Grape leaves influence several biological activities in the cardiovascular system, acting as antioxidants. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the effect of ethanolic and water extracts from grape leaves grown in Algeria, obtained by accelerator solvent extraction (ASE), on cell proliferation. The amount of total phenols was determined using the modified Folin-Ciocalteu method, antioxidant activities were evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH*) method and ^·OH radical scavenging using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy methods. Cell proliferation of HepG2 hepatocarcinoma, MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and vein human umbilical (HUVEC) cells, as control for normal cell growth, was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction assay (MTT). Apoptosis- related genes were determined by measuring Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression levels. Accelerator solvent extractor yield did not show significant difference between the two solvents (ethanol and water) (p > 0.05). Total phenolic content of water and ethanolic extracts was 55.41 ± 0.11 and 155.73 ± 1.20 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g of dry weight, respectively. Ethanolic extracts showed larger amounts of total phenols as compared to water extracts and interesting antioxidant activity. HepG2 and MCF-7 cell proliferation decreased with increasing concentration of extracts (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/mL) added to the culture during a period of 1–72 h. In addition, the expression of the pro-apoptotic gene Bax was increased and that of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 was decreased in a dose-dependent manner, when both MCF-7 and HepG2 cells were cultured with one of the two extracts for 72 h. None of the extracts elicited toxic effects on vein umbilical HUVEC cells, highlighting the high specificity of the antiproliferative effect, targeting only cancer cells. Finally, our results suggested that ASE crude extract from grape leaves represents a source of bioactive compounds such as phenols, with potential antioxidants activity, disclosing a novel antiproliferative effect affecting only HepG2 and MCF-7 tumor cells.

Chicken feet, an abundant and low-cost poultry by-product rich in collagen, were used to extract gelatin, which was then formulated into active biodegradable films containing food-grade clove essential oil (CEO), glycerol, sorbitol, and Tween 20. Gelatin extraction involved 0.5 M NaOH pretreatment followed by 5% acetic acid extraction at 66 °C, yielding 11.22% gelatin. Eight gelatin–CEO films were prepared by varying the CEO concentration and plasticizer composition. The supplier-declared CEO composition was eugenol-dominant, and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Kluyvera sp., and Enterobacter cloacae was assessed by agar disk diffusion, MIC, and MBC assays, each performed in triplicate. CEO inhibition zones of 22, 14, and 19 mm were recorded against E. coli, Kluyvera sp., and E. cloacae, respectively; the blank 6 mm control disks without oil produced no inhibition halo beyond the disk edge. MIC/MBC values were 5/6, 3/4, and 4/5 mg/mL for the same three strains. All films were continuous, smooth, and peelable; sorbitol-containing formulations were clearer and more flexible than sorbitol-free variants. Water solubility ranged from 37.67% to 48.78%, opacity from 5.26 × 10⁻³ to 9.20 × 10⁻³ A500 mm⁻¹, and thickness from 11.75 to 23.75 µm. Water vapor transfer was undetectable under the gravimetric screening protocol for all formulations. All films showed complete visual disappearance in soil within 6–10 days. In the cherry tomato trial, the best-performing coatings extended acceptable storage from about 5 days (uncoated control) to 10 days at 17–20 °C.