Antioxidative and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Bark Extracts from Common European Trees in Light of Dermal Applications

Abstract

Plant species have developed effective defense strategies for colonizing diverse habitats and protecting themselves from numerous attacks from a wide range of organisms, including insects, vertebrates, fungi, and bacteria. The bark of trees in particular constitutes a number of components that protect against unwanted intruders. This review focuses on the antioxidative, dermal immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial properties of bark extracts from European common temperate trees in light of various skin pathogens, wound healing, and the maintenance of skin health. The sustainability aspect, achieved by utilizing the bark, which is considered a byproduct in the forest industry, is addressed, as are various extraction methods applied to retrieve extracts from bark.

VOLKSMED Database: A Source for Forgotten Wound Healing Plants in Austrian Folk Medicine

“…Here, the main active compounds in larch bark were specified as flavonoids, lignans, and stilbenoids with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, but no wound healing assays were available. Spruce bark revealed stilbenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and lignin as the main active substance classes, also with antioxidative and antimicrobial activity as well as results from an in vivo scratch assay using a human melanoma cell line [79]. Interestingly, the essential oils of four different Abies species, Cedrus libani, and Picea orientalis were found to hold wound healing potential in vivo on wounds in rats.…”

“…The chemical composition of different parts of A. alba, L. decidua, and P. abies is well investigated [74][75][76][77][78][79][80]. The database contains the usage of needles and shoot tips of European silver fir and Norway spruce.…”

Use of Plant Extracts, Bee-Derived Products, and Probiotic-Related Applications to Fight Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens in the Post-Antibiotic Era

“…The efficacy of these extracts revealed their potential as drug candidates for eradicating pathogenic bacteria [65]. Häsler et al [66] discussed extraction technologies that can be used in biomedical applications. The preservation of the biologically active compounds depends on the extraction parameters.…”

Innovative Approach to Enhance Bioavailability of Birch Bark Extracts: Novel Method of Oleogel Development Contrasted with Other Dispersed Systems

“…Herbal extracts are widely used in the formulation of various health products, including dietary supplements and drugs [ 1 ]. Birch outer bark extracts (BBEs) have numerous pharmacological properties [ 2 ] and exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties [ 3 , 4 ], as well as being effective in therapy for chronic hepatitis C [ 5 ].…”