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Since ancient times, humanity has used plants to cure diseases or maintain health. Nowadays, obtaining the bioactive components of plants and researching their effects continues at great speed. Plant-derived chemicals are studied with great interest in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The complexity of city life limits access to plants in their natural habitat. Nutraceuticals are indispensable products of our age to protect health. Many methods have been developed and successfully applied for extracting crude plant extracts and pure active substances included in nutraceuticals from plant tissues and their quantitative analysis. This study compiled the methods for obtaining plant extracts and active ingredients and the techniques developed for analyzing bioactive compounds. The extraction methods of plant-based bioactive chemicals (maceration, soxhlet extraction, decoction, infusion, hydro distillation, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)) were explained in detail, and some important plant-based bioactive chemicals and source plants were summarized in table form. Additionally, the studies using different analytical techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), mass spectrometry (MS), and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) were discussed. Finally, evaluating its effectiveness in the extraction of different bioactive compounds and the prospects for more environmentally friendly methods alternative to traditional solvents were emphasized. This review covers the latest practices and new trends in analyzing plant-based bioactive chemicals in nutraceuticals over the last three years.

Critical assessment of plant polyphenols (ferulic acid, quercetin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, arbutin, proanthocyanide) that can be used for forming ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) via metal ion (Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Zr, Mg, Ce, La) and bimetal ion (MgFe, CoNi) cross-linking chemistry is reported. In the methodology, coordination interactions between aromatic hydroxyl groups of polyphenol molecules and metal ion cross-linkers initiate OMC formation via ethanol evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA). Aromatic hydroxyl content, solubility in the evaporating solvent and low to moderate molecular mass are key factors in selecting plant polyphenols for OMC formation. The as-prepared metal-functionalized OMCs were applied to electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to nitrogen (conversion 85.5%, nitrogen selectivity 99.8%), catalytic hydrogenation of furfural to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (conversion 100%, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol selectivity 100%), and electrode materials for supercapacitors (specific capacitance, 222 F/g at 0.5 A/g). Using the proposed techniques, a wide range plant polyphenols can be used to form OMCs that are directly applicable to environmental applications after carbonization in a nitrogen atmosphere without further post-processing, doping or modification. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphids are one of the most important economic pests and vectors of viral diseases in crops. Brevicoryne brassicae L., one of the most serious aphid pests in Brassicaceae, if not controlled, often reaches very high densities. The present study compared the systemic effects of ethanolic, methanolic and aqueous Melia azedarach L., Peganum harmala L., Calendula officinalis L. and Otostegia persica Boissier extracts with two systemic pesticides, acetamiprid and pirimicarb (at the maximum label-recommended rate). Population growth percentages of B. brassicae through leaf spraying under greenhouse conditions were assessed. The chemicals were sprayed on one of the leaves in greenhouse condition. The results indicated that all the plant extracts have systemic effects at different levels. Among different extracts, O. persica ethanolic extract, P. harmala methanolic extract and M. azedarach aqueous extract resulted in a reduction of the B. brassicae population.

Plants have a long history of use as traditional remedies to treat a range of diseases and the diverse chemicals that they produce have provided great inspiration for the design of new drugs to date. Many plants have yet to be investigated for the presence of biologically-active products. This Special Issue presents a collection of scientific studies which report on the medicinal potential of plants. It also highlights the importance of preserving ethnobotanical knowledge and plant biodiversity worldwide to sustain future drug discovery from plant sources.

Aphids are one of the most important economic pests and vectors of viral diseases in crops. Brevicoryne brassicae L., one of the most serious aphid pests in Brassicaceae, if not controlled, often reaches very high densities. The present study compared the systemic effects of ethanolic, methanolic and aqueous Melia azedarach L., Peganum harmala L., Calendula officinalis L. and Otostegia persica Boissier extracts with two systemic pesticides, acetamiprid and pirimicarb (at the maximum label-recommended rate). Population growth percentages of B. brassicae through leaf spraying under greenhouse conditions were assessed. The chemicals were sprayed on one of the leaves in greenhouse condition. The results indicated that all the plant extracts have systemic effects at different levels. Among different extracts, O. persica ethanolic extract, P. harmala methanolic extract and M. azedarach aqueous extract resulted in a reduction of the B. brassicae population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the effects of oral administration of Formula 42 (F42) green plant-derived chemicals and antioxidants in alleviating stress-induced cellular oxidative responses in laboratory test rodents.

Plants have a long history of use as traditional remedies to treat a range of diseases and the diverse chemicals that they produce have provided great inspiration for the design of new drugs to date. Many plants have yet to be investigated for the presence of biologically-active products. This Special Issue presents a collection of scientific studies which report on the medicinal potential of plants. It also highlights the importance of preserving ethnobotanical knowledge and plant biodiversity worldwide to sustain future drug discovery from plant sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]