This study aimed to provide an updated critical review of the nutritional, therapeutic, biotechnological, and environmental aspects involved in the exploitation of Chenopodium quinoa Willd and its biowastes. Special attention was devoted to investigations of the therapeutic and nutritional properties of different parts and varieties of quinoa as well as of the use of the biowaste resulting from the processing of grain. Studies published from 2018 onward were prioritized. Extracts and fractions obtained from several Chenopodium quinoa matrices showed antioxidant, antidiabetic, immunoregulatory, neuroprotective, and antimicrobial effects in in vitro and in vivo models and some clinical studies. The activities were attributed to the presence of phytochemicals such as polyphenols, saponins, peptides, polysaccharides, and dietary fibers. Quinoa wastes are abundant and low-cost sources of bioactive molecules for the development of new drugs, natural antioxidants, preservatives, dyes, emulsifiers, and carriers for food and cosmetics applications. Among the demands to be fulfilled in the coming years are the following: (1) isolation of new bioactive phytochemicals from quinoa varieties that are still underexploited; (2) optimization of green approaches to the sustainable recovery of compounds of industrial interest from quinoa by-products; and (3) well-conducted clinical trials to attest safety and efficacy of extracts and compounds.

Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, popularly known as “Pink pepper”, is a plant native to Brazil. The objective of this work was to analyze the chemical composition and the antioxidant and antibacterial potential of essential oils (EOs) from the leaves, fruits and twigs of S. terebinthifolius, aiming for their application in food safety. EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation and the chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Phenolic compounds were quantified and antioxidant activity was evaluated using three different methods. The antibacterial activity was determined by the broth microdilution method against foodborne bacteria. In the chemical analysis, 22 compounds were identified in the leaves, 13 compounds in the fruits and 37 compounds in the twigs, revealing the presence of the main compounds germacrene D (12.04%, 15.78%, 20,41%), caryophyllene (15.97%, 3.12%, 11.73%), α-pinene (11.6%, 17.16%, 2.99%), β-pinene (5.68%, 43.34%, 5.60%) and γ-gurjunene (16,85%, 3,15%) respectively. EOs showed better antioxidant potential using the β-carotene/linoleic acid method with 40.74, 61.52 and 63.65% oxidation inhibition for leaves, fruits and twigs, respectively. The EO from the leaves showed greater antibacterial potential against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.62 mg mL⁻¹, a value lower than the MIC of sodium nitrite (5.00 mg mL⁻¹), the antimicrobial standard synthetic. The activities of pink pepper EOs suggest their potential as a biopreservative in foods.

A utilização de organoides cerebrais derivados de células-tronco neurais (NSCs) está revolucionando a pesquisa em oncologia cerebral, oferecendo um modelo tridimensional mais fisiologicamente relevante para o estudo de tumores cerebrais. Esses organoides replicam a complexidade estrutural e funcional do cérebro humano, permitindo uma análise detalhada do crescimento e invasão tumoral, bem como das interações entre células tumorais e o microambiente. Eles mantêm a heterogeneidade celular intrínseca dos tumores, essencial para a medicina personalizada. No entanto, desafios como a falta de vascularização e a variabilidade entre organoides permanecem. Avanços em bioengenharia, edição gênica e integração com sistemas microfluídicos prometem superar essas limitações. A aplicação de organoides personalizados e o uso de bioinformática e inteligência artificial estão abrindo novos caminhos para a medicina personalizada, permitindo a triagem de terapias específicas e a predição de respostas ao tratamento. A colaboração interdisciplinar é crucial para maximizar o potencial desses modelos. Em conclusão, os organoides cerebrais têm o potencial de revolucionar a pesquisa translacional e acelerar o desenvolvimento de terapias mais eficazes e personalizadas para tumores cerebrais.