitude of in vitro and in vivo studies summarized in the present review suggest that pomegranate polyphenols act on both neuronal and glial cells directly, and also affect blood–brain barrier function, restoring redox balance in the blood and brain and increasing blood flow to the brain.

The existing literature supports the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral capacities of the polyphenol extracts derived from Geranium sanguineum L. These extracts exhibit potential in hindering viral replication by inhibiting enzymes like DNA polymerase and reverse transcriptase. The antiviral properties of G. sanguineum L. seem to complement its immunomodulatory effects, contributing to infection resolution. While preclinical studies on G. sanguineum L. suggest its potential effectiveness against COVID-19, there is still a lack of clinical evidence. Therefore, the polyphenols extracted from this herb warrant further investigation as a potential alternative for preventing and treating COVID-19 infections.

Resistance to apoptosis represents a major limitation of platinum-based chemotherapy in colorectal carcinoma, frequently arising from impaired p53 signaling and inefficient execution of programmed cell death. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of Erica spiculifolia extract (ESE) and its ability to synergistically enhance cisplatin cytotoxicity in HT-29 colorectal carcinoma cells. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, followed by formal combination analysis based on the Chou–Talalay methodology. Combination experiments employed a non-constant ratio regimen in which a fixed ESE concentration (45 µg/mL) was combined with serial cisplatin dilutions (45.0–2.8 µg/mL) to define interaction behavior across multiple effect levels. Quantitative analysis revealed a strong superadditive effect, with Combination Index values well below 1 and markedly elevated Dose Reduction Indices for cisplatin, indicating substantial dose-sparing across effect levels. To elucidate the molecular basis of this synergism, apoptosis-related protein expression was profiled using a membrane-based immunoassay. Combined ESE and cisplatin treatment induced full-scale p53 reactivation, including restoration of phosphorylated p53 isoforms associated with DNA damage-dependent apoptotic signaling. Acridine orange/propidium iodide staining confirmed a pronounced increase in early and late apoptotic/necrotic cells following combination treatment. UHPLC-HRMS analysis identified kaempferol 3-O-glucoside (8830.19 ± 11.01 ng/mg dw) and myricitrin (3074 ± 3.12 ng/mg) as predominant flavonols, followed by naringenin 7-O-glucoside (5958.96 ± 9.98 ng/mg), while chlorogenic, cinnamic, quinic, and gallic acids were the main phenolic acids detected. These constituents may contribute to HT-29 cell sensitization to cisplatin.

Surfactants are widely used in industrial applications, creating a growing demand for sustainable and cost-effective production processes. Biosurfactants, on the other hand, are environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic surfactants because of their biodegradability, low toxicity, and diverse functional properties. Among biosurfactant-producing microorganisms, filamentous fungi remain comparatively underexplored despite their considerable biotechnological potential. This study evaluated the biosurfactant-producing ability of filamentous fungi isolated from petrochemical waste-contaminated soil collected near a fuel station in Sofia, Bulgaria. Three isolates grown on n-hexadecane and olive oil were selected as promising fungi for biosurfactant production, following surface tension reduction and enhancement of emulsification. Based on ITS region sequencing, the isolates were identified as Penicillium cavernicola LL-1 (LC899784.1), Trichoderma longibrachiatum LL-2 (LC899785.1), and Aspergillus niger LL-3 (LC899786.1). Culture conditions were optimized, and the use of mineral–organic media supplemented with 2% sunflower seed oil at pH 7 was found most appropriate. The optimal cultivation temperature was 28 °C for P. cavernicola LL-1 and 35 °C for both T. longibrachiatum LL-2 and A. niger LL-3. Maximum biosurfactant activity occurred during the stationary growth phase. Among the isolates, T. longibrachiatum LL-2 reduced the surface tension to 31.8 mN/m and achieved an emulsification index (E₂₄) of 58% with motor oil, whereas P. cavernicola LL-1 reduced the surface tension to 34.8 mN/m and E₂₄ = 56% for gasoline, and A. niger LL-3 reduced the surface tension to 37.4 mN/m and E₂₄ was 57% for triolein. E₂₄ assay was performed with the same hydrophobic substrates (gasoline, diesel fuel, motor oil, olive oil or trioleins) for all of the studied strains. Based on the primary screening experiments (E₂₄ assay and surface tension measurement), T. longibrachiatum LL-2 was chosen as the most promising biosurfactant producer. For this reason, subsequent experiments were conducted with this strain for a deeper investigation, as it is the least researched. The combined chromatographic, spectroscopic, and mass-spectrometric analyses suggest that the bioproduct obtained from T. longibrachiatum LL-2 exhibits features consistent with a glycolipid compound and certain characteristics reported for sophorolipid-like compounds. However, these preliminary findings do not allow the carbohydrate moiety to be identified conclusively. This novel bioproduct exhibited pronounced surface-active properties, indicating its potential as a fungal-derived biosurfactant for sustainable biotechnological applications.