Silver Fir (Abies alba L.) Polyphenolic Extract Shows Beneficial Influence on Chondrogenesis In Vitro under Normal and Inflammatory Conditions
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
in this interesting paper the effect of four different polyphenolic compounds (Belinal, Pycnogenol, resveratrol, quercetin) on the chondrogenic potential of bone-derived MSCs from healthy donors and patients with osteoarthritis was shown with nice pictures. Under inflammatory conditions, chondrogenesis was significantly enhanced for MSCs treated with one of the compounds tested. however, None of the tested polyphenols showed a significant effect on chondrogenesis in healthy donors, both in non-inflammatory and inflammatory conditions. Belinal is a promised compound to treat chondrogenesis of MSCs derived from patients with osteoarthritis under different conditions. comments: please check carefully english language.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
The paper “Silver fir (Abies alba L.) polyphenolic extract shows beneficial influence on chondrogenesis in vitro under normal and inflammatory conditions” is very interesting and innovative and the number of experiments performed is satisfactory.
In general, the presented manuscript is well conducted and well written but needs minor English language corrections by a native speaker, and minor editing corrections. Also,
1) The used methods are appropriated and well established.
2) Abstract and Introduction are well written.
3) The statistics are conducted excellently.
4) The results are well explained and all figures are clear and discussed well.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
The aim of the manuscript was to evaluate the effect of silver fir (Abies alba L.) polyphenol extract on chondrogenesis in vitro under normal and inflammatory conditions. However, some major comments and considerations should be taken before publishing in Molecules:
- The manuscript is not written according to the guidelines of Molecules journal contained in the Instructions for Authors. The Authors should use the Microsoft Word template, which recommends the following order: introduction, results, discussion, experimental section, and conclusions. Please also, in accordance with the guidelines of the journal, correct the section on presenting the bibliographic positions. A short section of "Author contributions" specifying the contribution of individual Authors to the work was not included.
- lines 13, 14; page 1: It is wrong to assign the term polyphenolic compounds to preparations / extracts such as Belinal, Pycnogenol. Please make corrections. In my opinion, the term "..four different polyphenolic compounds ..." should be replaced by " ... two different polyphenolic compounds (resveratrol, quercetin), and two polyphenolic extracts (Belinal, Pycnogenol)"
- Since the commercially purchased preparations of Belinal, Pycnogenol are plant extracts, their polyphenol profile and the quantitative contribution of their individual components are not known. That is why I encourage the Authors to expand and complete this study with LC-PDA or LC-MS analyzes, assessing the polyphenol profile of the tested Belinal and Pycnogenol extracts. This phytochemical investigation is also necessary for the proper evaluation of the activity results of the extracts on osteoarthritis. It will then be possible to properly assess which polyphenols of the tested extracts are responsible for the therapeutic effect shown. In my opinion, completing the research with the results of quantitative investigations is crucial when deciding whether to accept the manuscript for publication in Molecules.
- The Authors refer to the bibliographic reference [20] (E.T. Benković, T. Grohar et all, Ind. Crops Prod. 52 (2014) 23–28), presenting the antioxidant properties of Belinal. However, as the title of the indicated article shows, the activity studies relate more to Abigenol®. Please respond to this issue.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
The Authors revised the manuscript as suggested by the reviewer. Therefore, I recommend this manuscript to be published in Molecules.
