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The liver is a highly metabolically active organ, and one of the causes of its dysfunction is the damage caused by drugs and their metabolites as well as dietary supplements and herbal preparations. A common feature of such damage is drugs, which allows it to be defined as drug-induced liver injury (DILI). In this review, we analysed available research findings in the global literature regarding the effects of green tea and/or its phenolic compounds on liver function in the context of protective action during prolonged exposure to xenobiotics. We focused on the direct detoxifying action of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in the liver, the impact of EGCG on gut microbiota, and the influence of microbiota on liver health. We used 127 scientific research publications published between 2014 and 2024. Improving the effectiveness of DILI detection is essential to enhance the safety of patients at risk of liver damage and to develop methods for assessing the potential hepatotoxicity of a drug during the research phase. Often, drugs cannot be eliminated, but appropriate nutrition can strengthen the body and liver, which may mitigate adverse changes resulting from DILI. Polyphenols are promising owing to their strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well as their prebiotic effects. Notably, EGCG is found in green tea. The results of the studies presented by various authors are very promising, although not without uncertainties. Therefore, future research should focus on elucidating the therapeutic and preventive mechanisms of polyphenols in the context of liver health through the functioning of gut microbiota affecting overall health, with particular emphasis on epigenetic pathways.

Marrubium vulgare (Lamiaceae) is a plant which has long been known and used in traditional medicine for various purposes. However, few recent studies have documented its chemical composition and biological properties. The present study investigated the phytochemical composition of horehound, as well as its protective, antioxidant, and antimicrobial potential. GC-MS analysis revealed that the major components of horehound essential oil are E-caryophyllene (35.7%), germacrene D (25.2%), and bicyclogermacrene (10.6%). The biological activity of horehound hydroethanolic herb extract derives from multiple chemical compounds, including polyphenols (55.72 mg/mL), flavonoids (11.01 mg/mL), phenolic acids (4.33 mg/mL), and tannins (4.46 mg/mL). Chromatographic analyses of the extract identified 12 phenolic compounds, of which ferulic acid, catechin, quercetin, protocatechuic acid, rutin, and syringic acid (35.42, 24.69, 20.65, 18.70, 14.46, and 12.69 mg/mL, respectively) were the main constituents. Its DPPH radical scavenging ability was 68.29%, while its antioxidant properties, determined by the FRAP method, were at the level of 1.22 mmol/L. Moreover, M. vulgare extract decreased the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species in the fibroblasts and keratinocytes in vitro, achieving the strongest antioxidant effect at a concentration of 2.5% in the case of both types of skin cells. Extracts from the horehound herb showed significant antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity, confirming the plant's potential in therapeutic applications against various microbial pathogens (gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and fungi). The research results demonstrate the protective effect of horehound extract on the viability of both fibroblasts and keratinocytes in vitro. To sum up, M. vulgare , as a valuable natural material with high preventive and therapeutic effectiveness, is a potential candidate for new applications in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.

Introduction: The available literature indicates that Hyssopus officinalis and Grindelia robusta are raw materials with great potential for use in prevention and therapy. Therefore, the aims of this study were to assess the phytochemical profile and antioxidant and cytoprotective properties of extracts prepared using various solvents, additionally taking into account different methods of drying the plant material., Methods: Hydrodistilled oil was analysed by GC-MS. The chemical composition of the extracts was estimated by spectrophotometry and the HPLC-DAD method. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and FRAP and measuring the intracellular level of ROS. Alamar Blue and Neutral Red tests were used to assess the cytotoxicity of the extracts on skin cells - keratinocytes and fibroblasts., Results: The major components of hyssop essential oil were cis- (44.9%) and trans - (18.2%) pinocamphone, while borneol (16.1%), and α-pinene (12.0%) were predominant in grindelia essential oil. Flavonoids were dominant in the extracts (water:ethanol, water:methanol, and water: glycerol) from hot-air dried hyssop herb, while phenolic acids were the predominant compounds in the grindelia herb extracts. The water:ethanol hyssop extract had the highest total content of flavonoids (42.26 mg CE/mL), among which isoquercitrin and rutin were present in the highest quantities (32.61 mg/mL and 21.47 mg/mL, respectively). In the case of grindelia, the highest total phenolic acid content (26.24 mg CAE/mL) was recorded in the water:ethanol extract, and the dominant compounds among them were 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic and chlorogenic acid (10.85 and 6.39 mg/mL, respectively). The water:ethanol extract from both plants also exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in the DPPH and FRAP tests (79.19% and 1.39 mmol/L, respectively, for grindelia and 67.61% and 1.04 mmol/L for hyssop) and was most effective at reducing the level of ROS in cells. In addition, water:ethanol extracts may have a positive impact on the viability of skin cells in vitro ., Conclusion: Water:ethanol extracts from H. officinalis and G. robusta herb are promising sources of active compounds and may find application as natural materials with valuable biological properties, which require further in vitro and in vivo testing., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Antioxidant properties and phenolic acid content in the pulp of five pumpkin species were evaluated. The following species cultivated in Poland were included: Cucurbita maxima 'Bambino', Cucurbita pepo 'Kamo Kamo', Cucurbita moschata 'Butternut', Cucurbita ficifolia 'Chilacayote Squash', and Cucurbita argyrosperma 'Chinese Alphabet'. The content of polyphenolic compounds was determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with HPLC, while the total content of phenols and flavonoids and antioxidant properties were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Ten phenolic compounds (protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, syringic acid, ferulic acid, salicylic acid, kaempferol) were identified. Phenolic acids were the most abundant compounds; the amount of syringic acid was found to be the highest, ranging from 0.44 ( C. ficifolia ) to 6.61 mg∙100 g -1 FW ( C. moschata ). Moreover, two flavonoids were detected: catechin and kaempferol. They were found at their highest level of content in C. moschata pulp (catechins: 0.31 mg∙100 g -1 FW; kaempferol: 0.06 mg∙100 g -1 FW), with the lowest amount detected in C. ficifolia (catechins: 0.15 mg∙100 g -1 FW; kaempferol below the limit of detection). Analysis of antioxidant potential showed significant differences depending on the species and the test used. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of C. maxima was 1.03 times higher than C. ficiofilia pulp and 11.60 times higher than C. pepo . In the case of the FRAP assay, the multiplicity of FRAP radical activity in C. maxima pulp was 4.65 times higher than C. Pepo pulp and only 1.08 times higher compared to C. ficifolia pulp. The study findings show the high health-promoting value of pumpkin pulp; however, the content of phenolic acids and antioxidant properties are species dependent.

The agricultural uses of nanoparticles continue to be considered as innovative methods that require more in-depth research into their impact on product quality. In our study, we investigated the effects of fertilizers containing metal nanoparticles (silver AgNPs and copper CuNPs) during the plant growth stage of winter rape cultivation, and in most experimental variants, with the exception of the (x2) application of AgNPs, we observed a decrease in the mass of one thousand seeds (MTS). The obtained result was 11.55% higher relative to the control sample in 2019, and also increased after the (x1) 4.36% and (x2) 11.11% application of CuNPS in 2020. The analyzed oxidative stability of the oil increased in both experimental years (2019-2020), with the highest values recorded after the (x1) and (x2) application of CuNPS-4.94% and 8.31%, respectively, in the first year of cultivation, and after the (x2) application of CuNPS-12.07% in the subsequent year. It was also observed that the content of polyphenols, flavonoids, squalene, tocopherols α and δ, chlorophylls, and carotenoids increased in the oil. Moreover, spectral FTIR analysis was performed on the oil samples obtained from cultivations sprayed with solutions containing Ag or Cu nanoparticles and revealed changes in several spectral regions with the maxima at ~1740, 1370, 1230, and ~1090 cm -1 . Additionally, a FTIR analysis conducted in combination with multivariate analysis allowed us to classify the studied oils into the most similar groups and to study the structure of data variability. The conducted analyses revealed that the use of nanoparticles resulted in decreased size of the produced seeds and improved antioxidative properties of rapeseed oil., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The aim of the paper was to evaluate the phenolic acid content and antioxidant properties in potato cultivars with coloured flesh and bright flesh. The study material included eight cultivars of edible potato grown in a temperate climate in Poland. Five cultivars were potato tubers with coloured flesh: "Rote Emma", "Blue Salad", "Vitelotte", "Red Emmalie", and "Blue Congo"; and three were potato tubers with bright flesh: "Bella Rosa", "Lord", and "Tajfun". In all potato samples under study, four phenolic acids were identified: chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, and caffeic acid. The predominant acid was chlorogenic acid, the levels of which ranged from 62.95 mg·100 g -1 FM to 126.77 mg·100 g -1 FM. The total concentration of the identified phenolic acids was diverse and depended on the genotype of the cultivar and the tuber flesh colour, with coloured-fleshed potatoes having higher phenolic acid contents in comparison to bright-fleshed potato cultivars. The average concentration of phenolic acids in the samples was 89.19 mg∙100 g -1 FM, and the average concentrations of the individual phenolic acids identified were as follows: chlorogenic acid (86.19 mg∙100 g -1 FM), gallic acid (1.18 mg∙100 g -1 FM), p-coumaric acid (0.64 mg∙100 g -1 FM), and caffeic acid (1.18 mg∙100 g -1 FM). In addition, three groups of anthocyanins were identified: pelargonidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside, peonidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside, and petunidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside. Anthocyanins were not found in the "Lord" or "Tajfun" varieties characterised by white tuber flesh. The predominant pigment was petunidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside, with an average content of 23.15 mg∙100 g -1 FM, and the highest value was observed in the "Vitelotte" variety (51.27 mg∙100 g -1 FM). The antioxidant activity of the flesh of the potatoes under study was diverse depending on flesh colour. The FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) assay indicated higher antioxidant activity of coloured-fleshed potato cultivars. The highest concentration was identified in the "Vitelotte" cultivar flesh and was 114% higher than in the "Lord" cultivar. Similar dependencies were found in the case of the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay; however, in this case, the "Vitelotte" cultivar flesh demonstrated nearly 6.4 times higher antioxidant activity than the "Lord" cultivar. Summarizing our own research, we can conclude that potato varieties with coloured flesh are characterised by a higher content of biologically active substances, including phenolic acids, and antioxidant properties compared to potato tubers with bright flesh.

The chemical composition, content of cholesterol, retinol and α-tocopherol, and the total antioxidant capacity of different tissues from wild beavers were investigated. The total phenolic contents and free radical scavenging activity (DPPH and ABTS assays) were analysed spectrophotometrically, and fat-soluble vitamins were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. The type of tissue (skeletal muscle from loin and hind leg vs. adipose tissue from subcutaneous fat and tail) significantly affected content of all chemical components. The concentration of cholesterol was not related to total fat content. The retinol and α-tocopherol contents (µg/100 g) were significantly higher in the tail (13.0 and 391.2) and subcutaneous fat (12.2 and 371.3) compared to skeletal muscles (as an average 9.1 and 361.4). Among all tissues the tail showed significantly the highest values of DPPH (3.07 mM TE/100 g), ABTS (3.33 mM TE/100 g), and total phenolics (TPC, 543.7 mg GAE/100 g). The concentration of retinol was positively correlated with α-tocopherol (0.748, p < 0.001), and both vitamins were very strongly correlated with DPPH (0.858 and 0.886, p < 0.001), ABTS (0.894 and 0.851, p < 0.001), and TPC (0.666 and 0.913, p < 0.001). The principal component analysis proved that moisture, ash, and protein contents were representative for skeletal muscles, whereas, retinol, α-tocopherol, ABTS and DPPH accurately described the antioxidant capacity of tissue from the tail.

New plant oils as a potential natural source of nutraceutical compounds are still being sought. The main components of eight cultivars ('Koral', 'Lucyna', 'Montmorency', 'Naumburger', 'Wanda', 'Wigor', 'Wołyńska', and 'Wróble') of sour cherry ( Prunus cerasus L.) grown in Poland, including crude fat, protein, and oil content, were evaluated. The extracted oils were analysed for chemical and biological activity. The oils had an average peroxide value of 1.49 mEq O 2 /kg, acid value of 1.20 mg KOH/g, a saponification value of 184 mg of KOH/g, and iodine value of 120 g I 2 /100 g of oil. The sour cherry oil contained linoleic (39.1-46.2%) and oleic (25.4-41.0%) acids as the major components with smaller concentrations of α-eleostearic acid (8.00-15.62%), palmitic acid (5.45-7.41%), and stearic acid (2.49-3.17%). The content of sterols and squalene varied significantly in all the studied cultivars and ranged between 336-973 mg/100 g and 66-102 mg/100 g of oil. The contents of total tocochromanols, polyphenols, and carotenoids were 119-164, 19.6-29.5, and 0.56-1.61 mg/100 g oil, respectively. The cultivar providing the highest amounts of oil and characterised by the highest content of PUFA (including linoleic acid), plant sterols, α-and β-tocopherol, as well as the highest total polyphenol and total carotenoids content was been found to be 'Naumburger'. The antioxidant capacity of sour cherry kernel oils, measured using the DPPH • and ABTS •+ methods, ranged from 57.7 to 63.5 and from 38.2 to 43.2 mg trolox/100 g oil, respectively. The results of the present study provide important information about potential possibilities of application of Prunus cerasus kernel oils in cosmetic products and pharmaceuticals offering health benefits.

The study compared the content of eight phenolic acids and four flavonoids and the antioxidant activity of six Polish varietal honeys. An attempt was also made to determine the correlations between the antioxidant parameters of the honeys and their polyphenol profile using principal component analysis. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity (ABTS) and reduction capacity (FRAP) were determined spectrophotometrically, and the phenolic compounds were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The buckwheat honeys showed the strongest antioxidant activity, most likely because they had the highest concentrations of total phenols, total flavonoids, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid and chrysin. The principal component analysis (PCA) of the data showed significant relationships between the botanic origin of the honey, the total content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids and the antioxidant activity of the six Polish varietal honeys. The strongest, significant correlations were shown for parameters of antioxidant activity and TPC, TFC, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid. Analysis of four principal components (explaining 86.9% of the total variance), as a classification tool, confirmed the distinctiveness of the Polish honeys in terms of their antioxidant activity and content of phenolic compounds.

Oils from five cultivars of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) grown in Poland were analysed for characteristics of chemical and biological activity. The extracted oils had an average iodine value (g of I/100 g of oil) of 99.2; a refractive index of (40°C) 1.4675; a saponification value of 189 mg of KOH/g of oil; and 0.68% unsaponifiable matter. As regards the oxidation state, the specific extinction values of the oils at 232 and 268 nm were 2.55 and 0.94, respectively, while the peroxide value was 1.40 meq O 2 /kg and the p-anisidine value was 1.42. Oleic acid (70.70%) was the predominant fatty acid found in the oils, followed by linoleic (22.41%), palmitic (3.14%), stearic (1.4%), linolenic (0.90%), and palmitoleic (0.70%) acid. The content of α-, γ-, and δ- tocopherols in the oils from the five apricot cultivars was 19.6-40.0, 315.4-502.3, and 28.3-58.5 mg/kg, respectively. The antioxidant capacity of the apricot kernel oils, measured using the FRAP assay, ranged from 1.07 to 1.38 mM Fe 2+ /L, while total polyphenols and β-carotene content were 0.85-1.22 mM gallic acid/L and 42.3-66.8 μg/g, respectively. The results indicate that among the cultivars tested, the 'Somo' cultivar grown in Poland provides the most oil, with the highest antioxidant activity. The results of our study demonstrate that apricot seeds are a potential source of oil that can have both dietary and cosmetic applications.