Rice (Oryza sativa) plays a fundamental role in the Ecuadorian diet. This study evaluated traceability and contamination by heavy metals in two rice-producing areas of Ecuador. Microwave-assisted digestion was used to process samples from rice agrosystems including irrigation water, soil, roots, stems, and leaves. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was employed for elemental analysis. Arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr) were measured in samples collected in Daule and Ventanas. In soils, the concentrations of As (1.50–2.82 mg/kg) and Cd (1.22–1.45 mg/kg) exceeded the internationally recommended safety thresholds. In irrigation water, the content of As (0.85–1.12 mg/L), Pb (0.25–0.38 mg/L), and Cr (0.37–0.53 mg/L) surpass the international/national permissible limits. However, the limits established by Ecuadorian legislation indicate that As in soils did not exceed contamination thresholds. Additionally, the bioaccumulation of As and Pb in roots from Daule and Ventanas, respectively, was observed, along with the movement of Pb to aerial parts in Daule. Finally, preliminary As found in commercial rice grains suggest a potential health concern to the Ecuadorian population. These findings highlight the need for stricter heavy metal restrictions for rice agrosystems and effective agricultural pollution mitigation.

Bananas (Musa paradisiaca L.) are a crop of great economic and food importance worldwide. However, its production is affected by various pests and diseases. The use of artisanal biols, organic fertilizers made from natural materials, emerges as a sustainable alternative to promote the growth and development of banana plants. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of the use of artisanal bioles on the phytochemical stimulation of banana seedlings Musa paradisiaca L., through a bibliometric review and an experimental experiment. An exhaustive bibliometric search was conducted in scientific databases such as Scopus, Web of Science and SciELO, using keywords such as “artisanal bioles”, “banana”, “phytochemical stimulation” and “seedlings”. Relevant scientific articles from the last 10 years were selected and analyzed. In addition, two experimental treatments were established with banana seedlings treated with artisanal bioles and untreated control seedlings. Antioxidant activity, polyphenols and flavonoids were evaluated. The literature review showed that the use of artisanal bioles in banana seedlings has a positive effect on phytochemical stimulation, promoting vegetative growth, increasing the concentration of secondary metabolites. The results of the experimental trial confirmed the findings of the literature review. The use of artisanal bioles in banana seedlings Musa paradisiaca L. is presented as an effective strategy to stimulate the increase of secondary metabolites and healthy development of plants, which translates into a higher yield and quality in production.

In Ecuador, cocoa is a very important crop, both economically and culturally. However, the presence of heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) in the soil and in cocoa plants raises significant concerns. Studies have shown that Ecuadorian agricultural soils are contaminated by cadmium, with concentrations that can affect cocoa quality (Pernía et al., 2021).

Essential oils from the genus Piper are recognized for their chemical diversity and biological potential, yet Piper platylobum has been scarcely investigated. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of the leaf essential oil of P. platylobum and evaluate its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticholinesterase activities. The oil was obtained by steam distillation and analyzed through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID), leading to the identification of 35 compounds that accounted for 91.11% of the volatile fraction. Dillapiole (42.0%) was the principal constituent, followed by α-(E)-bergamotene (5.69%), (E)-caryophyllene (5.01%), and (E)-isocroweacin (3.75%). Biological assays revealed selective antimicrobial activity, with inhibition observed only against Enterococcus faecium (MIC = 1000 µg/mL), while no effect was detected against other bacterial or fungal strains tested. Antioxidant evaluation showed moderate activity in the ABTS assay (SC₅₀ = 335.71 ± 1.43 µg/mL; TEAC = 45.85 ± 1.68 µM Trolox/g EO), but no activity in the DPPH assay. The essential oil also displayed moderate inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (IC₅₀ = 76.86 ± 1.00 µg/mL), suggesting a potential role in neuroprotective applications. This study constitutes the first report on the chemical composition and biological activities of P. platylabum essential oil, highlighting its potential as a novel source of bioactive compounds.

El objetivo de la revisión fue analizar la factibilidad del establecimiento productivo de las especies de salicornias en Ecuador, con la finalidad de contribuir a la bioprospección de plantas de interés alimentario y farmacéutico. Las salicornias contienen compuestos bioactivos como fenoles, esteroles y ácidos grasos insaturados, que les confieren propiedades terapéuticas significativas, incluyendo efectos diuréticos, depurativos, antiosteoporóticos, anticancerígenos y antihiperglucémicos. Además, aunque la interacción con microorganismos benéficos es limitada, esta puede mejorar el crecimiento y la resistencia de las salicornias en condiciones de alta salinidad. En conclusión, el establecimiento agroproductivo de salicornias en Ecuador es factible y sostenible, ofreciendo oportunidades para la investigación en las industrias alimentaria, farmacéutica, agrícola y ambiental, esto contribuye al desarrollo de las comunidades rurales mediante la creación de bioproductos beneficiosos para los consumidores.