Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) : a position in classical phytotherapy and newly documented activities

The flower (inflorescence, basket-type inflorescence) of marigold (Calendulae officinalis flos) is a wellknown plant raw material in traditional phytomedicine. It has a complex chemical composition, dominated by flavonoids and terpenoids. Terpenoids are mainly represented by oleanolic acid derivatives specific for this species: triterpenoid saponins – calendulosides A–H and triterpenoid glycosides, so-called calendulaglycosides A and B. Biological activity profiles of the raw material, such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunostimulatory and antioxidant properties, determine its use especially in the treatment of dermatological diseases. In addition to spasmolitic, hypolipemic and antidiabetic properties of this flower, scientific studies also demonstrated its cardioprotective, hepatoregenerative, pancreas-regenerating, neuroprotective and even anticancer health-promoting effects. Moreover, C. officinalis is used in the cosmetology and food industry

Bioreactor type affects the accumulation of phenolic acids and flavonoids in microshoot cultures of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill

Microshoots of the East Asian medicinal plant species Schisandra chinensis (Chinese magnolia vine) were grown in bioreactors characterized by different construction and cultivation mode. The tested systems included two continuous immersion systems-a cone-type bioreactor (CNB) and a cylindric tube bioreactor (CTB), a nutrient sprinkle bioreactor (NSB), and two temporary immersion systems (TIS)-RITA® and Plantform. Microshoots were grown for 30 and 60 days in the MS medium enriched with 1 mg $1^{-1}$ NAA and 3 mg $1^{-1}$ BA. The accumulation of two groups of phenolic compounds: phenolic acids and flavonoids in the bioreactor-grown S. chinensis biomass, was evaluated for the first time. In the microshoot extracts, seven phenolic acids: chlorogenic, gallic, p-hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic, syringic, salicylic and vanillic, and three flavonoids: kaempferol, quercitrin and rutoside, were identified. The highest total amount of phenolic acids (46.68 mg 100 $g^{-1}$ DW) was recorded in the biomass maintained in the CNB for 30 days. The highest total content of flavonoids (29.02 mg 100 $g^{-1}$ DW) was found in the microshoots maintained in the NSB for 30 days. The predominant metabolites in all the tested systems were: gallic acid (up to 10.01 mg 100 $g^{-1}$ DW), protocatechuic acid (maximal concentration 16.30 mg 100 $g^{-1}$ DW), and quercitrin (highest content 21.00 mg 100 $g^{-1}$ DW)

Schisandra henryi a species with high medicinal potential and pharmacological activities of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans

Schisandra henryi C.B. Clarke (family Schisandraceae), is a species endemic to China Yunnan Province. S. henryi is a little known plant in Europe and the United States. Few studies on the chemical composition of S. henryi, mainly by scientists from Chinese institutions, showed the presence of compounds belonging to lignans, triterpenoids and nortriprenoids. Recently, research by the team of the Department of Pharmaceutical Botany of the Jagiellonian University Medical College has highlighted the great potential of this species. Phytochemical, biological and biotechnological researches are conducted. The analysis of the chemical composition showed the presence of compounds from the group of dibenzylcyclooctadiene, aryltetraline and dibenzylbutane lignans as well as polyphenols - phenolic acids and flavonoids. An innovative aspect of the scientific work is in particular biotechnological research focusing on proposing biomass from in vitro cultures of S. henryi as a source for obtaining extracts and biologically active compounds, alternative to the hard-to-reach material collected from natural sites. The aim of the study was to review the scientific literature on research on S. henryi, with particular emphasis on its botanical, ecological and chemical characteristics, and biological properties of extracts and isolated compounds. In addition, the potential of biotechnological research conducted on in vitro cultures of S. henryi focusing on understanding their metabolic profile was signaled. The paper also presents a detailed characterization of dibenzocyclotadiene lignans specific for the Schisandraceae family. They are the subject of numerous scientific studies that confirm their valuable pharmacological properties. Particularly noteworthy are their hepatoprotective and hepatoregenerating properties, as well as: anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticancer, antiviral, antioxidant, cardioprotective, antiosteoporotic and supporting the treatment of intestinal dysfunction

"Schisandra rubriflora" pllant material and in vitro microshoot cultures as rich sources of natural phenolic antioxidants

Schisandra rubriflora is a dioecious, underestimated medicinal plant species known from traditional Chinese medicine. The present study was aimed at characterising the polyphenolic profile composition and the related antioxidant capacity of S. rubriflora fruit, stem and leaf and in vitro microshoot culture extracts. Separate analyses of material from female and male specimens were carried out. This study was specifically aimed at detailed characterisation of the contribution of phenolic compounds to overall antioxidant activity using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector coupled to electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS3 ) and a high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Using UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS3 , twenty-seven phenolic compounds from among phenolic acids and flavonoids were identified. Concentrations of three phenolic acids (neochlorogenic, chlorogenic and cryptochlorogenic acids) and eight flavonoids (hyperoside, rutoside, isoquercitrin, guaijaverin, trifolin, quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin) were determined using HPLC-DAD using reference standards. The highest total phenolic content was confirmed for the stem and leaf extracts collected in spring. The contents of phenolic compounds of in vitro biomasses were comparable to that in the fruit extracts. The methanolic extracts from the studied plant materials were evaluated for their antioxidant properties using various in vitro assays, namely free radicals scavenging estimation using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) as well as QUick, Easy, New, CHEap, and Reproducible CUPRAC (QUENCHER-CUPRAC) assays. A close relationship between the content of polyphenolic compounds in S. rubriflora and their antioxidant potential has been documented

Mammillaria species : polyphenols studies and anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial activities

Discovering new natural resources of polyphenols is the aim of many recent studies in the field of natural product research. This study tentatively investigated the polyphenols profile of the stems of seven Mammillaria species (M. rhodantha, M. spinosissima, M. hahniana, M. crucigera, M. candida, M. albilanata, and M. muehlenpfordtii) using high performance liquid chromatography with DAD detector (HPLC-DAD) method. Furthermore, the anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial potentials of these extracts as well as major identified phenols were explored. The HPLC-DAD study confirmed the availability of six phenolic acids, including gentisic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, sinapic acid, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The dominant compounds were: gentisic acid in M. rhodantha and M. spinosissima; chlorogenic acid in M. muehlenpfordtii, M. crucigera, and M. rhodantha; and caffeic acid in M. rhodantha, M. crucigera, and M. spinosissima. Stems of Mammillaria sp. showed antiproliferative e ects against HeLa, MCF-7, and Jurkat cells. In HeLa and MCF-7 cells, the best antiproliferative activities were found in the treatments with M. rhodantha, M. spinosissima, and M. muehlenpfordtii. The apoptotic assay of M. rhodantha, M. spinosissima, and M. muehlenpfordtii showed accumulation of necrotic cells in the early and late apoptotic phase. M. rhodantha, M. spinosissima, and M. muehlenpfordtii showed the highest anti-oxidant activities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), -carotene bleaching, and ferric reducing anti-oxidant power (FRAP) assays. M. rhodantha was the best source of antioxidants. Mammillaria sp. showed moderate anti-bacterial effects against bacteria and the highest effects were found using the extracts of M. rhodantha, M. spinosissima, M. crucigera and M. muehlenpfordtii against most bacteria. The anti-bacterial activities were attributed to other phenolic compounds (e.g., chlorogenic acid) than gentisic acid, which was not active against most bacteria. Mammillaria sp. could be considered to be an important natural source of phenolic acids with anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-oxidant activities

Cosmetological methods of treatment of obesity

Tematem niniejszej pracy są kosmetologiczne metody terapii otyłości. Praca ma charakter poglądowy. Opisano w niej budowę skóry, tkanki tłuszczowej, czym jest cellulit oraz jakie są jego stopnie. Następną część stanowi opis metod pozwalających na zredukowanie tkanki tłuszczowej. Zwalczanie otyłości oraz usuwanie miejscowo odłożonej tkanki tłuszczowej powinno się przeprowadzać w kontekście mechanizmu jej powstawania, stąd co uzasadnia sposób ujęcia obranej tematyki. Opisane metody usuwania tkanki tłuszczowej, w tym obejmujące metody walki z cellulitem, obejmują stosowanie substancji o działaniu lipolitycznym, surowców roślinnych oraz zabiegów na ciało wykonywanych w salonach kosmetycznych. Celem pracy jest przegląd metod usuwania tkanki tłuszczowej, obejmujących zastosowanie surowców roślinnych bądź pojedynczych substancji, w tym lipolitycznych (np. fosfatydylocholina, kofeina) oraz przeciwobrzękowych (np. kwercetyna, rutyna), zabiegów kosmetologicznych (np. endermologia) stosowanych razem lub w połączeniu z innymi terapiami, na bazie dostępnej literatury. Dodatkowo celem jest także zaprezentowanie ich różnorodności i porównanie metod opisanych w publikacjach naukowych. Na podstawie przeglądu wykorzystanych w pracy treści można stwierdzić, iż obecnie istnieje wiele metod oraz zabiegów, w tym wzajemnie uzupełniających się, które pozwalają w znaczny sposób zredukować tkankę tłuszczową, zmniejszyć objawy cellulitu, a co za tym idzie mogą zostać wykorzystane w terapii osób otyłych.Subject of this thesis is cosmetological methods of treatment of obesity.The type of thesis is review. It contains structure of skin layers, fat tissue, cellulite and its degrees. The next part constitutes description of methods enabling reduction of fat tissue. Diminish of obesity and removal of local fat tissue should be performed according to the mechanism of its growth, which is the reason for the structure of the thesis.The described methods of removing fat tissue including methods of diminishing cellulite, include using lipolytic substances, plant material as well as body treatments performed in beauty salons.Aim of this work is review of methods used in removal of fat tissue, including use of plant materials, substances (eg. lipolytic caffeine, phosphatidylcholine or antiedematous rutine or quercetin)) as well as methods (eg. endermology), described in scientific publications. As a summary of the described methods, it can be concluded, that currently there ar emany methods and treatments, including complementary to each other, which can substantially reduce fat tissue, diminish symptoms of cellulite, and as a consequence can be used in therapy of obesity

Comprehensive review of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans from the Schisandra genus: anticancer potential, mechanistic insights and future prospects in oncology

Abstract Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. The search for novel and effective anticancer agents has been a significant area of research. Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans (DBCLS), derived from the Schisandra genus plants like: S. chinensis, S. sphenanthera, S. henryi, S. rubriflora, S. grandiflora, S. propinqua, and S. glabra, have been traditionally used in various medicinal systems and are known for their myriad health benefits, including anticancer properties. This comprehensive review aimed to collate and critically analyse the recent literature on the anticancer properties of DBCLS, focusing on their mechanistic approaches against different cancer types. An exhaustive literature search was performed using databases like PubMed/MedLine, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, TRIP database and Google Scholar from 1980 to 2023. Peer-reviewed articles that elucidated the mechanistic approach of these lignans on cancer cell lines, in vivo models and preliminary clinical studies were included. Studies were assessed for their experimental designs, cancer types studied, and the mechanistic insights provided. The studies demonstrate that the anticancer effects of DBCLS compounds are primarily driven by their ability to trigger apoptosis, arrest the cell cycle, induce oxidative stress, modulate autophagy, and disrupt essential signaling pathways, notably MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB. Additionally, these lignans have been shown to amplify the impact of traditional chemotherapy treatments, suggesting their potential role as supportive adjuncts in cancer therapy. Notably, several studies also emphasise their capacity to target cancer stem cells and mitigate multi-drug resistance specifically. DBCLS from the Schisandra genus have showcased significant potential as anticancer agents. Their multi-targeted mechanistic approach makes them promising candidates for further research, potentially leading to developing of new therapeutic strategies in cancer management

Stimulation of lignan production in Schisandra rubriflora in vitro cultures by elicitation

The study investigated the effect of elicitation with: chitosan (CH) (200 mg/L), yeast extract (YeE) (3000 mg/L), ethephon (ETH) (25 µM/L), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) (50 µM/L), on lignan accumulation in agitated and bioreactor (Plantform temporary immersion systems) microshoot cultures of female (F) and male (M) Schisandra rubriflora Rehd. et Wils. (Schisandraceae) lines. The elicitors were supplemented on the 10th day of culture. Biomasses were collected at 24 h and 48 h, and 4, 6, and 8 days after the addition of each elicitor. The 24 compounds from the dibenzocyclooctadiene, aryltetralin, dibenzylbutane, and tetrahydrofuran lignans and neolignans were determined qualitatively and quantitatively in biomass extracts using the UHPLC–MS/MS method. The highest total contents [mg/100 g DW] of lignans were: for CH-95.00 (F, day 6) and 323.30 (M, 48 h); for YeE 104.30 (F, day 8) and 353.17 (M, day 4); for ETH 124.50 (F, 48 h) and 334.90 (M, day 4); and for MeJA 89.70 (F, 48 h) and 368.50 (M, 24 h). In the biomass extracts of M cultures grown in bioreactors, the highest total lignan content was obtained after MeJA elicitation (153.20 mg/100 g DW). The maximum total lignan contents in the biomass extracts from agitated and bioreactor cultures were 3.29 and 1.13 times higher, respectively, than in the extracts from the non-elicited cultures. The poor understanding of the chemical composition and the lack of studies in the field of plant biotechnology of S. rubriflora emphasize the innovativeness of the research