The demand for sustainable methods to extract bioactive compounds from native fruits is increasing. We evaluated the potential of natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) combined with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) to recover phenolic compounds from Ugni molinae Turcz. (murta), a Chilean fruit with recognized ethnopharmacological and antioxidant value. Seven choline chloride-based NaDESs (M1–M7) were assessed and compared with conventional methanol: formic acid extraction (M8). The choline chloride: 1,2-propanediol system (1:2, M2) achieved the highest recovery of total phenolics (64.87 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (35.38 mg QE/g), together with strong antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀: 1.05 µg/mL; ORAC: 40,291 µmol TE/g). When comparing the different NaDES formulations (M1–M8), M8 displayed superior FRAP and ORAC values, although its phenolic and flavonoid yields were lower, reflecting differences in solvent selectivity. HPLC-DAD analysis further revealed that NaDES, particularly M5 (choline chloride: oxalic acid, 1:1), favored the extraction of flavonoid and anthocyanin-type compounds. Multivariate and PCA analyses showed distinct chemical profiles in NaDES extracts, forming two clusters apart from M8. Pearson correlation analysis linked antioxidant capacity with major flavonoids. Overall, NaDES combined with UAE represents an efficient, green strategy for selectively recovering bioactives, supporting applications in foods, nutraceuticals, and health products from Chilean native fruits.

The populations of the Andean Cupressaceae Austrocedrus chilensis have been severely affected by a disease caused by the phytopathogenic fungus Phytophthora austrocedri. A study was undertaken to disclose changes in the resin composition of P. austrocedri-infected individuals, including naturally infected and artificially inoculated trees, compared with healthy A. chilensis trees. GC-MS and ¹H-NMR studies showed a clear differentiation among healthy and infected resins, with the diterpene isopimara-8(9),15-dien-19-ol as a relevant constituent in resins from infected trees. The effect of resin fractions from P. austrocedri infected trees on the pathogen was assessed by measuring the mycelial growth in agar plates. The most active fractions from resin obtained from infected trees inhibited fungal growth by nearly 50% at 1 mg/dish (35.37 µg/cm²). The main constituent in the active fractions were 18-hydroxymanool and the aldehyde torulosal. Both compounds are oxidation products of manool and can be a chemical response of the tree to the pathogen or be formed from the pathogen as a biotransformation product of manool by microbial oxidation. While the diterpene profiles from A. chilensis tree resins can easily differentiate healthy and P. austrocedri infected individuals, the possible conversion of manool to the antifungal derivatives 4 and 6 by the microorganism remains to be established.

The rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance has intensified the search for alternative antimicrobial scaffolds that target both planktonic bacteria and biofilm-associated infections. In this study, a series of hydroxylated phosphonium ionic liquids derived from triphenylphosphonium (TPP⁺) and trihexylphosphonium (THP⁺) cations bearing C3, C6, C7, and C10 ω-hydroxyalkyl chains were synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities. Antibacterial activity was determined using broth microdilution assays against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, while anti-biofilm activity was assessed by disrupting preformed biofilms using a 96-pin microtiter plate system and crystal violet staining. The results showed that antibacterial activity was strongly influenced by the amphiphilic balance of the compounds, particularly the alkyl chain length and the nature of the phosphonium core. Derivatives bearing C6OH–C10OH chains exhibited the highest antibacterial activity, whereas short-chain analogs displayed markedly reduced potency. THP derivatives were notably more active against E. coli bacteria, consistent with their higher hydrophobicity and activity consistent with membrane interaction. In addition, THP derivatives demonstrated greater biofilm disruption, achieving up to ~90% biomass removal in E. coli biofilms, with C6OH–C7OH derivatives showing the most favorable activity profile. Hemolysis assays indicated low erythrocyte toxicity at concentrations close to antibacterial MIC values, indicating a favorable selectivity window. Overall, these findings highlight phosphonium ionic liquids as promising antimicrobial agents with activity consistent with membrane interaction and provide structure–activity insights for the rational design of new antibacterial and anti-biofilm compounds.

The growing demand for honey bee pollination services induces fluctuations in their populations and changes in bee health status. The current study aims to characterize the health condition of managed honey bees in three territories of the Department of Lambayeque, Peru, from a holistic perspective, considering several factors affecting bee health, including management practices, traits of the beekeepers and their apiaries, colony strength, infestation rates by Varroa sp., and the presence of agrochemical residues in bee bread. The results showed changes in land use, with large areas of crops dependent on bee pollination, determining their exposition to agrochemical residues. The 67% of bee bread samples presented pesticide residues, mainly, chlorpyrifos, carbendazim, boscalid, and azoxystrobin. In addition, limited expertise on good management practices by the beekeepers (i.e., inadequate disinfection of beekeeping materials, unsatisfactory varroa mites' surveillance, lack of protein supplements, presence of sanitary gaps) leads to deficiencies in bee colony strength and a high Varroa sp. prevalence in the territory, altering the bee health condition. To the best of our knowledge, this article illustrates the impact of the strongly anthropized ecosystems found along Peru's coast's arid zone on managed populations of honey bees in that territory with a One Health perspective.

1. Insects are responsible for the quantity and quality of one-third of all agricultural production worldwide through pollination. The quality of the pollination service and the safety of the honey production depends on the health and nutritional condition of the hives, which, for an important part is related to management practices. 2. This study aims to identify the stressors that lead to the loss of bee health and its consequences for the productivity of the hives. Different aspects related to management practices, productivity, clinical observations related to diseases, presence of health issues in the hives or in the apiaries, to the structure of the hives, weather and infestation rates by Varroa sp. mites were measured. The information was collected during two field surveys in 53 apiaries in the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina. 3. The results show correlations among many of the management practices, health condition and productivity of the hive, with most importantly the change of the bee queen, the disinfection of the beekeeping material and the number of combs in the brood chamber. 4. Although honey production is important in the region, the hive structure was deficient and inadequate during both surveys. Due to its dependence on management by the beekeeper, this suggests that a holistic approach can improve the hive structure, increasing the honey production.

La varroosis es una enfermedad de las abejas causada por el ácaro Varroa destructor, cuya epidemiología está asociada a varios factores. Su control depende de aspectos ambientales o genéticos, pero también del manejo sanitario apícola. Para identificar algunos de sus aspectos epidemiológicos se estudiaron 58 apiarios ubicados en tres regiones de Chile Central. Los apiarios fueron monitoreados cinco veces en diferentes épocas. Se incorporaron factores relacionados con las prácticas de manejo por parte de los apicultores mediante una encuesta cualitativa. Se midieron las tasas de infestación por Varroa sp. y la fortaleza de la colmena en cada caso. Los resultados indicaron que las tasas de infestación por Varroa sp. son variables en relación a las prácticas de manejo, especialmente, respecto de la alimentación suplementaria (suplementos energéticos y proteicos), y respecto a las opciones de tratamiento varroicida. A pesar de los esfuerzos de los apicultores por tratar sus colonias, la prevalencia global de varroosis fue cercana al 53%. Esto indica que, para controlar eficazmente esta parasitosis se deben incluir metodologías adicionales y estandarizadas, desde un punto de vista holístico, que incluyan selección, mejoramiento genético, biotécnicas para el control de los ácaros y, en casos específicos, tratamientos territoriales coordinados.