Antioxidants are essential compounds with diverse applications, and medicinal plants are a natural source of these biomolecules. Philodendron heleniae, a species native to the Ecuadorian Amazon, belongs to a genus renowned for its traditional therapeutic uses. Extracts from the stems and roots of several Philodendron species have been widely used to treat stress, bladder disorders, and snakebite wounds, underscoring their medicinal potential. This study investigates the volatile composition, antioxidant properties, and molecular docking of ethanolic extracts from P. heleniae, aiming to expand its applications. Phytochemical analysis revealed a rich profile of tannins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Antioxidant assays (ABTS and DPPH) demonstrated the extract’s strong free radical scavenging capacity, comparable to the standard Trolox. GC-MS analysis identified 48 volatile and semi-volatile metabolites, predominantly phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and lipid-like molecules. Fractionation of the crude ethanolic extract into aqueous and ethanolic fractions simplifies the downstream analytical steps and facilitates the identification and the evaluation of the higher abundance of antioxidant-related metabolites. Molecular docking supported these findings, highlighting strong binding affinities of stigmasterol and desmosterol to catalase, an enzyme critical for reducing oxidative stress. These results position P. heleniae as a promising source of natural antioxidants with potential pharmaceutical applications, while emphasizing the importance of conserving Ecuador’s biodiversity and its bioactive resources.

This work studies the underexplored potential of Ilex guayusa and demonstrates the influence of geographical (locations: A, B, C) and ontogenetic (young: 0; old: 2) factors on its biochemical profile. The total phenolic content (TPC) was consistently higher than the total flavonoid content (TFC) in all samples, with the highest values for site B: B2 for TPC (77.91 μg GAE/mg extract) and B0 for TFC (6.77 μg QE/mg extract). GC–MS identified 29 metabolites, and clustering analysis grouped samples B and C as rich in phenols and flavonoids, while site A was richer in alcohols, aldehydes, and hydrocarbons. Antioxidant potential was demonstrated, with B2 being the most active in ABTS (TEAC value of 0.3885 (mg/g dw)), whereas A2 and C2 showed the strongest activity in DPPH (0.0968 and 0.1850 (mg/g dw), respectively). No sample exhibited hemolysis and α-amylase inhibition; however, α-glucosidase inhibition was observed with the best activity for B0 (IC₅₀ = 68.05 µg/mL). Molecular docking, ADME, and correlation analyses indicated that B0 had the highest TFC, DPPH, and α-glucosidase inhibition values, while B2 showed the highest TPC and ABTS activity. Overall, the promising antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity combined with low toxicity highlights and expands the therapeutic and applicative potential of the species.

The increasing demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly materials has prompted intensive research into developing bioplastics as viable alternatives to conventional petroleum-derived plastics. Here, we report a novel approach to bioplastic production by employing plant extract-based solvents to partially dissolve cellulose, a fundamental biopolymer precursor. Using plant-derived solvents addresses concerns surrounding the environmental impact of traditional solvent-based processes, as per the principles of green chemistry. Using computational screening, some natural products were identified from the integrated database resource MEGx. Six natural sources were selected based on their molecular weight, high pKa, and chemical classification. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and column chromatography confirmed the presence of molecules in the extracts. Bioplastics were prepared with 1, 3, 6, 10, and 15 wt.% plant extract concentrations. Control samples without conventional dissolved and positive controls were also studied to compare their properties with novel bioplastics. Chemical characterization and biodegradability tests were performed. Degradation in water and soil tests for 35 days showed that the biodegradability of the bioplastics with natural extracts at higher concentrations was faster than that of the control samples. By day 35, bioplastics containing 15 wt.% of the D1 W extract showed rapid degradation, with higher weight loss compared with the conventional controls. The positive control (C4), containing NaOH and glycerol, degraded more slowly than the plant extract-based formulations. Also, the test indicated that the natural dissolvent’s influence on the water uptake of the material produced a better performance than the control samples. The surfaces of the bioplastic formulations were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at different magnifications. The findings presented here hold promise for advancing the field of bioplastics and contributing to the sustainable utilization of plant resources for eco-friendly material production.

Trametes polyzona is a white-rot basidiomycete with increasing relevance in environmental biotechnology due to its ligninolytic enzymes, biodegradation capacity, and versatile metabolic responses to diverse substrates. To provide an integrated and updated understanding of its biotechnological potential, we conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 46 studies published between 1991 and 2024 were analyzed, covering enzymatic production profiles, degradation of xenobiotics, extraction of bioactive metabolites, and experimental conditions influencing performance. Across the literature, T. polyzona consistently exhibits high ligninolytic activity, including laccase specific activities reported up to 1637 U/mg, together with efficient transformation of dyes, pesticides, and phenolic pollutants, and promising antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. However, substantial methodological heterogeneity was identified, particularly in strain characterization, fermentation parameters, and analytical approaches used to quantify enzymatic and biodegradation outcomes. These inconsistencies limit cross-study comparability and hinder process standardization. This review integrates current evidence; highlights critical gaps, such as limited ecotoxicological assessment of degradation products and scarce multi-omics characterization; and identifies key opportunities for process optimization in submerged/solid-state fermentation, bioreactor scaling, and the valorization of fungal metabolites. Overall, T. polyzona remains an underutilized resource with distinct advantages for applied mycology, environmental remediation, and industrial biotechnology.

Hyeronima macrocarpa (“motilón”) is an underexplored tropical fruit. This study evaluated the antioxidant properties of its pulp and peel extracts obtained with 80 % acetone, MeOH–acetic acid (19:1), and H₂O–acetic acid (19,1). Total phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin, carotenoid, and tocopherol contents were determined, alongside radical scavenging activity (DPPH•), chelating capacity, electrochemical index (EI), and metabolomic profiling by UHPLC–MS. The MeOH–AcH (19,1). 80 % acetone extracts, especially from the peel, exhibited the highest total phenolic content, lowest EC₅₀ and TEC₅₀ values, and the strongest electrochemical responses, indicating superior redox activity. Metabolomic analysis identified abundant flavonols and anthocyanins with catechol or carbonyl groups, which likely explain their enhanced antioxidant efficiency. Molecular docking confirmed high binding affinity of these metabolites toward catalase and superoxide dismutase, reinforcing their biological relevance. These findings highlight the potential of H. macrocarpa extracts as natural antioxidant ingredients for functional foods and nutraceutical formulations.

Trametes polyzona is a white-rot fungus whose laccase, manganese peroxidase, and lignin peroxidase system supports fermentation-based bioprocesses: pollutant bioremediation, effluent treatment, and enzyme production under solid-state and submerged fermentation. Its extracts also show antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activity. How this field is structured, and how far it has moved toward application, has not been examined. We analyzed 64 publications indexed in Scopus and Web of Science (1991–2025) with Bibliometrix R-Tool (v4.3.2) and VOSviewer (v1.6.20). Output has grown steadily since 2005, led by Thailand, Belgium, and South Africa. Keyword co-occurrence (119 terms, 3253 links) resolved five clusters: laccase catalysis and immobilization (39 terms); ligninolytic enzyme systems and strain characterization (27); comparative white-rot mycology and effluent treatment (23); dye decolorization with toxicity assessment (21); and enzyme purification and characterization (9). The strategic diagram placed laccase-mediated phenol oxidation and dye biodegradation among the motor themes, whereas bioactivity research remained a niche theme. The field has moved from enzymatic description toward immobilization and reactor-based treatment, but within the 64 records analyzed, species-specific reactor evidence rests on a single laboratory airlift study and no volumetric productivity, oxygen-transfer, or economic data are reported. Genomic and metabolomic resources remain scarce, defining clear priorities for fermentation-oriented research.