The aim of this study was to determine, first, the chemical composition of Aloysia polystachya (Griseb) Moldenke essential oil, from leaves harvested in central Chile; and second, its antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. Eight compounds were identified via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analyses, with the most representative being R-carvone (91.03%), R-limonene (4.10%), and dihydrocarvone (1.07%). For Aloysia polystachya essential oil, antioxidant assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), H₂O₂, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP)) showed good antioxidant activity compared to commercial antioxidant controls; and anti-proliferative assays against three human cancer cell lines (colon, HT-29; prostate, PC-3; and breast, MCF-7) determined an IC₅₀ of 5.85, 6.74, and 9.53 µg/mL, and selectivity indices of 4.75, 4.12, and 2.92 for HT-29, PC-3, and MCF-7, respectively. We also report on assays with CCD 841 CoN (colon epithelial). Overall, results from this study may represent, in the near future, developments for natural-based cancer treatments.

Arabidopsis thaliana is a widely used model in plant biology, where histology (HT), histochemistry (HC), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence (IF) are applied to study cellular structures, macromolecules, and antigens. Despite their extensive use, protocols lack standardization and exhibit substantial variability in critical aspects such as reagent handling, exposure times, and the proper use of controls. This methodological heterogeneity represents a major gap, limiting reproducibility and comparability between studies. Unlike previous methodological reviews, this work focuses exclusively on A. thaliana, systematically identifies reporting omissions, and proposes a roadmap for standardization. A narrative review of literature retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science was conducted with the aim of analyzing methodological approaches, identifying inconsistencies, and offering recommendations for improved laboratory practices. The analysis revealed frequent omissions in the reporting of critical steps such as dehydration, clearing, antigen retrieval, enzyme blocking, and the incorporation of positive and negative controls, which compromise the reliability of results and hinder inter-laboratory validation. Based on this evidence, three key recommendations are emphasized: (i) organ-specific selection and explicit justification of fixatives and stains; (ii) mandatory incorporation of positive and negative controls in IHC and IF; and (iii) adoption of a minimum reporting checklist to enhance reproducibility. Beyond cell morphology, the reviewed studies demonstrate applications in plant physiology, phytogenetics, and pathophysiology. By combining critical analysis with actionable guidelines, this review contributes a practical reference to strengthen methodological rigor in histological and immunological studies of plants.

This study investigated the bioactive potential of Pouteria splendens fruit through ultrasound-assisted extraction, analyzing peel and pulp. The pulp exhibited a higher phytochemical content, with 179.67 mg GAE/g d.w. and 208.48 mg QE/g d.w., approximately 1.5 times more than in the peel. Fifty phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC-MS, including four types of phenolic acids, with hydroxybenzoic (52%) and hydroxycinnamic (42%) as the two predominant ones, and six types of flavonoids, with flavonols (26.67%) and flavones (23.33%) as the two most prevalent. The pulp demonstrated greater antioxidant activity than the peel and the commercial controls (BHA and BHT) in the DPPH assay (IC₅₀ 2.54 mg/mL); however, it showed lower activity in the FRAP assay. Cytotoxic activity was evaluated in cancerous (MCF-7, HT-29, and PC-3) and non-cancerous (CCD 841 CoN and HEK-293) cell lines. Notably, the pulp exhibited remarkable cytotoxic activity against colon cancer cells (HT-29), with an IC₅₀ of 50 µg/mL, and possible selectivity by not showing significant activity in non-cancerous cells (CoN and HEK). These results suggest that P. splendens, and particularly its pulp, is a valuable source of bioactive polyphenols, with potential for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Leptocarpha rivularis is an autochthonous plant of the southern zone of Chile known as “Palo negro” that has been traditionally used by Mapuche people as anti-inflammatory and reliever of abdominal pain. More recently, aqueous infusion of this plant is being used in the treatment of cancer. The main phytochemical components of L. rivularis have been identified as a sesquiterpene lactones (SQL) being leptocarpine (LTC) the major component, which exhibits pro-apoptotic action against a variety of cancer cells lines. In this study we intend to compare the in vitro cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines of two different polarity extracts and LTC. To overcome the poor water-solubility of extracts they have been encapsulated in polymer micelles and its effect on activity has been assessed.