Background/Objectives: Occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) is the most common work-related skin disease, accounting for roughly 90-95% of occupational dermatoses and falling predominantly on the hands. It is rarely dangerous yet imposes a substantial burden through impaired quality of life, lost productivity, and premature exit from affected trades. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified this burden among healthcare workers, in whom the pooled one-year prevalence of self-reported hand eczema reaches around 27%; meta-analytic data link the increased risk principally to frequent handwashing and wet work rather than to alcohol-based hand rub. Methods: This narrative review, which follows a non-systematic, thematically organised search strategy rather than PRISMA methodology, integrates current evidence on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and management of OCD, with particular emphasis on the self-reinforcing cycle linking skin barrier disruption, microbiome dysbiosis, and antimicrobial-peptide dysregulation to inflammation. Results: We critically appraise the prevention evidence, foregrounding the low certainty of the existing trial base and the tension between the randomised trials of primary and secondary prevention, which have been null, and the encouraging but uncontrolled results of structured tertiary-prevention programmes. We summarise recent therapeutic advances, including topical delgocitinib, and situate the field within the World Health Organisation's 2025 recognition of skin diseases as a global public health priority. Established evidence and hypotheses are kept separate throughout: we additionally advance, explicitly as a conjecture rather than as a demonstrated mechanism, a conceptual trans-kingdom dialogue model in which protease-generated LL-37 fragments may modulate staphylococcal quorum sensing, and each step of that model is labelled according to whether the supporting evidence is direct, extrapolated, or as yet untested. Conclusions: We argue that the prevention failure is less one of biology than of trial design and measurement, and outline the research needed to close the gap.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:Colorectal cancer (CRC) disproportionately affects Romania, where mortality exceeds the EU average and screening uptake remains low. Diet is among the most modifiable CRC risk factors, yet no validated instrument for assessing nutritional knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to CRC prevention exists for the Romanian population. We developed and pilot-tested the EduNutriCRC questionnaire and characterised the corresponding nutritional KAP profile of Romanian adults. METHODS:In a cross-sectional pilot study (April-May 2026), a convenience sample of 301 Romanian adults aged 18-74 years completed the 51-item self-administered questionnaire. The instrument was evaluated for internal consistency and dimensional structure (exploratory factor analysis), with non-parametric tests used for group comparisons. RESULTS:The composite knowledge score (C1-C9; maximum 9) was 6.12 ± 2.25 with wide item-level variation. Internal consistency was acceptable, and the Attitudes subscale resolved into two factors (Motivation & Self-Efficacy and Perceived Barriers). Screening engagement was critically low (92.4% never tested; 81.7% unaware of the national programme). Although 64.1% expressed willingness to change their diet, 46.2% reported consuming processed meat at least weekly. Motivation & Self-Efficacy, but not the knowledge score, was inversely correlated with risk-food consumption (ρ = -0.39, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:EduNutriCRC demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties at the pilot stage. The study identified prevalent nutritional misconceptions, a marked knowledge-behaviour gap, low screening awareness, and a structural mismatch between information sources used and those trusted. Attitudes and self-efficacy, rather than factual knowledge, were the more proximal correlates of dietary behaviour, supporting the development of self-efficacy-focused, culturally adapted educational interventions for CRC prevention in Romania, with EduNutriCRC serving as a baseline and monitoring instrument.

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of skin cancer, and despite recent therapeutic advances, treatment efficacy is often limited by drug resistance and unsatisfactory safety profiles. Therefore, increasing attention has been directed toward alternative approaches to overcome these limitations, such as the use of natural compounds, either alone or in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents. In the present study, curcumin (CUR), a polyphenolic compound with promising anticancer properties, was combined with cisplatin (CIS), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, to evaluate their in vitro effects on the A375 melanoma cell line. The cytotoxicity assessment was based on the MTT method, followed by investigations of the impact on mitochondrial function using the JC-1 assay and MitoTracker staining. Additionally, the impact on nuclei, actin filaments, and tubulin was analyzed using immunofluorescence techniques, as well as the proapoptotic and necrotic potential of the tested compounds. The results showed a predominantly additive effect, with synergy emerging at the highest tested concentration relative to the individual treatments.

Background and Clinical Significance: Pregnancy-associated melanoma (PAM) is clinically challenging because the physiological pigmentary and naevus changes in pregnancy can obscure early malignancy, and the long-standing assumption that the hormonal milieu of pregnancy drives melanocytic transformation continues to shape clinical expectations. We present a case of postpartum-persistent melanoma in situ and use it to anchor a molecular reappraisal of that hormonal hypothesis. Case Presentation: We describe the clinical, dermoscopic, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings in a 32-year-old woman with a peri-umbilical naevus that changed during the third trimester and persisted twelve months postpartum, and we review the hormonal, immunological, and diagnostic literature relevant to PAM. Dermoscopy showed a multicomponent pattern with asymmetry, irregular structureless areas, peripheral pseudopods, and central regression; excisional biopsy demonstrated an atypical intraepidermal melanocytic proliferation without dermal invasion (melanoma in situ, pTis cN0 cM0, Stage 0), with Melan-A positivity and reduced p16. The reviewed evidence indicates that melanomas lack classical oestrogen/progesterone receptors and that the dominant oestrogen and α-MSH signals act through non-classical, differentiating pathways (GPER, MC1R) that are growth-suppressive rather than oncogenic, while pregnancy provides an immunologically permissive and diagnostically obscuring context. Conclusions: Pregnancy is better understood not as a hormonal driver of melanoma but as a permissive and obscuring state in which the principal preventable harm is diagnostic delay; suspicious lesions in pregnant or postpartum women warrant the same urgency as in other patients, and structured dermoscopic surveillance of at-risk women is the rational response.

Chronic wounds represent a growing global healthcare burden driven by persistent inflammation, polymicrobial biofilm formation, impaired tissue regeneration, and increased antimicrobial resistance. This review examines the mechanistic interplay between chronic wound pathophysiology, biofilm persistence, and antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-based therapeutics, with particular emphasis on translational barriers and advanced biomaterial-enabled delivery strategies. Current evidence demonstrates that AMPs exert multifactorial activities extending beyond direct antimicrobial effects, including membrane disruption, quorum-sensing inhibition, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) destabilization, immune modulation, angiogenic stimulation, and promotion of re-epithelialization. However, their clinical translation remains limited due to proteolytic degradation, poor stability, cytotoxicity, rapid clearance, and inadequate retention within the hostile chronic wound microenvironment. To address these limitations, emerging biomaterial platforms—including hydrogels, electrospun nanofibers, nanoparticles, self-assembling peptide systems, and stimuli-responsive smart dressings—have been developed to improve AMP stability, controlled release, biofilm penetration, and regenerative efficacy. This review further highlights current preclinical and clinical challenges, including the lack of standardized polymicrobial biofilm models and translationally relevant wound systems, while discussing future perspectives such as artificial intelligence-assisted peptide design and precision wound therapeutics. We argue that peptide discovery is no longer the principal bottleneck: the rate-limiting steps are now peptide stabilization, biofilm-targeted delivery, and dosing, and no current platform yet couples validated eradication of mature polymicrobial biofilms with validated tissue regeneration in a clinically representative model. Collectively, AMP-enabled smart biomaterials may support the transition from passive wound management toward responsive, biofilm-targeted regenerative therapy.

Skin cancer is a malignant tumour that develops from skin cells and is recognised as one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Skin cancer is divided into non-melanoma skin cancer and melanoma, both types requiring advances or alternatives to conventional treatments due to the limitations imposed by them (e.g., drug resistance, toxic effects). The purpose of the present work was to evaluate a natural combinatorial strategy between genistein (GEN) and quercetin (QUE) as an alternative treatment in skin cancer, using two distinct cell lines as experimental models: A-431 (epidermoid carcinoma) and A-375 (malignant melanoma). The results showed that the combinatorial GEN-QUE treatment induced a superior cytotoxicity compared to single agent treatment, characterised by lower cell viability when the associative treatment was applied (reaching up to 23.07% for A431 and 38.43% for A375), decreased cell c onfluency, induced more prominent nuclear changes (chromatin condensation, nuclear shrinkage) and mitochondrial changes (condensation) when treated with GEN and QUE. These novel findings support the improved anticancer ability of natural compounds when used in combinatorial treatments, emphasising the therapeutic potential in non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers.

The Rosaceae family, comprising over 3000 species, has been extensively investigated for its therapeutic potential, particularly in dermatological applications. Skin illnesses have become in recent years a serious burden worldwide, with more than 3 billion individuals of all ages affected by a skin condition. This review focuses on approximately 50 species from genera such as Rosa, Rubus, Prunus, Potentilla, and especially Eriobotrya japonica, which have shown promising biological effects due to their diverse bioactive compounds. This review provides a current perspective on the recent scientific literature that highlights the role of Rosaceae members in managing various skin disorders. Key dermatological conditions addressed include dermatitis, acne, skin aging, melanoma, and psoriasis. By summarizing both in vitro and in vivo findings, this review underscores the importance of Rosaceae species in the development of plant-based dermatological therapies and encourages further research into their mechanisms of action and clinical potential.

In the published publication [...]

Corrected article: https://www.bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/10600 The affiliation of the first author, Cristina Adriana Dehelean, was incomplete in the originally published version of this article. One of the authors asked to add her third institutional affiliation. The correct affiliations for Cristina Adriana Dehelean are as follows: 1Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Timișoara, Romania 2Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Timișoara, Romania 3Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Life Sciences “King Michael I” from Timișoara, Timișoara, Romania. We apologize to the readership for any inconvenience caused.

Background and aims. Adenomyosis is a heterogeneous disease, which differs from patient to patient. The objective of our study was to evaluate the risk factors that influence the occurrence of adenomyosis, more precisely to highlight aspects that may be used in practice. In addition, the in vitro impact of levonorgestrel (a possible predisposing factor in the occurrence of adenomyosis) on MDA-MB-231 cells was evaluated, trying to obtain a link between adenomyosis and mammary cancer. Methods. Clinical and demographic data of patients diagnosed with adenomyosis hospitalized between January and September 2023 in the Obstetrics-Gynecology Clinic were analyzed. For the in vitro assays, the MTT and LDH method was used to investigate the effect on cell viability and the potential cytotoxic effect of LG on MDA-MB-23 cells. Results. Out of a total of 99 hysterectomies performed, the diagnosis of adenomyosis was confirmed by ultrasound in 28 cases. Among our patients, we could observe that most of cases of adenomyosis developed in women between 40 and 45 years old. Multiple pregnancies can influence the development of this uterine pathology, along with a history of uterine surgery and abortions. It was also found that treatment with sex hormones can increase the risk of adenomyosis. Our in vitro study has showed that LG stimulates the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells depending on the dose and time. Conclusions. Personal history along with progestin treatment may influence myometrial lesions, leading to diffuse or focal adenomyosis. Moreover, in vitro, LG has been shown to stimulate the proliferation of breast cancer cells.

Silibinin (SIL), the most active phytocompound from Silybum marianum (L.), exerts many biological effects but has low stability and bioavailability. To overcome these drawbacks, the current research proposed the synthesis of silibilin oleate (SIL-O) and silibilin linoleate (SIL-L) derivatives as prodrugs with potentially optimized properties for biomedical applications, and the establishment of their in vitro-in ovo safety profiles. The physicochemical characterization of the obtained compounds using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and Raman and 1H liquid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed the formation of SIL-O and SIL-L complexes. Computational predictions revealed that these lipophilic derivatives present a lower drug-likeness score (-29.96 for SIL-O and -23.55 for SIL-L) compared to SIL, but an overall positive drug score (0.07) and no risk for severe adverse effects. SIL-O and SIL-L showed no cytotoxicity or impairment in cell migration at low concentrations, but at the highest concentration (100 µM), they displayed distinct toxicological profiles. SIL-L was more cytotoxic (on cardiomyoblasts - H9c2(2-1), hepatocytes - HepaRG, and keratinocytes - HaCaT) than SIL-O or SIL, significantly inhibiting cell viability (< 60%), altering cellular morphology, reducing cell confluence (< 70%), and inducing prominent apoptotic-like nuclear features. At the concentration of 100 µM, SIL-O presented an irritation score (IS) of 0.61, indicating a lack of irritant effect on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), while SIL-L was classified as a slight irritant with an IS of 1.99. These findings outline a more favorable in vitro and in ovo biocompatibility for SIL-O compared to SIL-L, whose applications are dosage-limited due to potential toxicity.

The biological activity of Galium verum herba was exerted on various tumor cell lines with incredible results, but their potential effect on malignant melanoma has not been established yet. Therefore, the current study was structured in two directions: (i) the investigation of the phytochemical profile of diethyl ether (GvDEE) and butanol (GvBuOH) extracts of G. verum L. and (ii) the evaluation of their biological profile on A375 human malignant melanoma cell line. The GvDEE extract showed an FT-IR profile different from the butanol one, with high antioxidant capacity (EC50 of GvDEE = 0.12 ± 0.03 mg/mL > EC50 of GvBuOH = 0.18 ± 0.05 mg/mL). The GvDEE extract also showed antimicrobial potential, especially against Gram-positive bacteria strains, compared to the butanol extract, which has no antimicrobial activity against any bacterial strain tested. The results regarding the antitumor potential showed that both extracts decreased A375 cell viability largely (69% at a dose of 55 µg/mL of the GvDEE extract). Moreover, both extracts induce nuclear fragmentation by forming apoptotic bodies and slight chromatin condensation, which is more intense for GvDEE. Considering the results, one can state that the Galium verum herba possesses antitumor effects on the A375 human malignant melanoma cell line, a promising phytocompound for the antitumor approach to skin cancer.

The present review explores the underlying mechanisms of phytophotodermatitis, a non-immunologic skin reaction triggered by certain plants followed by exposure to ultraviolet radiation emitted by sunlight. Recent research has advanced our understanding of the pathophysiology of phytophotodermatitis, highlighting the interaction between plant-derived photosensitizing compounds (e.g., furanocoumarins and psoralens) and ultraviolet light leading to skin damage (e.g., erythema, fluid blisters, edema, and hyperpigmentation), identifying these compounds as key contributors to the phototoxic reactions causing phytophotodermatitis. Progress in understanding the molecular pathways involved in the skin’s response to these compounds has opened avenues for identifying potential therapeutic targets suitable for the management and prevention of this condition. The review emphasizes the importance of identifying the most common phototoxic plant families (e.g., Apiaceae, Rutaceae, and Moraceae) and plant species (e.g., Heracleum mantegazzianum, Ruta graveolens, Ficus carica, and Pastinaca sativa), as well as the specific phytochemical compounds responsible for inducing phytophototoxicity (e.g., limes containing furocoumarin have been linked to lime-induced photodermatitis), underscoring the significance of recognizing the dangerous plant sources. Moreover, the most used approaches and tests for accurate diagnosis such as patch testing, Wood’s lamp examination, or skin biopsy are presented. Additionally, preventive measures such as adequate clothing (e.g., long-sleeved garments and gloves) and treatment strategies based on the current knowledge of phytophotodermatitis including topical and systemic therapies are discussed. Overall, the review consolidates recent findings in the field, covering a diverse array of phototoxic compounds in plants, the mechanisms by which they trigger skin reactions, and the implications for clinical management. By synthesizing these insights, we provide a comprehensive understanding of phytophotodermatitis, providing valuable information for both healthcare professionals and researchers working to address this condition.

Background: Diagnosis and treatment for pharyngeal cancer are decisive in determining prognosis. Diagnosis delays are frequent, representing a significant cause of avoidable mortality, and an important factor in subpar survival across the continuous HNC care delivery. Methods: The present study represents a retrospective analysis of medical records from Western Romania, which included 180 patients, to evaluate the impact of time-to-treatment delay on patients diagnosed with pharyngeal cancer. The data analyses were performed using the Kaplan–Meier method R (version 3.6.3) packages, including tidyverse, final-fit, mcgv, survival, stringdist, janitor, and Hmisc. Results: The mean days from diagnosis until the end of treatment were higher for the nasopharynx group. Cox regression analysis regarding diagnosis to treatment duration categories showed an increased risk mortality by 3.11 times (95%CI: 1.51–6.41, p = 0.0021) with a Harrell’s C-index of 0.638 (95%CI: 0.552–0.723). The hypopharynx and oropharynx locations increased risk mortality by 4.59 (95%CI: 1.55–13.55) and 5.49 times (95%CI: 1.79–16.81) compared to the nasopharynx location. Conclusions: The findings of this study led to the conclusion that it seems there is a trend of mortality risk for oropharynx and hypopharynx cancers due to delays in the time to treatment over 70 days, standing as a basis for further research as there is an imperative need for prospective multicenter studies.

Skin tags, also known as fibroepithelial polyps (FPs) or acrochordons, are soft, pigmented excrescences, with a prevalence of 50-60% in the population, occurring especially in the fourth decade of life. To date, FPs have been efficiently eliminated using minimum invasive methods such as surgical removal, cauterization, laser irradiation, and cryosurgery. Over-the-counter treatments are also of interest for patients due to their non-invasive character, but their clinical efficiency has not been clearly demonstrated. This study was designed in order to evaluate the efficacy of a modern-pharmaceutical-formulation-type poloxamer-based binary hydrogel, having Origanum vulgare L. essential oil (OEO-PbH) as an active ingredient in the management of FPs. The formulation has been shown to possess good qualities in terms of stability and sterility. Non-invasive measurements revealed changes in some physiological skin parameters. An increase in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and erythema index was noted, while skin surface water content (SWC) decreased during eight weeks of treatment. The macroscopic evaluation revealed that the FPs dried and shrunk after topical treatment with OEO-PbH. Clinically, patients presented a lowering of the number of lesions on the treated area of 20-30% after one month of treatment and around 50% after the second month. Histopathological examination suggests that topical treatment with OEO-PbH may induce histological changes in the epidermis, dermis, and fibrovascular cores of FPs, including a loss of thickness, reduced size and number of blood vessels, and low cellularity. These changes may contribute to the observed reduction in size of FPs after treatment with OEO-PbH.

Metformin (Met), a biguanide molecule, is successfully used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes as the first line of therapy for many years now. Beside its antidiabetic effect exerted through the inhibition of gluconeogenesis in liver and increase of glucose uptake in peripheral tissues, it seems to possess an anticancer potential, demonstrated in breast, lung, hepatic and colorectal cancers. Colorectal cancer is responsible for 950 000 deaths just in 2020 and is considered to be one of the most prevalent types of cancer. The aim of the current study was to evaluate through a series of in vitro tests the cytotoxicity of Met in HT-29 and HCT- 116, two colorectal cancer cell lines and in a healthy colon cell line, CCD- 841 CoN. All three lines were stimulated with five concentrations of Met (5, 10, 25, 50, 75 mM) for 72 hours. Cellular viability was determined, followed by microscopical morphology analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Met has shown no cytotoxic effect towards CCD 841 CoN cells, whereas in both cancer cell lines showed a concentration-dependent decrease of viability. The morphology of the cancer cells was also changed directly proportional with the concentrations used, rounded, floating cells and decrease in confluency being observed. Moreover, Dapi staining was performed in order to spot changes at a nuclear level. After fixation and permeabilization of the cells, Dapi was added and nuclei shrinkage, intense fluorescence, condensation and fragmentation were seen. Therefore, Met exerts a selective cytotoxic effect in colon cancer cells through inducing apoptotic-like alterations.

As one of the most aggressive types of skin cancer, melanoma, remains a challenging malignancy to treat, necessitating continued research for more effective therapeutic approaches. This study examined the impact of oleanolic acid and doxorubicin individually and in combination on the viability of cells, morphological changes and antiangiogenic properties. Oleanolic acid, doxorubicin and a combination of both were used to treat melanoma cells -A375. The viability of the cells was assessed using MTT assay, and phase-contrast microscopy was used to observe morphological changes. To assess apoptotic alterations in the nuclei, Hoechst 33342 staining was applied to the nuclei. The antiangiogenic potential was evaluated using the hen's egg chorioallantoic membrane as a biological model. Cell viability was significantly reduced by both oleanolic acid and doxorubicin while cell morphology revealed distinct changes in shape and adherence, which are common to apoptotic processes. Apoptosis was confirmed as the underlying mechanism by the presence of condensation and fragmentation of the nuclei. It should be noted that the combination of oleanolic acid and doxorubicin had a more pronounced effect on cell viability and morphological changes associated with apoptosis. Furthermore, the assessment of antiangiogenic potential demonstrated that oleanolic acid, along with doxorubicin, was capable to inhibit the formation of new blood vessels. According to this study, both oleanolic acid and doxorubicin exhibit promising anti-melanoma properties, including a reduction in cell viability and induction of apoptosis. These effects are enhanced by their association, indicating a potential synergistic effect. A valuable insight has been gained into the therapeutic potential of combining oleanolic acid and doxorubicin in the treatment of melanoma in the present study. Efforts should be made to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action of this combination as well as evaluate its safety and efficacy in preclinical and clinical settings to improve therapeutic outcomes.

The important role of plants in the prevention and treatment of several ailments has been known since ancient times. Plants are a rich source of biocompounds with known therapeutic benefits. At the moment, natural products are a hope for certain diseases that modern medicine fails to cure. Cancerous pathologies were and still are a disease category in which the most effective treatment with the fewest adverse effects is constantly being sought. Malignant melanoma is the skin cancer that has produced the highest number of deaths and is intensively studied. Galium verum L. is a plant known for its traditional uses, for this reason, it is currently being studied in the therapy of several diseases, including cancer. Our study aimed to phytochemically characterize the petroleum ether extract and to evaluate its safety and antitumor potential on HaCaT and A375 cell lines, respectively. The FT-IR assay revealed that the GvPE extract comprises functional groups of lipophilic compounds and phenolic compounds, four compounds being qualitatively identified: rutin, isoquercitrin, quercetol, and chlorogenic acid through LC-MS analysis, in addition, a medium antioxidant capacity was observed. The results obtained on HaCaT showed that GvPE does not significantly reduce cell viability, and up to the tested doses it does not produce a relevant cytotoxic effect. In the case of skin cancer cells, the concentration of 55 mu g/mL revealed a viability percentage of up to 55%, the cells becoming round and detaching from the plaque. Finally, the nuclear evaluation exhibited that the GvPE extract has an apoptotic-like effect, with the production of nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation.

Even after the remarkable progress of the last decade, osteosarcoma remains a serious problem on a global scale, mainly affecting teenagers and elderly people. Hyaluronic acid is a ubiquitous polysaccharide in vertebrates and plays important physiological roles in the body, including the regulation of cell proliferation and inflammation. There are a variety of medical applications for hyaluronic acid; recent research has highlighted its role in the mineralization and growth of bones. Following these theoretical considerations, the present study sought to evaluate the antitumor potential of two types of hyaluronic acid in osteosarcoma cells. In order to achieve this goal, the viability and morphology of the cells, the effect on the structure of the nuclei, and the gene expression of some pro-and anti-apoptotic genes were evaluated. The results of the study indicated that hyaluronic acid causes a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability and induces changes in morphology and nuclei characteristic of cell apoptosis. Additionally, the highest concentrations tested resulted in an increase in pro-apoptotic genes (Bax and Bad) and a decrease in anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl-2). In conclusion, hyaluronic acid may represent a possible effective candidate for the treatment of osteosarcoma, but further studies are required in order to clarify the molecular mechanisms involved.

Plants are an important source of active compounds with numerous therapeutic benefits. Nowadays, plant extracts have attracted an increased attention as candidates in the prevention and treatment of various diseases, including cancer. Galium verum L. is considered an effective remedy due to its extensive traditional use, thus the investigation of its anticancer potential has gained momentum. Malignant melanoma is an aggressive type of cancer with an increased incidence. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to analyze the cytotoxic effect of GvH2O extract on A375 cells. Furthermore, the safety of the extract was evaluated on HaCaT cells and the results showed that the GvH2O does not exert a cytotoxic action on keratinocytes but stimulates their proliferation at 15 - 55 μg/mL. In addition, the GvH2O extract was characterized from a phytochemical point of view. The results showed that GvH2O contains polyphenolic compounds (rutin and chlorogenic acid), possesses antioxidant activity and can be effective on Gram-positive bacteria as well as on E. coli. GvH2O extract showed a cytotoxic effect on melanoma cells, causing changes in confluence and morphology and revealing nuclear characteristics specific to apoptosis. Finally, Galium verum L. may be a possible candidate for skin cancer therapy, but additional studies are needed.