Publications by authors named "Neli Kinga Olah"

Background/aim: L. () is an aromatic medicinal species with important nutraceutical potential, having rosmarinic acid (RA) as one of its main metabolites. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of an extract obtained from the leaves of this species and of its main metabolite in improving the streptozotocin-induced damage of hearts and aorta of diabetic rats.

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The present study investigates the impact of solid-state fermentation on bee-collected pollen using a consortium of , , and . Another aim is to compare the nutritional and bioactive properties of natural versus fermented pollen, focusing on macronutrient composition, pH, acidity, lactic acid content, and profiles of polyphenolics and flavonoids. Our results indicated significant enhancements in the contents of amino acids, suggesting improved protein content, alongside increases in polyphenolic and flavonoid contents post-fermentation.

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Nowadays, unprecedented health challenges are urging novel solutions to address antimicrobial resistance as multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria, yeasts and moulds are emerging. Such microorganisms can cause food and feed spoilage, food poisoning and even more severe diseases, resulting in human death. In order to overcome this phenomenon, it is essential to identify novel antimicrobials that are naturally occurring, biologically effective and increasingly safe for human use.

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Article Synopsis
  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia among middle-aged and elderly populations, highlighting the need for potential treatments.
  • A study analyzed the effects of a leaf extract (BPE) rich in polyphenols and flavonoids on rats with induced AD, assessing both behavioral changes and biochemical markers of oxidative stress and inflammation.
  • Results indicated that BPE reduced brain inflammation, lipid peroxidation, and improved cognitive function, suggesting its potential therapeutic benefits for AD.
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The extracts of whole plants or specific organs from different plant species are gaining increasing attention for their phytotherapy applications. Accordingly, we prepared standardized gemmotherapy extracts (GTEs) from young shoots/buds of olive (), sweet almond (), and black mulberry (), and analyzed the corresponding phytonutrient profiles. We identified 42, 103, and 109 phytonutrients in the olive, almond, and black mulberry GTEs, respectively, containing amino acids, vitamins, polyphenols, flavonoids, coumarins, alkaloids, iridoids, carboxylic acids, lignans, terpenoids, and others.

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Bee bread (BB) is a fermented mixture of bee pollen, is rich in proteins, amino acids, fatty acids, polyphenols, flavonoids, as well as other bioactive compounds, and is considered functional food for humans. In this study, we explored an innovative green synthesis of colloidal silver nanoparticles, using BB extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents. A preliminary chemical characterization of the BB extracts was conducted.

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In this study, we aimed to explore the hepatoprotective effects of the gemmotherapy bud extract of in a model of liver fibrosis on diabetic mice. An evaluation of total flavonoids and polyphenols contents and LC/MS analyses were performed. Experimental fibrosis was induced with CCl (2 mL/kg by i.

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Many plant-derived flavonoids are known for their anti-neuroinflammatory and anti-neurodegenerative effects. The fruits and leaves of the black currant (BC, ) contain these phytochemicals with therapeutic benefits. The current study presents a report on a standardized BC gemmotherapy extract (BC-GTE) that is prepared from fresh buds.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examined the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties of hydroalcoholic extracts from three L. cultivars, focusing on their polyphenolic content.
  • Key methods included spectrophotometry and LC-MS to identify and quantify polyphenols, along with DPPH and FRAP assays for antioxidant activity and various methods for assessing antimicrobial efficacy.
  • Results indicated high levels of polyphenols, particularly rosmarinic acid, along with significant antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, especially against Gram-positive bacteria, and selective toxicity towards colorectal cancer cells, suggesting the potential of these cultivars for further research.
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The aim of this study was to determine the variability of several chemical compounds and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of eight types of berries harvested from two different geographical regions in the same year. The analyses were performed on bilberry, black currant, gooseberry, red currant, raspberry, sea buckthorn, strawberry and sour cherry, which were handpicked during the summer of 2019, in the same periods when they are typically harvested for consumer purposes. Total anthocyanins content (TAC), total flavonoids content (TFC), total polyphenolic compounds (TPC), determination of the Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), determination of the DPPH free radical scavenging assay (RSA), determination of nine phenolic compounds by HPLC-UV assay and antimicrobial activity were determined for undiluted hydroalcoholic extracts of all the studied berries.

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L., a perennial species, is a medicinal herb used in traditional medicine, mainly for the treatment of respiratory tract-related pathology. In traditional Chinese medicine, flower buds are preferred; in Europe, the leaves are used; and in some parts of India, the whole plant is utilized.

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L. is a species that is widely known for its culinary and medicinal uses. The purpose of the present study consisted of the evaluation of the antiproliferative and antimicrobial effects of -loaded liposomes (L-R).

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This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic potential of ethanolic extracts obtained from Gentiana asclepiadea L. and Inula helenium L. roots, in relation to their chemical composition.

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Leishmaniasis, remains a serious health problem in many developing countries with thousands of new cases recorded annually. Novel therapies are required as existing treatment regimens are limited by their high cost, high toxicity, increased parasite resistance, patient's intolerance, and invasive means of long-duration administration. With several studies reporting the anti-leishmaniasis promise of medicinal plants, interest in plants and herbal drugs is attracting much attention worldwide.

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents the third type of cancer in incidence and second in mortality worldwide, with the newly diagnosed case number on the rise. Among the diagnosed patients, approximately 70% have no hereditary germ-line mutations or family history of pathology, thus being termed sporadic CRC. Diet and environmental factors are to date considered solely responsible for the development of sporadic CRC; therefore; attention should be directed towards the discovery of preventative actions to combat the CRC initiation, promotion, and progression.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study compared two polyphenolic-enriched extracts from the *Lamiaceae* family, one sourced from cultivated plants and another from wild flora, focusing on their effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells under normal and high glucose conditions.
  • - The extracts were analyzed for their specific compounds, revealing significant levels of rosmarinic acid, luteolin, kaempferol, and apigenin, which may play a role in protective cellular mechanisms.
  • - Results indicated that these extracts significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in hyperglycemic conditions, suggesting their potential as protective agents against endothelial cell damage in diabetes.
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In the current study, multiwavelength detection combined with color scales HPTLC fingerprinting procedure and chemometric approach were applied for direct clustering of a set of medicinal plants with different geographical growing areas. The fingerprints profiles of the hydroalcoholic extracts obtained after single and double development and detection under 254 nm and 365 nm, before and after selective spraying with specific derivatization reagents were evaluated by chemometric approaches. Principal component analysis (PCA) with factor analysis (FA) methods were used to reveal the contribution of red (R), green (G), blue (B) and, respectively, gray (K) color scale fingerprints to HPTLC classification of the analyzed samples.

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  • L. (common lilac) is a well-known ornamental plant that may also contain bioactive compounds with significant therapeutic benefits, which have not been extensively studied.
  • The study analyzed the chemical composition of ethanolic extracts from the flowers, leaves, bark, and fruit of L. using advanced chromatographic and spectral methods while also testing their antioxidant and cytotoxic effects.
  • Results showed that extracts from flowers and leaves had abundant beneficial compounds and exhibited notable antioxidant and anti-cancer properties against specific tumor cell lines.
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  • L. is a well-known species valued for its medicinal properties and is also used in the food and cosmetic industries.
  • This study focuses on a tincture made from fresh young shoots, aiming to explore its hepatoprotective effects and analyze its composition using various chemical methods like HPLC-UV-MS and GC-MS.
  • The findings reveal that the tincture contains significant amounts of polyphenols and terpenes, showcasing strong antioxidant activity and demonstrating hepatoprotective effects through this antioxidant mechanism in tests conducted on rats.
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  • L. (Cupressaceae) is a tree native to Eastern North America, widely grown in Europe and Brazil, and is often referred to as the "tree of life" or "white cedar."
  • Traditionally, it is used in medicine to address a variety of health issues, including liver diseases, respiratory conditions, and different types of cancer.
  • The review highlights the tree's chemical properties, including antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, and aims to promote awareness of its broader pharmacological benefits beyond just its anticancer properties.
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Bilberries ( L.) have been reported to hold a plentitude of health-promoting properties beyond basic nutrition, mainly attributed to their anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity. In this article, we built the phytochemical profile of three wild bilberry fruit extract formulations (aqueous, methanolic, and hydro-methanolic) using UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS putative analysis, identifying 88 individual phytochemicals, mainly flavonoids (total content 8.

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  • The study investigated the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of berries and leaf extracts from four Romanian sea buckthorn cultivars.
  • It revealed significant differences in the content of polyphenols and flavonoids across the varieties, with leaves showing greater variability than berries.
  • The analysis identified five carotenoid compounds in the berries and established a strong correlation between flavonoid yield and antioxidant activity, while noting that leaf extracts had stronger antibacterial effects compared to berry extracts.
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  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder prevalent in industrialized countries, prompting research into herbal remedies due to their lower side effects compared to drug therapies.
  • A mother tincture (MT) was developed from fresh branches of a plant and tested for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in both lab settings and on mice with induced colitis.
  • Results indicated that administering the MT significantly reduced inflammation in the intestines, likely due to its high levels of beneficial flavonoids and phenolic compounds, suggesting potential for new treatments for IBD.
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L. is the only species found in Romanian flora, being known as a remedy for inflammatory pathologies or for its hepatoprotective and adaptogen activities. The present investigation studied the flavonoid composition and antioxidant activities of the aerial parts of this species.

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The Ranunculus species are poorly known as medicinal plants. They have potential toxicity given by the ranunculin and its enzymatic degradation compounds: protoanemonin and anemonin. This paper aims to evaluate the anemonin content of four species: R.

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