Alginate encapsulation is a well-known technique used to protect microorganisms from adverse conditions. However, it is also known that the viscosity of the alginate is dependent on its composition and degree of polymerization and that thermal treatments, such as pasteurization and sterilization, can affect the structure of the polymer and decrease its protection efficiency. The goal of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of encapsulation, using alginates of different viscosities treated at different temperatures, on Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v under in vitro gastrointestinal conditions and cold storage at 4 °C and −15 °C, respectively. Steady- and dynamic-shear rheological tests were used to characterize the polymers. Thermal treatments profoundly affected the rheological characteristics of alginates with high and low viscosity. However, the solutions and gels of the low-viscosity alginate were more affected at a temperature of 117 °C. The capsules elaborated with high-viscosity alginate solution and pasteurized at 63 °C for 30 min provided better protection to the cells of L. plantarum 299v under simulated gastrointestinal and cold storage conditions.

Coptotermes testaceus (L.) (Rhinotermitidae) is a subterranean termite species that causes damage in urban and agricultural areas in the neotropics. Despite its economic importance, there are no studies on its basic biological aspects for laboratory management and the development of strategies for its control. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relative humidity, temperature, substrate moisture and preference to different wood substrates for the best C. testaceus survival under laboratory conditions. For this, a range of eight relative humidity (from 9 to 100%), three temperatures (20, 25 and 30 °C), six substrates (Pinus sp, Cedrela odorata (L.), Cocos nucifera (L.), Eucalyptus urophylla (S. T. Blake), Haematoxylum campechianum (L.) and Tabebuia rosea [Bertol.] DC) and four substrate moistures, (0 to 60%) were tested. The results of this study indicated a significant effect of all factors on termite survival or termite preference. When tested independently, the highest survival percentage of C.testaceus was obtained with humidity of 100%, temperature of 20 °C, substrate moisture of 60% and the Eucalyptus urophylla substrate, reaching 83.33% survival at 21 days of observation. With these preliminary assays on small termite groups, it is concluded that with the appropriate percentages of humidity, temperature and substrate and the interaction of these three factors, further research can be conducted using larger termite groups in biologically relevant conditions, in order to study various aspects of C. testaceus biology.

Medicinal plants are an essential source of bioactive compounds with health benefits; however, their impact on probiotic properties remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biostimulating effect of aqueous extracts of Tradescantia spathacea (EAT) on the development and probiotic properties of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14. For this purpose, the total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity of EAT were evaluated by spectrophotometric methods (DPPH and ABTS). Subsequently, the biostimulating effect on the growth (BG), antimicrobial activity (AA), cholesterol consumption (CC), and biofilm formation (BFF) of Lacti. rhamnosus and Lacto. acidophilus were evaluated. The EAT presented a TPC of 68.98 ± 5.01 mg GAE g-1 dry extract and TFC of 4.54 ± 0.62 mg CE g-1 dry extract and antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 778.81 ± 60.80 and 4068.16 ± 206.8 µg mL-1, for DPPH and ABTS respectively. The correlation between CFT and antioxidant activity was low (r = -0.7948 and -0.7208; for DPPH and ABTS, respectively). In the BG study, the data showed that EAT stimulated the growth of Lacti. rhamnosus and Lacto. acidophilus and that AA was higher in biostimulated probiotic bacteria. However, CC and FBP were also stimulated by the symbiotic interaction between probiotics and EAT. The aqueous extract of T. spathacea had a biostimulating effect on the probiotic properties of Lacti. rhamnosus HN001 and Lacto. acidophilus La-14.

Hampea rovirosae Standl. is traditionally used by local communities to treat infections, pain-related conditions, and to reduce blood sugar levels. In this investigation, we produced aqueous, ethanolic, and hydroethanolic extracts of H. rovirosae and assessed their antioxidant, antibacterial, and antihyperglycemic properties in addition to their phytochemical profiles and contents. The phytochemical characterization was performed through a targeted chromatographic and mass spectrometric analysis of phenolic compounds and the quantitation of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total tannin content (TTC) by spectrometric assays. The antioxidant capacity was assessed using the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, and the antibacterial activity was determined by disk diffusion (DD) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods. In addition, antihyperglycemic activity was evaluated by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Phytochemical analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), employing a targeted analysis approach based on comparing retention times and fragmentation patterns with standards and databases. This analysis revealed a phytochemical profile dominated by phenolic compounds, with quercetin-3-glucoside (155,930.2), caffeic acid (134,399.1), catechin (98,408.8), procyanidin B2 (85,661.7), protocatechuic acid (83,824.3), and epicatechin (53,704.1) being the major metabolites. The hydroethanolic extract exhibited the highest phenolic (426.70 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (119.17 mg CE/g), and tannin (324.46 mg GAE/g) contents, as well as the strongest antioxidant capacity in the DPPH and FRAP assays. Regarding the antibacterial effects, the aqueous extract inhibited Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli, while the hydroethanolic extract was active against S. aureus, B. cereus, and B. subtilis. In enzyme inhibition assays, the hydroethanolic extract showed strong α-glucosidase inhibition and moderate α-amylase inhibition. The findings provide preliminary scientific evidence of the antioxidant and biological activities of Hampea rovirosae in vitro, supporting its traditional use, which should be validated through vivo trials.

Objective: To evaluate under nursery conditions the growth and development of two varieties of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) planted in bags and tubes. Design/methodology/approach: The research was developed in a nursery located in Macuspana Tabasco, Mexico, in an experimental design of complete randomized blocks, with four treatments and four repetitions, two commercial varieties of E. guineensis were studied, which are: Deli x Compact and Compact x Ghana in two tube containers and a bag. In the treatments, height, number of leaves and stem diameter were recorded every 15 days for 180 days. To determine if there are statistical differences in the recorded variables, ANOVA analysis and Tukey's means tests were applied. Results: Significant differences in plant height were found between the treatments (p < 0.0001), with T3 (CxGt) registering the greatest increase with 32.33 ± 0.51 cm; With respect to the number of leaves, the tube treatments with both germplasms obtained a higher average (p > 0.05); In terms of strain diameter, the tube method treatments were outstanding with both varieties (p > 0.05) compared to the bag Limitations of the study/implications: The probable variability of the germplasm impacts the development of the plant with respect to the containers. Findings/conclusions: The prevailing conditions, the tube treatments achieved greater plant height, number of leaves and greater diameter of the strain. It is considered that the tube treatments allow the development of robust plants.