Synthetic fungicides are used to control fungal diseases in plants, such as those caused by members of the Fusarium genus. Nonetheless, the over-application of synthetic formulations can generate other problems, like phytotoxicity, or the pollution of water and soil. In this context, botanical extracts with antifungal properties can represent an environmentally friendly alternative to control fungal infections. The application of natural products in the form of crude extracts still requires the incorporation of toxic organic solvents to be used as vehicle. Nanotechnology allows the dispersion of hydroalcoholic extracts in water simply by the nanoencapsulation of the active molecules in a biodegradable polymer, with the advantage that no organic solvents are required while, at the same time, this polymer may protect the extract against photodegradation. The present study aims to encapsulate an antifungal Piper schlechtendalii crude extract in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) acid nanospheres, conferring good dispersion in water while protecting the active ingredients against degradation by solar irradiation. The particle size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency obtained were 170 nm, -37 mV, and 33.7 %, respectively. The system obtained showed good dispersion in water, in the form of a colloidal suspension of polymeric nanospheres. After 24 h of exposure to UV-A radiation, crude extract only retained 58.35 % of its original Fusarium solani growth inhibition capacity, while the nanoencapsulated extract retained 70 %. The study concluded that the biodegradable polymer does confer photoprotection to the active ingredients in the antifungal Piper extract while simultaneously removing the necessity of organic solvents as vehicles, potentially reducing the environmental impact. Resumen. Los fungicidas sintéticos son usados para controlar enfermedades fúngicas en plantas, como aquellas causadas por el género Fusarium. Sin embargo, la aplicación desmedida de formulaciones sintéticas puede generar otros problemas, como fitotoxicidad, o contaminación de agua y suelos. En este contexto, extractos botánicos con propiedades antifúngicas representan una alternativa ecológicamente amigable para controlar infecciones fúngicas. La aplicación de productos naturales en forma de extractos crudos aún requiere la incorporación de disolventes orgánicos tóxicos para ser utilizados como vehículos. La nanotecnología permite la dispersión de extractos hidroalcóholicos en agua simplemente nanoencapsulando las moléculas activas en polímeros biodegradables, con la ventaja de que no requiere disolventes orgánicos mientras que, a la vez, dicho polímero protege al extracto contra fotodegradación. El presente estudio busca encapsular un extracto crudo antifúngico de Piper schlechtendalii en nanoesferas de poli(ácido láctico-co-glicólico), brindando buena dispersión en agua mientras se protege a los ingredientes activos contra degradación por luz solar. El tamaño de partícula, potencial zeta, y eficiencia de encapsulación obtenidos fueron 170 nm, -37 mV, y 33.7 %, respectivamente. El sistema obtenido mostró buena dispersión en agua, en forma de una suspensión coloidal de nanoesferas poliméricas. Después de 24 h de exposición a radiación UV-A, el extracto crudo solo retuvo 58.35 % de su inhibición de crecimiento de Fusarium solani original mientras que el extracto nanoencapsulado retuvo el 70 %. El estudio concluyó que el polímero biodegradable logra brindar fotoprotección a los ingredientes activos del extracto de Piper mientras que, simultáneamente, remueve la necesidad de usar disolventes orgánicos como vehículo, reduciendo potencialmente el impacto ambiental.

The cloud forest (CF), a hugely biodiverse ecosystem, is a hotspot of unexplored plants with potential for discovering pharmacologically active compounds. Without sufficient ethnopharmacological information, developing strategies for rationally selecting plants for experimental studies is crucial. With this goal, a CF metabolites library was created, and a ligand-based virtual screening was conducted to identify molecules with potential hypoglycemic activity. From the most promising botanical families, plants were collected, methanolic extracts were prepared, and hypoglycemic activity was evaluated through in vitro enzyme inhibition assays on α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV). Metabolomic analyses were performed to identify the dominant metabolites in the species with the best inhibitory activity profile, and their affinity for the molecular targets was evaluated using ensemble molecular docking. This strategy led to the identification of twelve plants (in four botanical families) with hypoglycemic activity. Sida rhombifolia (Malvaceae) stood out for its DPP-IV selective inhibition versus S. glabra. A comparison of chemical profiles led to the annotation of twenty-seven metabolites over-accumulated in S. rhombifolia compared to S. glabra, among which acanthoside D and cis-tiliroside were noteworthy for their potential selective inhibition due to their specific intermolecular interactions with relevant amino acids of DPP-IV. The workflow used in this study presents a novel targeting strategy for identifying novel bioactive natural sources, which can complement the conventional selection criteria used in Natural Product Chemistry.

Introduction. Mulberry (Morus alba), a plant native to China, is used as a fodder on some farms. Its high protein content stimulates milk production in cattle; however, it is not known whether its flavonoids can be incorporated into goat milk. Objective. To evaluate the effect of a diet enriched with mulberry-enriched, on flavonoids concentration and bromatological parameters of milk from stabled alpine goats. Materials and methods. The experiment was carried out in 2019, with goats from a particular farm located in Veracruz, Mexico. Two groups were formed (A with the treatment and B control) with five Alpine breed goats each, with similar characteristics (stall feeding, three calving, without mastitis, morning and evening hand milking). Group A received forage without mulberry before and after treatment (days 1-10 and 21-31, respectively), and a modified forage diet with mulberry (days 11-20; group B was fed forage without mulberry on all 31 days of experimentation. Additionally, the flavonoid content in mulberry and every three days in milk samples were analyzed, in addition to the bromatological content of protein, fat, lactose, non-fat solids, and density. Results. During the mulberry-modified diet, the flavonoid concentration reached a maximum of 53.45 mg mL-1 EQ in group A at day 20, it decreased gradually during the post-treatment period; however, it maintained 20 % more flavonoids than the control group. A significant increase in protein content was also observed in group A, with no significant difference in the other bromatological parameters of the milk between the two groups. Conclusions. The diets modified with mulberry favored the incorporation of flavonoids and the increase of protein in goat milk, without modifying the other bromatological parameters.

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics has driven the search for new chemical compounds with biological activity derived from plants. An example of these bioactive compounds are piperamides, terpenes, alkaloids, and others found in species of the Piper L genus. Additionally, it has been observed that certain elicitors can modify the production of these bioactive compounds. Therefore, the effect of chitosan on the induction of secondary metabolites and antibacterial activity of extracts from Piper psilorhachis C. DC. was evaluated. Three wild populations of P. psilorhachis were selected, and ten individuals per population were sprayed with a 1 mg/mL chitosan solution. Subsequently, leaves were collected, and ethanolic extracts were made, with the total content of flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, terpenes, and salicylic acid quantified using spectrophotometry. Additionally, a phytochemical profile was determined by GC-MS. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (ATCC 15635) using the plate dilution method, and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was estimated. Chitosan stimulated the production of flavonoids, phenols, and terpenes in all three populations compared to the control, while alkaloids and salicylic acid only significantly increased in one population. Terpene and amide precursors were tentatively identified by GC-MS. Antibacterial activity was significantly higher in the chitosan-treated extracts, with Escherichia coli being the most sensitive strain.

Se ha reportado que las especies de Annona presentan potencial actividad biológica que pudiera ser modificada gracias al estimulo de algunos elicitores. Por tal motivo, se evaluó el efecto de un autolizado de Saccharomyces cerevisieae como potencial elicitor, su efecto en la producción de metabolitos bioactivos de Annona cherimola y su actividad antibacteriana. Se aplicaron cinco tratamientos de autolizado. Realizando cuatro aspersiones por semana en tratamientos con 5 individuos por tratamiento de A. cherimola. Se colectaron hojas para obtener extractos etanólicos, de los cuales se cuantificaron: fenoles, flavonoides, alcaloides, terpenos totales, así como ácido salicílico. Se evaluó la actividad antibacteriana sobre Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aureginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Salmonella typhi, Enterococcus faecalis y Staphylococcus aureus. Las pruebas de sensibilidad bacteriana se realizaron con agar Müeller-Hinton. Se probaron cinco concentraciones de los extractos y se determinó la concentración mínima inhibitoria. Se observó que el autolizado de levadura modificó la producción de metabolitos bioactivos en Annona cherimola aumentando la concentración de fenoles, flavonoides, alcaloides, terpenos totales y ácido salicílico. Por último, la aplicación del elicitor generó diferencias significativas entre la actividad antibacteriana de los extractos, algunas cepas bacterianas fueron sensibles.

RESUMEN La leche de cabra y sus derivados son importantes a nivel mundial debido a sus componentes nutrimentales que brinda al ser humano. No obstante, existen factores importantes que influyen en la calidad y composición, uno de ellos es la dieta. Se ha reportado que el forraje, además de ser fuente de macronutrientes, puede proporcionar compuestos bioactivos como flavonoides, considerados como antioxidantes. Mediante un estudio etnobológico se identificaron las especies de plantas forrajeras consumidas por cabras en libre pastoreo en la microrregión de Coyopolan, Ixhuacán de los Reyes, Veracruz, entre las cuales destaca la zarzamora silvestre (Rubus adenotrichus). Las plantas identificadas, fueron caracterizadas por un tamiz fitoquímico preliminar. La incorporación de flavonoides en la leche se realizó con la modificación de la dieta en un hato caprino de la raza Alpina; se usó follaje de zarzamora (R. adenotrichus). Se determinaron los cambios bromatológicos de la leche y el contenido de flavonoides durante 30 días que duró el experimento. Los extractos etanólicos de zarzamora mostraron mayor presencia de flavonoides, alcaloides, terpenos/esteroles y en menor grado la presencia de cumarinas y saponinas. Las cabras alimentadas con forraje de zarzamora presentaron incorporación de flavonoides en la leche, sin mostrar diferencias significativas en los parámetros bromatológicos respecto al grupo testigo. La dieta caprina tiene un efecto importante en la incorporación de sustancias bioactivas como los flavonoides, ya que se encontró su presencia en la leche de cabras cuya dieta fue modificada.