Exploring the Therapeutic Efficacy of Parsley (Petroselinum crispum Mill.) as a Functional Food: Implications in Immunological Tolerability, Reduction of Muscle Cramps, and Treatment of Dermatitis.

The status of parsley as a well-known folk medicine noted for its nutritional and medicinal properties prompted the exploration of its potential as a functional food and natural remedy. The paper aims to investigate the potential of parsley to enhance muscle function and alleviate psoriasiform dermatitis, eventually establishing it as a natural, well-tolerated alternative with specific benefits for both muscles and skin. This study examines the tolerability of parsley in a cohort of 937 participants by assessing immunoglobulin G (IgG) reactions. The findings reveal high tolerability, as 96.26% of participants experienced no adverse effects. Among the 902 individuals lacking hypersensitivity, 37.02% reported muscle cramps, with a notable 15.02% reduction observed in the subgroup consuming parsley juice. In the subset of 32 subjects with dermatitis, the application of parsley extract ointment led to a significant decrease in dermatological parameters (redness, thickness, scaling). While the control group exhibited improvements, statistical significance was not observed. Notably, four categories of affected area reduction were identified, with scaling demonstrating the most pronounced impact. The results propose that parsley holds promise for favorable tolerability, contributing to the alleviation of muscle cramps and presenting an effective alternative in dermatitis treatment. Nonetheless, sustained validation through long-term studies is imperative to substantiate these preliminary findings.

Investigation of Epilobium hirsutum L. Optimized Extract's Anti-Inflammatory and Antitumor Potential.

Epilobium hirsutum L., commonly known as hairy willowherb, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe and Asia. In Romania, the Epilobium genus includes 17 species that are used in folk medicine for various purposes. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antitumor potential of the optimized extract of Epilobium hirsutum (EH) in animal models. The first study investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of EH optimized extract and the model used was carrageenan-induced paw inflammation. Wistar rats were divided into three groups: negative control, positive control treated with indomethacin, and a group treated with the extract. Oxidative stress markers, cytokine levels, and protein expressions were assessed. The extract demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties comparable to those of the control group. In the second study, the antitumor effects of the extract were assessed using the tumor model of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. Swiss albino mice with Ehrlich ascites were divided into four groups: negative, positive treated with cyclophosphamide (Cph), Group 3 treated with Cph and EH optimized extract, and Group 4 treated with extract alone. Samples from the ascites fluid, liver, and heart were analyzed to evaluate oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer markers. The extract showed a reduction in tumor-associated inflammation and oxidative stress. Overall, the EH optimized extract exhibited promising anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects in the animal models studied. These findings suggest its potential as a natural adjuvant therapeutic agent for addressing inflammation and oxidative stress induced by different pathologies.

The Effect of Extraction Methods on Phytochemicals and Biological Activities of Green Coffee Beans Extracts.

The objectives of the present study consisted of identifying the impact of extraction methods and parameters held over the phytochemistry and biological activities of green coffee beans. Extraction processes belonging to two categories were performed: classical methods-maceration, Soxhlet extraction, and such innovative methods as turboextraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and a combination of the latter two. Total polyphenolic and flavonoid content, as well as in vitro antioxidant activity of the resulted extracts were spectrophotometrically determined. Extracts displaying the highest yields of bioactive compounds were subjected to High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis. The extracts with the best phytochemical profiles were selected for biological activity assessment. In vivo, a model of plantar inflammation in Wistar rats was used to determine antioxidant activity, by evaluating the oxidative stress reduction potential, and anti-inflammatory activity. In vitro antimicrobial activity was also determined. The Soxhlet extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction gave the highest bioactive compound yields. The highest total polyphenolic content was 2.691 mg/mL gallic acid equivalents and total flavonoid content was 0.487 mM quercetin equivalents for the Soxhlet extract subjected to 60 min extraction time. Regarding the antioxidant activity, ultrasound-assisted extraction reached the highest levels, i.e., 9.160 mg/mL Trolox equivalents in the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) assay and 26.676 mM Trolox equivalents in the FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) assay, at a 30 min extraction time and 50 °C extraction temperature. The 60 min Soxhlet extract reached the highest level for the ABTS+ (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) assay, 16.136 mM Trolox equivalents, respectively. Chlorogenic acid was present in the highest concentration in the same Soxhlet extract, 1657.179 µg/mL extract, respectively. Sterolic compounds were found in high concentrations throughout all the analyzed extracts. A proportional increase between yields and extraction parameter values was observed. Increased inhibition of Gram-negative bacteria was observed. The finally selected Soxhlet extract, that of 60 min extraction time, presented a significant in vivo antioxidant activity, with a slight anti-inflammatory activity. Antioxidant levels were elevated after 2 h of extract administration. Pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion was not influenced by the administration of the extract.

An In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of Antitumor Activity of Extracts Derived from Three Well-Known Plant Species.

One of the objectives of this study consists of the assessment of the antitumor activity of several extracts from three selected plant species: Xanthium spinosum L., Trifolium pratense L., and Coffea arabica L. and also a comparative study of this biological activity, with the aim of establishing a superior herbal extract for antitumor benefits. The phytochemical profile of the extracts was established by HPLC-MS analysis. Further, the selected extracts were screened in vitro for their antitumor activity and antioxidant potential on two cancer cell lines: A549-human lung adenocarcinoma and T47D-KBluc-human breast carcinoma and on normal cells. One extract per plant was selected for in vivo assessment of antitumor activity in an Ehrlich ascites mouse model. The extracts presented high content of antitumor compounds such as caffeoylquinic acids in the case of X. spinosum L. (7.22 µg/mL-xanthatin, 4.611 µg/mL-4-O-caffeoylquinic acid) and green coffee beans (10.008 µg/mL-cafestol, 265.507 µg/mL-4-O-caffeoylquinic acid), as well as isoflavones in the case of T. pratense L. (6806.60 ng/mL-ononin, 102.78 µg/mL-biochanin A). Concerning the in vitro results, the X. spinosum L. extracts presented the strongest anticancerous and antioxidant effects. In vivo, ascites cell viability decreased after T. pratense L. and green coffee bean extracts administration, whereas the oxidative stress reduction potential was important in tumor samples after T. pratense L. Cell viability was also decreased after administration of cyclophosphamide associated with X. spinosum L. and T. pratense L. extracts, respectively. These results suggested that T. pratense L. or X. spinosum L. extracts in combination with chemotherapy can induce lipid peroxidation in tumor cells and decrease the tumor viability especially, T. pratense L. extract.

Influences of Different Extraction Techniques and Their Respective Parameters on the Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activities of Xanthium spinosum L. Extracts.

The aim of this study was to identify possible influences of extraction methods as well as extraction parameters on the phytochemical and biological profiles of Xanthium spinosum L. extracts. Extraction methods were chosen as follows: classical methods, maceration and Soxhlet extraction; innovative extraction methods, turboextraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and a combination of the latter two. Extracts were subjected to total polyphenolic and flavonoid content spectrophotometric analysis. The phytochemical profile was determined for the best-yielding extracts using HPLC-MS analysis. Following the newly acquired data, another sorting of the extracts was performed. Biological activities such as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions were evaluated, as well as oxidative stress reduction potential, on a Wistar rats inflammation model. Comparable results were achieved with Soxhlet extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction, both surpassing all other tested methods in terms of yields. Bioactive compound concentrations tended to increase with the increase in extraction time and temperature. These maximal values lowered once the degradation points of the bioactive compounds were reached. Extracts demonstrated good protection against Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, they provided good cellular protection and increased the antioxidant defense in the analyzed rat plantar tissue.