<i>Calluna vulgaris</i> as a Valuable Source of Bioactive Compounds: Exploring Its Phytochemical Profile, Biological Activities and Apitherapeutic Potential
<i>Calluna vulgaris</i>, belonging to the <i>Ericaceae</i> family, is an invasive plant that has widely spread from Europe all across Asia, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Being able to survive in rigid soil and environmental conditions, it is nowadays considered to...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/15/1993 |
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| author | Alexandra-Antonia Cucu Gabriela-Maria Baci Alexandru-Bogdan Cucu Ştefan Dezsi Cristian Lujerdean Iuliana Cristina Hegeduş Otilia Bobiş Adela Ramona Moise Daniel Severus Dezmirean |
| author_facet | Alexandra-Antonia Cucu Gabriela-Maria Baci Alexandru-Bogdan Cucu Ştefan Dezsi Cristian Lujerdean Iuliana Cristina Hegeduş Otilia Bobiş Adela Ramona Moise Daniel Severus Dezmirean |
| author_sort | Alexandra-Antonia Cucu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Calluna vulgaris</i>, belonging to the <i>Ericaceae</i> family, is an invasive plant that has widely spread from Europe all across Asia, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Being able to survive in rigid soil and environmental conditions, it is nowadays considered to be of high nature-conservation value. Known for its nutritional and medicinal properties, <i>C. vulgaris</i> stands out for its varied physiochemical composition, spotlighting a wide range of biological activity. Among the most important bioactive compounds identified in <i>C. vulgaris</i>, the phenolic components found in different parts of this herbaceous plant are the main source of its diverse pro-health properties (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, chemoprotective, etc.). Nonetheless, this plant exhibits an excellent nectariferous potential for social insects such as honeybees; therefore, comparing the bioactive compounds observed in the plant and in the final product of the beehive, namely honey, will help us understand and find new insights into the health benefits provided by the consumption of <i>C. vulgaris</i>-related products. Thus, the main interest of this work is to review the nutritional profile, chemical composition and biological activities of the <i>C. vulgaris</i> plant and its related honey in order to encourage the future exploration and use of this health-promoting plant in novel foods, pharmacological products and apitherapy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:06:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10adaa731bae4d51924f50eddfdd227b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:06:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-10adaa731bae4d51924f50eddfdd227b2023-12-01T23:06:16ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472022-07-011115199310.3390/plants11151993<i>Calluna vulgaris</i> as a Valuable Source of Bioactive Compounds: Exploring Its Phytochemical Profile, Biological Activities and Apitherapeutic PotentialAlexandra-Antonia Cucu0Gabriela-Maria Baci1Alexandru-Bogdan Cucu2Ştefan Dezsi3Cristian Lujerdean4Iuliana Cristina Hegeduş5Otilia Bobiş6Adela Ramona Moise7Daniel Severus Dezmirean8Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFaculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Forestry (INCDS) “Marin Drăcea”, 077030 Voluntari, RomaniaFaculty of Geography, Babeş-Bolyai University, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFaculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFaculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFaculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFaculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFaculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania<i>Calluna vulgaris</i>, belonging to the <i>Ericaceae</i> family, is an invasive plant that has widely spread from Europe all across Asia, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Being able to survive in rigid soil and environmental conditions, it is nowadays considered to be of high nature-conservation value. Known for its nutritional and medicinal properties, <i>C. vulgaris</i> stands out for its varied physiochemical composition, spotlighting a wide range of biological activity. Among the most important bioactive compounds identified in <i>C. vulgaris</i>, the phenolic components found in different parts of this herbaceous plant are the main source of its diverse pro-health properties (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, chemoprotective, etc.). Nonetheless, this plant exhibits an excellent nectariferous potential for social insects such as honeybees; therefore, comparing the bioactive compounds observed in the plant and in the final product of the beehive, namely honey, will help us understand and find new insights into the health benefits provided by the consumption of <i>C. vulgaris</i>-related products. Thus, the main interest of this work is to review the nutritional profile, chemical composition and biological activities of the <i>C. vulgaris</i> plant and its related honey in order to encourage the future exploration and use of this health-promoting plant in novel foods, pharmacological products and apitherapy.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/15/1993<i>Calluna vulgaris</i>bioactive compoundsbiological activitiestherapeutic valueapitherapyheather honey |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra-Antonia Cucu Gabriela-Maria Baci Alexandru-Bogdan Cucu Ştefan Dezsi Cristian Lujerdean Iuliana Cristina Hegeduş Otilia Bobiş Adela Ramona Moise Daniel Severus Dezmirean <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> as a Valuable Source of Bioactive Compounds: Exploring Its Phytochemical Profile, Biological Activities and Apitherapeutic Potential Plants <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> bioactive compounds biological activities therapeutic value apitherapy heather honey |
| title | <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> as a Valuable Source of Bioactive Compounds: Exploring Its Phytochemical Profile, Biological Activities and Apitherapeutic Potential |
| title_full | <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> as a Valuable Source of Bioactive Compounds: Exploring Its Phytochemical Profile, Biological Activities and Apitherapeutic Potential |
| title_fullStr | <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> as a Valuable Source of Bioactive Compounds: Exploring Its Phytochemical Profile, Biological Activities and Apitherapeutic Potential |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> as a Valuable Source of Bioactive Compounds: Exploring Its Phytochemical Profile, Biological Activities and Apitherapeutic Potential |
| title_short | <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> as a Valuable Source of Bioactive Compounds: Exploring Its Phytochemical Profile, Biological Activities and Apitherapeutic Potential |
| title_sort | i calluna vulgaris i as a valuable source of bioactive compounds exploring its phytochemical profile biological activities and apitherapeutic potential |
| topic | <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> bioactive compounds biological activities therapeutic value apitherapy heather honey |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/15/1993 |
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