Frankincense resin (Boswellia serrata), native to arid regions of India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, has been highly valued for its medicinal properties. This study evaluated the antimicrobial potential of methanolic extracts of Boswellia serrata resin against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Listeria monocytogenes. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) coupled with bioautography identified bioactive zones, while Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) quantified the phenolic and terpenoid compounds. The cytotoxicity was assessed on HaCaT human keratinocyte cells to evaluate the safety for dermatological applications. The results demonstrated significant antibacterial activity, particularly against S. aureus and L. monocytogenes. The bioautograms revealed that samples from central and southern Serbia showed the highest antimicrobial effect against the tested bacterial strains. The active compounds included 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (up to 3733.96 μg/g), gallic acid (110.93 μg/g), and naringenin (53.13 μg/g). Cytotoxicity assays confirmed non-toxic effects at 10 µg/mL, with sample 6 enhancing the keratinocyte viability by 137%, while higher concentrations (50 µg/mL) showed variable cytotoxicity. These findings highlight the potential of B. serrata resin as a natural antimicrobial agent, particularly against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Its therapeutic applicability in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations is promising provided that dosing ensures a balance between efficacy and safety.

Narcotics trafficking is a fundamental part of organized crime, posing significant and evolving challenges for forensic investigations. Addressing these challenges requires rapid, precise, and scientifically validated analytical methods for reliable identification of illicit substances. Over the past five years, forensic drug testing has advanced considerably, improving detection of traditional drugs—such as tetrahydrocannabinol, cocaine, heroin, amphetamine-type stimulants, and lysergic acid diethylamide—as well as emerging new psychoactive substances (NPS), including synthetic cannabinoids (e.g., 5F-MDMB-PICA), cathinones (e.g., α-PVP), potent opioids (e.g., carfentanil), designer psychedelics (e.g., 25I-NBOMe), benzodiazepines (e.g., flualprazolam), and dissociatives (e.g., 3-HO-PCP). Current technologies include colorimetric assays, ambient ionization mass spectrometry, and chromatographic methods coupled with various detectors, all enhancing accuracy and precision. Vibrational spectroscopy techniques, like Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, have become essential for non-destructive identification. Additionally, new sensors with disposable electrodes and miniaturized transducers allow ultrasensitive on-site detection of drugs and metabolites. Advanced chemometric algorithms extract maximum information from complex data, enabling faster and more reliable identifications. An important emerging trend is the adoption of green analytical methods—including direct analysis, solvent-free extraction, miniaturized instruments, and eco-friendly chromatographic processes—that reduce environmental impact without sacrificing performance. This review provides a comprehensive overview of innovations over the last five years in forensic drug analysis based on the ScienceDirect database and highlights technological trends shaping the future of forensic toxicology.

The production of natural pigments presents several advantages: these biomolecules can be sustainably produced, create appealing colors, and have beneficial health properties. The structural versatility of natural pigments lends them to multiple applications that align with consumer trends toward healthier and more sustainable choices. In this review, we discuss the potential of exploiting fruit and vegetable waste and by-products as sources of natural pigments, with a focus on effective green extraction methods, the chemical stability of the resulting molecules, and their biological activities. Key stabilization strategies for these somewhat unstable and degradation-prone pigments are also presented. Furthermore, we explore their use across various sectors of the food industry, including their application as colorants in cultured meat and meat analogs. Beyond these applications, we discuss additional strategies for the future utilization of natural pigments, emphasizing novel integrated systems that efficiently convert waste into valuable products.

Urban forest management practices generate substantial amounts of twig biomass that is commonly treated as waste, despite its potential as a source of bioactive compounds. Biological and chemical properties of methanolic extracts of 19 urban forest tree and shrub species were assessed using a multidisciplinary approach combining high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and HPTLC-DPPH bioautography with spectrophotometric determination of radical scavenging activity (RSA), total phenolic content (TPC), inhibition assays of skin aging-related enzymes (tyrosinase and elastase), and testing against skin pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results revealed marked differences in biological activity among extracts, driven primarily by specific phytochemical profiles. Torminalis glaberrima (Gand.) Sennikov & Kurtto (108.8 ± 6.6 μmol TE/mL) and Paliurus spina-christi Mill. (106.6 ± 1.6 μmol TE/mL) exhibited the highest RSA, correlating with elevated TPC. Acer campestre L. (51.6 ± 9.1%) showed the strongest elastase inhibition. The most pronounced tyrosinase inhibition was observed for Torminalis glaberrima (39.0 ± 3.5%), indicating a significant contribution of TPC. In contrast, the strongest antibacterial activity was recorded for Acer platanoides L. and Carpinus betulus L., despite their lower TPC values, suggesting the contribution of non-phenolics. Phenolic zones (R_F 0.10, 0.28, 0.57, 0.58) were identified as putative markers of the observed bioactivities. Overall, twigs emerge as an underexplored source with considerable potential for natural cosmetics development, warranting further investigations.

This review critically highlights recent breakthroughs in eco-friendly biosensors utilizing natural pigments, exploring their structural mechanisms and diverse applications in monitoring environmental pollutants, pH variations, and pathogen genes.