Human skin is continually changing. The condition of the skin largely depends on the individual’s overall state of health. A balanced diet plays an important role in the proper functioning of the human body, including the skin. The present study draws attention to bioactive substances, i.e., vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, polyphenols, and carotenoids, with a particular focus on their effects on the condition of the skin. The aim of the study was to review the literature on the effects of bioactive substances on skin parameters such as elasticity, firmness, wrinkles, senile dryness, hydration and color, and to define their role in the process of skin ageing.

Natural substances have traditionally been used in skin care for centuries. There is now an ongoing search for new natural bioactives that not only promote skin health but also protect the skin against various harmful factors, including ultraviolet radiation and free radicals. Free radicals, by disrupting defence and restoration mechanisms, significantly contribute to skin damage and accelerate ageing. Natural compounds present in plants exhibit antioxidant properties and the ability to scavenge free radicals. The increased interest in plant chemistry is linked to the growing interest in plant materials as natural antioxidants. This review focuses on aromatic and medicinal plants as a source of antioxidant substances, such as polyphenols, tocopherols, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, and macromolecules (including polysaccharides and peptides) as well as components of essential oils, and their role in skin health and the ageing process.

Summary Plant-origin oils are an essential element of the diet, affecting the preservation of health, but also of significant importance for the care of skin and its appendages. Among fats of plant origin, oils from fruit seeds are an important group. They are a rich source of fatty acids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, carotenoids, flavonoids, phytosterols and other bioactive compounds that have positive effect in relation to specific functions of the human body. Fruit seed oils play an important role in health prophylaxis, because they prevent the development of diseases of civilisation, alleviate the effects of stress and slow down the ageing process of the body. Due to the beneficial effects on the skin, they are also used in cosmetology. In formulations of cosmetic preparations, plant oils are the basis for the administration of other active ingredients, but they are also used due to their biological properties. The article discusses in detail the composition, dietary and cosmetic importance of oil from the seeds of raspberries, blackcurrants, rose hips and grapes.

Introduction Vegetable oils are an essential element of the diet contributing to preservation of health, but they also have a significant role in skin care. Among vegetable fats, an important group comprised fruit seed oils, which play an important role in health prophylaxis. Owing to their beneficial effects on the skin, they are used in cosmetology as well 1. Alongside other oils in this group, apricot kernel oil is valuable and worthy of interest 2. Apricot Prunus armeniaca L. , a plant of the family Rosaceae, well-known for its delicious fruit, is widely distributed in most countries of the world 2 4. The fruit of the apricot is distinguished by high dietary value and is a valuable raw material for the processing industry. The kernel is a good source of protein, essential amino acids, carbohy

Halophytes are plant species widely distributed in saline habitats, such as beaches, postindustrial wastelands, irrigated lands, salt flats, and others. Excessive salt level, known to limit plant growth, is not harmful to halophytes, which have developed a variety of defense mechanisms allowing them to colonize harsh environments. Plants under stress are known to respond with several morpho-anatomical adaptations, but also to enhance the production of secondary metabolites to better cope with difficult conditions. Owing to these adaptations, halophytes are an interesting group of undemanding plants with a high potential for application in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, this review aims to present the characteristics of halophytes, describe changes in their gene expression, and discuss their synthesized metabolites of pharmacognostic and pharmacological significance. Lobularia maritima is characterized as a widely spread halophyte that has been shown to exhibit various pharmacological properties in vitro and in vivo. It is concluded that halophytes may become important sources of natural products for the treatment of various ailments and for supplementing the human diet with necessary non-nutrients and minerals. However, extensive studies are needed to deepen the knowledge of their biological potential in vivo, so that they can be introduced to the pharmaceutical and food industries.

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INTRODUCTION Tree nuts rank third, behind spices and fruits, in terms of content of bioactive constituents 1. Tree nuts, dry fruits with a single seed in which the ovary wall hardens at maturity, are a rich source of phytochemicals with multi-faceted effects 2, 3. Nuts have played an important role in the diet of many cultures, due to their wealth of nutrients, high energy value, and vast variety of flavours. Nuts are used as an ingredient in many dishes, such as snacks roasted and

New plant oils as a potential natural source of nutraceutical compounds are still being sought. The main components of eight cultivars (‘Koral’, ‘Lucyna’, ‘Montmorency’, ‘Naumburger’, ‘Wanda’, ‘Wigor’, ‘Wołyńska’, and ‘Wróble’) of sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) grown in Poland, including crude fat, protein, and oil content, were evaluated. The extracted oils were analysed for chemical and biological activity. The oils had an average peroxide value of 1.49 mEq O2/kg, acid value of 1.20 mg KOH/g, a saponification value of 184 mg of KOH/g, and iodine value of 120 g I2/100 g of oil. The sour cherry oil contained linoleic (39.1–46.2%) and oleic (25.4–41.0%) acids as the major components with smaller concentrations of α-eleostearic acid (8.00–15.62%), palmitic acid (5.45–7.41%), and stearic acid (2.49–3.17%). The content of sterols and squalene varied significantly in all the studied cultivars and ranged between 336–973 mg/100 g and 66–102 mg/100 g of oil. The contents of total tocochromanols, polyphenols, and carotenoids were 119–164, 19.6–29.5, and 0.56–1.61 mg/100 g oil, respectively. The cultivar providing the highest amounts of oil and characterised by the highest content of PUFA (including linoleic acid), plant sterols, α-and β-tocopherol, as well as the highest total polyphenol and total carotenoids content was been found to be ‘Naumburger’. The antioxidant capacity of sour cherry kernel oils, measured using the DPPH• and ABTS•+ methods, ranged from 57.7 to 63.5 and from 38.2 to 43.2 mg trolox/100 g oil, respectively. The results of the present study provide important information about potential possibilities of application of Prunus cerasus kernel oils in cosmetic products and pharmaceuticals offering health benefits.