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.

The increasing demand for food necessitates that agri-food systems adopt innovative techniques to enhance food production while optimizing the use of limited resources, such as water. In agriculture, hydrogels are being increasingly used to enhance water retention and reduce irrigation requirements. However, most of these materials are based on synthetic polymers that are not biodegradable. This raises serious environmental and health concerns, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable, biodegradable alternatives. Biomass-derived from agro-industrial waste presents a substantial potential for producing hydrogels, which can effectively function as water collectors and suppliers for crops. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the application of agro-industrial waste for the formulation of hydrogels. Additionally, it offers a critical analysis of the development of hydrogels utilizing natural and compostable materials. Agro-industrial and food waste, which are rich in hemicellulose and cellulose, have been utilized to enhance the mechanical properties and water absorption capacity of hydrogels. These biomaterials hold significant potential for the development of effective hydrogels in agricultural applications; they can be either hybrid or natural materials that exhibit efficacy in enhancing seed germination, improving water retention capabilities, and facilitating the controlled release of fertilizers. Natural hydrogels derived from agro-industrial waste present a sustainable technological alternative that is environmentally benign.

The medicinal plants of the desert can be a potential source of natural bioactive compounds with applications in health and food preservation. This work aimed to investigate the phenolic content and antioxidant potential of twenty-three plants from the arid zone of Viesca, Mexico. The antioxidant potential was determined by three methods (ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH). Two extraction methods and three different concentration levels (1:10 mg/mL, 1:25 mg/mL, and 1:50 mg/mL) were evaluated. According to the results, Turnera diffusa (Damiana), Gutierrezia sarothrae (Hierba de San Nicolas), and Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo) present the largest content of phenolic compounds and high antioxidant activity. The highest values of antioxidant activity were achieved using a solid/liquid ratio of 1:50 g/mL for T. diffusa and G. sarothrae and 1:25 mg/mL for L. frutescens. The maceration method was the most suitable for extracting antioxidant compounds from T. diffusa and L. frutescens, while ultrasound-assisted extraction was more efficient for G. sarothrae. The HPLC-MS analysis showed the presence of important phenolic compounds. This study shows for the first time that three plants that naturally grow in Viesca have great potential as a source of natural antioxidant compounds.

Protein malnutrition is present in developing countries but also in developed ones due to actual eating habits involving insufficient protein intake. In addition to this, it is estimated by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations that the world’s population will increase to 9.1 billion people in less than 30 years. This poses a significant challenge in terms of nourishing the population. Different strategies have been proposed to address this challenge, including exploring novel protein sources such as plants. For instance, Prosopis alba pods have an 85.5% protein content. Other examples are microorganisms, such as Halobacillus adaensis which produces 571 U/mL of protease, and insects such as those belonging to the Orthoptera order, like grasshoppers, which have a protein content of 65.96%. These sources have been found in dry lands and are being explored to address this challenge.

Wine is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages, produced from the fermentation of the grape Vitis vinifera. Currently, the wine industry is exploited worldwide in multiple regions, generating significant amounts of agro-industrial waste at different stages of the production chain. These wastes represent a source of environmental contamination due to the toxic nature of some of their compounds. From a biotechnological perspective, the by-products of the wine industry are an attractive source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in various fields, including food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The extraction of these compounds can be carried out using fermentation techniques that utilize microorganisms to facilitate the release and biotransformation of the desired metabolites through their enzymatic tools. This work provides a review of the history of the wine industry and its current activities, describes the wine production process, and outlines the waste generated during this process. The fermentation process is described as a biotechnological alternative for the valorization of these residues. This purpose enables their reintegration into the production chain through the extraction of high-value bioactive compounds with potential use as drugs in pharmacology.

En este primer capítulo se presentarán las plantas seleccionadas por sus usos en la medicina tradicional de la región de Viesca, Coahuila, y se describirán científicamente por los investigadores; se redactan y enumeran las características y su morfología, así como los usos que se les dan a estas plantas majestuosas por la comunidad, la ciencia e industria.