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(1) Background: Food waste (FW) in Romania is 70 Kg/capita/year, while 70% of food waste comes from public catering, retail services, and households (over 50%–47 million tons). The present study investigates the socio-demographic factors, behaviors, motivations, and attitudes related to food waste management in Romanian households. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using an online questionnaire via the Google Forms platform from 15 April 2023 to 15 May 2023. The questionnaire was designed to assess various aspects, such as some socio-demographic information (age, sex, occupation, area of residence, study level, household members number, children <18 years of age); the personal involvement and frequency of food purchases and homemade food cooking; the main sources that generate food waste; the motivation and frequency with which food waste occurs; the level of awareness regarding the impact of food waste; the respondents' intentions regarding sustainable behaviors and practices for food management; the level of information and familiarity of the respondents with the notions of validity and how these may influence their food consumption decisions. (3) Results: The results show that FW incidence is occasionally (42%), very rarely (43.33%), frequently (15%), and no food waste was reported by 2.66% of respondents. The 35–44 age category records the highest FW frequency, followed by 18–24. The most wasted are homemade food (29.67%), bread and bakery products (27.00%), and fruits and vegetables (14.33%). High involvement in purchasing and buying food following a previously established list reduces FW frequency. The same is valid for high daily involvement in food and homemade cooking. High interest in the FW problem and its perception as a waste of money leads to diminishing it, while guilty feelings increase the FW level (37.50% to 73.33%). (4) Conclusions: The present study shows that household food waste management is a multifactorial process that involves numerous socio-demographic, behavioral, and emotional aspects. Extensive data analysis supports our results, revealing deep self-reported information details and confirming its complex approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an emerging treatment modality that utilizes light-sensitive compounds, known as photosensitizers, to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can selectively destroy malignant or diseased tissues upon light activation. This study investigates the incorporation of two porphyrin structures, 5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris-(4-acetoxy-3-methoxyphenyl) porphyrin (P2.2.) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-acetoxy-3-methoxyphenyl) porphyrin (P2.1.), into hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) hydrogels for potential use in topical photodynamic therapy (PDT). The structural and compositional properties of the resulting hydrogels were characterized using advanced techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. FTIR spectra revealed a slight shift of the main characteristic absorption bands corresponding to the porphyrins and their interactions with the HPC matrix, indicating successful incorporation and potential hydrogen bonding. XRD patterns revealed the presence of crystalline domains within the HPC matrix, indicating partial crystallization of the porphyrins dispersed within the amorphous polymer structure. TGA results indicated enhanced thermal stability of the HPC–porphyrin gels compared to 10% HPC gel, with additional weight loss stages corresponding to the thermal degradation of the porphyrins. Rheological analysis showed that the gels exhibited pseudoplastic behavior and thixotropic properties, with minimal impact on the flow properties of HPC by P2.1., but notable changes in viscosity and shear stress with P2.2. incorporation, indicating structural modifications. AFM imaging revealed a homogeneous distribution of porphyrins, and UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy confirmed the retention of their photophysical properties. Pharmacotechnical evaluations showed that the hydrogels possessed suitable mechanical properties, optimal pH, high swelling ratios, and excellent spreadability, making them ideal for topical application. These findings suggest that the porphyrin-incorporated HPC hydrogels have significant potential as effective therapeutic agents for topical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of five commercially available essential oils (EOs), Lavender (LEO), Clove (CEO), Oregano (OEO), Eucalyptus (EEO), and Peppermint (PEO), against the most-known MDR Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria—Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853)—alone and in various combinations. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis established their complex compositions. Then, their antibacterial activity—expressed as the inhibition zone diameter (IZD) value (mm)—was investigated in vitro by the diffusimetric antibiogram method, using sterile cellulose discs with Ø 6 mm impregnated with 10 µL of sample and sterile borosilicate glass cylinders loaded with 100 µL; the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value (µg/mL) for each EO was calculated from the IZD values (mm) measured after 24 h. The following EO combinations were evaluated: OEO+CEO, CEO+EEO, CEO+PEO, LEO+EEO, and EEO+PEO. Then, the influence of each dual combination on the activity of three conventional antibacterial drugs—Neomycin (NEO), Tetracycline (TET), and Bacitracin (BAC)—was investigated. The most active EOs against S. aureus and E. coli were LEO and OEO (IZD = 40 mm). They were followed by CEO and EEO (IZD = 20–27 mm); PEO exhibited the lowest antibacterial activity (IZD = 15–20 mm). EEO alone showed the highest inhibitory activity on P. aeruginosa (IZD = 25–35 mm). It was followed by CEO, LEO, and EEO (IZD = 7–11 mm), while PEO proved no antibacterial action against it (IZD = 0 mm). Only one synergic action was recorded (OEO+CEO against P. aeruginosa); EEO+PEO revealed partial synergism against S. aureus and CEO+PEO showed additive behavior against E. coli. Two triple associations with TET showed partial synergism against E. coli, and the other two (with NEO and TET) evidenced the same behavior against S. aureus; all contained EEO+PEO or CEO+PEO. Most combinations reported indifference. However, numerous cases involved antagonism between the constituents included in the double and triple combinations, and the EOs with the strongest antibacterial activities belonged to the highest antagonistic combinations. A consistent statistical analysis supported our results, showing that the EOs with moderate antibacterial activities could generate combinations with higher inhibitory effects based on synergistic or additive interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present research aims to describe a new methodology to obtain biocompatible hydrogels based on Aloe vera used for wound healing applications. The properties of two hydrogels (differing in Aloe vera concentration, AV5 and AV10) prepared by an all-green synthesis method from raw, natural, renewable and bioavailable materials such as salicylic acid, allantoin and xanthan gum were investigated. The morphology of the Aloe vera based hydrogel biomaterials was studied by SEM analysis. The rheological properties of the hydrogels, as well as their cell viability, biocompatibility and cytotoxicity, were determined. The antibacterial activity of Aloe vera based hydrogels was evaluated both on Gram-positive, Staphylococcus aureus and on Gram-negative, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. The obtained novel green Aloe vera based hydrogels showed good antibacterial properties. In vitro scratch assay demonstrated the capacity of both AV5 and AV10 hydrogels to accelerate cell proliferation and migration and induce closure of a wounded area. A corroboration of all morphological, rheological, cytocompatibility and cell viability results indicates that this Aloe vera based hydrogel may be suitable for wound healing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress is associated with aging, cancers, and numerous metabolic and chronic disorders, and phenolic compounds are well known for their health-promoting role due to their free-radical scavenging activity. These phytochemicals could also exhibit pro-oxidant effects. Due to its bioactive phenolic secondary metabolites, Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex. F.H. Wigg (U. barbata) displays anticancer and antioxidant activities and has been used as a phytomedicine for thousands of years. The present work aims to analyze the properties of U. barbata extract in canola oil (UBO). The UBO cytotoxicity on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) CLS-354 cell line and blood cell cultures was explored through complex flow cytometry analyses regarding apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, the enzymatic activity of caspase 3/7, cell cycle, nuclear shrinkage (NS), autophagy (A), and synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). All these studies were concomitantly performed on canola oil (CNO) to evidence the interaction of lichen metabolites with the constituents of this green solvent used for extraction. The obtained data evidenced that UBO inhibited CLS-354 oral cancer cell proliferation through ROS generation (316.67 × 104), determining higher levels of nuclear shrinkage (40.12%), cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 (92.51%; G0 is the differentiation phase, while during G1 phase occurs preparation for cell division), DNA fragmentation (2.97%), and autophagy (62.98%) than in blood cells. At a substantially higher ROS level in blood cells (5250.00 × 104), the processes that lead to cell death—NS (30.05%), cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 (86.30%), DNA fragmentation (0.72%), and autophagy (39.37%)—are considerably lower than in CLS-354 oral cancer cells. Our work reveals the ROS-mediated anticancer potential of UBO through DNA damage and autophagy. Moreover, the present study suggests that UBO pharmacological potential could result from the synergism between lichen secondary metabolites and canola oil phytoconstituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to identify potentially toxic contaminants in milk powder. Powdered milk contains a range of toxic and non-toxic substances that are present in a wide variety, also having very different origins. A number of seven milk powder samples from different producers sold on the Romanian market were analyzed, the samples that were collected from the original packaging: P1, P 2, P3, P4, P5, P6 and P7. The concentration of the following elements was analyzed using the X-ray (XRF) fluorescence method: potassium (K), chlorine (Cl), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and aluminum (Al). The vast majority of the samples showed the levels of elements K, Ca, Cl, Al, P well above the maximum allowable limit (AML). In a single test, the elements potassium, calcium, chlorine, phosphorus showed levels below the maximum allowable limit, but the level of aluminum was much above. The experimental results showed that the market sells assortments of milk powder that exceed concentrations above the maximum limits established by the legislation in force for some constituent elements. Concentrations of constituent elements are not always specified on food labels, and if this information appears, they are not always the correct values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Starting from a new organic sunscreen synthesized in our laboratory by the condensation of sodium salt of the p-aminosalicylic acid with 2,6 - dichloroacetanilide, efficient cosmetic formulation with broad photoprotective properties was obtained by using the new compound as organic UV filter, metal oxides as inorganic filters, and vegetable extracts, oils and other ingredients with emollient, protective, and moisturizing effect. After showing the lack of toxicity of the new compound, in order to reduce the amount of UV filter used, it was encapsulated into nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). The final cream has demonstrated good qualities for skin application, possessing suitable physicochemical characteristics (pH, viscosity) and spreadability. The SPF value of the product is 16, a value considered to be satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)