Search

Protein hydrolysates containing bioactive peptides have emerged as therapeutic agents. However, these peptides may lose this bioactivity under gastrointestinal conditions. Encapsulation in edible biopolymers is a solution to this problem. Protein hydrolysates with ACE-I inhibitory activity, obtained previously, were encapsulated. A 1% solution of the biopolymers alginate (AG) and pectin (PC) in various ratios was prepared. The beads formed were evaluated in both wet and dry states for size, roundness, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), encapsulation efficiency, and ACE-I inhibitory activity. Selected samples underwent in vitro digestion, after which peptide release and ACE-I inhibitory activity were determined. Size analysis revealed that increasing the PC content increased the bead size, with 100% PC beads showing total deformation and reduced roundness. TGA indicated that wet beads had lower thermal stability compared to dry beads. The highest encapsulation efficiency (95.57% ± 0.49) was observed with 100% AG beads. The 75% AG 25% PC beads exhibited the highest ACE-I inhibitory activity (97.97% ± 1.01). Encapsulated protein hydrolysates retained their ACE-I inhibitory activity after simulated digestion, whereas non-encapsulated hydrolysates lost their bioactivity. Encapsulation of amaranth protein hydrolysates with AG and PC thus preserves antihypertensive activity even after in vitro digestion.

This work describes research focused on the recovery of ellagic acid (EA) using solid-state fermentation-assisted extraction (SSF) with Aspergillus niger GH1 and Mexican rambutan peel as support. Several culture conditions (temperature, initial moisture, levels of inoculum, and concentration of salts) were evaluated using a Placket–Burman design (PBD) for screening culture factors followed by a central composite design (CCD) for enhancing the EA. Antioxidant activity and polyphenol content were evaluated in SSF. Temperature (28.2 °C), inoculum (2 × 107 spores/g), and NaNO3 (3.83 g/L) concentration were identified as a significant parameter for EA in SSF. This enhancing procedure resulted in an increase in EA recovery [201.53 ± 0.58–392.23 ± 17.53 mg/g] and, with two steps of purification, [396.9 ± 65.2 mg/g] of EA compound was recovered per gram of recovered powder. Fermentation extracts reflect inhibition of radicals and the presence of polyphenol content. This work proposes to identify the ideal conditions of fermentation in order to obtain a higher yield high-quality compound from agro-industrial wastes through SSF.

Plants play a key role in the treatment and prevention of diseases since ancient times. Eucalyptus has been traditionally used in the treatment of conditions related to the respiratory system, such as flu, colds, sore throats, bronchitis, as well as neuralgia, and stiffness. Eucalyptus camaldulensis has several phytoconstituents such as ellagitannins endowed with bioactivity, including antioxidant and inhibitory potential on various microorganisms causing foodborne diseases. Tellimagrandin I, pedunculagin, castalagin/vescalagin are among the most representative and have activity against pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus. These antioxidant ellagitannins may have potential application in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. The main industrial uses of E. camaldulensis are related to the production of wood, paper, and charcoal, with its leaves and branches considered by-products from these industrial activities. However, these plant by-products could be used to obtain bioactive compounds for the development of new and improved consumer goods. Therefore, the aim of this work was to review the main ellagitannins of E. camaldulensis and their antioxidant and antibacterial activities in foodborne microorganisms, as well as the relevance that these compounds may have in the food industry and related sectors.

This study investigated the recovery of polyphenolic compounds such as punicalagin, punicalin, and ellagic acid via solid-state fermentation (SSF)-assisted extraction from pomegranate peel (Punica granatum L.) using Aspergillus niger GH1 and Saccharomhyces cerevisiae. Food processing has contributed to the increase in agroindustrial wastes, which has become a global concern due to environmental protection. However, these wastes can be valorized via the extraction of high-value components such as bioactive compounds. Ellagitannins extracted during the bioprocesses were identified via the HPLC–MS technique and quantified via total polyphenols (hydrolyzable and condensed assays). Enzymatic activities were tested. HPLC–MS analysis showed a decrease in the levels of punicalagin, the formation of punicaline, and the accumulation of ellagic acid during fermentation kinetics. The present study compares two different bioprocesses in order to obtain, from agroindustrial wastes, high-added-value compounds using SSF-.

The Mexican oregano by-products are a source of bioactive molecules (polyphenols) that could be extracted using solid-state fermentation (SSF). This study fermented the by-products via SSF (120 h) with a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Sequentially, a bioactive and chemical determination was made according to the phenolic content, antioxidant activity (DPPH●/FRAP), bioactive properties (α-amylase inhibition and antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli), and chemical composition (HPLC-MS). The results showed that the total phenolics and flavonoid content, as well as the antioxidant activity, increased (0.60, 2.55, and 3.01 times, respectively) during the SSF process compared with unfermented material. Also, the extracts showed antimicrobial activity against E. coli and α-amylase inhibition. These inhibitory results could be attributed to bioactive compounds identified via HPLC, such as gardenin B, trachelogenin, ferulic acid, and resveratrol 3-O-glucoside. Therefore, the application of L. mesenteroides under SSF on oregano by-products comprises an eco-friendly strategy for their valorization as raw materials for the recovery of phenolic compounds that could be natural alternatives against synthetic antioxidant and antimicrobial agents, promoting a more circular and sustainable supply system within the oregano industry.

Residual melon by-products were explored for the first time as a bioresource of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) obtention. Two alkaline extraction methods were employed, the traditional (4.5% NaOH, 2 h, 80 °C) and a thermo-alkaline in the autoclave (2% NaOH, 1 h, 100 °C), obtaining a yield of MCC ranging from 4.76 to 9.15% and 2.32 to 3.29%, respectively. The final MCCs were characterized for their chemical groups by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), crystallinity with X-ray diffraction, and morphology analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). FTIR spectra showed that the traditional protocol allows for a more effective hemicellulose and lignin removal from the melon residues than the thermo-alkaline process. The degree of crystallinity of MCC ranged from 51.51 to 61.94% and 54.80 to 55.07% for the thermo-alkaline and traditional processes, respectively. The peaks detected in X-ray diffraction patterns indicated the presence of Type I cellulose. SEM analysis revealed microcrystals with rough surfaces and great porosity, which could remark their high-water absorption capacity and drug-carrier capacities. Thus, these findings could respond to the need to valorize industrial melon by-products as raw materials for MCC obtention with potential applications as biodegradable materials.

This study is the first record of medicinal plants in the southwest of the Coahuila state, an arid zone where extreme dry conditions prevail. One hundred twenty-two residents (in sixteen communities) were interviewed. The residents were questioned with a questionnaire-guided ethnomedical survey protocol about the various plants used. Seventy-seven species of medicinal plants belonging to 36 botanical families were cited. The highest use-value (UV) was calculated for Lippia graveolens Kunth (0.30); Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (0.20); Eucalyptus abdita Brooker & Hopper, Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. (0.16); Mentha spicata L. (0.15) and Salvia officinalis L. (0.10). Informant consensus factor (ICF) about usages of medicinal plants ranges from 0.41 to 0.80; the highest level of agreement was determined between the informants and Respiratory System Diseases (0.80). The highest fidelity level (FL) values (100%) were identified in Flourensia cernua DC., Artisia ludoviciana Nutt., and Parthenium incanum Kunth to Gastro-intestinal System Diseases; Eucalyptus abdita Brooker & Hopper, Bougainvillea berberidifolia Heimerl, and Lippia graveolens Kunth to Respiratory System Diseases (RSD) and Cyclolepis genistoides D.Don and Ephedra antisyphilitica Berland. ex C.A.Mey. to Obstetrics, Gynecology and Urinary tract Diseases. These last two medicinal plant species (“palo azul” and “pitoreal”) used by the rural communities in Viesca in the treatment of urinary tract infections and kidney stones have not been reported previously. These findings can provide new research directions for further phytochemical studies. The present study revealed that the residents are rich in ethno-medicinal knowledge and actively use medicinal plants to treat various diseases. New phytochemical and pharmacological research are needed to confirm the therapeutic potential and safety of the identified plants.

Se recolectaron muestras de semillas de 215 de variedades de maíz representativas de cuatro (Jalisco, Michoacán, Oaxaca y Puebla) estados de México. El total de genotipos colectados en cada Estado fue de 53, 96, 46 y 20, respectivamente. Cada colecta de semilla fue georreferenciada; posteriormente cada colecta se sembró y el tejido foliar se usó para el aislamiento de ADN, luego se realizó un análisis de PCR para determinar la presencia o ausencia de ocho secuencias acompañantes y nueve eventos transgénicos en los 215 genotipos. Los resultados mostraron la introgresión de secuencias acompañantes y eventos transgénicos (cry1Ab) en el genoma de algunas variedades locales de maíz. La mayor proporción de residuos de cry1Ab observados en las variedades locales de maíz fue la muestra de Puebla (70%), seguida por las muestras de Oaxaca donde se observó 52%, mientras que 15 y 7.5% de los maíces nativos del estado de Jalisco presentaron el gen cry1Ab y la secuencia acompañante ntpII, respectivamente. Las muestras de Michoacán mostraron 44 y 17.7% para el gen cry1Ab y la secuencia acompañante, respectivamente. Estos resultados deben respaldar la aplicación de medidas correctivas para prevenir la contaminación genética de variedades locales de maíz y limpiar fenotipos fuera de tipo que podrían ser fuentes de contaminación de genes transgénicos dentro de poblaciones de variedades locales de maíz contaminadas con estos transgenes.

Protein hydrolysates are a promising source of bioactive peptides. One strategy by which they can be obtained is fermentation. This method uses the proteolytic system of microorganisms to hydrolyze the parental protein. Fermentation is a little-explored method for obtaining protein hydrolysates from amaranth. Different strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Bacillus species isolated from goat milk, broccoli, aguamiel, and amaranth flour were used in this work. First, the total protein degradation (%TPD) of amaranth demonstrated by the strains was determined. The results ranged from 0 to 95.95%, the strains that produced a higher %TPD were selected. These strains were identified by molecular biology and were found to correspond to the genera Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Bacillus, and Leuconostoc. Fermentation was carried out with amaranth flour and the selected strains. After this process, water/salt extracts (WSE) containing the released protein hydrolysates were obtained from amaranth doughs. The peptide concentration was measured by the OPA method. The antioxidant, antihypertensive and antimicrobial activity of the WSE was evaluated. In the FRAP test, the best WSE was LR9 with a concentration of 1.99 μMTE/L ± 0.07. In ABTS, 18C6 obtained the highest concentration with 19.18 μMTE/L ± 0.96. In the DPPH test, there was no significant difference. In terms of antihypertensive activity, inhibition percentages ranging from 0 to 80.65% were obtained. Some WSE were found to have antimicrobial properties against Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes. Fermentation of amaranth with LAB and Bacillus spp. allowed the release of protein hydrolysates with antioxidant, antihypertensive, and antimicrobial activity.

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is an evergreen shrub that is recognized worldwide for its functional properties. The current global production of green tea is approximately 5.3 million tons per year. Green tea processing has severely affected the generation of agro-industrial waste. One strategy for reducing waste accumulation is the revalorization of agro-industrial wastes via solid-state fermentation (SSF). The aim of this study was to valorize green tea processing residues to produce tannase under SSF using an endemic strain from Western Ghats, Aspergillus niger TBG 28A. SSF was performed in Erlenmeyer flasks with spent green tea leaves inoculated with spores of A. niger TBG 28A. Bioprocess optimization was carried out by employing the Box–Benkhen experimental design, achieving a high enzymatic yield of 246.82 (U/g). The present study shows the complexity of the degradation of tannins and the different patterns of expression of fungal tannase obtained from A. niger TBG 28 A. The enzyme was further purified to obtain a fold purification of 16.35% and a molecular mass of 150 kDa. Producing tannase with a novel strain of A. niger TBG 28A is an interesting strategy to revalorize green tea waste.

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) is a tropical fruit that is originally from Southeast Asia and it was introduced to Mexico in the 1960s; the fruit’s peel is known to possess ellagitannins such as ellagic acid which give the peel great biological activity; solid-state fermentation has been used to obtain said compounds and rambutan peel can be used as a fermentation support/substrate; this work aims to obtain, identify and quantify ellagic acid obtained via SSF with a strain of yeast. The water-absorption index and the support’s maximum moisture were determined. To determine the ideal conditions for ellagic acid accumulation, a Box–Behnken 3k experimental design was applied using variables such as temperature, moisture and inoculum. The maximum accumulation time of ellagic acid via solid-state fermentation was determined to be 48 h with ideal conditions of 30 °C, 60% moisture and 1.5 × 107 cells/g using S. cerevisiae, and high-performance liquid chromatography was used to identify ellagic acid, geraniin and corilagin as the most abundant compounds. The maximum recovery of ellagic acid was 458 ± 44.6 mg/g. HPLC/ESI/MS analysis at 48 h fermentation showed biodegradation of geraniin and corilagin due to ellagic acid. Mexican rambutan peel has been demonstrated to be a suitable substrate for SSF.

The exploration of natural antimicrobial compounds is necessary due to the current bacterial resistance to synthetic antibiotics. For this reason, pineapple residues were evaluated as a natural source of phenolic compounds with antimicrobial capacity. Pineapple residues were fermented with A. niger GH1 and subjected to ultrasound for the extraction of phenolic compounds. In the solid-state fermentation (SSF), the peel and the core (70:30) were fermented for 32 h. Ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) was optimized. The factors solid–liquid ratio (X1), ethanol concentration (X2), and extraction cycle (X3) were optimized through a Box–Behnken statistical design, using the total phenol content (TPC) as a response variable. The optimized and pre-purified extract with amberlite was characterized using HPLC-MS and we measured the antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The optimal values for X1, X2, and X3 were 82 mg/mL, 26%, and two cycles, respectively. The extract was effective as an antimicrobial agent against S. aureus and L. monocytogenes, with MICs of 50 mg/mL and 12.5 mg/mL, respectively; the bacterial growth curve and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the antimicrobial activity. The main compounds identified in the antimicrobial extract were 3,4-DHPEA-EA, Phloretin 2′-O-xylosyl-glucoside, and Feruloyl tartaric acid. Overall, the combination SSF-UAE showed to be a promising strategy to recover phenolic compounds from pineapple residues, exhibiting great potential as a natural antimicrobial agent.

Polyphenolic compounds are a group of secondary metabolites in plants; these molecules are widely distributed in fruits, vegetables, and herbs and can be found in the vacuoles of plant cells. The current trend in these compounds is their extraction to study their applications in several areas, such as the food, cosmetic, and pharmacology industry. This review article presents a critical analysis of polyphenol extraction using solid-state fermentation. The parameters of extraction, such as the substrate, temperature, pH, inoculum of the microorganism, moisture, and water activity, are discussed in detail. This biotechnological extraction method affects the concentration and recovery of polyphenolic compounds. Some polyphenolic sources that are rising for their biological properties belong to agro-industrial wastes, such as peels, seeds, and the pulp of some fruits. Solid-state fermentation is an innovative and environmentally friendly tool that can contribute to generating value-added agrifood from agro-industrial wastes.

Polyembryony has been reported in maize (Zea mays L.) since the 20th century. This trait is defined as the appearance of two or more seedlings from a germinated seed and has been associated with improvements in the nutritional content of the grain. Maize kernel traits are affected by different factors among them the growing location. Thus, it is important to determine the environmental (location) effect on polyembryonic kernel traits. The purpose of this study was to determine the environmental effects on the physical and chemical properties of polyembryonic maize kernels. Thirty-two maize genotypes with different levels of polyembryony (high, low and non-polyembryonic) were planted in two different locations with distinct climate (Buenavista, Coahuila and Río Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico). Results showed that at the Buenavista location, maize lines had a greater weight of one thousand grains (272 - 367 g), the non-polyembryonic lines showed the highest weight. Besides, the low polyembryonic maize lines promoted the largest grain dimensions. The polyembryonic maize had the biggest embryos, which occupied 11.37 -11.59% of the grain. At the Río Bravo, in comparison to Buenavista, the polyembryonic maize lines had the highest protein (4.56%) and fat (5%) contents, while the raw fiber (1.2%) was highest in non-polyembryonic maize, meanwhile at, the Buenavista location, the starch content (59.2%) was higher in non-polyembryonic maize, while ashes (1.4%) and moisture (13.7%) were higher in polyembryonic maize. Growing polyembryonic maize genotypes in different environments, it was observed that the bromatological profile is affected by environmental conditions. In this study, a better nutritional content was observed in maize genotypes grown at Río Bravo in comparison to those maize genotypes grown at Buenavista. So, this study suggests that it is possible to produce polyembryonic maize genotypes in different environments which will have a different bromatological profile and can be employed for specific industrial uses.

The present work describes the purification of an enzyme capable of degrading punicalagin. The enzyme was produced by Aspergillus niger GH1 by solid-state fermentation, and the enzyme production was induced by using ellagitannins as the sole carbon source. The purification steps included the concentration by lyophilization, desalting, anionic exchange, and gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme kinetic constants were calculated by using punicalagin, methyl gallate, and sugar beet arabinans. The molecular mass of the protein was estimated by SDS-PAGE. The identified bands were excised and digested using trypsin, and the peptides were submitted to HPLC-MS/MS analysis. The docking analysis was conducted, and a 3D model was created. The purification fold increases 75 times compared with the cell-free extract. The obtained Km values were 0.053 mM, 0.53% and 6.66 mM for punicalagin, sugar beet arabinans and methyl gallate, respectively. The optimal pH and temperature for the reaction were 5 and 40 °C, respectively. The SDS-PAGE and native PAGE analysis revealed the presence of two bands identified as α-l-arabinofuranosidase. Both enzymes were capable of degrading punicalagin and releasing ellagic acid.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been used for centuries to produce fermented foods. Cruciferous vegetables contain large amounts of health-promoting compounds such as glucosinolates (GLSs) and phenolics. GLSs and phenolics have been linked to antioxidant, anticancer, and immunosuppressive effects. However, it has been reported that some LAB strains are able to metabolize and enhance the activities and amounts of biomolecules through decarboxylation and/or reduction activities, with positive impacts on human diet and colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention. In the present work, the bioprocessing of broccoli by lactic fermentation was evaluated to produce a functional food using both spontaneous and induced fermentation (Levilactobacillus brevis and Lactococcus lactis as starter co-culture). Changes in the proximal composition, GLSs, and phenolic content as well as the antioxidant, antiproliferative, and immunosuppressive effect of the fermented product were evaluated in in vitro cellular models to validate their potential in CRC chemoprevention. The results demonstrated that fermented broccoli extracts increased the antioxidant activity in Caco2 cells and inhibited the proliferation of HT29 and HT116 cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner, with the best results on day 6 at a concentration of 600 µg/mL. Our findings also provide evidence that fermented broccoli could have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Bioactive peptides are biomolecules derived from proteins. They contain anywhere from 2 to 20 amino acids and have different bioactivities. For example, they have antihypertensive activity, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, etc. However, bioactive peptides are encrypted and inactive in the parental protein, so it is necessary to release them to show their bioactivity. For this, there are different methods, where biotechnological methods are highly favorable, highlighting enzymatic hydrolysis and microbial fermentation.The choice of the method to be used depends on different factors, which is why it is essential to know about the process, its principle, and its advantages and disadvantages. The process of peptide release is critical to generate various peptide sequences, which will produce different biological effects in the hydrolysate. This review focuses on providing extensive information on the enzymatic method and microbial fermentation to facilitate selecting the method that provides the most benefits.

Agroindustrial activities generate various residues or byproducts which are inefficiently utilized, impacting the environment and increasing production costs. These byproducts contain significant amounts of bioactive compounds, including dietary fiber with associated phenolic compounds, known as antioxidant dietary fiber (ADF). Phenolic compounds are related to the prevention of diseases related to oxidative stress, such as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. The mechanism of ADF depends on its chemical structure and the interactions between the dietary fiber and associated phenolic compounds. This work describes ADF, the main byproducts considered sources of ADF, its mechanisms of action, and its potential use in the formulation of foods destined for human consumption. ADF responds to the demand for low-cost, functional ingredients with great health benefits. A higher intake of antioxidant dietary fiber contributes to reducing the risk of diseases such as type II diabetes, colon cancer, obesity, and kidney stones, and has bile-acid retention–excretion, gastrointestinal laxative, hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, prebiotic, and cardioprotective effects. ADF is a functional, sustainable, and profitable ingredient with different applications in agroindustry; its use can improve the technofunctional and nutritional properties of food, helping to close the cycle following the premise of the circular economy.

The interaction between nanostructures and yeast cells, as well as the description of the effect of nanoparticles in ethanol production are open questions in the development of this nanobiotechnological process. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the free and immobilized state on chitosan-coated manganese ferrite, using cane molasses as a carbon source. To obtain the chitosan-coated manganese ferrite, the one-step coprecipitation method was used. The nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction obtaining the typical diffraction pattern. The crystal size was calculated by the Scherrer equation as 15.2 nm. The kinetics of sugar consumption and ethanol production were evaluated by HPLC. With the immobilized system, it was possible to obtain an ethanol concentration of 56.15 g/L, as well as the total sugar consumption at 24 h of fermentation. Productivity and yield in this case were 2.3 ± 0.2 g/(L * h) and 0.28 ± 0.03, respectively. However, at the same time in the fermentation with free yeast, 39.1 g/L were obtained. The total consumption of fermentable sugar was observed only after 42 h, reaching an ethanol titer of 50.7 ± 3.1, productivity and yield of 1.4 ± 0.3 g/(L * h) and 0.25 ± 0.4, respectively. Therefore, a reduction in fermentation time, higher ethanol titer and productivity were demonstrated in the presence of nanoparticles. The application of manganese ferrite nanoparticles shows a beneficial effect on ethanol production. Research focused on the task of defining the mechanism of their action and evaluation of the reuse of biomass immobilized on manganese ferrite in the ethanol production process should be carried out in the future.

As a counter to climate change, energy crises, and global warming, microalgal biomass has gained a lot of interest as a sustainable and environmentally favorable biofuel feedstock. Microalgal carbohydrate is considered one of the promising feedstocks for biofuel produced via the bioconversion route under a biorefinery system. However, the present culture technique, which uses a commercial medium, has poor biomass and carbohydrate productivity, creating a bottleneck for long-term microalgal-carbohydrate-based biofuel generation. This current investigation aims toward the simultaneous increase in biomass and carbohydrate accumulation of Spirulina platensis by formulating an optimal growth condition under different concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous in flasks and a bubble photobioreactor. For this purpose, the lack of nitrogen (NaNO3) and phosphorous (K2HPO4) in the culture medium resulted in an enhanced Spirulina platensis biomass and total carbohydrate 0.93 ± 0.00 g/L and 74.44% (w/w), respectively. This research is a significant step in defining culture conditions that might be used to tune the carbohydrate content of Spirulina.

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are usually synthesized with pure enzymes using highly concentrated sucrose solutions. In this work, low-cost aguamiel and molasses were explored as sucrose alternatives to produce FOS, via whole-cell fermentation, with an Aspergillus oryzae DIA-MF strain. FOS production process was optimized through a central composite experimental design, with two independent variables: initial sucrose concentration in a medium composed of aguamiel and molasses (AgMe), and inoculum concentration. The optimized process—165 g/L initial sucrose in AgMe (adjusted with concentrated molasses) and 1 × 107 spores/mL inoculum concentration—resulted in an FOS production of 119 ± 12 g/L and a yield of 0.64 ± 0.05 g FOS/g GFi. Among the FOSs produced were kestose, nystose, 1-fructofuranosyl-nystose, and potentially a novel trisaccharide produced by this strain. To reduce the content of mono- and disaccharides in the mixture, run a successive fermentation was run with two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. Fermentations run with S. cerevisiae S227 improved FOS purity in the mixture from 39 ± 3% to 61.0 ± 0.6% (w/w) after 16 h of fermentation. This study showed that agro-industrial wastes such as molasses with aguamiel are excellent alternatives as substrate sources for the production of prebiotic FOS, resulting in a lower-cost process.

The development of green technologies and bioprocesses such as solid-state fermentation (SSF) is important for the processing of macroalgae biomass and to reduce the negative effect of Sargassum spp. on marine ecosystems, as well as the production of compounds with high added value such as fungal proteins. In the present study, Sargassum spp. biomass was subjected to hydrothermal pretreatments at different operating temperatures (150, 170, and 190 °C) and pressures (3.75, 6.91, and 11.54 bar) for 50 min, obtaining a glucan-rich substrate (17.99, 23.86, and 25.38 g/100 g d.w., respectively). The results indicate that Sargassum pretreated at a pretreatment temperature of 170 °C was suitable for fungal growth. SSF was performed in packed-bed bioreactors, obtaining the highest protein content at 96 h (6.6%) and the lowest content at 72 h (4.6%). In contrast, it was observed that the production of fungal proteins is related to the concentration of sugars. Furthermore, fermentation results in a reduction in antinutritional elements, such as heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Hg, and Sn), and there is a decrease in ash content during fermentation kinetics. Finally, this work shows that Aspergillus oryzae can assimilate nutrients found in the pretreated Sargassum spp. to produce fungal proteins as a strategy for the food industry.

Macrofungi, mushrooms or higher fungi have been employed for medicinal and food purposes for decades, nevertheless, also represent, a novel and fruitful source of biologically relevant compounds, that could serve as health enhancers in diverse human illness conditions; specially, mushrooms, are considered a relevant source of the distictive molecule – ergothioneine, an excellent supply of important antioxidant, which boosts human health and shows potential as a preservative in food, promoting their utilization as functional foods, in this context, the present review overviews and complies current knowledge and trends of nutrients as well as bioactive mushroom components including the potential of Huitlacoche and ergothioneine, and the possible health benefits of these biological products and their activities have been explored which enhances the utilization of mushrooms.

Production of xylanase enzyme by fungi strains has gained interest in the recent years due to its high productivity, high catalytic power, as well as its potential applications in different areas such as feed, food, textile, and biofuel industries. The conventional methodologies, to produce enzymes, involve complex apparatus and chemical solvents and are associated with high costs and low- yield recovery. To obtain the high-yield recovery of the enzymes, modern enzyme extraction methods are taken into account. Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) are an alternative separative methodology for the purification and recovery of the enzymes and other biomolecules. The advantages of ATPS are easy scale-up and extraction, volume reduction, and rapid separation. The objective of this study was to produce Trichoderma harzianum xylanase by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using corn cobs as a support/substrate and employing ATPS for its partial recovery. In this study, the results showed the ability of a microorganism to grow on the corn cobs and to produce the xylanase enzyme. Xylanolytic activity reached 7.85 U/g of corn cobs. The enzyme was efficiently concentrated by ATPS. In addition, a high purification factor (10-fold) and considerable enzyme recovery (%ER) (84%) percentage were obtained.

Biofuels derived from microalgae biomass have received a great deal of attention owing to their high potentials as sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Microalgae have a high capacity of CO2 fixation and depending on their growth conditions, they can accumulate different quantities of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. Microalgal biomass can, therefore, represent a rich source of fermentable sugars for third generation bioethanol production. The utilization of microalgal carbohydrates for bioethanol production follows three main stages: i) pretreatment, ii) saccharification, and iii) fermentation. One of the most important stages is the pretreatment, which is carried out to increase the accessibility to intracellular sugars, and thus plays an important role in improving the overall efficiency of the bioethanol production process. Diverse types of pretreatments are currently used including chemical, thermal, mechanical, biological, and their combinations, which can promote cell disruption, facilitate extraction, and result in the modification the structure of carbohydrates as well as the production of fermentable sugars. In this review, the different pretreatments used on microalgae biomass for bioethanol production are presented and discussed. Moreover, the methods used for starch and total carbohydrates quantification in microalgae biomass are also briefly presented and compared.

In this study, an extracellular phytase produced by Aspergillus niger 7A-1, was biochemically characterized for possible industrial application. The enzyme was purified from a crude extract obtained by solid-state fermentation (SSF) of triticale waste. The extract was obtained by microfiltration, ultrafiltration (300, 100 and 30 kDa) and DEAE-Sepharose column chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 89 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The purified enzyme was most active at pH 5.3 and 56 °C, and retained 50% activity over a wide pH range of 4 to 7. The enzymatic thermostability assay showed that the enzyme retained more than 70% activity at 80 °C for 60 s, 40% activity for 120 s and 9% after 300 s. The phytase showed broad substrate specificity, a Km value of 220 μM and Vmax of 25 μM/min. The purified phytase retained 50% of its activity with phosphorylated compounds such as phenyl phosphate, 1-Naphthyl phosphate, 2-Naphthyl phosphate, p-Nitrophenyl phosphate and Glycerol-2-phosphate. The inhibition of phytase activity by metal ions was observed to be drastically inhibited (50%) by Ca++ and was slightly inhibited (10%) by Ni++, K+, and Na+, at 10 and 20 mM concentrations. A positive effect was obtained with Mg++, Mn++, Cu++, Cd++ and Ba++ at 25 and 35% with stimulatory effect on the phytase activity.

Procyanidins are an important group of bioactive molecules known for their benefits to human health. These compounds are promising in the treatment of chronic metabolic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, as they prevent cell damage related to oxidative stress. It is necessary to study effective extraction methods for the recovery of these components. In this review, advances in the recovery of procyanidins from agro-industrial wastes are presented, which are obtained through ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, pressurized fluid extraction and subcritical water extraction. Current trends focus on the extraction of procyanidins from seeds, peels, pomaces, leaves and bark in agro-industrial wastes, which are extracted by ultrasound. Some techniques have been coupled with environmentally friendly techniques. There are few studies focused on the extraction and evaluation of biological activities of procyanidins. The identification and quantification of these compounds are the result of the study of the polyphenolic profile of plant sources. Antioxidant, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory activity are presented as the biological properties of greatest interest. Agro-industrial wastes can be an economical and easily accessible source for the extraction of procyanidins.

Procyanidins are bioactive molecules with industrial and pharmaceutical relevance, they are present in recalcitrant agro-industrial wastes that are difficult to degrade. In this study, we evaluated the potential consumption of procyanidins from Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma harzianum strains in submerged fermentations. For this purpose, a culture medium containing salts, glucose, and procyanidins was formulated, where procyanidins were added to the medium after the near-total consumption of glucose. The submerged cultures were carried out in amber flasks at 30 °C and 120 rpm. The addition of procyanidins to the culture medium increased the formation of micellar biomass for all the strains used. The use of glucose affected the growth of A. niger GH1 and A. niger HS1, however, in these assays, a total consumption of procyanidins was obtained. These results show that the consumption of procyanidins by fungal strains in submerged fermentations was influenced by the pH, the use of glucose as the first source of carbon, and the delayed addition of procyanidins to the medium. The study showed that A. niger and T. harzianum strains can be used as a natural strategy for the consumption or removal of procyanidins present in recalcitrant residues of risk to the environment and human health.

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are biopolymers produced by many microorganisms, including some species of the genus Acetobacter, Bacillus, Fructobacillus, Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus, Lactiplantibacillus, Pediococcus, Pichia, Rhodotorula, Saccharomycodes, Schizosaccharomyces, and Sphingomonas, which have been reported in the microbiota of traditional fermented beverages. Dextran, levan, glucan, gellan, and cellulose, among others, are EPS produced by these genera. Extracellular biopolymers are responsible for contributing to specific characteristics to fermented products, such as modifying their organoleptic properties or contributing to biological activities. However, EPS can be easily found in the dairy industry, where they affect rheological properties in products such as yogurt or cheese, among others. Over the years, LAB has been recognized as good starter strains in spontaneous fermentation, as they can contribute beneficial properties to the final product in conjunction with yeasts. To the best our knowledge, several articles have reported that the EPS produced by LAB and yeasts possess many both biological and technological properties that can be influenced by many factors in which fermentation occurs. Therefore, this review presents traditional Mexican fermented beverages (tavern, tuba, sotol, and aguamiel) and relates them to the microbial EPS, which affect biological and techno-functional activities.

Lippia graveolens is a traditional crop and a rich source of bioactive compounds with various properties (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, UV defense, anti-glycemic, and cytotoxicity) that is primarily cultivated for essential oil recovery. The isolated bioactive compounds could be useful as additives in the functional food, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Carvacrol, thymol, β-caryophyllene, and p-cymene are terpene compounds contained in oregano essential oil (OEO); flavonoids such as quercetin O-hexoside, pinocembrin, and galangin are flavonoids found in oregano extracts. Furthermore, thermoresistant compounds that remain in the plant matrix following a thermal process can be priced in terms of the circular economy. By using better and more selective extraction conditions, the bioactive compounds present in Mexican oregano can be studied as potential inhibitors of COVID-19. Also, research on extraction technologies should continue to ensure a higher quality of bioactive compounds while preventing an undesired chemical shift (e.g., hydrolysis). The oregano fractions can be used in the food, health, and agricultural industries.

1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-Galloyl-β-d-Glucose (PGG) is a hydrolysable tannin that belongs to the group of gallotannins but also participates in the formation of ellagitannins. PGG is composed of five galloyl groups with a glucose at its core and has structural characteristics that confer a high biological power. In this paper, we describe the chemistry of PGG, which is analyzed from a critical point regarding the types of synthesis, new sources of production from plants and by-products, highlighting the PGG obtaining, and its main functional properties recently reported in scientific literature. PGG has attracted attention because of its therapeutic potential and has shown functional properties as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, antidiabetic and antioxidant. Bioconversion from tannic acid can be potentialized with the use of biotechnological techniques. PGG can be obtained from natural sources as by-products. Research should continue to obtain pure molecules, in adequate quantity and with great biological activity.

Genetic analysis is important to identify genetic variability in organisms inhabiting a specic region. In this study, a sotol population was characterized through ve elevational levels at one location in the Chihuahuan Desert in Mexico, using amplied fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) markers. Population genetic diversity, polymorphic loci, Nei's unbiased heterozygosity, average and eective number of alleles, and optimum number of samples were determined. A dendrogram was constructed, and Shannon entropy was calculated. Based on the estimated parameters, the middle elevational level had the highest genetic variation. The optimum sample size to determine genetic variability in sotol was from 24 to 26 plants. In the produced dendrogram, no association was observed among plants belonging to the same stratum, which could be explained by the high genetic ow among plants from dierent strata. These results provide a foundation of knowledge for understanding the genetic diversity in sotol populations growing in the Chihuahuan Desert mountains. The information will allow designing strategies for implementing sotol breeding and conservation programs.

Aguamiel is a natural sap produced by some species of agave plants, such as Agave salmiana, A. atrovirens, or A. angustifolia. It is a product with a high concentration of fructose, glucose or sucrose, although its composition may vary depending on the season in which it is produced, and may also contain agave fructans (or agavins) or fructooligosaccharides (FOS). It has been reported that FOS can be produced by enzymes that act on sucrose or inulin, transfructosylating or hydrolyzing these materials, respectively. Due to the sugar content in aguamiel, the application of an enzymatic complex produced by Aspergillus oryzae DIA MF was carried out. This complex was characterized by 1-D electrophoresis SDS-PAGE, and its transfructosylation and hydrolysis activities were determined by HPLC. In order to determine the conditions at which the concentration of FOS in this beverage increased, kinetics were carried out at different temperatures (30, 50, and 70°C) and times (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, and 15 h). Finally, the antioxidant and prebiotic activities were evaluated. FOS concentration in aguamiel was increased from 1.61 ± 0.08 to 31.01 ± 3.42 g/ L after 10 h reaction at 30°C applying 10% enzymatic fraction-substrate (v/v). Antioxidant activity was highly increased (34.81–116.46 mg/eq Trolox in DPPH assay and 42.65 to 298.86 mg/eq Trolox in FRAP assay) and growth of probiotic bacteria was higher in aguamiel after the enzymatic treatment. In conclusion, after the application of the enzymatic treatment, aguamiel was enriched with FOS which improved antioxidant and prebiotic properties, so it can be used as a functional food.

The industrial application of pigments of biological origin has been gaining strength over time, which is mainly explained by the increased interest of the consumer for products with few synthetic additives. So, the search for biomolecules from natural origin has challenged food scientists and technologists to identify, develop efficient and less consuming strategies for extraction and characterization of biopigments. In this task, elucidation of molecular structure has become a fundamental requirement, since it is necessary to comply with compound regulatory submissions of industrial sectors such as food, pharmaceutical agrichemicals, and other new chemical entity registrations. Molecular elucidation consists of establishing the chemical structure of a molecule, which allows us to understand the interaction between the natural additive (colorant, flavor, antioxidant, etc) and its use (interaction with the rest of the mixture of compounds). Elucidation of molecular characteristics can be achieved through several techniques, the most common being infrared spectroscopy (IR), spectroscopy or ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-VIS), nuclear-resonance spectroscopy (MAGNETIC MRI), and mass spectrometry. This review provides the details that aid for the molecular elucidation of pigments of fungal origin, for a viable and innocuous application of these biopigments by various industries.

In this study, parameters which influence the chemical modification under mild conditions using a weak organic acid, fatty acids of unsaturated oil, cottonseed to produce epoxidized oil, which is a useful precursor in obtaining resins epoxy industrial importance, were evaluated. We studied the following reaction parameters: concentration of acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, catalyst and solvent, as well as temperature, agitation rate and reaction time. The results showed that the agitation and temperature are the parameters which influence the modification of unsaturated fatty acids. Studied conditions allowed obtaining up to 70% relative conversion of oxygen-oxirane from cottonseed oil.

The improvement of the postharvest quality of tomato fruits was evaluated using an edible coating functionalized with an Flourensia cernua extract evaluating the antifungal, structural, barrier, and optical properties. The formulation and evaluation of an edible coating and its application on tomato was evaluated using a response surface methodology to determine the ideal concentrations of candelilla wax, whey protein, and glycerol. Edible films showed good barrier properties, with water vapor permeability varying from 0.435–0.404 g mm/m2 day kPa. The addition o F. cernua extract showed significant improvement in the transparency of films. The edible coating applied to tomato reduced weight and firmness loss. The sensory evaluation proved that the product obtained is acceptable for consumers. The edible coating added with F. cernua extract was the most effective in inhibiting the growth of pathogenic fungi and the visual appearance at the end of storage confirmed the beneficial effect of the edible coating.

En este estudio se efectuó la evaluación de los parámetros que influyen en la modificación química, bajo condiciones suaves utilizando un ácido orgánico débil, de los ácidos grasos del aceite insaturado de semilla de algodón para producir aceite epoxidado, el cual es un precursor útil en la obtención de resinas epóxicas de importancia industrial. Fueron estudiados los siguientes parámetros de reacción: concentración de ácido acético, peróxido de hidrógeno, catalizador y disolvente, así como la temperatura, velocidad de agitación y tiempo de reacción. Los resultados mostraron que la agitación y la temperatura son los parámetros que más influyen sobre la modificación de los ácidos grasos insaturados. Las condiciones estudiadas permitieron obtener hasta un 70% de conversión relativa de oxígeno-oxirano del aceite de algodón.

The antioxidant activity and efficiency of aqueous extracts of fermented tarbush (Fluorensia cernua DC) in the inhibition of two phytopathogenic fungi, Penicillium expansum and Fusarium oxysporum, have been evaluated. A solid-state fermentation of tarbush leaves by Aspergillus niger GH1 was performed to enhance the biological activities of the obtained extracts. Fungal culture conditions were: initial moisture of 60 %, pH=5.5 and temperature of 30 °C during 96 h. Aqueous extracts were obtained every 12 hours during the culture time. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH method. The aqueous extract of fermented tarbush had the highest antioxidant activity at 12 h, which was 63 % higher than the control (unfermented material). Fermentation enhanced the fungicidal effect against both phytopathogenic microorganisms at a concentration of 0.5 g/L. This study demonstrated that fungal fermentation of tarbush increased the biological activities of the aqueous extracts.

An edible coating functionalized with pomegranate polyphenols was designed. Different blends of candelilla wax, gum arabic, jojoba oil, and pomegranate polyphenols were formulated in order to improve the shelf life quality of pears (variety Bartlett), and all formulations were applied by immersion onto the fruit surface. Coated pears with and without polyphenols and uncoated pears (control) were stored under the same conditions. Fruits were analyzed to evaluate changes in their physicochemical, microbiological, and sensorial properties during 30 days of storage at room temperature. Coated pears coded as T13 (candelilla wax 3%, gum arabic 4%, jojoba oil 0.15%, and pomegranate polyphenols 0.015%) extended and improved their shelf life quality due to the minimization of the physic-chemical changes and sensorial properties. Therefore, the results indicated that the formulated edible coating has potential to extend the shelf life and maintain quality of pears. It was probed that coated pears were accepted for consumers as a good product. Edible coating application represents a good alternative to keep pears freshness for longer periods.

The application of biopesticides in many industries can be hampered due to their high volatility, susceptibility to degradation when exposed to light or microbial activity, and reduced activity when exposed to stressful environmental conditions. Microencapsulation of biopesticides is a promising technique to solve and address such problems. This study aimed to encapsulate and characterize the extracts produced by Penicillium chrysogenum R1 and evaluate their antifungal activity in the plant assay. The capsules were prepared with a chitosan (0.5 mg/mL) and sodium alginate solution (2% w/v), and 20% (v/v) cell‐free extract recovered from the P. chrysogenum R1 fermentation. The capsules were synthesized in a 2.5% CaCl2 solution at room temperature. The capsules were characterized by DLS and SEM. To determine the efficiency of the free and encapsulated extract, they were applied to tomato plants infected with Fusarium oxysporum. Once the symptoms were observed, the severity and incidence of the disease, as well as the morphological parameters were evaluated. such as dry weight of aerial and root biomass, plant height, root length, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, and number of leaflets. The extract produced by P. chrysogenum R1 was encapsulated in chitosan/alginate capsules with a size range of around 300 nm. The free and encapsulated extracts allowed to efficiently control the disease caused by F. oxysporum and the development of the plants. Therefore, the extract produced by P. chrysogenum R1 encapsulated in chitosan/alginate can effectively control tomato vascular wilt caused by F. oxysporum under greenhouse conditions, promoting plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]