# Biological Activities of Selected Medicinal and Edible Plants Aqueous Infusions
## 1 Introduction  
The global market for medicinal and aromatic plants, driven by the growing awareness of a healthy balance (homeostasis or physiological equilibrium) during the pandemic, is creating economic value in many sectors, from herbal production to the health and beauty care industry. The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity for herbal manufacturers to launch more herbal products that boost immunity [1]. According to the WHO, almost 10-15% of the population in developed countries regularly use herbal products in some form [2]. Herbal infusions involve bringing water to a boil and then pouring it over leaves, stems or flowers. This type of herbal drink offers a more natural way of ingesting herbs and is one of the most popular forms of herbal medicine worldwide. Herbal infusions are widely used in the traditional Mediterranean diet as well as in many other regions of the world and their consumption is associated with their health benefits (functional drinks) as well as their sensory properties [3; 4]. For real infusions, the roots, shoots, leaves and flowers of the plant are usually used, while teas use only the leaves in the steeping process. Herbal infusions are sometimes referred to as \"tisanes\" and do not involve the use of the plant material of _Camelia sinensis_ L. [5]. Infusions are a very good source of highly bioaccessible bioactive compounds. [6]. The most common bioactive compounds found in herbal infusions include polyphenols, which are known as strong antioxidants [7]. This study investigated the bioactive potential (antioxidant, antibacterial, antiproliferative and anti-hyperglycemic) of five medicinal plant infusions (_Geranium macrorhizum_ L.--bigroot geranium, _Achiella millifolium_ L.--yarrow, _Ononis spinosa_ L.--spiny restharow, _Polygonum aviculare_ L.--knotgrass, and _Verbascum thapsus_ L.--great mullein). The rhizome and plant of _G. macrorhizum_ L. (Geraniaceae) have been utilized for a long time as a medicinal plant. Its essential oil showed antibacterial activity, while the methanolic leaf extract showed strong antibacterial, antioxidant and hepatotoxicity effects [8]. In addition, the antiproliferative effect of _G. macrorhizum_ against leukemia cell lines (CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR 5000) was investigated [9]. There are no data on the biological activity of _G. macrorhizum_ as an infusion. The aqueous-alcoholic extract of _V. thapsus_ (Scrophulariaceae) has compounds with antibacterial properties [10]. Several biological activities are attributed to this plant (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-hyperlipidemic) [11]. This plant is commonly used to treat inflammatory diseases, asthma, spasmodic coughs, diarrhoea, and migraine headaches [12]. _A. millefolium_ (Asteraceae) is known as a remedy for the treatment of wounds, bleedings, headaches, inflammation, pain, spasmodic diseases, flatulence, and dyspepsia, while _P. aviculare_ (family Polygonaceae) is known for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, estrogenic, and lipid-regulating effects [13; 14]. _O. spinosa_ (Fabaceae) is used for inflammation of the urinary tract, in the treatment of rheumat, and as an antiseptic [15]. Extracts prepared for its root have shown various biological activities (anti-inflammatory, wound-healing effect, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic and antitumor) [16]. It is known that the choice of solvent has a quantitative (yield) and qualitative (phenolic profile) influence on the extraction of phenols. Water, alcohols (ethanol and methanol) and their mixtures are optimal for the extraction of highly hydroxylated aglycone forms of phenolic compounds, while less polar solvents such as ethyl acetate, acetone, chloroform are optimal for the extraction of highly methoxylated aglycone forms of phenolic compounds [17].