Tempisque (Sideroxylon capiri Pittier) is classified as a threatened species and has been reported with a high content of phenols and flavonoids in the leaves. The use of abiotic elicitors such as radiation has been reported due to the changes it produces in the metabolism of plants by activating their defense mechanisms and increasing the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds with antioxidant capacity such as phenols and flavonoids. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of UV-B radiation on growth parameters and the synthesis of bioactive compounds in in vitro culture of tempisque callus. For the callus induction, we used thidiazuron (TDZ) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at 0, 0.5 and 1 mg/L. Calluses were exposed to UV-B radiation (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 h/day) for two and four weeks. The highest callus formation index was obtained with TDZ and 2,4-D at 1 mg/mL. The greatest increase in the concentration of phenols and flavonoids was detected in the fourth week with 4 h of exposure per day. The highest concentrations of quercetin (230 µg/g dry weight), kaempferol (235 µg/g dry weight) and gallic acid (240 µg/g dry weight) were found in callus obtained from leaves explants.

The aqueous enzymatic extraction (AEE) of oil from Thevetia peruviana seeds was studied. The oil extraction yields obtained by treatment with cellulase, Alcalase, and Viscozyme L were compared, finding that the treatment with Alcalase at pH 6 and 50 °C gave the highest yield (63.07%), so it was selected for the optimization of the oil extraction process through a central composite design and a response surface methodology. An oil extraction yield of 78.22% was achieved under the optimum conditions (2% of Alcalase, 4 h of incubation, 250 rpm, and a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:4.5). The predominant fatty acids in the oil obtained by both AEE and standard solvent extraction (SE) were oleic, linoleic, stearic, and palmitic acids. However, AEE produced an oil presenting lower acidity and peroxide values and greater oxidative stability, indicating that this method produces an oil with better quality. Scanning electron microscopy images of Thevetia peruviana seeds showed a structural alteration of their cell wall caused by AEE, which allowed the release of oil from this seed in the aqueous medium. The results suggest that AEE could be an excellent alternative in terms of efficiency, oil quality, and environmental friendliness for the extraction of this oil.

Hylocereus undatus, comúnmente conocido como frutadel dragón o pitahaya, es una especie de cactus trepadorperteneciente a la familia Cactaceae. Este cultivo ha ganadopopularidad a nivel mundial debido a su apariencia llamativa, su sabor dulce y exótico. Además, su contenido de antioxidantes, vitaminas y minerales, lo convierte en un cultivo valioso y de gran importancia económica en diversas regiones tropicales y subtropicales del mundo. Por ello, el objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar diferentes protocolos para la desinfección de semillas y la propagación in vitro de Hylocereus undatus. Las semillas se extrajeron de frutos maduros, fueron desinfectadas con NaClO al 50 % (v/v) y etanol al 70 % (v/v), variando los tiempos de inmersión. Para la germinación, las semillas desinfectadas se establecieron en medio Murashige y Skoog (MS) al 50 % de sales, suplementado con 30 g/L de sacarosa y 2.5 g/L de fitagel. Posteriormente, para la inducción de brotes se emplearon explantes de tallos, hipocótilos, cotiledones y reguladores de crecimiento como ácido naftalenacético (ANA), bencilaminopurina (BAP) y ácido 2,4-diclorofenoxiacético (2,4-D) en concentraciones de 0 y2 mg/L. Con respecto a la desinfección los resultados mostraron que el protocolo 2 donde se empleó NaClO al 50 % (v/v) durante 10 min de inmersión, indujo 100 % de desinfección y 85 % de germinación. En la inducción de brotes se observó que los tratamientos suplementados con ácido naftalenacético y bencilaminopurina indujeron la formación de brotes en explantes de tallos, el mayor número de brotes (15.11) se obtuvo con 2 mg/L de BAP. Finalmente, en la aclimatación de vitro plantas a nivel invernadero se logró una sobrevivencia del 90 % empleando peat moss y perlita como sustratos. Estos hallazgos destacan la efectividad del protocolo diseñado para la propagación in vitro de H. undatus, contribuyendo potencialmente a su producción comercial.

The carrot is considered a model system in plant cell culture. Spray drying represents a widely used technology to preserve microorganisms, such as bacteria and yeasts. In germplasm conservation, the most used methods are freeze drying and cryopreservation. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of spray drying on the viability and totipotency of somatic carrot cells. Leaf, root and stem explants were evaluated to induce callus with 2 mg/L of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Calli obtained from the stem were cultivated in a liquid medium with 1 mg/L of 2,4-D. Cell suspensions were spray dried with maltodextrin-gum Arabic and maltodextrin-xanthan gum mixtures, two outlet air temperatures (50 and 60 °C) and 120 °C inlet air temperature. Results showed that carrot cells were viable after spray drying, and this viability remained for six months at 8 °C. The totipotency of the microencapsulated cells was proven. Cells that were not spray dried regenerated 24.6 plantlets, while the spray dried cells regenerated 19 plantlets for each gram of rehydrated powder. Thus, spray drying allowed researchers to obtain viable and totipotent cells. This work is the first manuscript that reported the spray drying of plant somatic cells.

.Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant widely recognized for its therapeutic applications, attributed to its high content of essential oils and phenolic compounds with significant biological properties. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile and evaluate the biological activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of O. basilicum leaves to incorporate it as a bioactive ingredient in a facial serum formulation. The extraction was performed by sonication using ethanol as the solvent to maximize metabolite recovery. The phytochemical profile was determined qualitatively by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and quantitatively by spectrophotometry. Biological activity was assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay for antioxidant capacity and the disk diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus for antimicrobial potential. A gelified serum was developed using Carbopol 980 as a rheological modifier, adjusting the pH to skin-compatible levels. Results confirmed the abundant presence of flavonoids, triterpenes, and coumarins, while alkaloids were absent. The extract demonstrated high antioxidant efficacy, with 87.81% inhibition of the DPPH radical, and limited antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, a pathogen associated with acne and skin infections. The formulated serum maintained physicochemical stability at a pH of 4.0-4.5. In conclusion, the O. basilicum extract serves as a potent natural alternative for dermocosmetic products, providing antioxidant protection and antiseptic benefits essential for skin care.

Medicinal plants are an important source of secondary metabolites with therapeutic properties. Tecoma stans is recognized for its traditional use in the treatment of diabetes; however, the low natural yield of these secondary metabolites and the kinetic limitations of chemical synthesis restrict their large-scale production and further commercial application. Nevertheless, highly energetic UV-C light could activate defense genes in plants, overstimulating secondary defense pathways. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine the effect of UV-C light on the production of phenols and flavonoids in seedlings obtained and germinated in vitro. Seedlings were subjected to UV-C irradiation (254 nm) at different exposure times (0, 10, 15, and 20 minutes) over periods of 2 and 4 weeks; morphometric parameters were evaluated, and finally, the phenolic and flavonoid contents were measured. Results showed that UV-C radiation significantly stimulated root elongation and fresh weight in in vitro Tecoma stans seedlings during the first two weeks of irradiation (p<0.05). Regarding the phytochemical profile, elicitation consistently enhanced secondary metabolite biosynthesis across all evaluated doses. Maximum total phenolic accumulation was obtained at 20 min of irradiation after two weeks (), representing a 6.07-fold increase compared to the control, while total flavonoid content increased in all irradiated treatments in both weeks, reaching . These findings demonstrate that short UV-C light exposures act as an effective eustressor to induce secondary metabolism without compromising early vegetative growth