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The phytochemical analysis of the investigated Immortelle essential oil revealed the presence of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes as major components that might be efficient as a wound healing potential agent. The present study aimed to develop an ointment based on the Immortelle essential oil and investigate its wound healing effects on excision wounds in diabetic rats. The topical formulated Immortelle ointment was subjected to pharmaco-technical characterization. Thirty-two diabetic rats with the induced excision wound were used to evaluate in vivo wound healing effects of ointment. The animals were randomly divided into four groups untreated or topically treated with either a 1% silver sulfadiazine, the ointment base, or Immortelle ointment. The response to the treatment was assessed by macroscopic, biochemical and histopathological analysis. The ointment, compatible with the skin remained stable for 6 months. Topical application of the Immortelle ointment showed the highest wound contraction with the highest content of hydroxyproline in comparison to the all examined groups. The Immortelle ointment showed significant wound contraction from day 7 to day 21 as compared to other groups. On the day 21, there was an average of 99.32% wound contraction in the Immortelle group, whereas the mean wound contraction in the negative control and ointment base group was 71.36% and 81.26% respectively. The histopathological results validated the potential wound healing effect of Immortelle ointment with evident post-excision scar maturation and increased collagen fibers density. Our findings revealed that the Immortelle ointment approach might serve as a promising and innovative tool for wound healing.

Objective Besides conventional drugs, various vaginal disorders are often treated with complementary and alternative medicines. Different natural products are often used in treatment of genital infections. The aim is to present a case of treatment of vaginal infection with a garlic clove. Methods A detailed interview was conducted with the subject whose condition was described in this case. Results Young woman was diagnosed with vaginal Ureaplasma sp. infection. After failed local treatment with antibiotics and antifungals, subject obtained advice to treat the disorder with incised clove of garlic. Control examination by her gynecologist confirmed that infection was successfully cured. Subject experienced no adverse effects. Conclusions Garlic clove successfully cured vaginal infection presented in this case. However, application to genital organs should be reserved for dosage forms, in order to prevent potential toxicity and to obtain reproducibility of active compounds concentrations.

Graphical abstract, Constant search for new drugs with antiviral properties often extends to products of natural origin. Lamiaceae is one of the most important herbal families, well known for various biological and medicinal effects of a variety of aromatic spices, including thyme, mint, oregano, basil, sage, savory, rosemary, self-heal, hyssop, lemon balm and many others. The paper provides a review of antiviral potential of previously mentioned plants which has been demonstrated so far, with special emphasis on anti-HIV properties. Relevant articles were compiled by searching plant names combined with keywords describing antiviral activity. The antiviral effect is direct, with prominent activity against enveloped viral species. Initial stages of the viral life cycle are the most affected, as these plants appear to be targeting mainly viral structures responsible for attachment to target cells. In case of HIV, there is some activity against key enzymes in the viral life cycle. Even in the case of drug resistance, there is an equal susceptibility to applied herbal preparations. Some in vivo experiments suggest that use of Lamiaceae representatives could help in prevention and treatment of some viral diseases. A possible reduction of side effects of diseases and conventional drug therapy are also some aspects worth further investigations.

The latest report on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure assessment performed by European Food Safety Authority showed that THC levels in certain food categories are high. However, the performed study included uncertainties regarding occurrence data and hemp-food consumption patterns. The aim of the present study was to quantify the levels of “total” Δ9-THC, cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) in hemp food products available on the market of countries mostly not assessed by the latest EFSA report, as well as to perform cannabinoids health risk assessment. The obtained results allowed us to identify hemp-seed oils as product type which might represent health concern. Furthermore, the analysis of hemp teas showed the possibility of Cannabis drug-type occurrence, but also questioned the justification of cannabinoids maximum transfer principle application for the exposure assessment. It was concluded, that hemp-based food products should not be consumed by population younger than 18 years.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L., Lamiaceae) is, among numerous representatives of genus Thymus, the commonly used and cultivated species worldwide. This is mainly due to the presence of essential oil which has a number of notable and scientifically confirmed biological activities. However, the amount of thyme essential oil in the leaves is very low (0.8–2.6%), thus the majority of cultivated plant material remains unused after its isolation. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of waste material extracts prepared from decoction remaining after hydrodistillation of the thyme essential oil, deodorized leaves and stems, to elucidate their potential antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects and compare obtained results with officially prepared thyme leaf extract. HPLC/DAD analysis revealed rosmarinic acid (52.36–105.8 mg/g of dried extract (d.e.)) and rutin (11.01–87.11 mg/g d.e.) as dominant compounds in all investigated thyme postdistillation waste material extracts. Also, gallic, chlorogenic and ferulic acid and apigenin were present in considerable amounts. Deodorised leaf extracts were found to possess the strong antioxidant activity tested against DPPH and OH radicals and are potent inhibitors of lipid peroxidation process in vitro. Also, investigated thyme leaves and deodorized thyme leaf extracts exhibit significant hepatoprotective effect when in vivo antioxidant activity was tested, especially in terms of xanthine oxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activity, prevention of lipid peroxidation and decrease of glutathione concentration in oxidative stress. Results of this study indicated that thyme postdistillation waste material can be used as a source of rosmarinic acid, rutin and other phenolic compounds. Also, investigated extracts could be used for the preparation of herbal medicines with antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects.

The present study was designed to define the phenolic and terpene profile, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of methanol extracts and essential oils of the leaves and seed cones of Juniperus foetidissima species, on which there has been little previous research. The content of 44 phenolics in extracts was determined using LC–MS/MS. A comparable qualitative composition, including dominant compounds catechin, quercitrin, epicatechin, rutin and quercetin-3- O -glucoside, was found in both extracts. GC–MS analysis showed a simple terpene composition, with monoterpenes dominant and sabinene most abundant compound, 39.9% in leaves and 29.9% in seed cones. Antioxidant activity was determined by several assays. All results of antioxidant tests were comparable to BHT, a well-known synthetic antioxidant. A novel method for estimation of anti-inflammatory potential by means of inhibition of COX-1 and 12-LOX activity was described. Essential oils showed significant anti-inflammatory activity, especially of leaves. To conclude, J. foetidissima showed great bio potential, and its usage in production of food and beverages should be considered.

Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.; Apiaceae) and its essential oil have been widely used in folk medicine, pharmacy and food industry. Since there are some data about the impact of anise on functions of central nervous system (CNS), the issue of possible interactions with drugs acting in CNS should be considered. This survey aimed to examine the influence of aniseed essential oil (EO) intake on the effects of drugs that act in CNS. The chemical profile of essential oil determined by GC-MS revealed as the main components: trans-anethole (88.49%), γ-himachalene (3.13%), cis-isoeugenol (1.99%), and linalool (1.79%). The effects of codeine, diazepam, midazolam, pentobarbital, imipramine and fluoxetine were tested in mice after 5days of peroral pretreatment with human equivalent dose of aniseed EO (0.3mg/kg). The intake of EO led to significant increase of analgesic effect of codeine. The motor impairment caused by midazolam was enhanced in the group treated by EO. The application of diazepam decreased the number and percentage of entries in open arm in elevated maze plus test in the group pretreated with EO indicating augmented effect of drug on motor activity. EO pretreatment caused significant shortage of pentobarbital induced sleeping time when compared to control. The decrease in antidepressant effect of imipramine and fluoxetine was diminished by the pretreatment with aniseed EO. Based on the results of this study we conclude that concomitant intake of aniseed EO preparations and drugs that act on CNS should be avoided due to potential herb-drug interactions, which also need further clinical confirmation.

The present study was designed to define the phenolic profile, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity of Plantago altissima L., which has never been studied before and to compare it with closely-related, renowned, well-studied Plantago lanceolata L. The presence and content of 44 phenolics in methanol extracts were studied using LC–MS/MS. A similar qualitative composition including dominant compounds as p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, gallic and chlorogenic acid, besides apigenin, luteolin and luteolin-7-O-glucoside was found between both extracts. Antioxidant activity of extracts was determined using several assays. All results of these tests were comparable to butylated hydroxytoluene, a well-known synthetic antioxidant. Anti-inflammatory potential was studied by means of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) inhibitory activity. Activity of P. altissima towards COX-1/12-LOX inhibition (IC50 = 4.4 and 3.6 mg/mL, respectively) was inferior to activity of P. lanceolata (IC50 = 2.0 and 0.8 mg/mL, respectively). Treatment of four cell lines resulted in a considerable dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth, where P. lanceolata exerted a stronger effect (IC50 = 172.3, 142.8, 405.5 and 551.7 μg/mL for HeLa, MCF7, HT-29 and MRC-5 cell lines, respectively). To conclude, P. altissima showed certain bio-potential, but was clearly inferior to P. lanceolata.