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Substantial amounts of organo-pollutants, often persistent and toxic, are generated globally each year, posing a threat to soil, water, groundwater, and air. The pollutants encompass a wide range of substances from various sources, which include solid as well as liquid ones, such as landfill leachates and wastewaters. The compounds include paper and pulp mill byproducts, pharmaceuticals, diverse types of plastics, hydrocarbons, pigments, and dyes, as well as pesticides and insecticides. Fungal bioremediation stands out as a promising technology that uses the metabolic potential of fungi to eliminate or mitigate the impact of pollutants. Notably, species of the genus Pycnoporus exhibit significant capabilities for degrading a broad spectrum of toxic molecules. This degradation is facilitated by released ligninolytic enzymes, especially laccase, and cellular enzymes pertaining to the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system. The laccase, which is overproduced by the genus Pycnoporus, is quite remarkable for its high redox potential. The objective of this review is to highlight the proficiency of the Pycnoporus genus in the degradation of pollutants in submerged and solid-state fermentation. Recent studies conducted over the past decade consistently highlight the Pycnoporus genus as a robust contender in the realm of white biotechnology.

This study aimed at investigating the chemical composition and a selected group of bioactivities of jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril L.) pod residue. An aqueous extract (deionized water; AE) and a hydroethanolic extract (ethanol: deionized water, 70:30 v/v; ETOH) were obtained via maceration. Ten phenolic compounds were characterized via LC-DAD-ESI/MSn: seven procyanidins, two quercetin derivatives and one taxifolin derivative, with dimers and trimers of procyanidins being the main components of both extracts. Total phenolic compound levels of 2.42 ± 0.06 and 11 ± 1 mg/g were found in AE and ETOH, respectively; however, only seven compounds were identified in ETOH. The jatoba pod residue extracts showed notable antioxidant activities: ETOH had greater antioxidant potential in the OxHLIA and DPPH assays (IC50 = 25.4 μg/mL and 0.71 μg/mL, respectively); however, EA demonstrated greater potential in the FRAP system (IC50 = 2001.0 µM TE/mg). Only AE showed antiproliferative potential, being effective against cell lines of gastric (GI50 = 35 ± 1 µg/mL) and breast (GI50 = 89 ± 4 µg/mL) adenocarcinomas. Likewise, only AE showed modest anti-inflammatory potential (IC50 = 225 ± 2 µg/mL) in mouse macrophages. Bacteriostatic effects against bacteria were exerted by both extracts. Enterococcus faecalis and Listeria monocytogenes (MICs = 2.5 mg/mL) were especially sensitive to the ETOH extract. Taken together, the results suggest potential for jatoba pod residue as a source of molecules with biological activities and with possible industrial applications.

This study investigates the fibers of tucum (Bactris setosa Mart.), a palm species native to the Atlantic Forest. The fibers manually extracted from tucum leaves were characterized to determine important properties that help with the recognition of the material. The fibers were also subjected to pre-bleaching to evaluate their dyeing potential. The extraction and characterization of these fibers revealed excellent properties, making this material suitable not only for manufacturing high-quality textile products but also for various technical and engineering applications. The characterization techniques included SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), TGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis), and tensile strength tests. These analyses showed that tucum fibers possess desirable properties, such as high tensile strength, with values comparable to linen but with a much finer diameter. The fibers also demonstrated good affinity for dyes, comparable to cotton fibers. An SEM analysis revealed a rough surface, with superficial phytoliths contributing to their excellent mechanical strength. FTIR presented a spectrum compatible with cellulose, confirming its main composition and highly hydrophilic nature. The dyeing tests indicated that tucum fibers can be successfully dyed with industrial direct dyes, showing good color yield and uniformity. This study highlights the potential of tucum fibers as a renewable, biodegradable, and sustainable alternative for the transformation industry, promoting waste valorization.

Pereskia aculeata Miller and Pereskia grandfolia Haw, known as ‘ora-pro-nobis’, are unconventional vegetables belonging to the Cactaceae family, native to the Americas and common in the northeast and southeast regions of Brazil. This review attempts to present a balanced account of both the methods used for obtaining extracts from the diverse parts of the plants and the results that were obtained in terms of their applicability to foods and other products with biological activities. Attention will also be devoted to the properties of their bioactives and their applications to real food products. Methods for obtaining extracts from the diverse parts of the plants will be analyzed, as well as the chemical nature of the bioactives that were hitherto identified. Next, the applicability of ora-pro-nobis in either its integral form or in the form of extracts or other products (mucilages) to the production of food and dietary supplements will be analyzed. The species have been extensively investigated during the last few decades. But, the determination of chemical structures is frequently incomplete and there is a need for new studies on texture determination and color evaluation. Further studies exploring the fruit and flowers of P. aculeata are also required.

Microencapsulating phenolic compounds and anthocyanins from grape pomace, a by-product of the food industry, is attractive because of the many beneficial health effects associated with these compounds. At first, we evaluated the cultivar BRS Violeta using microencapsulation, indicating the degree of innovation in the present research. This study aims to microencapsulate grape pomace extract in a combination of maltodextrin and xanthan gum via lyophilization, and determine the protective effect of this microcapsule on the phenolic compounds and anthocyanins. Thus, the microcapsule stability was determined over 120 days, under different temperature conditions (4 and 25 °C) and in the presence or absence of light. Additionally, a gelatin application test was performed to investigate the effect of the microcapsule on color stability. When comparing the extract versus microcapsules, the microcapsule results were better both for total anthocyanins (1.69 to 1.54-fold) and total phenolic compounds (3.06 to 1.74-fold), indicating a longer half-life after encapsulation. The microcapsule application in gelatin demonstrated that the encapsulating matrix retained the color for 30 days. Thus, the encapsulation method can be recommended to preserve the bioactive compounds and the coloration in food products such as gelatin.

The white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus was used for biological pretreatment of peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) lignocellulosic wastes. Non-treated and treated B. gasipaes inner sheaths and peel were submitted to hydrolysis using a commercial cellulase preparation from T. reesei. The amounts of total reducing sugars and glucose obtained from the 30 d-pretreated inner sheaths were seven and five times higher, respectively, than those obtained from the inner sheaths without pretreatment. No such improvement was found, however, in the pretreated B. gasipaes peels. Scanning electronic microscopy of the lignocellulosic fibers was performed to verify the structural changes caused by the biological pretreatments. Upon the biological pretreatment, the lignocellulosic structures of the inner sheaths were substantially modified, making them less ordered. The main features of the modifications were the detachment of the fibers, cell wall collapse and, in several cases, the formation of pores in the cell wall surfaces. The peel lignocellulosic fibers showed more ordered fibrils and no modification was observed after pre-treatment. In conclusion, a seven-fold increase in the enzymatic saccharification of the Bactris gasipaes inner sheath was observed after pre-treatment, while no improvement in enzymatic saccharification was observed in the B. gasipaes peel.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential allelopathic effects of isolated or intercropped aqueous forage extracts on the physiological performance of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and corn (Zea mays L.) seeds, as well as their phytotoxicity to the weed species Bidens pilosa L. Aqueous extracts were prepared at a concentration of 5%, and the tests with soy and corn were conducted by wetting the germination papers with different treatments and performing procedures within the standards of the Brazilian Rules of Seed Analysis. Tests with the cover plant extracts on the seeds of B. pilosa used BOD-type repetitions. Fifty weed seeds were placed in a gerbox with filter paper moistened with the different treatments with five repetitions. Distilled water was used as the control in all tests. Extracts of Avena strigosa Schreb and Raphanus sativus L. (radish), cultivated individually and in combination, increased the seed germination percentage (%G) and the length of soybean seedlings. Similarly, extracts of Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br and Crotalaria spectabilis Roth, in individual and combined cultivation, provided gains in corn %G. Furthermore, all tested extracts suppressed germination and decreased the speed of the germination index of the hairy beggarticks when compared to the control, with the radish extract showing the greater reduction effect on the %G of the weed plant B. pilosa. Highlights: • The use of Crotalaria as a cover crop has a positive effect on the initial growth of corn. • The use of black oat and forage radish intercropped had the potential to increase soybean yield. • The use of cover crops contributes to the integrated management of weeds. • The choice of cover plant is important for the success of crop rotation.

The effect of farnesol, a sesquiterpene alcohol, on the production of laccases by Trametes versicolor and Pycnoporus sanguineus in pineapple waste solid-state fermentation was evaluated. Extracellular laccase production reached a maximum of 77.88 ± 5.62 U/g (236% above control) in farnesol-induced cultures of T. versicolor on the 17th day, whereas in a similar P. sanguineus culture, a maximal laccase activity of 130.95 ± 2.20 U/g (159% increase) was obtained on the 17th day. A single 45 KDa laccase was produced by both fungi under the influence of farnesol. These and other data allow us to conclude that farnesol acted as an inducer of the same form of laccase in both fungi. Farnesol disfavored fungal growth by increasing the lag phase, but it also clearly improved the oxidative state of the cultures. Contrary to the results obtained previously in submerged cultures, farnesol did not promote hyperbranching in the fungal mycelia. This is the first demonstration that farnesol is an excellent inducer of laccases in T. versicolor and P. sanguineus in solid-state cultivation. In quantitative terms, the results can be regarded as an excellent starting point for developing industrial or at least pre-industrial procedures to produce laccases using T. versicolor and P sanguineus under the stimulus of farnesol.

Conventional treatments for liver diseases are often burdened by side effects caused by chemicals. For minimizing this problem, the search for medicines based on natural products has increased. The objective of this review was to collect data on the potential hepatoprotective activity of plants of the Brazilian native flora. Special attention was given to the modes of extraction, activity indicators, and identification of the active compounds. The databases were Science direct, Pubmed, and Google Academic. Inclusion criteria were: (a) plants native to Brazil; (b) studies carried out during the last 15 years; (c) high-quality research. A fair number of communications met these criteria. Various parts of plants can be used, e.g., fruit peels, seeds, stem barks, and leaves. An outstanding characteristic of the active extracts is that they were mostly obtained from plant parts with low commercial potential, i.e., by-products or bio-residues. The hepatoprotective activities are exerted by constituents such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, vitamin C, phytosterols, and fructose poly- and oligosaccharides. Several Brazilian plants present excellent perspectives for the obtainment of hepatoprotective formulations. Very important is the economical perspective for the rural producers which may eventually increase their revenue by selling increasingly valued raw materials which otherwise would be wasted.

The peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) is a palm tree native to the Amazon region, with plantations expanding to the Brazilian Southwest and South regions. This work is a critical review of historical, botanical, social, environmental, and nutritional aspects of edible and nonedible parts of the plant. In Brazil, the importance of the cultivation of B. gasipaes to produce palm heart has grown considerably, due to its advantages in relation to other palm species, such as precocity, rusticity and tillering. The last one is especially important, as it makes the exploitation of peach palm hearts, contrary to what happens with other palm tree species, a non-predatory practice. Of special interest are the recent efforts aiming at the valorization of the fruit as a source of carotenoids and starch. Further developments indicate that the B. gasipaes lignocellulosic wastes hold great potential for being upcycled into valuable biotechnological products such as prebiotics, enzymes, cellulose nanofibrils and high fiber flours. Clean technologies are protagonists of the recovery processes, ensuring the closure of the product’s life cycle in a “green” way. Future research should focus on expanding and making the recovery processes economically viable, which would be of great importance for stimulating the peach palm production chain.

The aim of this work was to perform an unprecedented in-depth study on the bioactive phytochemicals of Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench Tunisian landrace (Marsaouia). For this purpose, its nutritional, aroma volatile, and phenolic profiles were characterized, and sundry biological activities were assessed in vitro. The approximate composition revealed that total dietary fiber as the most abundant macronutrient, mainly insoluble dietary fiber, followed by total carbohydrates and proteins. In addition, okra pods were rich in K, Ca, Mg, organic acids, tocopherols, and chlorophylls. Gas Chromatography-Electron Impact Mass Spectrometry (GC-EIMS) analysis showed that oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, and phenylpropanoids were the predominant essential volatile components in A. esculentus pods. A total of eight flavonols were detected by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to a DAD detector and mass spectrometry by electrospray ionization (HPLC-DAD-MS/ESI); with quercetin-3-O-glucoside being the majority phenolic component, followed by quercetin-O-pentosyl-hexoside and quercetin-dihexoside. This pioneering study, evidences that Tunisian okra display promising antioxidant and cytotoxic actions, in addition to relevant inhibitory effects against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes, and interesting analgesic activity.