The forest raw material base of Ukraine needs a long-term recovery, caused by current shortage of wood and in the long-term perspective, as well. One of the ways to solve this problem is to create plantations of Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud., which are able to accumulate in a very short time a significant stock of wood, suitable for industrial use. Determination of the physical and mechanical properties was carried out on samples of standard sizes. It has been established that the density of paulownia wood, grown under the conditions of the Western Forest Steppe of Ukraine, ranges from 329–342 kg·m-3 (sapwood, heartwood) to 416 kg·m-3 (middle part between the sapwood and heartwood). Under the conditions when only air moisture influences the wood, the moisture content increases up to 12.9 %. Static bending strength, compressive strength parallel to grain, static hardness, modulus of elasticity of sapwood and heartwood parts of the trunk are characterized by minimum values, and the middle part (between the sapwood and heartwood) – by maximum ones. Therefore, in terms of appearance and texture, the wood has the most similarity with the wood of common ash; considering its density value, paulownia wood resembles the wood of Norway spruce and silver fir, but due to lower moisture absorption and the content of tannins, it is more resistant to decay than the mentioned species; the middle part according to some mechanical indicators is close to common pine wood, therefore, it can be widely used in building industry. Paulownia tomentosa wood is advisable to be used as a promising material for the production of firewood and wood pellets. The data we have obtained can be taken into account by specialists in the woodworking, furniture and agricultural industries when planning the creation of plantations and the use of its wood.
Key words: modulus of elasticity, moisture content, plantations, porosity, shrinkage, strength,
swelling.
A new range of threats arose at the beginning of the 21st century, and the current global and national security systems could not respond effectively. Climate change threatens human health and well-being. Extreme weather events, food and water shortages, and the growth of infectious diseases increase the burden on healthcare systems. Progress in international health partnerships in 2022 has stalled and, in some cases, is reversing. The constant increase in the cost of medical services and medicines has a negative impact on the effectiveness of the functioning of national healthcare systems. Out-of-pocket healthcare costs cause financial hardship for more than 930 million people and push about 90 million into extreme poverty each year. If current trends continue, the World Health
Organization predicts that by 2030, up to 5 billion people will be unable to access or afford health services. For further advancement in global health security and to ensure better health for all in a changing world, reducing the cost and guaranteeing access for indigent patients to innovative medicines for treating a wide range of life-threatening diseases is essential. To minimize the cost and ensure access to medicines, it is proposed to create international research centers for developing innovative medicines without patent protection with centralized funding and appropriate planning for high-level interdisciplinary fundamental and applied research based on the needs of healthcare systems worldwide.
Keywords: Healthcare; cost of medicines; patent protection; research center
Polyphenols (PPs) are a large group of phytochemicals containing phenolic rings with two or more hydroxyl groups. They possess powerful antioxidant properties, multiple therapeutic effects, and possible health benefits in vivo and in vitro, as well as reported clinical studies. Considering their free-radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties, these substances can be used to treat different kinds of conditions associated with metabolic disorders. Many symptoms of metabolic syndrome (MtS), including obesity, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, elevated blood sugar, accelerating aging, liver intoxication, hypertension, as well as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, are substantially relieved by dietary PPs. The present study explores the bioprotective properties and associated underlying mechanisms of PPs. A detailed understanding of these natural compounds will open up new opportunities for producing unique natural PP-rich dietary and medicinal plans, ultimately affirming their health benefits.
Keywords: bioprotective property; metabolic syndrome; natural sources; phenolic compounds; therapeutic effect.
Aging is characterized by an imbalance between damage inflicted by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidative defenses of the organism. As a significant nutritional factor, the trace element selenium (Se) may remodel gradual and spontaneous physiological changes caused by oxidative stress, potentially leading to disease prevention and healthy aging. Se is involved in improving antioxidant defense, immune functions, and metabolic homeostasis. An inadequate Se status may reduce human life expectancy by accelerating the aging process or increasing vulnerability to various disorders, including immunity dysfunction, and cancer risk. This review highlights the available studies on the effective role of Se in aging mechanisms and shows the potential clinical implications related to its consumption. The main sources of organic Se and the advantages of its nanoformulations were also discussed.
Keywords: antioxidant effect; chemoprevention; health benefit; human aging; immunoprotection; selenium.
Aging is a very complex process that is accompanied by a degenerative impairment in many of the major functions of the human body over time. This inevitable process is influenced by hereditary factors, lifestyle, and environmental influences such as xenobiotic pollution, infectious agents, UV radiation, diet-borne toxins, and so on. Many external and internal signs and symptoms are related with the aging process and senescence, including skin dryness and wrinkles, atherosclerosis, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, etc. Oxidative stress, a consequence of the imbalance between pro- and antioxidants, is one of the main provoking factors causing aging-related damages and concerns, due to the generation of highly reactive byproducts such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during the metabolism, which result in cellular damage and apoptosis. Antioxidants can prevent these processes and extend healthy longevity due to the ability to inhibit the formation of free radicals or interrupt their propagation, thereby lowering the level of oxidative stress. This review focuses on supporting the antioxidant system of the organism by balancing the diet through the consumption of the necessary amount of natural ingredients, including vitamins, minerals, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), essential amino acids, probiotics, plants' fibers, nutritional supplements, polyphenols, some phytoextracts, and drinking water.
Keywords: aging; antioxidants; cosmetic ingredients; medicinal plants; natural compounds; oxidative stress; probiotics.
Bjørklund G, Shanaida M, Lysiuk R, Butnariu M, Peana M, Sarac I, Strus O, Smetanina K, Chirumbolo S. Natural Compounds and Products from an Anti-Aging Perspective. Molecules. 2022 Oct 20;27(20):7084. doi: 10.3390/molecules27207084