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The aims of the present study were to evaluate for the first time the chemical composition and antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal and antiproliferative potentials of the Romanian George 90 lavender species, as well as parental species, L. angustifolia and L. latifolia. The L. angustifolia, L. latifolia and George 90 essential oils were analyzed by GC-MS/MS and the L. angustifolia, L. latifolia and George 90 hydroalcoholic extracts were analyzed by HPLC-DAD. The antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal and antiproliferative assays revealed that all the investigated species showed significant activities. The results highlighted the chemical composition and the promising biological potentials of the L. angustifolia, L. latifolia and George 90 lavender species, validating their ethnomedicinal value, which offers potential applications as natural drugs.

Compared with conventional right ventricular septal pacing (RVSP), several studies have shown a net clinical benefit of left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) in terms of ejection fraction preservation and reduced hospitalizations for heart failure. The purpose of this study was to compare acute depolarization and repolarization electrocardiographic parameters between LBBAP and RVSP in the same patients during the LBBAP implant procedure. We prospectively included 74 consecutive patients subjected to LBBAP from 1 January to 31 December 2021 at our institution in the study. After the lead was placed deep into the ventricular septum, unipolar pacing was performed and 12-lead ECGs were recorded from the distal (LBBAP) and proximal (RVSP) electrodes. QRS duration (QRSd), left ventricular activation time (LVAT), right ventricular activation time (RVAT), QT and JT intervals, QT dispersion (QTd), T-wave peak-to-end interval (Tpe), and Tpe/QT were measured for both instances. The final LBBAP threshold was a 0.7 ± 0.31 V at 0.4 ms duration with a sensing threshold of 10.7 ± 4.1 mV. RVSP produced a significantly larger QRS complex than the baseline QRS (194.88 ± 17.29 ms vs. 141.89 ± 35.41 ms, p < 0.001), while LBBAP did not significantly change the mean QRSd (148.10 ± 11.52 ms vs. 141.89 ± 35.41 ms, p = 0.135). LVAT (67.63 ± 8.79 ms vs. 95.89 ± 12.02 ms, p < 0.001) and RVAT (80.54 ± 10.94 ms vs. 98.99 ± 13.80 ms, p < 0.001) were significantly shorter with LBBAP than with RVSP. Moreover, all the repolarization parameters studied were significantly shorter in LBBAP than in RVSP (QT—425.95 ± 47.54 vs. 487.30 ± 52.32; JT—281.85 ± 53.66 vs. 297.69 ± 59.02; QTd—41.62 ± 20.07 vs. 58.38 ± 24.44; Tpe—67.03 ± 11.19 vs. 80.27 ± 10.72; and Tpe/QT—0.158 ± 0.028 vs. 0.165 ± 0.021, p < 0.05 for all), irrespective of the baseline QRS morphology. LBBAP was associated with significantly better acute depolarization and repolarization electrocardiographic parameters compared with RVSP.

With their phytoconstituents acting as reducing and capping agents, natural extracts can be considered a viable alternative for the obtaining of metallic nanoparticles. The properties of phytosynthesized nanoparticles are dependent upon size and morphology, which, in turn, can be tailored by adjusting different parameters of the phytosynthesis process (such as the extracts’ composition). In the present study, we aimed to evaluate, for the first time in the literature, the influence of the extraction method and extract concentration on the morphological and biological properties (antioxidant and antibacterial activity) of silver nanoparticles phytosynthesized using Echinacea pupurea L. extracts. The obtained results revealed that the use of the low-concentration Echinacea hydro-alcoholic extract obtained via classical temperature extraction led to the development of nanoparticles with the smallest dimensions (less than 10 nm), compared with the use of extracts obtained with higher concentrations and the extract obtained via the microwave method. The developed nanomaterials exhibited enhanced antioxidant effects (determined via the DPPH assay) and antimicrobial properties (against Escherichia coli and Candida albicans), compared with the parent extracts.

The search of valuable natural compounds should be directed towards alternative vegetal resources, and to the re-discovery of underutilized plants. Belonging to the Plantaginaceae family, the hoary plantain (Plantago media L.) represents one of the lesser studied species from the Plantago genus. The literature study revealed the under-utilization of the hoary plantain, a surprising aspect, considering its widespread. If the composition of Plantago media L. is rather well established, its applications are not nearly studied as for other Plantago species. The goal of the present paper is to summarize the findings regarding the applications of P. media, and, having as starting point the applications of related species, to propose new emerging areas of research, such as the biomedical applications validation through in vivo assays, and the evaluation of its potential towards industrial applications (i.e., development of food or personal care products), pisciculture or zootechny, phytoremediation and other environmental protection applications, or in the nanotechnology area (materials phytosynthesis). The present work constitutes not only a brief presentation of this plant’s present and potential applications, but also an invitation to research groups world-wide to explore the available vegetal resources.

Preservation of historic monuments and archaeological sites has a strategic importance for maintaining local cultural identity. [...]

Biodeterioration can be considered as one of the most powerful weapons that can destroy cultural heritage. [...]

Accelerated advances in Earth Observation technologies determine their successful use in various fields, [...]

Continuously growing demand for plant derived therapeutic molecules obtained in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner favors biotechnological production and development of innovative extraction techniques to obtain phytoconstituents. What is more, improving and optimization of alternative techniques for the isolation of high value natural compounds are issues having both social and economic importance. In this critical review, the aspects regarding plant biotechnology and green downstream processing, leading to the production and extraction of increased levels of fine chemicals from both plant cell, tissue, and organ culture or fresh plant materials and the remaining by-products, are discussed.

The strawberries represent in our days one of the main fresh fruits consumed globally, inevitably leading to large amounts of by-products and wastes. Usually appreciated because of their specific flavor, the strawberries also possess biological properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, or anti-inflammatory effects. In spite of the wide spread of the Fragaria genus, few species represent the subject of the last decade scientific research. The main components identified in the Fragaria species are presented, as well as several biological properties, as emerging from the scientific papers published in the last decade.

Catalysis represents the cornerstone of chemistry, since catalytic processes are ubiquitous in almost all chemical processes developed for obtaining consumer goods. Nanocatalysis represents nowadays an innovative approach to obtain better properties for the catalysts: stable activity, good selectivity, easy to recover, and the possibility to be reused. Over the last few years, for the obtaining of new catalysts, classical methods—based on potential hazardous reagents—have been replaced with new methods emerged by replacing those reagents with plant extracts obtained in different conditions. Due to being diversified in morphology and chemical composition, these materials have different properties and applications, representing a promising area of research. In this context, the present review focuses on the metallic nanocatalysts’ importance, different methods of synthesis with emphasis to the natural compounds used as support, characterization techniques, parameters involved in tailoring the composition, size and shape of nanoparticles and applications in catalysis. This review presents some examples of green nanocatalysts, grouped considering their nature (mono- and bi-metallic nanoparticles, metallic oxides, sulfides, chlorides, and other complex catalysts).

Satureja hortensis L. (summer savory) is an annual herbaceous crop, native to Europe and in our days spread and used all over the world. Although its use as spice and medicinal plant is known since ancient times, peer-reviewed studies presenting the scientific data are scarce. The natural products obtained from summer savory (extracts and essential oil) are dominated by polyphenols and flavonoids, responsible for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, pesticidal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective and anticancer properties, among others. The current study presents the progress made in the last decade regarding the potential applications of summer savory, being the first review study focused on S. hortensis, in the same time suggesting future research opportunities, as they appear from the properties of other Satureja species. The available data presenting the properties of summer savory represents a scientific support for application in industry, for developing “clean label” food products.