Water activity (aw) influences the growth of fungi as well as the biosynthesis of ochratoxin A (OTA). The objective of this study was to obtain the critical storage conditions at which coffee beans ...are not susceptible to deteriorative physical changes and quantification of OTA in dry cherries and green‐coffee beans after 60 days of storage at 35°C. aw significantly affected the color, texture, and morphology in dry cherries and in green‐coffee beans after storing. Three different genera of fungi were isolated from coffee samples, Aspergillus, Rhizopus, and Penicillium. The analyzed coffee beans showed a high concentration of OTA (15.49–65.22 μg·kg−1). The conditions at 35°C under which the physical changes and the highest concentration of OTA were found are the following: aw between 0.515 and 0.821. These results suggest that the control of aw during coffee bean storage can be useful to limit OTA formation, whereas the physical properties are maintained.
Novelty impact statement
Dry cherries showed higher OTA content than green‐coffee beans. In addition, water activity affects the OTA content, color, texture, and morphology in dry cherries and green‐coffee beans. Thus, the control of water activity during coffee bean storage can be useful to limit OTA formation.
Microbial contamination of coffee beans arises from various factors such as harvesting, handling, and storage practices, during which ochratoxin A (OTA)-producing fungi develop and proliferate. The ...presence of elevated concentrations of OTA poses a serious health risk to coffee consumers. Therefore, the implementation of a post-harvest treatment involving the use of bacteria known to antagonize OTA-producing fungi constitutes a safe alternative for reducing or eliminating the toxin’s concentration in coffee beans. In this study, coffee beans (
Coffea arabica
L.) were inoculated with
Bacillus licheniformis
M2-7, after which we monitored fungal growth, in vitro antagonism, and OTA concentration. Our findings demonstrated that coffee beans inoculated with this bacterial strain exhibited a significant decrease in fungal populations belonging to the genera
Aspergillus
and
Penicillium
, which are known to produce OTA. Moreover, strain M2-7 decreased the growth rates of these fungi from 67.8% to 95.5% (
P
< 0.05). Similarly, inoculation with
B. licheniformis
strain M2-7 effectively reduced the OTA concentration from 24.35 ± 1.61 to 5.52 ± 1.69 µg/kg (
P
< 0.05) in stored coffee beans. These findings suggest that
B. licheniformis
M2-7 holds promise as a potential post-harvest treatment for coffee beans in storage, as it effectively inhibits the proliferation of OTA-producing fungi and lowers the toxin’s concentration.
•Bessera elegans extracts are toxic against Melanaphis sacchari in contact bioassays and artificial diet.•Triacontane was the major compound in the n-hexane extract of Bessera elegans.•Polyphenolic ...compounds were identified as major compounds in the acetone extract of Bessera elegans.
This study describes the chemical composition and insecticidal effect of the n-hexane (EHBe) and acetone (EABe) extracts of flowers of Bessera elegans Schult. f. (Asparagaceae) against the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner (Hemiptera: Aphididae), which is the main pest of sorghum. The gas chromatography-mass (GCMS–) analysis of the EHBe identified 26 chemical compounds, among which triacontane was the most abundant (21.01%). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the EABe identified polyphenolic compounds as major compounds. The toxic effect of EHBe and EABe on M. sacchari was assessed by contact bioassays and artificial diet. All of the extracts were toxic to M. sacchari, and mortality was dose- and time-dependent. In the contact toxicity bioassays, EHBe was more effective, eliminating 88% of the insects within 72 h at a concentration of 10,000 ppm. Meanwhile, in the artificial diet bioassays, EABe had the highest mortality rate (69%) at the same time and concentration. Our results show that EHBe and EABe can reduce the risks associated with synthetic insecticides and therefore be considered a potent source for the production of botanical insecticides against M. sacchari.
This study assesses the effect of the osmotic dehydration (OD) of mango slices in an emulsion (600 g solids kg−1 emulsion) prepared with inulin and piquin-pepper oleoresin. In addition, mango was ...osmodehydrated in a sucrose solution for comparative purposes. The influence on water loss (WL) and solids gain (SG) during the OD process was analyzed. Furthermore, color change, oil gain, ascorbic acid, β-carotene, and total free phenolic content, as well as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylnydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and the antiproliferative effect on breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 in mango slices after 120 min, were studied. Samples treated with the emulsion at 40 °C showed highest oil gain and bioactive compound retention. In addition, their ethanolic extract exhibited significant radical scavenging activity and antiproliferative effect against the cancer cell line tested, compared with that of flesh- and sucrose-treated sample extracts, in a dose-dependent manner. Images of mango slices treated in emulsion revealed the presence of inulin microcapsules with oil embedded in mango microstructure. Based on these results, this technique can be used to impregnate mango slices with oils and polymers with functional attributes to produce nutritious foods, which may serve as a potential source of phenolic with anticancer activity.
•This study explores novel methodology for the enrichment and improvement of fruits.•The content of bioactive compounds in processed mango slices was improved.•This methodology improves the antiproliferative effect of ethanolic mango extract.•The use of an emulsion as osmotic agent improves the functional properties of mango.
The increased incidence of Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-MT) requires the search for alternative antimycobacterial drugs. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the ...dichloromethane extract from Aristolochia brevipes (Rhizoma) and the compounds isolated from this extract against several mycobacterial strains, sensitive, resistant (monoresistant), and clinical isolates (multidrug-resistant), using the alamarBlue™ microassay. The extract was fractionated by column chromatography, yielding the following eight major compounds: (1) 6α-7-dehydro-N-formylnornantenine; (2) E/Z-N-formylnornantenine; (3) 7,9-dimethoxytariacuripyrone; (4) 9-methoxy-tariacuripyrone; (5) aristololactam I; (6) β-sitosterol; (7) stigmasterol; and (8) 3-hydroxy-α-terpineol. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by 1H- and 13C- (1D and 2D) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. This study demonstrates that the dichloromethane extract (rhizome) of A. brevipes possesses strong in vitro antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration value MIC, 12.5 µg/mL). The most active compound against all mycobacterial strains tested was the compound aristolactam I (5), with MIC values ranging between 12.5 and 25 µg/mL. To our knowledge, this the first report of antimycobacterial activity in this plant.
This study describes the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects from extracts obtained from the leaves of Salvia lavanduloides. The plant material was macerated with three solvents of ascending ...polarity (n-hexane (Sl-Hex), ethyl acetate (Sl-AcOEt), and dichloromethane (Sl-D)). The extracts, fractions (SlD-2 and SlD-3), and isolated compounds (15,16-epoxy-10-β-hydroxy-neo-cleroda-3,7,13(16),14-tetraene-17,12R:18,19-diolide (1), salviandulin A (2), and eupatorin (3)) were evaluated as antimicrobials against Gram-negative, Gram-positive bacteria and the fungus Candida albicans (Ca) using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the anti-inflammatory activity induced by 13-acetate of 12-O-tetradecanoylforbol (TPA). Sl-D and Sl-AcOEt extracts, SlD-2 and SlD-3 fractions showed the highest antimicrobial activity. The isolated compounds showed good activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a MIC < 2 μg/mL, while the anti-inflammatory activity, the Sl-Hex, Sl-D extracts, and SlD-3 fraction presented an inhibition of 62, 45 and 61%, respectively, while (2) 70% and (3) 72%.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype due to its greater invasive capacity and non-response to hormone therapy. Several species of the Ficus genus have ...been used as an alternative to traditional medicine against malignant diseases. Previously, leaf extracts from Ficus crocata (Miq.) Mart. ex Miq. (F. crocata) showed antiproliferative activity in vitro against breast and cervical tumor cells without having a cytotoxic effect on non-tumor cell lines. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of hexane (Hex-EFc), dichloromethane (Dic-EFc), and acetone (Ace-EFc) extracts from F. crocata on the proliferative and invasive capacity of breast cancer cells MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231.
The phytochemical profile was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were determined by MTT, wound closure, and transwell assays, respectively. MMPs activity was analyzed using gelatin zymography, and fluorescence microscopy was used to visualize F-actin distribution.
Hex-EFc, Dic-EFc, and Ace-EFc showed cytotoxic activity on MDA-MB-231 tumor cells and, to a lesser extent, on MCF-7 cells, without presenting cytotoxicity at the same concentrations in MCF-10A non-tumor cells. Dic-EFc and Ace-EFc (5–10 μg/mL) reduced the migration capacity of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Interestingly, exposure to Dic-EFc and Ace-EFc (5–10 μg/mL) inhibited the invasive ability of MDA-MB-231 cells, reducing the secretion and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, as well as the F-actin distribution.
Dic-EFc and Ace-EFc at low concentrations decreased breast cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness, mainly of MDA-MB-231 cells. The above supports the potential use of compounds from leaf extracts of F. crocata in neoadjuvant therapy to reduce the progression of breast cancer tumors, mainly triple-negative tumors.
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•F. crocata extracts induce a cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cells.•Ace-EFc and Dic-EFc inhibit the migration of breast cancer cells.•Ace-EFc and Dic-EFc reduce the invasion capacity and secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in MDA-MB-231 cells.•Ace-EFc and Dic-EFc reduce actin polymerization and probably EMT in MDA-MB-231 cells.
Triple-negative breast cancer; Ficus; Moraceae; Cell invasion; Complementary therapy.
There is a significant need to gain access to new and better antibacterial agents.
a plant from the Euphorbiaceae family, has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to treat infectious ...diseases. This manuscript reports the isolation, characterization, and antibacterial screening of 8 natural products extracted from maceration of aerial parts of
Specifically, three extracts were assessed (
-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol), in which antibacterial activity was evaluated against diverse bacterial strains. The ethanolic extract showed the best activity against methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant
,
and
strains, which supports the medicinal properties attributed to this plant. The chromatographic fractions AaR4 and AaR5 were the most bioactive, in which the ellagitannin natural product known as corilagin (
) was identified for the first time in this plant. Therefore, it can be said that this is the main chemical responsible for the observed antibacterial activity. However, we also identified chlorogenic acid (
), rutin (
), quercetin-3-
-glucoside (
), caffeic acid (
), among others (
-
). Hence, this plant can be considered to be a good alternative to treat health-related issues caused by various bacteria.
Several Mesoamerican cultures have used
as traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal, inflammatory, and infectious issues. The aims of this contribution were to elucidate the ...phytochemical profile of the organic extracts from the bark and leaves of
and to assess the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of these extracts. The preliminary chemical profile was determined by HPLC-PDA and GC-MS; the anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated with a mouse ear edema model, whereas the antibacterial activity was screened against several bacteria. The phytochemical profile of both organs (bark and leaves) of
led to the identification of 42 compounds, such as polyphenolic, flavonoids, triterpenes, prenol-type lipids, and aliphatic and non-aliphatic esters. This molecular diversity gave moderate anti-inflammatory activity (67.3 ± 2.0%, dichloromethane bark extract) and excellent antibacterial activity against
and methicillin-resistant
(MIC values of ˂3.12 and 50 µg/mL, respectively). These results contribute to the chemotaxonomic characterization and the rational use in traditional medicine of
Schltdl & Cham. ex G. Don.
The effect of addition of mango peel (MP) and decocted roselle calyces (DRC) powder to tortilla chips was studied to analyze the supplementation potential of these underexploited plant residues ...possessing attractive nutraceutical properties. Supplementation of either MP or DRC at two different levels (5.0 and 10%) increased total phenols and ABTS radical scavenging and modified the color and morphology of the tortilla chips. The addition of MP or DRC to nixtamalized maize flour increased the insoluble and soluble dietary fiber contents in the tortilla chips (1.30 and 4.90 times, MP; 1.47 and 4.15 times, DRC). Partial dehydration of the tortilla prior to frying produces a low-fat tortilla chip. In this context, tortilla chips enriched with MP and DRC exhibited a lower in vivo Glycemic Index (GI) compared to the control. Acceptable tortilla chips were obtained by incorporating 5 and 10% MP. The results suggest that the use of MP or DRC may be an interesting way to both increase dietary fiber content to control the glycemic index and to improve the functional properties of tortilla chips.
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