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Essential oils are well known for their biological properties, making them useful for the treatment of various diseases. However, because of their poor stability and high volatility, their potential cannot be fully exploited. The use of nanoformulations to deliver essential oils can solve these critical issues and amplify their biological activities. We characterized an essential oil from Satureja thymbra via GC–MS and HPLC–DAD to provide qualitative and quantitative data. The essential oil was formulated in phospholipid vesicles which were characterized for size, surface charge, and storage stability. The entrapment efficiency was evaluated as the quantification of the major monoterpenoid phenols via HPLC–DAD. The morphological characterization of the vesicles was carried out via cryo-TEM and SAXS analyses. The essential oil’s antioxidant potential was assayed via two colorimetric tests (DPPH• and FRAP) and its cytocompatibility was evaluated in HaCaT skin cell cultures. The results showed that the nanoformulations developed for the loading of S. thymbra essential oil were below 100 nm in size, predominantly unilamellar, stable in storage, and had high entrapment efficiencies. The vesicles also displayed antioxidant properties and high cytocompatibility. These promising findings pave the way for further investigation of the therapeutic potential of S. thymbra nanoformulations upon skin application.

In this study, water residue obtained from Salvia desoleana Atzei et Picci steam distillation was evaluated for its antioxidant activity in vitro using different experimental models. In particular, the study evaluated the antiradical and antioxidant activity of Salvia desoleana extracts using CUPRAC, FRAP, DPPH•, and ABTS•+ assays; and tested ROS scavenging activity in Caco-2 cell cultures. Phenolic compounds were identified by (HR) LC-ESI-QTOF MS/MS and quantified with HPLC-PDA. Furthermore, Keap1-Nrf2, iNOS, and NOX enzymes involved in oxidative stress and antioxidant defences were the targets of molecular docking on key polyphenols. Hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids are the most important classes of compounds detected in the extracts. Among these compounds, the most significant was rosmarinic acid, followed by caffeic acid, luteolin glucuronide, and methyl rosmarinate. Although all extracts have shown encouraging results, the ethanolic extract solubilised with water (SEtOHA) was the one with the highest hydroxycinnamic acid content and total phenol content (518.64 ± 5.82 mg/g dw and 106.02 ± 6.02 mg GAE/g dw), as well as the highest antioxidant and antiradical activity. The extracts have shown anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting NO release in LPS-stimulated Caco-2 cells. Finally, the in silico evaluation against the three selected enzymes showed interesting results for both numerical affinity ranking and predicted ligand binding models. The outcome of this study suggests this by-product as a possible ally in counteracting oxidative stress, as established by its favourable antioxidant compound profile, thus suggesting an interesting future application as a nutraceutical.

Pistacia lentiscus L. is widely reported in the ethnobotanical literature for its use in treating various pathologies, particularly skin disorders such as burns, inflammation, and wounds. These traditional applications suggest broader potential anti-aging activity and support the exploration of simple and sustainable extraction strategies. In this study, an aqueous extract obtained from leaf hydrodistillation residues, representing a by-product of essential oil production, was chemically characterized by LC-ESI-QToF-MS/MS and HPLC-PDA. The analysis identified 32 compounds, including 8 gallic acid derivatives, accounting for 70.7% of the total extract, and 24 flavonol glycosides. High total phenolic and flavonoid contents were associated with strong antioxidant activity, confirmed by the ABTS assay and by a dose-dependent intracellular ROS reduction in keratinocytes. The extract exhibited significant inhibitory activities against key skin-aging-related enzymes, with IC50 of 33.8 µg/mL and 17.4 µg/mL, respectively for tyrosinase and elastase. Notably, strong anti-hyaluronidase activity, IC50 4.3 µg/mL, is reported here for the first time, while no collagenase inhibition was observed. The cytotoxicity assay demonstrated a favorable safety profile at biologically active concentrations. Overall, these results highlight the bioactivity of the P. lentiscus phenolic phytocomplex and support the valorization of hydrodistillation aqueous residues as a sustainable source of multifunctional bioactive compounds for dermocosmetic applications.

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The herbal tea industry has experienced substantial growth, particularly regarding green tea (Camellia sinensis). In the manufacturing of filter tea, fine herbal dust is generated as a residual by-product during grinding and sieving and is typically discarded as waste. This study aims to explore the application of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for secondary valorisation of green tea herbal dust by investigating the effects of various parameters on extraction efficiency. Antiradical activity of UAE extracts was determined using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, and the total phenolic content (TPC) was measured using Folin–Ciocalteu’s assay. Furthermore, selected phenolics were quantified by HPLC and qualitatively characterised by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionisation and quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QToF-MS/MS). The results demonstrate that UAE parameters have a pronounced influence on the antioxidant activity, TPC, and individual polyphenolic profile of green tea herbal dust extracts. Ethanol–water mixtures at a ratio of around 40–60%, as well as moderate impulse regimes (around 60%) and extraction times (around 10 min), were the most suitable for extracting green tea polyphenols. Epigallocatechin gallate was the predominant phenolic component in most extracts, alongside epicatechin, epigallocatechin, catechin, and gallic acid. The findings highlight the UAE technique as a robust, green, and scalable method for valorising green tea by-products, thereby facilitating the development of high-value natural extracts for applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.

Cynara cardunculus L. subsp. cardunculus (Cynara cardunculus L. var. sylvestris (Lam.) Fiori), the wild cardoon, is known for its culinary applications and potential health benefits. Due to this, and given the growing interest in circular economies, deepening our under-standing of the effects of wild cardoon leaf waste on angiogenesis and collagenase activity represents a valuable opportunity to valorise agricultural byproducts as health-promoting ingredients. In this study, the waste product of wild cardoon leaves was extracted to examine its chemical composition and biological activities. Analytical techniques identified several bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids such as dicaffeoyl-succinoylquinic acids, and luteolin-7-O-rutinoside. In vivo tests in zebrafish embryos and the chick chorioallantoic membrane demonstrated dose-dependent antiangiogenic effects, particularly enhanced by the complexation with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD). Considering the link between angiogenesis and collagenase, the potential effects of the extract on collagenase activity was investigated. The extract alone inhibited collagenase with an IC50 value comparable to that of the standard inhibitor while its complexed form exhibited a 4.5-fold greater inhibitory activity. A molecular docking study examined the interaction between the main compounds and collagenase. In conclusion, wild cardoon leaves can represent a valuable source of bioactive compounds. This study demonstrated that the complexation of the extract with cyclodextrin determines an increase in its biological activity.

Sardinian honeys obtained from different floral sources (Arbutus, Asphodelus, Eucalyptus, Thistle, and Sulla) were evaluated for their ability to inhibit tyrosinase and xanthine oxidase enzymes and for their antioxidant activity. Physicochemical parameters, total phenolic, and flavonoids content were also determined. Honey from Arbutus flowers had the highest antioxidant activity followed by Eucalyptus and Thistle ones. These three honeys showed good tyrosinase and xanthine oxidase inhibition properties. Thus, these Sardinian honeys could have a great potential as antioxidant sources for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

This study examines the antidiabetic potential of Rubus ulmifolius, a shrub traditionally used for medicinal and nutritional purposes. The aim was to assess the fruit extract’s inhibitory effect on α-amylase and α-glucosidase, therapeutic targets in type 2 diabetes (T2D), given their role in carbohydrate digestion. Considering the role of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) aggregation in pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in T2D, the extract’s effect on inhibiting this process was also evaluated. Cytocompatibility and antioxidant effects were tested in Caco-2 cells, while caspase-1 activity was measured to evaluate anti-inflammatory potential. Phytochemical analysis of R. ulmifolius fruits revealed various phenolic compounds, with anthocyanin as the most abundant one. The cyanidin-3-O-glucoside accounted for 86% of all anthocyanins. Among flavonoids, the most represented ones were quercetin-HMG-glucoside and a kaempferol derivative, while ellagic acid glucuronide was the predominant ellagitannin. The extract showed significantly higher α-glucosidase inhibition with an IC50 value of 2.8 µg/mL, 32 times more effective than acarbose, and it markedly inhibited IAPP aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. It demonstrated antioxidant activity in cellular and acellular systems, without cytotoxicity. Caspase-1 activity was also reduced in intestinal cells. These findings support R. ulmifolius fruits as a promising functional food for managing T2D and preserving pancreatic function.

Saffron (Crocus sativus) floral by-products are a source of phenolic compounds that can be recovered and used in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic industries. This study aimed to evaluate the phenolic compounds’ extraction using green extraction techniques (GETs) in saffron floral by-products and to explore the influence of selected extraction techniques on the phytochemical composition of the extracts. Specifically, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), subcritical water extraction (SWE), and deep eutectic solvents extraction (DESE) were used. Phenolic compounds were identified with (HR) LC-ESI-QTOF MS/MS analysis, and the quantitative analysis was performed with HPLC-PDA. Concerning the extraction techniques, UAE showed the highest amount for both anthocyanins and flavonoids with 50:50% v/v ethanol/water as solvent (93.43 ± 4.67 mg/g of dry plant, dp). Among SWE, extraction with 96% ethanol and t = 125 °C gave the best quantitative results. The 16 different solvent mixtures used for the DESE showed the highest amount of flavonoids (110.95 ± 5.55–73.25 ± 3.66 mg/g dp), while anthocyanins were better extracted with choline chloride:butane-1,4-diol (16.0 ± 0.80 mg/g dp). Consequently, GETs can be employed to extract the bioactive compounds from saffron floral by-products, implementing recycling and reduction of waste and fitting into the broader circular economy discussion.

The extract of Teucrium marum L. (Lamiaceae) was obtained using the aerial parts of the plant, by means of a maceration process. Verbascoside, caffeic acids derivatives and flavonols were the main components contained in the extract as detected using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector (HPLC–DAD) as an analytical method. The extract was successfully incorporated into hyalurosomes, which were further enriched by adding a water cosolvent (glycerol) and a surfactant (Tween 80), thus obtaining glycerohyalurosomes. Liposomes, transfersomes and glycerosomes were prepared as well and used as comparisons. All vesicles were small, as the mean diameter was never higher than ~115 nm, thus ideal for topical application and stable on storage, probably thanks to the highly negative surface charge of the vesicles (~−33 mV). The cryo-TEM images confirmed the formation of close-packed, oligolamellar and multicompartment hyalurosomes and glycerohyalurosomes in which around 95% of the used extract was retained, confirming their ability to simultaneously load a wide range of molecules having different chemical natures. Moreover, the extract, when loaded in hyalurosomes and glycerohyalurosomes was able to counteract the damages induced in the fibroblasts by hydrogen peroxide to a better extent (viability~110%) than that loaded in the other vesicles (viability~100%), and effectively promoted their proliferation and migration ensuring the healing of the wound performed in a cell monolayer (scratch assay) during 48 h of experiment. Overall in vitro results confirmed the potential of glycerohyalurosomes as delivery systems for T. marum extract for the treatment of skin lesions connected with oxidative stress.