Currently, the most effective treatment for recurrent urinary tract infections in women is antibiotics. However, the limitation for this treatment is the duration and dosage of antibiotics and the resistance that bacteria develop after a long period of administration. With the aim of identifying mainly novel natural agents with antibacterial activity, the present study was undertaken to investigate the biological and phytochemical properties of extracts from the leaves Taraxacum officinale. The structural identification of compounds present in hexane (Hex) and ethyl acetate (AcOEt) extracts was performed by mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) spectroscopic techniques and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with the major compounds corresponding to different sesquiterpene lactones (α‐santonin, glabellin, arborescin, and estafiatin), monoterpene (9,10‐dimethyltricycle [4.2.1.1 (2,5)]decane‐9,10‐diol), phytosterol (Stigmasta‐5,22‐dien‐3β‐ol acetate), terpenes (lupeol acetate, pregn‐5‐en‐20‐one‐3β‐acetyloxy‐17‐hydroxy, 2‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxy benzaldehyde), and coumarin (benzofuranone 5,6,7,7‐a‐tetraaldehyde‐4,4,7a‐trimethyl). The results obtained show that the Hex extract was highly active against Staphylococcus aureus showing a MIC of 200 μg/mL and moderately active against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae with MIC values of 400 μg/mL and 800 μg/mL for the other Gram‐negative strains tested with Proteus mirabilis as uropathogens in vitro. Therefore, the effective dandelion extracts could be used in the development of future products with industrial application.

The influence of the pH in the first stage, the hydrolytic stage, of the anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of urban solid waste in a two phase anaerobic reactor was studied. The reactor was fed with a solution of the organic fraction of urban solid residues containing 5 to 7% solids. Four reactors with a working volume of 3 L were used, the experiments were done at three controlled pHs; 6, 7, and 8, and one with free pH, the temperature was keep at 37°C in all the experiments. The higher degradation of TSS and VSS was obtained in the reactors operated at pH 7 and 8; 75% degradation of TSS and 85% degradation of VSS. The volatile fatty acids were determined at the different pH conditions, no significant differences were found, and as was expected, the acetic acid was found at the higher value among them (from 25 to 29 g/L). According to the results obtained it is possible to conclude that in the case of the hydrolytic stage of the anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of urban solid waste it is not necessary to control the pH, the pH is kept stable by the buffer effect of the protein residues and other macromolecules present in the residue.

The integral valorization of artichoke bracts generated during industrial canning of artichoke was assessed. The extraction of bioactive compounds was addressed with pressurized hot water under subcritical conditions. The performance of this stage on the extraction of phenolics with antioxidant properties and the saccharidic fraction using conventional and microwave heating was compared. The microwave assisted process was more efficient than the conventional one regarding extraction yields of total solubles, and glucose and fructose oligomers and phenolics, because lower operational temperatures and shorter times were needed. Degradation of fructose oligomers was observed at temperatures higher than 160 °C, whereas the maximal phenolic content occurred at 220 °C. Both the extracts and the residual solids, obtained at conditions leading to maximum phenolics yields, were evaluated for the production of starch-based hydrogels, supplemented with Paulownia leaves’ aqueous extracts.

Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg, commonly known as dandelion, is a cosmopolitan and perennial weed, which has medicinal properties. In vitro propagation methods are widely used on plants that have difficulties in cultivation and, consequently, low extraction yields of active metabolites. Thus, callus culture has been considered to be useful for the accumulation of several metabolites. In this study, we aimed to establish an efficient protocol for callus induction and maintenance of T. officinale, for which explant type, carbon source, light conditions, and nine different combinations of plant growth regulators (PGRs), such as 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (from 0.05 to 0.5 mg/L) and 6-benzylaminopurine acid (BAP) (from 0.5 to 3.0 mg/L), were evaluated. The results showed that hypocotyls and roots from sterile seedlings are the best sources for callus induction, with 100% of callogenesis at every condition tested, and more than 95% of viability and friability. Complete darkness and a medium supplemented with sucrose at 2.3% (w/v) and 0.5 mg/L of NAA and 0.5 mg/L of BAP were the best conditions for callus induction, showing callus with low organogenesis and high friability. This study provides a basis for future studies on improving large-scale callus propagation and further establishment of suspension culture systems for commercial purposes.