Cereals have phytochemical compounds that can diminish the incidence of chronic diseases such as hypertension. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) participates in the modulation of blood pressure and is the principal receptor of the virus SARS-CoV-2. The inhibitors of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and the block receptors of angiotensin II regulate the expression of ACE2; thus, they could be useful in the treatment of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The inferior peptides from 1 to 3 kDa and the hydrophobic amino acids are the best candidates to inhibit ACE, and these compounds are present in rice, corn, wheat, oats, sorghum, and barley. In addition, the vitamins C and E, phenolic acids, and flavonoids present in cereals show a reduction in the oxidative stress involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. The influence of ACE on hypertension and COVID-19 has turned into a primary point of control and treatment from the nutritional perspective. The objective of this work was to describe the inhibitory effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme that the bioactive compounds present in cereals possess in order to lower blood pressure and how their consumption could be associated with reducing the virulence of COVID-19.

The main objective of this work is supporting the use of sustainable solutions for the management and reuse of agricultural waste from the cereal harvest, such as oats, barley, and triticale, making sheets of artisan paper, innovating the process with the use of different proportions of cellulose obtained from straw residues. The physical and mechanical properties of the obtained sheets showed that basis weight (66–96 g/m²), thickness (19–300 μm), burst strength (68.9–103.4 kPa), burst index (0.81–1.35 kPam²/g) and bulk (2.52–3.12 cm³/g), were adequate. Based on what can be observed in the SEM images, it is possible to infer that straw has the function of supporting the sheets using combinations of barley straw and recycled paper. The result of the IR analysis indicated that the sheet with an increase in hydroxyl groups was that obtained with barley straw. Therefore, the treatment was efficient. These results were corroborated by X-ray diffraction analysis, in which the percentage of crystallinity of the barley straw paper was 37.1%. Finally, the results obtained indicated that the crystallinity is better in the sheets containing large amounts of barley straw. The sheet with the highest percentage of crystallinity was that which was made using 100% of barley straw, showing a 37.1 percentage of crystallinity, followed by the sheet made of 100% recycled paper, having a value of 34.4%.

Malting quality of feed and malting barley treated by microwave irradiation for 0, 4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, and 25 sec was evaluated. Microwave irradiation periods longer than 10 sec increased kernel temperature higher than the physiological limit and significantly affected germination. With 4 sec of microwave irradiation, barley kernel hardness decreased and transformed into malt of good quality. The feed barley Adabella without treatment showed double the hardness (49.3 N) and Pastor Ortiz showed almost three times the hardness (59.8 N) of malting barley Esmeralda without treatment (23.7 N). With 8 sec of irradiation, kernel hardness increased. Irradiation of feed and malting barleys for 4 sec increased the extract content in malt. Barley kernel hardness showed a significantly high correlation with malt extract (r = −0.61; P ≤ 0.001). Extract viscosity decreased with microwave irradiation in all cases. Diastatic power and α-amylase were not affected by the treatments selected for this study. Microwave energy is a new alternative that allows modification of the kernel endosperm in a few seconds and increases the industrial quality of feed and malting barley.