Oyster mushroom (Pleurotusostreatus), nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica) and amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) are pre-Hispanic foods widely consumed in Mexico. However, there are no standard products developed with these ingredientsas functional cookies. This study evaluated the impact of partial replacement (50%) of whole-wheat flour (WWF) with three formulations of P. ostreatus, nopal and amaranth flours (POF, NF and AF, respectively) on the nutritional/antioxidant properties of fortified cookies. The proportion of the flours’ ingredients (WWF:AF:NF:POF) were 100% WWF (traditional cookies), 50:35:10:5 (F1), 50:30:15:5 (F2) and 50:40:5:5 (F3). Proximal composition, phenolic/flavonoid contents, and ABTS^•+ scavenging activity were determined in flours and cookies.POF, NF and AF possess a high nutritional value comprising polyphenols/flavonoids and a significant antioxidant potential. Total protein, ash and flavonoids were higher in fortified cookies than in controls. Cookies prepared with F2—the highest nopal level—contained 5.29% of dietary fiber and five times higher polyphenol content than control cookies. The ABTS^•+ scavenging ability was similar in the three enriched cookies (87.73–89.58%), but higher than that in traditional cookies (75.60%). The applicability of POF/NF/AF for replacing up to 50% of WWF in the production of functional cookies was demonstrated without compromising products’ acceptability.This research promotes renewable local bioresouces for a sustainable agri-food chain, especially edible mushrooms.

Overweight and obesity are present in about three-quarters of the adult population in Mexico. The inflammatory mechanisms subjacent to visceral white adipose tissue are accountable for the initiation and development of cardiometabolic alterations, including type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle changes are pillars within its therapeutics and, thus, current dietary modifications should include not only hypocaloric prescriptions with balanced macronutrient intake, preferably by increasing the amount of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, but in concomitance, bioactive substances, such as anthocyanins, have been correlated with lower incidence of this disease.

Cyclophosphamide (CP)—which is used to treat autoimmune diseases and cancer—is related to gonadotoxicity attributed to oxidative stress. As phycobiliproteins (PBPs) are strong antioxidants that are unexplored as protective agents against male gonadotoxicity, our work aimed to investigate the effects of PBP crude extract on testicular damage and sperm parameter alterations caused by CP in mice. Three doses of PBP (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) were tested in the experimental groups (n = 8 per group), administered concomitantly with 100 mg/kg CP. After 42 days receiving PBP daily and CP weekly, body and relative testicular weights, serum testosterone levels, testicular lipoperoxidation and antioxidant enzyme activity levels, and testicular histology and sperm parameter alterations were assessed. The results showed that PBP crude extract at 200 mg/kg prevented testosterone serum reduction, body weight loss, lipoperoxidation and enzyme activity increments, and sperm parameter alterations and partially ameliorated relative testicular weight reductions and histological damage in CP-treated mice. In conclusion, we showed that PBP crude extract (200 mg/kg) mitigated oxidative damage in the testes and ameliorated alterations in sperm parameters in mice treated with CP (100 mg/kg); therefore, PBP extract could be considered as a potential protective agent against CP toxicity.

Major cardiometabolic risk phenotypes include insulin resistance (IR), hyperinsulinemia, overweight, obesity and dyslipidemia, which contribute to the current prevalent chronic disease pandemia worldwide. Among traditional treatments, dietary habits represent one of the most difficult and controversial aspects to implement in handling metabolic disturbances. The use of herbal remedies by latinos and hispanics, as part of self-care of metabolic diseases has been well documented in several studies, mainly because they are “natural”, consistent with their culture, family-related, accessible, and affordable. Phytochemicals are present in fruits, vegetables and various plants, and constitute nonessential nutrients such as vitamins or minerals, many of them being consumed in a popular way or used as herbal remedies or dietary supplements. In this narrative review, we present evidence on traditional endemic Mexican foods such as cacao, corn, common bean, prickle pear, chili, avocado and salba-chia as functional agents to improve the metabolic status in risk phenotypes.