Curcumin (1,7-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione) is a natural lipophilic polyphenol that exhibits significant pharmacological effects in vitro and in vivo through various mechanisms of action. Numerous studies have identified and characterised the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and clinical properties of curcumin. Curcumin has an anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antinociceptive, antiparasitic, antimalarial effect, and it is used as a wound-healing agent. However, poor curcumin absorption in the small intestine, fast metabolism, and fast systemic elimination cause poor bioavailability of curcumin in human beings. In order to overcome these problems, a number of curcumin formulations have been developed. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of recent research in biological and pharmaceutical aspects of curcumin, methods of sample preparation for its isolation (Soxhlet extraction, ultrasound extraction, pressurised fluid extraction, microwave extraction, enzyme-assisted aided extraction), analytical methods (FTIR, NIR, FT-Raman, UV-VIS, NMR, XRD, DSC, TLC, HPLC, HPTLC, LC-MS, UPLC/Q-TOF-MS) for identification and quantification of curcumin in different matrices, and different techniques for developing formulations. The optimal sample preparation and use of an appropriate analytical method will significantly improve the evaluation of formulations and the biological activity of curcumin.

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Antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of cyclohexane, dichloromethane, methanol, and aqueous extracts of Cantharellus cibarius were tested. Broth microdilution assay was performed against 10 bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus feacalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella abony), with emphasis on Helicobacter pylori. Methanol extract was the most active against H. pylori strains with minimal inhibitory concentration values between 4 and 32 μg/mL. All extracts were active against antibiotic resistant H. pylori. Methanol and aqueous extracts had no cytotoxicity against tested cell lines, whereas cyclohexane and dichloromethane extracts were active against HeLa and N87 cells, but also against healthy MRC-5 cells (IC 39.26 ± 1.24-134.79 ± 0.01 μg/mL). The tested aqueous extracts have shown 68% of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity in doses of 1.25 mg/mL. Chemical analysis has shown the presence of linoleic, cis-vaccenic, and oleic acids, sterols, β-glucans, and polyphenolic compounds.

Nutritional value and chemical composition, including the content of vitamins, fatty acids, 5'-nucleotides and nucleosides and amino acids, as well as biological activities, including antioxidant, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory and cytotoxic activity of black trumpet (Craterellus cornucopioides (L.) Pers.) were tested in vitro. C. cornucopioides was low in energy, fat and carbohydrate contents, but rich in dietary fibre, especially β-glucan as well as niacin and α-tocopherol. The content of essential and non-essential free amino acids was 1.49 and 5.48 mg/g dry weight (dw). The nucleosides and 5'-nucleotides were determined at 1.84 and 3.99 mg/g dw, respectively. The share of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) was 75.92% with oleic acid as the major UFA. Cyclohexane and dichloromethane extracts expressed significant cytotoxic activity against selected cell lines, human epithelial cervical cancer cells (HeLa), adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549), colorectal cancer cells (LS174) and normal MRC-5 human embryonic lung fibroblast cells (IC 50 of 78.3-155.6 μg/mL). ACE inhibitory activity of the aqueous extract was strong with an IC 50 of 0.74 μg/mL. It can be concluded that black trumpet is a good source of nutrients, such as vitamins, dietary fibres, amino acids, nucleotides and fatty acids, which contribute to the overall nutritional value of this fungus with potential for ACE inhibitory activity and use in anti-hypertensive diet.

The main goal of this study was to develop a liposome formulation with sulfanilamide and to investigate the liposomes impact on its release and stability to the UV-A/UV-B and UV-C irradiation. Liposome dispersions with incorporated sulfanilamide were prepared by thin-film hydration method and liposomes role to the sulfanilamide release was investigated by using a dialysis method. Comparatively, sulfanilamide in phosphate buffer solution was subject to release study as well to the UV irradiation providing for the possibilities of kinetics analysis. drug release study demonstrated that 20% of sulfanilamide was released from liposomes within 1 h that is approximately twice as slower as in the case of dissolved sulfanilamide in phosphate buffer solution. The kinetic release process can be described by Korsmeyer-Peppas model and according to the value of diffusion release exponent it can be concluded that drug release mechanism is based on the phenomenon of diffusion. The sulfanilamide degradation in phosphate buffer solution and liposomes is related to the formation of UV-induced degradation products that are identified by UHPLC/MS analysis as: sulfanilic acid, aniline and benzidine. The UV-induced sulfanilamide degradation in the phosphate buffer solution and liposome vesicles fits the first- order kinetic model. The degradation rate constants are dependent on the involved UV photons energy input as well as sulfanilamide microenvironment. Liposome microenvironment provides better irradiation sulfanilamide stability. The obtained results suggest that liposomes might be promising carriers for delayed sulfanilamide delivery and may serve as a basis for further research.