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In recent decades, new alternative therapies using drugs containing active ingredients of natural origin have been a hot topic for medical research. Based on the confirmed therapeutic potential of the Vinca minor plant, considered in the specialized literature to be of pharmaceutical interest, the purpose of this study is to determine the chemical and mineral composition of the Vinca minor plant grown in the Dobrogea area, with a view to its use in the formulation of dermal preparations. For this purpose, plant materials were collected from the mentioned area and hydroalcoholic macerates of different concentrations were obtained: 40%, 70% and 96% from leaves (F40, F70, F96) and stems (T40, T70, T96) of Vinca minor plant to determine the optimal extraction solvent. The hydroalcoholic macerates were analyzed via the HPLC method for the identification and quantification of the main bioactive compounds, and two methods were used to evaluate their antioxidant properties: the DPPH radical scavenging test and the photochemiluminescence method. HPLC analysis showed the presence of four indole alkaloids: vincamine, 1,2-dehydroaspidospermidine, vincaminoreine and eburnamonine. Vincamine was the alkaloid found in the highest concentration in Vinca leaves (2.459 ± 0.035 mg/100 g d.w.). The antioxidant activity of Vinca minor hydroalcoholic macerates showed values between 737.626–1123.500 mg GAE/100 g d.w (DPPH test) and 77.439–187.817 mg TE/100 g d.w (photochemiluminescence method). The concentrations of toxic metals Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb in dried leaves and stems of Vinca minor, determined by AAS, were below detection limits.

A new trend in the use of indole alkaloids from natural products is the preparation of topical pharmaceutical formulations with applications in the field of regenerative medicine. These formulations can be characterized through the ease of administration, the proven healing action of indole alkaloids, the protection of skin lesions, and the assurance of oxygen permeability. Based on the numerous benefits that indole compounds extracted from the Vinca minor plant show externally, the purpose of this study was to develop new semi-solid biocomposites for topical application obtained from hydroalcoholic macerates of 40%, 70%, and 96% concentrations from the stems and leaves of the Vinca minor L. plant from the Dobrogea area. A total of 12 pharmaceutical formulations (named P1–P12) were prepared for which the physicochemical properties, pH, thermal stability, spreading capacity, and rheological behavior were determined. The optimal formulas with antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity were evaluated and determined (P3, P4, P9, and P10). Antioxidant activity was elicited using the photochemiluminescence method. The microorganisms used for the evaluation of antimicrobial activity were Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Gram-negative Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and a fungal species, Candida albicans (ATCC 900288). The study of the rheological profile for the obtained composites revealed Newtonian, pseudoplastic, and thixotropic fluid behaviors. Following determinations using the photochemiluminescence method, the best antioxidant activity was obtained in the P3 and P9 preparations. The results of the antimicrobial analysis confirmed that both the leaves and the stems of the Vinca minor plant represent a valuable source of antibacterial substances, and the biocomposites analyzed may represent an alternative in the realization of new pharmaceutical preparations with topical applications based on hydroalcoholic macerates obtained from the Vinca minor plant.

Background/Objectives: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a major source of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare burden, and were profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through changes in case mix, care organization, and antimicrobial use. This study aimed to compare the epidemiology, etiology, ward distribution, risk factors, and outcomes of HAIs during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods in southeastern Romania, with particular emphasis on Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, and in-hospital mortality. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 3929 patients with confirmed HAIs reported by 10 hospitals in one Romanian county between March 2020 and December 2024, divided into a pandemic period (March 2020–March 2022) and a post-pandemic period (April 2022–December 2024). Sociodemographic, clinical, ward-related, therapeutic, and microbiological variables, together with discharge status and cause of death, were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test, Z-tests with Bonferroni correction, the Mann–Whitney U test, and multivariable models, applying national and ECDC-aligned surveillance definitions for HAIs. Results: Patients were predominantly older adults (median age 67 years), with a slight male and urban predominance. Hospital stays were longer during the pandemic. Immunosuppression, previous surgery, antisecretory therapy, and chemotherapy were more frequent post-pandemic. HAIs were mainly reported from medical wards, with a relative shift towards intensive care units during the pandemic; pediatric wards carried a smaller burden. CDI was the leading HAI (about half of all cases) with higher post-pandemic prevalence, whereas SARS-CoV-2 infections predominated in medical and surgical wards; Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae clustered in intensive care units during the pandemic, and were more often associated with mortality. Overall, 59.7% of patients improved and 17.5% died, with higher mortality during the pandemic, while post-pandemic deaths were more frequently unrelated to HAIs. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a substantial and ongoing burden of healthcare-associated infections in southeastern Romania, with elderly patients with prolonged hospital stays and complex medical conditions being most affected and experiencing considerable mortality, particularly in medical and intensive care units. After the pandemic, Clostridioides difficile infections became more prevalent in the context of repeated antibiotic use and immunosuppression. Mortality among patients with HAIs was higher during the pandemic, whereas in the post-pandemic period deaths were more often unrelated to HAIs, underscoring the need to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship programs and infection prevention strategies.

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant public health problem, having a decisive impact on the prognosis of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. In Romania, the absence of a uniform reporting system and the lack of epidemiological data comparable to European standards limit the real assessment of their incidence and consequences. Methods: In this context, the present study aimed to conduct an integrated analysis of the clinical, epidemiological, and microbiological factors involved in the mortality of patients with COVID-19 and HAIs in a county located in southeastern Romania. This research was based on a retrospective observational study that included 295 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and at least one documented HAI between January 2020 and December 2022. Data were extracted from standardized reporting forms, and statistical analyses included tests (Fisher’s exact test, Mann–Whitney U), ROC curves, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and Cox proportional hazard regression. Results: The analysis revealed a mortality rate of 32.5%, significantly associated with advanced age, gastrointestinal surgery, and respiratory infections. Clostridioides difficile was the predominant pathogen (84.1%), and the threshold of ≥63.5 years demonstrated predictive value for mortality. In multivariate models, age greater than 63 years and gastrointestinal surgery were confirmed as independent predictors of death. Conclusions: The findings highlight the substantial impact of HAIs on the clinical progression of COVID-19 patients, underscoring the need for comprehensive systemic interventions, including enhanced prevention and control strategies, prudent antimicrobial therapy, and standardized epidemiological monitoring. Implementing these measures is crucial to mitigating HAIs’ effects and improving patient outcomes in similar situations.

Three poplar species widely distributed in southern Romania were investigated for their chemical composition and bioactivity. Male buds from black poplar (Populus nigra L.), white poplar (Populus alba L.), and Euroamerican hybrid poplar (Populus × euramericana (Dode) Guinier.) were analyzed using HPTLC, HPLC, GC-MS, and spectrophotometric assays. The analysis revealed predominantly polyphenolic compounds, including phenolic acids and flavonoids, secondary metabolites recognized for their antioxidant properties, particularly valuable in alleviating oxidative stress disorders. Heavy metal content was measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy, and antioxidant capacity was assessed through DPPH and FRAP assays alongside a cytotoxicity evaluation. Polyphenolic content ranged from 19.26 to 33.37 mg GAE/g DW and flavonoid content from 2.15 to 4.45 mg RE/g DW. All three species demonstrated notable antioxidant capacity and cytotoxic activity. Hydroethanolic extracts of P. nigra and P. euramericana showed higher antioxidant activity than aqueous extracts, with P. nigra achieving the lowest IC50 value overall, highlighting the influence of solvent choice on antioxidant efficacy. Furthermore, poplar hydroethanolic extracts exhibited concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against fibroblast-like human osteosarcoma MG63 cell lines, with IC50 values of 42.55 µg/mL for P. nigra, 40.87 µg/mL for P. × euramericana, and 132.49 µg/mL for P. alba, underscoring significant interspecies variability in cytotoxic potency. These findings suggest that male floral buds from Romanian poplar species may serve as valuable sources of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential.

The most medically representative plant in the Apocynaceae family is Vinca minor. Vinca minor is a perennial, herbaceous plant, commonly known as Saschiu. In the present research we aimed to isolate the indole compounds from Vinca minor L. and to carry out some physico-chemical studies on these compounds: UV-VIS spectroscopy and the determination of the polyphenols content using Folin-Ciocâlteu method. The spectrophotometric study of the alcoholic plant extracts obtained from the leaf and stem of Vinca minor was performed using the UV-VIS spectrophotometric method and a VWR UV-630PC double beam spectrophotometer. Both samples of plant alcoholic extracts obtained from the leaf and from the stem of Vinca minor L. had the specific absorption maxima detected in the range 225-350 nm and the absorbance maximum in both cases was 3.5 (u.a- absorbency units). The total content of polyphenols was determined by the Folin-Ciocâlteu method from alcoholic extracts of different concentrations: 40%, 70%, 96% (T40, T70, T96, F40, F70, F96) obtained from the leaf and stem of Vinca minor plant using the spectrophotometer model JASCO- 550 UV VIS. Regarding the alcoholic extracts obtained from the leaf of Vinca minor L., the concentrations of polyphenols were between 812.50 mg / 100g pv and 1737.50 mg / 100g pv and and in the case of alcoholic extracts obtained from the strain, the results were between 1525.00-3962.50 mg GAE / 100 g pv, results that were in accordance with the literature.

In recent decades, new alternative therapies using drugs containing active ingredients of natural origin have been a hot topic for medical research. Based on the confirmed therapeutic potential of the Vinca minor plant, considered in the specialized literature to be of pharmaceutical interest, the purpose of this study is to determine the chemical and mineral composition of the Vinca minor plant grown in the Dobrogea area, with a view to its use in the formulation of dermal preparations. For this purpose, plant materials were collected from the mentioned area and hydroalcoholic macerates of different concentrations were obtained: 40%, 70% and 96% from leaves (F40, F70, F96) and stems (T40, T70, T96) of Vinca minor plant to determine the optimal extraction solvent. The hydroalcoholic macerates were analyzed via the HPLC method for the identification and quantification of the main bioactive compounds, and two methods were used to evaluate their antioxidant properties: the DPPH radical scavenging test and the photochemiluminescence method. HPLC analysis showed the presence of four indole alkaloids: vincamine, 1,2-dehydroaspidospermidine, vincaminoreine and eburnamonine. Vincamine was the alkaloid found in the highest concentration in Vinca leaves (2.459 ± 0.035 mg/100 g d.w.). The antioxidant activity of Vinca minor hydroalcoholic macerates showed values between 737.626–1123.500 mg GAE/100 g d.w (DPPH test) and 77.439–187.817 mg TE/100 g d.w (photochemiluminescence method). The concentrations of toxic metals Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb in dried leaves and stems of Vinca minor, determined by AAS, were below detection limits.

A new trend in the use of indole alkaloids from natural products is the preparation of topical pharmaceutical formulations with applications in the field of regenerative medicine. These formulations can be characterized through the ease of administration, the proven healing action of indole alkaloids, the protection of skin lesions, and the assurance of oxygen permeability. Based on the numerous benefits that indole compounds extracted from the Vinca minor plant show externally, the purpose of this study was to develop new semi-solid biocomposites for topical application obtained from hydroalcoholic macerates of 40%, 70%, and 96% concentrations from the stems and leaves of the Vinca minor L. plant from the Dobrogea area. A total of 12 pharmaceutical formulations (named P1–P12) were prepared for which the physicochemical properties, pH, thermal stability, spreading capacity, and rheological behavior were determined. The optimal formulas with antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity were evaluated and determined (P3, P4, P9, and P10). Antioxidant activity was elicited using the photochemiluminescence method. The microorganisms used for the evaluation of antimicrobial activity were Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Gram-negative Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and a fungal species, Candida albicans (ATCC 900288). The study of the rheological profile for the obtained composites revealed Newtonian, pseudoplastic, and thixotropic fluid behaviors. Following determinations using the photochemiluminescence method, the best antioxidant activity was obtained in the P3 and P9 preparations. The results of the antimicrobial analysis confirmed that both the leaves and the stems of the Vinca minor plant represent a valuable source of antibacterial substances, and the biocomposites analyzed may represent an alternative in the realization of new pharmaceutical preparations with topical applications based on hydroalcoholic macerates obtained from the Vinca minor plant.

In recent years, active ingredients derived from natural sources have garnered significant attention in alternative medical therapies. This study examines the therapeutic potential and pharmaceutical relevance of Rosa canina L., focusing on a comparative analysis of phytoconstituents in fresh fruits, flowers, and commercial fruit tea to inform future antioxidant-based pharmaceutical applications. Hydroalcoholic macerates (60% and 96%) were prepared from these plant materials, and spectrophotometric methods were employed to identify the compounds contributing to antioxidant properties, focusing on polyphenols and flavonoids. The total polyphenol and flavonoid content were quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and the Romanian Pharmacopoeia method, respectively. Antioxidant activity was assessed through DPPH radical scavenging and FRAP assays. The results demonstrated that 60% of ethanolic macerates derived from fruits exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and ferric-reducing activity. Four formulations of dermato-cosmetic hydrogels were prepared with the macerates that showed the highest antioxidant potential. The physicochemical properties of the hydrogels, such as viscosity, pH, and spreadability, were analyzed to confirm their stability and appropriateness for dermato-cosmetic use. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH assays, revealing a strong activity for free radical scavenging. The findings revealed a strong correlation between antioxidant activity and polyphenol content, affirming Rosa canina's potential for use in pharmaceutical formulations.

Coffee, one of the most consumed beverages globally, is a significant source of antioxidants. The present study investigated the mineral content, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity of coffee extracts prepared by room temperature maceration and hot water infusion. The results showed the influence of the preparation method on the analyzed parameters, demonstrating that Robusta green coffee has a superior antioxidant activity to Arabica. However, after roasting, Arabica outperformed Robusta in antioxidant activity. Antimicrobial activity was effective against Gram-negative bacteria, moderate against Gram-positive bacteria, and weak against fungi for roasted coffee samples. Mineral content, performed by atomic absorption spectrometry, showed the presence of beneficial elements such as Fe, Zn, Ca, Mg, K, and Na, confirming that both types of green coffee contain only healthy substances without harmful metals.