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Skin health must be ensured at all times in the case of wounds when the skin is subjected to traumatic actions that require multiple wound-healing measures. Wound healing is a complex, multi-phase biological process critical for restoring skin integrity after trauma. This study investigates the development and evaluation of a novel composite hydrogel formulated from collagen peptides extracted from the jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo and hydroethanolic extracts from the brown alga Cystoseira barbata, both sourced from the Romanian Black Sea coast. Throughout the work, the characteristics due to the biochemical compositions of the extracts from the brown alga C. barbata and from the jellyfish R. pulmo are highlighted as important, emphasizing the content of polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids. Total phenol content was analyzed for three extracts from natural products. The biochemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and in vitro wound-healing properties of the components and their composite (JPC-ALG) were assessed. The rheological behavior and optical microscopy studies of collagen hydrogels were prepared. The general mechanisms of wound healing with the involvement of polysaccharides and collagen peptides existing in all categories of extracts were highlighted. The study of the effects of JPC-ALG composites and individual extracts on fibroblast and keratocyte cell lines is also presented. Results demonstrated that the composite exhibited synergistic effects, enhancing fibroblast and keratinocyte migration and proliferation, key factors in wound closure. The findings support the potential application of this marine-derived bioactive composite as a promising biomaterial for wound-healing therapies.

Background: Active smoking is recognized as a major risk factor for oral and systemic inflammatory disorders. Tobacco smoke can alter immune responses and modulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, potentially contributing to periodontal tissue damage and impaired oral health. Salivary biomarkers represent a non-invasive and clinically accessible approach for monitoring inflammatory processes. The present study aimed to evaluate salivary levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in active smokers and non-smokers and to explore their potential relevance as indicators of oral inflammatory status. Methods: A total of 98 clinically healthy adults aged 20–72 years were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants were divided into four groups according to smoking status and sex: female controls, male controls, female smokers, and male smokers. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected using standardized procedures and analyzed for IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 concentrations using commercially available ELISA kits. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Salivary cytokine profiles differed between smokers and non-smokers across all investigated biomarkers. Female smokers exhibited lower mean IL-8 levels than female controls, whereas male smokers showed slightly lower IL-8 concentrations than male controls. IL-6 concentrations tended to be higher in female smokers and lower in male smokers relative to their respective control groups. Similarly, IL-2 levels displayed modest variations between smokers and non-smokers. However, none of the observed differences were statistically significant (p > 0.05). A significant positive correlation was identified between salivary IL-2 and IL-6 concentrations (r = 0.559, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Although statistically significant differences were not identified, the observed trends suggest that active smoking may influence salivary cytokine profiles associated with oral inflammatory responses. Salivary IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 remain promising biomarkers for the non-invasive assessment of inflammatory status and warrant further investigation in larger cohorts. Future studies incorporating additional clinical and periodontal parameters are needed to clarify the relationship between smoking-related immune modulation and oral inflammatory processes.

The digestive system is one of the most complex systems in the body, integrating multiple functions, closely linked to and influenced by chemosensory mechanisms, as well as by the presence, composition, and dynamics of the microbiome. Increasing attention has been directed toward plant-derived foods and medicines, which interact with gut microbiota and modulate host physiological responses through microbial metabolism, leading to the formation of bioactive metabolites that influence host signaling pathways and therapeutic response. The review, based on relevant articles from major international databases using specific terms with a focus on microbiome-mediated interactions and molecular mechanisms, highlights the role of microbiome and diagnostic methods through the analysis of specific composition and changes in microbiota, as well as the importance of microbiomes in relation to the treatment of chronic diseases, given their complex influence on drug metabolism. The microbiome influences the response to medications and resistance to therapy, being also involved in the metabolism of plant-derived foods and medicines through complex microbial interactions, while the importance of modern diagnostic approaches supports the use of microbiome analysis to improve diagnosis, monitoring, and personalized medical strategies.

Hydrolyzed collagen, a biomaterial with numerous health and wellness applications, can be extracted from different animal sources. The increasing necessity for hydrolyzed collagen in the food and medical industries, as well as in household consumption, is prompting consideration of diversifying its natural sources. The valorization of waste by obtaining useful materials is a desire of modern society and one of the circular economy objectives. In light of these factors, we employed a straightforward and affordable method to extract collagen from by-products of the meat processing industry, highlighting the impact of extraction duration on the extract’s properties and the structure of the collagen. The amount of hydroxyproline determined by a spectrometric method was used to estimate the collagen content. The protein content was quantified by the Kjeldahl method and the antioxidant capacity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The extracts were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, and some other properties, like pH, electrical conductivity, and phosphate content, were determined for a further characterization of extracts. FTIR spectroscopy was used to analyze the hydrolyzed collagen precipitated from extracts. The results demonstrated a relationship between extraction time and hydroxyproline concentration, as well as with collagen hydrolysis, also proving that waste and by-products from pork meat processing could be used as a sustainable source of hydrolyzed collagen in mild conditions in the absence of enzymes or other reagents.

Four plum cultivars commonly grown in Romania, ‘Angeleno’, ‘Anna Späth’, ‘Silvia’ and ‘Stanley’, were analyzed with regard to several parameters, including water content, juice pH, phenolic compounds (total and some major classes), carotenoids, ascorbic acid and soluble sugars. Among the four studied cultivars, ‘Silvia’ ranked the highest in terms of total phenolic content (82,345 mg/kg DW), flavonoids (43,171 mg/kg) and anthocyanins (1991 mg/kg). Hydroxybenzoic acids were found to be an important phenolic component; up to 33,971 mg/kg was found in ‘Angeleno’. The hydroxycinnamic acid content was highest in ‘Stanley’, and stilbenes were most prevalent in ‘Anna Späth’. Tannins were found in significant amounts only in fruit peel and were only present in some of the cultivars. Carotenoids were mostly present in the epicarp, with the maximum amount identified in ‘Anna Späth’ (313 mg/kg). The main compounds were β-carotene (of which the highest amount was identified in ‘Silvia’), lutein (with the highest amount found in ‘Silvia’) and lycopene (with the highest amount detected in ‘Stanley’). ‘Silvia’ also contained the highest amounts of ascorbic acid (7895 mg/kg in pulp and 12,229 mg/kg in peel). The highest soluble sugar content was found in the pulp of ‘Stanley’ (142,120 mg/kg), while ‘Anna Späth’ contained the lowest amount of soluble sugar. ‘Stanley’ also had less acidic pulp juice. Among the four cultivars, ‘Silvia’ ranked the highest in most classes of bioactive compounds, including total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins (peel only), β-carotene, lutein and ascorbic acid.

Background/Objectives: Oral health is a complex concept involving physical, psychological, emotional, and social components. A key factor in maintaining oral tissue integrity is redox balance, which is disrupted by oxidative stress (OS) through an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defenses. This study examines the contribution of endogenous and exogenous sources to OS and explores the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants from the Asteraceae and Lamiaceae families in restoring redox homeostasis and improving oral health. Methods: A literature review was conducted, analyzing the role of OS in oral diseases and the antioxidant mechanisms of selected Asteraceae species. Special attention was given to their phytochemical contents—polyphenols, flavonoids, and essential oils—and their biological relevance to oral health. Results: OS plays a critical role in the onset and progression of oral conditions such as caries, periodontitis, gingivitis, aphthous ulcers, abscesses, precancerous lesions, and oral cancers. ROS and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) cause inflammation, tissue breakdown, and salivary gland dysfunction. Asteraceae plants like Matricaria chamomilla, Calendula officinalis, Cichorium intybus, Taraxacum officinale, Arctium lappa, Achillea millefolium, and Solidago virgaurea demonstrate notable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties that help counteract OS and support oral homeostasis. Conclusions: Asteraceae and Lamiaceae species show high therapeutic potential in addressing OS-related oral disorders. Their bioactive compounds aid in restoring redox balance and protecting oral tissues. These findings support the integration of phytotherapeutic agents into oral healthcare and call for further clinical validation of plant-based strategies for disease prevention and management.

Enterotoxins produced by Clostridium difficile cause a series of biochemical and immunological manifestations in the cascade leading to alteration of the enterocitus cytoskeleton, intestinal inflammation and diarrhea that can greatly impair the patient’s biological status. The genome of the Clostridium difficile bacterium shows a series of evolutionary adaptations that can give it a high degree of resistance or adaptability to many known pharmacological classes. Changing the diversity of intestinal microbiota induced by the use of antibiotics creates a favorable environment from all points of view for Clostridium difficile spore activity. The theme addresses in an original way but related to the epidemiological studies presented in the literature a correlative aspect between the pathological group and the infection with Clostridium difficile. From the data presented, there is a direct correlation between Clostridium difficile infection and the use of antibiotic therapy as a curative or preventive treatment. Gastrointestinal and neurological pathologies, due to the use of curative but also preventive antibiotic therapy, are at increased risk for the installation of Clostridium difficile infection. The study presented may be a first step in raising awareness of the rational use of antibiotics and avoiding non-assisted community antibiotic therapy.

Two new Ag–AgCl/CaCO 3 composite materials, with different molar ratios Ag:CaCO 3 , were obtained in a green seaweed ( Ulva lactuca ) extract by a two steps synthesis. The first step consists in a green, partial reduction of Ag(I) in order to obtain Ag–AgCl crystals, which are deposited in the second step on CaCO 3 . The composites were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDX, UV–vis, and FTIR spectroscopy. The morphology of composite materials consists in aggregates of calcite nanoparticles, decorated with Ag–AgCl, and the aggregates shape depends on the Ag(I):Ca(II) initial molar ratio. The aggregates are also capped with phytochemicals from green seaweeds, mainly polysaccharides. The composites can be used as a model for the utilization of calcium carbonate as silver carrier in medical applications. The dermatological properties of composites were tested in vivo for healing of burns. An accelerated healing was noticed for the composite with higher silver content. The promising results obtained in vivo recommend the Ag–AgCl/CaCO 3 composites for topical applications. Highlights Ag–AgCl/CaCO 3 composites obtained in seaweed extract were successfully tested for burns healing. Healing effect and oxidative activity increase with silver content. Capping polysaccharides improve the topical activity of composites. Calcite powder obtained in seaweed extract can be used as a silver carrier in topical treatment.

The use of medicinal plants for self-medication of minor health conditions has become a widespread practice in contemporary society. Few consumes, however, question the contamination of these products with toxic factors resulting from the planet’s increasingly polluted environment. This paper presents the levels of five toxic elements (As, Cr, Pb, Cd, and Hg) and nine organochlorine pesticides (hexachlorobenzene (HCB), lindane, heptachor, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, p,p’DDE, p,p’DDD, and p,p’DDT) in 14 brands of regularly consumed medicinal products in Romania. The toxic elements content was determined using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique, and organochlorine pesticide residues (OPCs) were quantified using gas-chromatographic method, equipped with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The results show that in the case of Cr, Cd, and Hg, the concentrations exceeded the limit values established by World Health Organisation (WHO) for raw herbal material. The higher level of OPCs (such as p,p’DDD, p,p’DDT, aldrin, and dieldrin) was found in the samples of Hypericum perforatum -St. John’s wort, Crataegus monogyna -hawthorn, and Epilobium parviflorum -hoary willowherb. The correlations between the content of toxic elements and pesticides were determined by statistical analysis. Hierarchical clustering technique was used to detect natural grouping between the toxic elements and pesticides. For herb samples, four clusters were identified, the strongest correlated cluster consisting of Pb, HCB, Cr, and Hg. A further analysis within this cluster suggested that Cr levels are statistically different from the rest of the elements.

This study aims to highlight the extraction capacity of natural wine for polyphenolic acids from sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). At the same time, the dynamics of the extraction process of polyphenolic acids, the evolution of the anthocyanin content and the antioxidant activity of the extract over 21 days were monitored. Observation of the extraction dynamics of polyphenolic acids from the selected plants showed that the wine has moderate extractive qualities for this class of compounds. Thus, some phenolic acids of major interest for antioxidant activity were less extracted (gallic acid, 3-methyl gallic acid, and chlorogenic acid) while other acids (p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid) showed better extraction. Also, during extraction, degradation of anthocyanin pigments in wine could be observed, which reduces the therapeutic value of extracts prepared by traditional methods. The chemical changes that occurred during the extraction process showed that a reduction of the extraction period to 8-11 days would be suitable for this type of preparations; thus, the development of degradation processes of polyphenolic compounds can be avoided.