The genus Desmodium includes about 350 species, distributed in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The objective of this review was to associate the traditional medicinal uses of the genus Desmodium with its biological activities reported in the scientific literature. Traditional medicinal uses and biological activities were described in 56 species. More than 100 traditional medicinal uses have been reported in 43 countries, highlighting the use in inflammatory, gastrointestinal and infectious processes, muscular pain, rheumatic, renal and hepatic affections. Among the 45 biological activities experimentally evaluated, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and antinociceptive were the most reported. The species with the highest number of studies were D. gangeticum, D. adscendens and D. styracifolium. In conclusion, several traditional medicinal uses have been experimentally supported, demonstrating the pharmacological potential of this genus.

Nowadays, there is special interest in promoting the consumption of ancestral crops and minimally processed foods with high nutritional value. However, besides nutritional issues, safety assessments must be addressed. This study aimed to evaluate mycotoxin contamination in five minimally processed traditional Ecuadorian foods: ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisin B₁ (FB₁), and aflatoxins (AFs) in brown rice, lupin, and quinoa; OTA, FB₁, and deoxynivalenol (DON) in whole-wheat flour; and OTA and AFs in peanuts. Samples (45 samples of peanuts and whole-wheat flour, 47 of brown rice, 46 of quinoa, and 36 of lupin) were collected from local markets and supermarkets in the three most populated cities in Ecuador. Mycotoxins were determined by RP-HPLC with fluorescence and detection. Results were compared with the maximum permitted levels (MPLs) of European Regulation 2023/915/EC. Overall contamination reached up to 59.8% of the analyzed samples (38.4% with one mycotoxin and 21.5% with co-occurrence). OTA was the most prevalent mycotoxin (in 82.6% of quinoa, 76.7% of whole-wheat flour, 53.3% of peanuts, 48.6% of lupin, and 25.5% of brown rice), and a modest number of quinoa (17%) and lupin (5.7%) samples surpassed the MPLs. DON was found in 82.2% of whole-wheat flour (28.9% > MPL). FB₁ was detected in above 25% of brown rice and whole-wheat flour and in 9% of the quinoa samples. FB₁ levels were above the MPLs only for whole-wheat flour (17.8%). AFB₁ and AFG₁ showed similar prevalence (about 6.5 and 8.5%, respectively) in quinoa and rice and about 27% in peanuts. Overall, these findings underscore the importance of enhancing fungal control in the pre- and post-harvest stages of these foods, which are recognized for their high nutritional value and ancestral worth; consequently, the results present key issues related to healthy diet promotion and food sovereignty. This study provides compelling insights into mycotoxin occurrence in minimally processed Ecuadorian foods and highlights the need for further exposure assessments by combining population consumption data.

Background/Objectives: Infant acute malnutrition increases the risk of morbidity and mortality but also has adverse effects on growth, cognitive development, and quality of life. Ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) represent the standard treatment in moderate (MAM) or severe acute malnutrition (SAM) cases, but acceptability and adherence in culturally diverse settings remain poorly understood. To evaluate the acceptability and adherence to RUTF treatment among children with MAM or SAM in rural and indigenous communities of three Mexican states. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study in Chihuahua, Guerrero, and Chiapas between February and August 2024. A total of 66 children aged 6–59 months with confirmed MAM or SAM diagnoses were enrolled, with 48 completing the study. Acceptability was assessed by weighing leftovers of the consumption RUTF sachet and using 5-point hedonic scales evaluating taste, texture, appearance, and smell. Adherence was measured by comparing consumed versus prescribed RUTF sachets. Semi-structured interviews with primary caregivers explored perceptions, barriers, and facilitators of RUTF use. Results: Consumption-based acceptability was achieved by 85% of participants. On the 5-point hedonic scale, 77% of participants rated RUTF as pleasant or very pleasant. Overall treatment adherence was adequate (≥70%) in 79.2% of cases. Qualitative information revealed primary caregivers’ perceptions about weight gain and increased appetite as benefits. Conclusions: Since acceptability and adherence were adequate and a high score was obtained on the hedonic scale, which led to an improvement in the nutritional status of MAM or SAM cases, the feasibility and acceptability of RUTFs in highly vulnerable community contexts in Mexico was reaffirmed.