Genipin is a reagent isolated from the Gardenia jasminoides fruit extract, and whose low toxicity and good crosslinking properties have converted it into a reactive whose popularity is increasing by the day. These properties have made it widely used in many medical applications, mainly in the production of chitosan materials (crosslinked by this reactive), biological scaffolds for tissue engineering, and nanoparticles of chitosan and nanogels of proteins for controlled drug delivery, the genipin crosslinking being a key point to strengthen the stability of these materials. This review is focused on the mechanism of reaction of this reagent and its use in the design of biocatalysts, where genipin plays a double role, as a support activating agent and as inter- or intramolecular crosslinker. Its low toxicity makes this compound an ideal alterative to glutaraldehyde in these processes. Moreover, in some cases the features of the biocatalysts prepared using genipin surpassed those of the biocatalysts prepared using other standard crosslinkers, even disregarding toxicity. In this way, genipin is a very promising reagent in the design of biocatalysts.

The feasibility of obtaining resistant starch type III (RS3) from malanga flour (Xanthosoma sagittifolium), as an unconventional source of starch, was evaluated using the hydrothermal treatment of autoclaving. The physicochemical characterization of RS3 made from malanga flour was carried out through the evaluation of the chemical composition, color attributes, and thermal properties. In addition, the contents of the total starch, available starch, resistant starch, and retrograded resistant starch were determined by in vitro enzymatic tests. A commercial corn starch sample was used to produce RS3 and utilized to compare all of the analyses. The results showed that native malanga flour behaved differently in most of the evaluations performed, compared to the commercial corn starch. These results could be explained by the presence of minor components that could interfere with the physicochemical and functional properties of the flour; however, the RS3 samples obtained from malanga flour and corn starch were similar in their thermal and morphological features, which may be related to their similarities in the content and molecular weight of amylose, in both of the samples. Furthermore, the yields for obtaining the autoclaved powders from corn starch and malanga flour were similar (≈89%), which showed that the malanga flour is an attractive raw material for obtaining RS3 with adequate yields, to be considered in the subsequent research.

El lactosuero es uno de los principales residuos de la industria quesera, toda vez que contiene nutrientes de alta calidad (lactosa 4.5 %, proteínas solubles 0.7 % y compuestos bioactivos), lo que lo hace una buena fuente para la fermentación por medio de bacterias ácido lácticas (BAL). En Chiapas, existen bebidas fermentadas típicas, una de ellas es el pozol, la cual contiene gran cantidad de microorganismos benéficos. El objetivo de esta investigación fue establecer la capacidad de fermentación de bacterias ácido lácticas, provenientes del pozol chiapaneco fermentado, para elaborar una bebida a base de lactosuero, adicionada con mermelada de sabor a piña-coco, y evaluar su potencial probiótico y su aceptación organaléptica. Se aislaron e identificaron BAL provenientes de pozol, y se seleccionaron las de mayor capacidad fermentativa y potencial probiótico. La evaluación organoléptica se realizó con 20 jueces no entrenados, con edades de entre 14 y 20 años. Las pruebas bioquímicas y el potencial probiótico demostraron que el pozol fermentado contenía bacterias benéficas para el consumo humano, por lo que se consideró una bebida probiótica. La bebida fermentada obtenida con cepa de pozol presentó el mayor nivel de agrado (P < 0.05) y 2 x 107 UFC/mL. Los resultados de este estudio abren la posibilidad de la utilización del lactosuero para la elaboración de bebidas fermentadas ricas en probióticos y con buena aceptación organoléptica.

High molecular weight chitosan (≈322 kDa) was obtained from chitin isolated from Brachystola magna (Girard) to produced biodegradable films. Their physicochemical, mechanical and water vapor permeability (WVP) properties were compared against commercial chitosan films with different molecular weights. Brachystola magna chitosan films (CFBM) exhibited similar physicochemical and mechanical characteristics to those of commercial chitosans. The CFBM films presented lower WVP values (10.01 × 10⁻¹¹ g/m s Pa) than commercial chitosans films (from 16.06 × 10⁻¹¹ to 64.30 × 10⁻¹¹ g/m s Pa). Frankfurt-type sausages were covered with chitosan films and stored in refrigerated conditions (4 °C). Their quality attributes (color, weight loss, pH, moisture, texture and lipid oxidation) were evaluated at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 days. Sausages covered with CFMB films presented the lowest weight loss (from 1.24% to 2.38%). A higher increase in hardness (from 22.32 N to 30.63 N) was observed in sausages covered with CFMB films. Compared with other films and the control (uncovered sausages), CFMB films delay pH reduction. Moreover, this film presents the lower lipid oxidation level (0.10 malonaldehyde mg/sample kg). Thus, chitosan of B. magna could be a good alternative as packaging material for meat products with high-fat content.