SummaryGiven the large applicability in both pharmaceutical and cosmetic field, this work was aimed at analytical (high-performance thin-layer chromatography [HPTLC] method), antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] method), and antimicrobial (diffusion method on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231) studies on a series of whole vegetal extracts and corresponding aqueous, ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions (selective extracts) prepared from eight plant species growing in Romania. Briefly, it was revealed moderate to certain activity against S. aureus ATCC 6538 and E. coli ATCC 8739 in the case of greater burdock leaves (Arctium lappa), beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica) and great willowherb aerial part (Epilobium hirsutum) whole extracts. Purple loosestrife aerial part (Lythrum salicaria) and sea-buckthorn leaves (Hippophae rhamnoides) whole extracts showed only weak activity against these bacteria, while tarragon aerial part (Artemisia dracunculoides), chokeberries leaves

Lamium album and Lamium purpureum are species belonging to the genus Lamium. Aerial parts of the two species and roots of Lamium album have applications in human and veterinary traditional medicine. Haemostatic properties of butanolic extracts of Lamium species were investigated by two experimental models in Wistar rats: haemostatic test by tail bleeding time determination and acenocoumarolcarrageenan test. Results of the haemostatic test by tail bleeding determination demonstrated haemostatic activity of both extracts. In the acenocoumarol-carrageenan test, only the Lamium album extract showed haemostatic activity, comparable to that of vitamin K. Based on the qualitative chemical data on iridoid glycosides (HPTLC), 8-acetylshanzhiside methyl ester might be assumed to be responsible for haemostatic activity. Based on the acute toxicity test, none of the extracts showed toxicity.A large number of drugs that lead to improvement of human health and prolong life expectancy have been discovered lately. At the same time, new drugs have a considerable number of adverse effects. Today, more and more scientists are turning to medicinal plants, discovering natural chemical compounds with specific actions and mechanisms of performance.Genus Lamium, which comprises about 40 species distributed in Europe, Asia and Africa, is less studied and much less utilized compared to other members of the Lamiaceae family to which it belongs (1). Lamium album and Lamium purpureum are species belonging to the genus Lamium. Aerial parts of the two species and roots of Lamium album have applications in human and veterinary traditional medicine; they possess diuretic, antiinflammatory, anti-diarrheal, astringent, expectorant, vasoconstrictor, antirheumatic, haemostatic and emollient properties (2). Lamium album is used in human medicine internally in leucorrhea, dysmenorrhea, prostate hypertrophy or inflammation, diarrhea, bronchitis, menopausal nervous state in women, insomnia, convulsive cough and

No abstract

This study is focused on the encapsulation of polyphenols from Lycium barbarum leaves into liposomes as a strategy to improve their delivery. Liposomes loaded with Lycium barbarum leaves extract were obtained and characterized for particle size, polydispersity, entrapment efficiency, and stability. Liposomes presented entrapment efficiency higher than 75%, nanometric particle size, narrow polydispersity, and good stability over three months at 4 °C. The liposomes containing Lycium barbarum offered a slower release of polyphenols with attenuated burst effect compared with the dissolution of free Lycium barbarum extract in phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4. Moreover, an in vitro pretreatment of 24 h with loaded liposomes showed a cytoprotective effect against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity on L-929 mouse fibroblasts cells. These preliminary findings imply that liposomes could be successfully employed as carriers for polyphenols in pharmaceutical applications.

No abstract

The paper deals with the preparation and characterisation of hydroalcoholic polyphenolic extract from Sambucus ebulus (SE) leaves that was further loaded into three-types of lipid vesicles: liposomes, transfersomes, and ethosomes, to improve its bioavailability and achieve an optimum pharmacological effect. For Sambucus ebulus L.-loaded lipid vesicles, the entrapment efficiency, particle size, polydispersity index and stability were determined. All prepared lipid vesicles showed a good entrapment efficiency, in the range of 75–85%, nanometric size, low polydispersity indexes, and good stability over three months at 4 °C. The in vitro polyphenols released from lipid vehicles demonstrated slower kinetics when compared to the free extract dissolution in phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4. Either free SE extract or SE extract loaded into lipid vesicles demonstrated a cytoprotective effect, even at low concentration, 5 ug/mL, against hydrogen peroxide-induced toxicity on L-929 mouse fibroblasts’ cell lines. However, the cytoprotective effect depended on the time of the cells pre-treatment with SE extract before exposure to a hydrogen peroxide solution of 50 mM concentration, requiring at least 12 h of pre-treatment with polyphenols with radical scavenging capacity.

Aronia melanocarpa L. fruit (common black chokeberry) is one of the most abundant sources of antioxidant compounds in the plant world, superior to all edible fruits; chokeberry fruits contain up to 100 g total phenols per kg fresh material, predominantly (−)epicatechin, cyanidin-3-glycosides and procyanidins (60%), added to quercetin and caffeoyl quinic acid derivates.

This work was aimed at testing gastroprotective effects of Centaurea cyanus L. (herba) polysaccharides (P) and polyphenols (A) fractions on stress-induced rat ulcer model. Studies evaluating acute toxicity in rats and antioxidant (chemiluminescence method) and antimicrobial (on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538 and Escherichia coli ATCC8739 strains) activities of Centaurea cyanus L. (herba) product, which combined polysaccharides and polyphenols fractions (PA), have also been done. Accordingly, in vivo pharmacological studies revealed high influence of PA product (500 mg kg -1 of body weight) on deep, moderate and superficial gastric mucosal lesions, greater than that of chemical reference, Ranitidine. P product was proven more effective than Ranitidine in opposing the emergence of deep necrotic lesions only, suggesting the ability of polysaccharides compounds to consolidate gastric mucous layer as well as their certain tendency for cooperation with polyphenols fractions. The acute toxicity study indicated the lack of toxicity of PA product and maximum tolerated doses greater than 1875 mg kg -1 of body weight. PA product provided augmented scavenger activity and week antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538 and Escherichia coli ATCC8739 strains, resulting in better opportunities for valorisation of the aerial part of Centaurea cyanus L. species in order to obtain new and effective natural medicines.