Allium ursinum L. (wild garlic) is a promising source of bioactive compounds for functional foods, nutraceuticals, and clean-label products. This review integrates current evidence on its phytochemical composition, biological activities, and food applications. The species contains sulfur compounds, polyphenols, vitamins, minerals, and pigments, whose levels vary with plant organ, developmental stage, environmental conditions, and processing. These constituents are associated mainly with antioxidant, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, and cytoprotective effects; however, evidence is derived predominantly from in vitro and animal studies, with limited clinical validation. In food systems, A. ursinum may enhance nutritional value, oxidative stability, sensory properties, and shelf life. Extraction, encapsulation, and stabilization technologies may support its use as a natural alternative to synthetic additives. Nevertheless, compositional variability, processing stability, bioavailability, authenticity, quality control, and raw-material supply remain major barriers to standardization and industrial application. Further research should combine phytochemical characterization with technological, safety, clinical, and sustainability assessments to enable reliable use of A. ursinum in food and nutraceutical products.
C. Rosan, G. Opris, A. Tocai (moţoc) et al.· Antioxidants· 0 citations
Environmental contamination by potentially toxic elements remains a public health concern in groundwater-dependent regions. This exploratory community-based cross-sectional study examined associations among a historical area-level arsenic screening classification, questionnaire-derived potential-exposure indicators, and self-reported symptom count in 275 adults from 37 standardized locality clusters in Satu Mare County, Romania. The arsenic Health Risk Index (HRI) screening classification was derived entirely from drinking-water measurements collected in a preceding regional study during 2022–2024; no water samples or exposure biomarkers were obtained in the present survey. The questionnaire-derived potential exposure index was calculated as the unweighted sum of seven binary indicators covering residential, drinking-water, occupational, dental, and dietary characteristics (theoretical range, 0–7; observed range, 0–6) and was analyzed continuously. Symptom count (theoretical range, 0–8) was analyzed primarily using negative binomial regression with locality-clustered standard errors and adjustment for age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, HRI classification, and self-reported comorbidity. Each one-point increase in the potential exposure index was associated with a modestly higher expected symptom count (adjusted incidence rate ratio = 1.106, 95% CI: 1.031–1.186; p = 0.005), whereas the area-level HRI classification was not statistically associated with symptom count (adjusted incidence rate ratio = 1.135, 95% CI: 0.829–1.554; p = 0.431). The association remained positive across alternative index specifications, although the drinking-water-focused estimate was smaller and less precise. These findings represent exploratory associations between reported potential-exposure characteristics and nonspecific self-reported symptoms; they do not establish individual arsenic exposure, contaminant-specific effects, or causality.
Dana Claudia Filipoiu, D. Gîtea, Manuela Bianca Pașca et al.· Journal of Xenobiotics· 0 citations
The findings highlight the ecological importance and therapeutic potential of these species while emphasizing the critical threats posed by habitat degradation, unsustainable harvesting, and climate change.
Ruben Budău, M. Bei, D. Dejeu et al.· Plants· 0 citations
We use cookies to run the site and, with your consent, for analytics and to show ads.
See our Cookie Policy.
