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Pastas enriched with vegetables are premium nutritious products and their consumption can bring significant health benefits. Recent studies have reported a high content of bioavailable phytochemical compounds in Allium ursinum L.; as such, it can be used in the development of functional food products. This study involved the evaluation of 10 varieties of pasta. Five of these varieties were made from white flour and varying amounts of egg (Ctrl_1–Ctrl_5). The other five varieties (AU_1–AU_5) contained fresh shredded wild garlic leaves in equal proportions (20 g) in addition to the corresponding ingredients (white flour and egg). All pasta variants were investigated for their cooking properties and the presence of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity in the raw and cooked pasta. Sensory analysis was conducted on all types of cooked pasta, and results indicated that the pasta with the least quantity of eggs was the most favoured variant. Additionally, the pasta that was enhanced with wild garlic leaves received the highest rating for “overall quality”. According to our results, the optimal cooking time (OCT) increased when the quantity of eggs was raised, but when wild garlic leaves were present, OCT decreased in comparison to the control samples. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the cooking parameters, swelling index, and water absorption was observed in both egg pasta (Ctrl) and egg pasta enriched with A. ursinum L. (AU). However, compared to the corresponding egg pasta, the presence of wild garlic in pasta generally produced higher values in SI and WA. Pastas enriched with wild garlic are rich in polyphenols (TPh), with a content ranging from 82.44 to 94.62 µg GAE/g dw, and also exhibit antioxidant properties. The amount of total polyphenol significantly decreases (p < 0.05) during cooking varies depending on the composition of the pasta. The pasta with the highest egg content (AU_5) had the lowest loss of polyphenols, equivalent to 55.35%. Our investigations indicate that producing pasta with eggs and fresh wild garlic leaves results in a valuable food product with a good sensory score, enriched in bioactive components, with essential nutrients that maintains cooking qualities.

Natural compounds are used in modern dermal treatments to avoid side effects commonly associated with conventional treatments. The aim of our study was to develop a liposomal formulation including black mulberry extract and to highlight its potential on the healing of normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) in vitro using the scratch test. Mulberry-loaded liposomes (MnL) were prepared using a thin-film hydration method based on cholesterol (C) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) in a 1:3 (w/w) ratio. The liposomal formulation was characterized by analyzing its size, electric surface potential, morphology, entrapment efficiency, and in vitro healing effects. Also, the black mulberry fruits (Morus nigra L.) were characterized from point of view of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity by Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. HPLC-DAD-MS (ESI+) (high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection-mass spectrometry (electrospray ionization)) analysis indicated the presence of phenolic compounds namely from hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonols. Among flavonols, quercetin-glucoside represented 50.56%, and chlorogenic acid was the predominant compound among hydroxycinnamic acids (37.06%). In vitro fibroblast wound closure was more effective with mulberry-loaded liposomes (MnL) than extracts of mulberries. According to our study, mulberry-loaded liposomes have been shown to be effective in wound healing and can be used as a natural treatment.

Azelaic acid (AA), as a natural product, was proven to be effective in targeting multiple causes of acne and related dermatological conditions, as it is well tolerated using different classical formulations (gel, cream, etc.). However, its limited aqueous solubility and inadequate penetration across the stratum corneum might be related to different possible side effects such as itching and burning. The aim of our work was to elaborate a novel liposomal formulation based on azelaic acid, with enhanced biocompatibility, bio-availability, antimicrobial, antigenotoxic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The liposomal formulations were prepared by the lipid film hydration method with different concentrations of azelaic acid (15%, 20%, 25%) and characterized in terms of morphological features, physico-chemical properties, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and in vitro wound healing effect. Successful encapsulation with 80.42% efficiency, with a size of up to 500 nm and good stability, was achieved, as demonstrated by FTIR spectroscopy (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), DLS (dynamic light scattering), and zeta-potential measurements. In terms of antibacterial activity, all the liposomal formulations exhibited a better effect compared to free AA solution against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. Cytotoxicity assays and an in vitro “scratch” test performed with normal human dermal fibroblasts revealed an accelerating healing effect, while a comet assay evidenced the protective effect of AA liposomal formulations against hydrogen-peroxide-induced DNA damage in fibroblasts. The optimum formulation in terms of both the antimicrobial and wound healing effect was AALipo20% (liposomes with 20% azelaic acid included).

Advanced nutritional interventions are one of the key components of elite sports performance in general. Combat sports require a high percentage of muscle mass with minimum body weight to generate the maximum power possible. An adequate level of nutrition knowledge, particularly with respect to identifying energy needs while avoiding confusion over dietary supplements and false perceptions of steroid requirement, which may compromise the health condition, is of crucial importance. In this context, the aim of our work is to highlight nutritional requirements/nutritional assessment, the importance of daily dietary intake in combat players, which increasingly includes a broad range of sports nutrition supplements, and the roles of vitamins, minerals and proteins, combined with antioxidants and strength training, in muscular performance. The main nutrients required in the daily diet of combat players, the mechanisms of action, the main outcomes and possible side effects are summarized. Special attention is paid to natural supplements and their importance and advantages over synthetic ones, along with future trends of development.

The healing of skin wounds remains an important concern in medicine, especially in chronic wounds caused by various diseases such as diabetes. Using herbs or herbal products to heal skin wounds is a therapeutic challenge for traditional medicine. In this context, the main aim of our work was to highlight the in vitro healing potential of Stellaria media (L.) Vill. (SM) extract using the scratch assay on normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF). The ability to stimulate cell migration and proliferation under the influence of different concentrations of SM extract (range between 12.5 and 200 µg/mL) was determined compared to the control (untreated in vitro-simulated wound) and positive control (allantoin 50 µg/mL). Our results showed that the concentration of 100 µg/mL SM extract applied on the simulated wound recorded the strongest and fastest (24 h) migration (with wound closure) and proliferation of NHDF compared with the control. In addition, the SM extract was characterized in terms of bioactive compounds (total phenols and flavonoids content), antioxidant capacity (FRAP (The Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power) assay and electrochemical method), and antimicrobial activity. The results show that the SM extract contains a considerable amount of polyphenols (17.19 ± 1.32 mg GAE/g dw and 7.28 ± 1.18 mg QE/g dw for total phenol and flavonoid content, respectively) with antioxidant capacity. Antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus) is higher than E. coli at a dose of 15 µg/mL. This study showed that Stellaria media is a source of polyphenols compounds with antioxidant capacity, and for the first time, its wound healing potential was emphasized.

This paper demonstrates the ability of a functional food based on probiotics and selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) to annihilate the toxic effect of cadmium on the kidneys. SeNPs were obtained by eco-friendly method used Lactobacillus casei. The morphological features and size of SeNPS were characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Two kind of SeNPs were used, purified and Lacto-SeNPs (LSeNPs), administered by gavage at three concentrations (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mg/Kg b.w.) for 30 days in a mouse model of cadmium renal toxicity. The blood marker of renal injury (creatinine) significantly decreased in groups where the mice were treated with both form of SeNPs. The antioxidant capacity of plasma was evaluated by Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assay and revealed that SeNPs in co-treatment with Cd, promotes maintaining antioxidant activity at the control level. Histopathological analysis of kidneys demonstrated morphological alteration in the group that received only cadmium and restored after administration of SeNPs or LSeNPs. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis revealed anti-apoptotic effects through reduction of pro-apoptotic bax and increasing of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein expressions. Moreover, co-administration of Cd with SeNPs significantly decreased gene expression of kidneys inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, NF-ĸB) in a dose dependent manner, with the best results for LSeNPs at highest dose (0.4 mg/kg). Therefore, the L. casei strain is a potential SeNPs-enriched probiotic for application as functional food in the future to annihilate cadmium-induced kidneys toxicity.