Ganoderma lucidum is a very medicinal mushroom that has been utilized in Oriental medicine for many years. It has a wide range of pharmacological and therapeutic properties, and has been used for many years as a health promoter. It contains various biologically active compounds that improve the immune system and have antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. Active compounds include triterpenoids and polysaccharides, as well as proteins, lipids, phenolics, sterols, etc. In the following review, we summarize briefly their biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antitumor, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory activity. Although Ganoderma has a number of medicinal effects that have been confirmed by the in vitro and in vivo studies summarised in this review, there are some limitations. Clinical trials face mainly a lack of pure constituents. Accurate identification of the compounds obtained is also problematic. In addition, most of the included studies were small, and there were concerns about the methodological quality of each study. Studies have shown that Ganoderma has valuable potential for the prevention and treatment of cancer. In any case, G. lucidum cannot be used as first-line therapy for cancer.

Increased demand for olive oil has caused higher quantities of byproducts in olive processing, such as olive leaves, olive skins, and vegetation water. It is well known that olive leaves contain several phenolic compounds, including secoiridoids. Oleuropein is the major secoiridoid in olive leaves. Oleuropein has been found to exhibit antioxidative, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antiatherogenic activities. We studied the effect of extraction techniques and drying methods on oleuropein content in olive leaves of Istrska belica and Lecino cultivar. Three different procedures of drying were used: at room temperature, at 105 °C, and freeze drying. Ethanol-modified supercritical extraction with carbon dioxide, conventional methanol extraction, and ultrasonic extraction with deep eutectic solvent were performed. Antioxidant activity was determined, as well as methanolic and supercritical extracts. The presence of olive polyphenols was confirmed by the HPLC method.

Red beetroot is well known for its high proportion of betalains, with great potential as functional food ingredients due to their health-promoting properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of processing techniques such as Soxhlet, cold, ultrasound and supercritical fluid extraction on the betalains content and its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic activities. Whilst Soxhlet extraction with water has provided the highest yield, the highest content of total phenolics was found in an extract prepared using Soxhlet extraction with 50% ethanol. Amongst eight phenolic compounds detected in the extracts, protocatechuic acid was the most abundant. The concentrations of total phenolics ranged from 12.09 mg/g (ultrasound extraction with 30% methanol) to 18.60 mg/g (Soxhlet extraction with 50% ethanol). The highest anti-inflammatory activity was observed for cold extraction with 50% methanol extract. The high radical scavenging activity of supercritical fluid extracts could be a consequence of nonphenolic compounds. The chemometrics approach was further used to analyse the results to find the “greenest” method for further possible application in the processing of beetroot in the food and/or pharmaceutical industry. According to the standard score, the best extraction method was determined to be Soxhlet extraction with 50% ethanol.

Supercritical fluids are marked as green solvents able to substitute toxic organic solvents. Therefore, processes involving supercritical fluids are seen as, besides others, green chemical processes with a huge potential for the food and pharmaceutical industry. Research on supercritical fluids evolved with time, spreading the possibilities and opportunities. The following paper gives a brief overview of the process involving supercritical fluids. Supercritical extraction, supercritical drying and impregnation of aerogels and particles from gas saturated solution are explained through the research performed and published by our research group. The most significant achievements are thoroughly explained and compared with the results available in the literature. The most important conclusions are underlined, and future remarks are discussed.