ABSTRACT
For skin health promotion and cosmetic applications, combinations of plant cell extracts are extensively utilized. As most natural ingredient suppliers offer crude extracts from individual plants or specific isolated compounds, the potential interactions between them are assessed in the development phase of cosmetic products. The industry seeks extract combinations that have undergone optimization and scrutiny for their bioactivities. This study presents a combination of two sustainably produced botanical ingredients and outlines their chemical composition, in vitro safety, and bioactivity for skin health enhancement. The amalgamation comprises the extract of Matricaria recutita processing waste and the extract from Juniperus communis callus culture. Chemical analysis revealed distinct compounds within the extracts, and their combination led to a broader array of potentially synergistic compounds. In vitro assessments on skin cells demonstrated that the combination possesses robust antioxidant properties and the ability to stimulate keratinocyte proliferation, along with regulating collagen type I and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) production by dermal fibroblasts. The identified traits of this combination render it an appealing cosmetic component. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first case when the extracts derived from medicinal plant processing waste and biotechnological plant cell cultivation processes have been combined and evaluated for their bioactivity.
ABSTRACT
Since COVID-19 first emerged in Wuhan, China, and was declared a global pandemic by the WHO, researchers have been meticulously studying the disease and its complications. Studies of severe COVID-19 disease among pediatric populations are scarce, leading to difficulty in establishing a comprehensive management approach. Case presentation: This report outlines a case of a long-standing combined iron and vitamin B12 deficiency anemia in a three-year-old treated at the Children's Clinical University Hospital due to severe COVID-19 disease. The patient's clinical condition coincided with the derangement of biomarkers described in the literature, including lymphopenia, increased neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), decreased lymphocyte/C-reactive protein ratio (LCR), as well as elevated inflammatory markers such as CRP and D-dimers. The patient developed severe bilateral pneumonia requiring invasive ventilation, high-flow oxygen, immunosuppressive therapy with dexamethasone and tocilizumab, and supplementation of anemia deficits with blood transfusion and vitamin B12 administration. Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with the most important biomarkers reported in the literature indicative of severe disease progression. Additionally, poorly controlled anemia may be suggested as a potentially important risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease among children. However, additional quantitative research is required to establish the nature and severity of the risk.
ABSTRACT
Aromatic and medicinal plants are a great source of useful bioactive compounds for use in cosmetics, drugs, and dietary supplements. This study investigated the potential of using supercritical fluid extracts obtained from Matricaria chamomilla white ray florets, a kind of industrial herbal byproduct, as a source of bioactive cosmetic ingredients. Response surface methodology to optimize the supercritical fluid extraction process by analyzing the impact of pressure and temperature on yield and the main bioactive compound groups were used. High-throughput 96-well plate spectrophotometric methods were used to analyze the extracts for total phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and sugars, as well as their antioxidant capacity. Gas chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to determine the phytochemical composition of the extracts. The extracts were also analyzed for antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, phototoxicity, and melanin content. Statistical analysis was performed to establish correlations between the extracts and develop models to predict the targeted phytochemical recovery and chemical and biological activities. The results show that the extracts contained a diverse range of phytochemical classes and had cytotoxic, proliferation-reducing, and antimicrobial activities, making them potentially useful in cosmetic formulations. This study provides valuable insights for further research on the uses and mechanisms of action of these extracts.