Recent research:
The collection of works presents a cohesive program at the intersection of natural products, ethnobotany, and analytical methods, emphasizing the chemical characterization of plant-derived essential oils and their bioactivities, alongside applications of antioxidant assessment and mass spectrometry in natural product research. The first study uncovers the chemical profile of Magnolia pugana essential oils from leaves, flowers, and seeds, identifying cyclocolorenone as the dominant compound and demonstrating seed- and flower-derived oils with notable antioxidant, antibacterial, and selective anticancer activities, indicating potential for natural antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer agents. A second work investigates the antioxidant capacity of a Cannabidiol extract used in a facial cream, employing DPPH assays and IC50 analysis to compare the isolated extract versus formulated product, highlighting the extract's superior antioxidant efficiency and providing quantitative benchmarks for cosmetic applications. The third publication analyzes Satureja macrostema essential oils, detailing a high terpenoid and oxygenated monoterpene content, and reports substantial antioxidant activity and antibacterial effects against E. coli and S. aureus, with TLC-DB identifying piperitone-derived compounds as key active constituents, reinforcing traditional uses and variability due to environmental factors. The final piece reviews how mass spectrometry, coupled with chromatography and databases, supports qualitative quality control and discovery of natural products, underscoring advances in analytical workflows for natural product research and metabolite discovery. Collectively, the work advances understanding of plant-derived antioxidants and bioactives, emphasizes rigorous analytical methodologies, and demonstrates translational potential in nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and pharmacology.

Key Topics:

• Biodiversity, Ethnobotany & Natural Products
• Sensors, Instrumentation & Measurement Systems
• Antioxidant activity & assays (DPPH, ABTS, TEAC)
• Essential oils chemistry (GC-MS, GC-FID)
• Antibacterial and anticancer bioactivities
• Mass spectrometry in natural products & quality control
• Cannabidiol extracts in cosmetics
• Plant-derived bioactive compounds (cyclocolorenone, terpenoids)
• Chemistry–biology interface in ethnobotany