Blagoje Prpa

Cardamom represents one of the world’s most famous spices, which is also applied in the traditional medicine of numerous cultures. Modern research aims to elucidate its therapeutic potential in various diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of essential oil of cardamom seeds, as well as to assess the biological and pharmacological potential of aqueous and ethanolic extracts. The essential oil composition was evaluated using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts were analyzed for the total phenolic and flavonoid content, and further evaluated in vitro regarding antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic activity, and additionally antimicrobial activity for the ethanolic extract. The essential oil was abundant in monoterpenes, with α-terpinyl acetate as a predominant compound. The content of total phenolics and flavonoids in extracts was low. Antioxidant potential was moderate. Extracts displayed potent activity in tests of anti-inflammatory potential, with the ethanolic extract being more active. Regarding the antihyperglycemic activity, the extracts displayed inhibitory activity against α-amylase and no activity against α-glucosidase. Antimicrobial activity was observed against Candida albicans and Prototheca zopfii in high concentrations. The present study suggests preliminary in vitro potential of cardamom in mediating carbohydrate metabolism and pro-inflammatory conditions.

When using herbal drugs for the production of any pharmaceutical dosage form, it is essential to select species listed in official documents such as the Pharmacopoeias. Sometimes it can be challenging to distinguish the designated species from other members of the same genus. Since microscopic and macroscopic identification methods are not always applicable, chemical characterization often remains the only reliable solution. Thus, the detection of chemical taxonomic markers and the application of a chemometric approach provide reliable species identification. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that such markers can be found within the genus Hypericum, specifically in sect. Drosocarpium. In this study, fifteen essential oil samples were obtained by hydrodistillation from five species belonging to Hypericum sect. Drosocarpium and subsequently analyzed using GC-MS. The yield of essential oils ranged from 0.01% to 0.1%. Among the dominant groups of compounds were oxidized aliphatic compounds and oxidized sesquiterpenes, which proved to be reliable chemotaxonomic indicators. Monoterpenes were not detected, most likely due to their high volatility caused by smaller molar mass and long-term storage prior to analysis. Multivariate statistical analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA) and UPGMA clustering, revealed distinct separation of H. barbatum and H. richeri, driven primarily by the presence of caryophyllene alcohol, n-dodecanoic acid, and n-dodecanol. These metabolites can thus be proposed as potential chemotaxonomic markers. Further studies are warranted to clarify the existence of specific chemotypes within these Balkan Hypericum species.

The leaves of industrial hemp, which have long been considered as a waste product, have been proven to contain numerous compounds that possess potential biological activity. One of the most interesting groups of compounds present are polyphenolic compounds, which, due to their specific structure, have a pronounced antioxidant and antihyperglycemic potential. This study aimed to detect biological activity, including antioxidant and antihyperglycemic potential, of water and water–alcoholic extracts of five commercially available hemp teas, followed by phytochemical profiling. Hemp aqueous and ethanolic extracts demonstrate potent antioxidant properties. Ethanol extracts are better scavengers of DPPH• and OH•, while aqueous extracts neutralize NO• better. Both types of extracts exhibit antioxidant potential in the catalase test and moderate XOD inhibition. Furthermore, aqueous extracts are potent α-amylase inhibitors, while ethanolic extracts demonstrate stronger anti-α-glucosidase activity, suggesting therapeutic potential for chronic diseases like insulin resistance or diabetes. Further detailed chemical characterization and in vivo studies are needed to validate these findings.