In this paper, extraction methods for bitter Lupinus albus seeds are described. Samples were either soaked with water (thereafter soaked) or used without soaking (thereafter unsoaked) and were exposed to Soxhlet extraction using commercial ethanol (∼95%), 80%, 70%, 60% and 50% ethanol. Yields of extractions were 12.5%, 23.9%, 12.6%, 16.1% and 16.6% for soaked samples, and 11.6%, 20.9%, 19.3%, 20.5% and 25% for unsoaked samples, respectively. 50% ethanol extracted samples showed the highest sodium concentration (14.186 mg.g^-1), 60% ethanol extracts showed highest potassium concentration (8.76 mg.). Redox titration showed higher concentration of Fe⁺² in all unsoaked samples. All samples showed very good antimicrobial activity against Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) but were weakly active or had no activity against Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). FRAP method for the determination of antioxidant activity showed higher antioxidant activity for the soaked samples than the unsoaked ones. Total phenolics showed very similar results for soaked and unsoaked samples. Finally, contents of two of the flavonoids (flavonones and dihydroflavonols) were measured spectrophotometrically against Rutin as standard. Soaked samples demonstrated higher content than those of the unsoaked ones.

Coridothymus capitatus (L.) Reichenb. f. (syn. Thymus capitatus ) is a Mediterranean aromatic herb esteemed for its essential oil rich in bioactive phenolic compounds. In the current study, essential oils (EOs) were obtained by hydrodistillation from fresh and dried leaves of C. capitatus collected from Hebron and Bethlehem, Palestine, and evaluated for their chemical composition, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that oxygenated monoterpenes were the leading class (69.03–74.44%), with thymol and carvacrol as the major constituents. A clear chemotypic divergence was observed between the two locations, with thymol-rich oils in Hebron and carvacrol-rich oils in Bethlehem. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH radical-scavenging assay over a concentration range of 0.333–33.33 µg/mL. At the highest experimentally tested concentration (33.33 µg/mL), DPPH inhibition ranged from 28.21 ± 0.76 to 34.40 ± 0.85ᵃ% among the EOs, with Hebron-fresh oil showing the highest activity. Antibacterial tests displayed substantial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with MICs between 25 and 100 µg/mL, while antifungal tests revealed strong inhibitory effects against phytopathogenic fungi, particularly Botrytis californica and Fusarium species, with MICs as low as 6.25 µg/mL. The geographical origin and post-harvest drying influenced the chemical composition and biological activities of the EOs, demonstrating chemotypic variation among Palestinian C. capitatus populations. This study provides a comprehensive comparison of EOs from C. capitatus populations from two geographically distinct regions of Palestine and evaluates the effects of post-harvest drying on their phytochemical composition and antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. These findings contribute to understanding the chemotypic variation of Palestinian C. capitatus and highlight its potential as a natural source of bioactive compounds for food preservation, sustainable crop protection, and related applications. Coridothymus capitatus (L.) Reichenb. f. (syn. Thymus capitatus ) is a Mediterranean aromatic herb esteemed for its essential oil rich in bioactive phenolic compounds. In the current study, essential oils (EOs) were obtained by hydrodistillation from fresh and dried leaves of C. capitatus collected from Hebron and Bethlehem, Palestine, and evaluated for their chemical composition, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that oxygenated monoterpenes were the leading class (69.03–74.44%), with thymol and carvacrol as the major constituents. A clear chemotypic divergence was observed between the two locations, with thymol-rich oils in Hebron and carvacrol-rich oils in Bethlehem. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH radical-scavenging assay over a concentration range of 0.333–33.33 µg/mL. At the highest experimentally tested concentration (33.33 µg/mL), DPPH inhibition ranged from 37.50 ± 0.83% to 52.08 ± 0.36% among the EOs, with Hebron-fresh oil showing the highest activity. Antibacterial tests displayed substantial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with MICs between 25 and 100 µg/mL, while antifungal tests revealed strong inhibitory effects against phytopathogenic fungi, particularly Botrytis californica and Fusarium species, with MICs as low as 6.25 µg/mL. The geographical origin and post-harvest drying influenced the chemical composition and biological activities of the EOs, demonstrating chemotypic variation among Palestinian C. capitatus populations. These findings contribute to understanding the chemotypic variation of Palestinian C. capitatus and highlight its potential as a natural source of bioactive compounds for food preservation, sustainable crop protection, and related applications.

Background: Natural alternatives are becoming more popular as a result of health risks associated with synthetic preservatives in pharmaceuticals. Because of its antibacterial properties, Psidium guajava (L.) leaf extract is a practical choice for sustainable preservation. Objectives: The aim of this research is to evaluate the efficacy of Psidium guajava (L.) leaf extract as a 10% (w/w) natural preservative in five different base formulations: creams (clotrimazole cream, permethrin cream, and gentamicin cream) and gels (indomethacin emulgel and ibuprofen gel). Methods: Over the course of 28 days, antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus brasiliensis, and Candida albicans was evaluated. In accordance with USP/BP guidelines, three months of accelerated conditions (40 ± 2 °C/75% ± 5% RH) were used to assess chemical, physical, and microbiological stability. The stability of the active component was examined using HPLC. Results: Our findings showed that the extract completely inhibited the growth of tested bacterial species in clotrimazole cream, permethrin cream, gentamicin cream, and indomethacin emulgel, demonstrating significant antibacterial activity across all formulations. However, the antifungal activity was restricted. The preservation effectiveness criterion (bacterial/yeast counts < 10 CFU, mold < 20 CFU) was only fulfilled by ibuprofen gel and clotrimazole cream. Although there were color changes, stability tests verified that the active components such as ibuprofen (reduced from 97.5% to 92%) and clotrimazole (reduced from 99.9% to 95%) decomposed minimally and had acceptable physical characteristics. Particularly against fungus, the extract was surpassed by chemical preservatives (methyl/propyl paraben). Conclusions: Certain semi-solid pharmaceuticals can benefit from the stability and antimicrobial protection provided by guava leaf extract, a natural preservative. The weak antifungal activity of the guava leaf extract emphasizes the necessity for specific improvements in the formulation.

In present study, protein and oil were extracted from sweet and bitter lupin that were used to define the phase behaviour of a three-component system (lupin oil, Tween 80/propylene glycol and water/lupin protein). Ternary phase diagrams were constructed and the optimum area of ternary phase diagrams corresponding to the formation of microemulsions were identified using emulsion titration method. Phase inversion composition method was applied, which involved the spontaneous formation of microemulsion, characterized by visual observation for their phase separation and optical clarity (e.g. transparency and opacity). Generally, o/w microemulsions were formed at a small region of the ternary phase diagrams with a relatively large ratio of water/lupin protein. Some differences between the sweet and bitter lupin diagrams were observed in regions, including bi- and multiphase, liquid crystals, gel and coarse emulsions. The physical characteristics of the microemulsions did not change with different storage temperatures.