This study aims to optimize ultrasonic-assisted natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) based extraction from C. longa. Choline chloride-lactic acid (CCLA-H₂O = 1:1, b/v) was used to investigate the impact of various process parameters such as solvent’s water content, solid loading, temperature, and extraction time. The optimal yield of 79.635 mg/g of C. longa was achieved from extraction in 20% water content NADES with a 4% solid loading in 35 °C temperature for 1 h. Peleg’s model was used to describe the kinetics of the optimized ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) method, and the results were found to be compatible with experimental data. The optimum conditions obtained from C. longa extraction were then used for the extraction of C. xanthorriza and C. mangga, which give yields of 2.056 and 31.322 mg/g, respectively. Furthermore, n-hexane was utilized as an anti-solvent in the separation process of curcuminoids extract from C. longa, C. xanthorriza, and C. mangga, which gave curcuminoid recovery of 39%, 0.74%, and 27%, respectively. Solidification of curcuminoids was also carried out using the crystallization method with n-hexane and isopropanol. However, the solution of CCLA and curcuminoids formed a homogeneous mixture with isopropanol. Hence, the curcuminoids could not be solidified due to the presence of NADES in the extract solution.

Background/Objectives: Solvent-intensive methods are traditionally required to extract curcumin, a potent bioactive compound from Curcuma longa, raising environmental and safety concerns. Methods: This study introduces an efficient and scalable extraction approach using microwave–ultrasound-assisted extraction (MUAE) combined with a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) composed of choline chloride and lactic acid. Process parameters, including solvent water content (20–30% v/v) and solid loading (4–8% w/v), were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) to enhance curcumin yield. Results: Under optimal conditions (20% water content and 8% solid loading), the MUAE method achieved a curcumin content of 40.72 ± 1.21 mg/g, representing a 14.36% improvement over conventional ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), while reducing solvent usage by 50%. The quadratic model demonstrated excellent predictive capability, with an R² value of 0.98. In addition, anti-solvent precipitation using water increased curcuminoid purity from 0.31% to 20.54%, with a recovery rate of 21.49%. Conclusions: Mechanistic analysis revealed that microwave-induced cell disruption, ultrasound cavitation, and the modulation of NADES viscosity contributed synergistically to the enhanced extraction performance. This study is the first to combine MUAE with NADES for optimized curcumin extraction, delivering both high yield and reduced solvent consumption. The proposed method offers a sustainable and industrially relevant alternative for curcumin recovery in the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical sectors.

Royal jellies (RJs) possess moisturizing, emulsifying, and stabilizing properties, and several pharmacological activities have also been found to be present, which make them an ideal component for cosmetic and skin care products. However, despite the abundant efficacies, there is a lack of studies that explore the chemical composition of RJ using metabolome analysis. Furthermore, an evaluation of the chemical composition of Indonesian RJs collected from different regions has yet to be carried out. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to identify any differences in the chemical composition of such RJs. Chemical profiling was also carried out to enable more targeted utilization based on the actual compositions. Chemical profiling is also important given the rich Indonesian biodiversity and the high dependence of the RJ compositions on the botanical source. In this research, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used as part of an untargeted metabolomics approach. From the chemical profiling, >30 compounds were identified across four RJ samples. The major constituents of the samples were found to be oligosaccharides, fatty acids, and adenosine monophosphate derivatives. Meanwhile, sucrose and planteose were found to be highest in the samples from Banjarnegara and Kediri, whereas dimethyloctanoic acid was found to be unique to the sample from Banjarnegara. It was also discovered that the RJs from Demak and Tuban contained more organic fatty acids and oligosaccharides than the other samples. Although the sample from Demak demonstrated good potential for use in the cosmetic, skin care, and bio-supplement industries, the higher abundance of fatty acids and oligosaccharides in the sample from Tuban indicated that it is perhaps the most suitable RJ for use in this field.

This study aims to analyze herbal supplements that have the potential to accelerate recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage through a systematic review. Article searches were carried out using electronic databases originating from Pubmed and Scopus published from 2019 to 2022 using the keywords herbal, curcumin, garlic, ginger, tribulus, cinnamon, biomarkers, muscle pain, inflammatory markers, and antioxidant effects. The inclusion criteria in this literature review resulted in 14 selected articles resulting from a screening process of 90 articles. The results presented in this literature review reveal the fact that there are significant changes related to EIMD after consuming herbal supplements from 14 selected articles with doses varying between 500-2000 grams per day. In addition, other results showed that intervention with herbal products affected biomarkers and oxidative stress. Therefore, this systematic review provides evidence that supplemental intake strategies are essential for the average athlete or individual to minimize the negative effects of strenuous and excessive training. This systematic review concluded that herbal ingredients such as cinnamon, curcumin, garlic, ginger, and tribulus terrestris may help athletes or individuals recover from EIMD. Keywords: Biomarkers, EIMD, Inflammation, Nutrition, Supplementation, Recovery

This study aimed to investigate the effects of ingesting royal jelly sports gel at doses of 1500 mg, 3000 mg, and 4500 mg after 48 hours of high-intensity weight training on creatine kinase (CK) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. A total of 16 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to four groups: placebo, 1500 mg, 3000 mg, and 4500 mg of royal jelly sports gel. Blood samples were collected before and after the intervention to measure CK and IL-6 levels. The results revealed a significant reduction in CK and IL-6 levels in the 4500 mg royal jelly group compared to the placebo group. However, no significant changes were observed in the 1500 mg and 3000 mg groups. These findings suggest that the consumption of royal jelly sports gel at a dosage of 4500 mg may positively influence recovery processes after high-intensity weight training by mitigating muscle damage and inflammation. Further research is needed to elucidate the potential benefits and optimal dosages of royal jelly in enhancing exercise recovery. Keywords: Suplementation, Biomarkers, Royal Jelly, Fatique