Mangiferin (MF), a xanthonoid polyphenol, its derivatives, coordination and inclusion complexes, and carriers have demonstrated notable antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. However, their clinical application remains limited due to MF’s poor water solubility and low systemic bioavailability. This review critically summarizes advances in the synthesis of MF derivatives and formulation strategies, such as metal complexes, cyclodextrin inclusion systems, and nanocarriers, developed over the past decade to enhance MF’s bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Promising results include glycosylated derivatives, MF-Se (IV) metal complexes, and β-cyclodextrin complexes, each contributing to improved solubility and cytotoxicity profiles. Continued research is essential to bridge the gap between experimental success and its clinical implementation in cancer therapy.

Biomarkers of oxidative stress in antioxidant therapy

The oxidative stress index in human population with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus

The review systematically maps the ethnomedicinal uses and chemistry of Pinus spp., with an emphasis on the under-studied Pinus occidentalis Swartz, known as “pino criollo”, “pino de cuaba” or “pin creole”. It is the only native pine species of Hispaniola, and holds ecological, cultural, and medicinal significance across the Dominican Republic and Haiti. A data search was conducted across several databases (Google Scholar, SciFinder, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed/Medline, and TRIP) to evaluate the existing knowledge of P. occidentalis spp. and compare it to that of other Pinus species for medicinal uses. The search showed evidence about the medicinal use of this pine species for treating respiratory ailments (cough, cold, and flu), skin infections, wounds, and inflammatory conditions, mainly through hot decoctions of pine needles, bark, cone tender sprouts, and the resin in some locations in Hispaniola. Still, phytochemical data were scarce, limited to the composition of the needle’s essential oil and resin’s turpentine oil in the 20th century. Systematic pharmacological validation of these limited ethnopharmacological findings is still pending, along with the determination of phytochemicals. Research on P. occidentalis shows potential as a natural health product. The urgent need for sustainable strategies is emphasized by conservation concerns related to habitat loss and deforestation. Future research should focus on detailed ethnopharmacology, conservation and propagation techniques for its exploitation, extraction technologies, chemical profiling, and pharmacological screening according to ethnomedicinal surveys, to set P. occidentalis as a promising candidate for phytotherapeutic development and integrative health applications in Hispaniola. These gaps underscore the need for a research roadmap of this endemic tree across the island. The review represents the first comprehensive synthesis of the ethnomedical applications of P. occidentalis Swartz, systematically mapping its cultural and therapeutic significance across Hispaniola.

Se analizan de manera crítica los avances, potencialidades y desafíos asociados al uso de Técnicas Digitales (TD) en la enseñanza de las Ciencias, con énfasis en el caso particular de la química. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica sistemática con el uso de las palabras clave en Bases de Datos bibliográficas y se obtuvo un total de 161 registros. Después de eliminar duplicidades y trabajos publicados no relevantes para el tema, se seleccionaron 30 registros, los cuales fueron analizados de manera crítica. Resultó significativo el uso de Recursos Educativos Digitales Abiertos (REDA) en la enseñanza de las Ciencias. En el caso particular de la Química, se destacan los REDA denominados como PTable (Tabla Periódica), Quizizz (Gamificación) y PhET (Simulador de reacciones químicas), con resultados de mejoria en el aprendizaje. Los principales desafíos identificados fueron: la insuficiente formación digital de los docentes, la limitada disponibilidad de recursos tecnológicos y la ausencia de criterios claros para seleccionar los REDA. Se concluye que las TD representan oportunidades estratégicas para transformar la enseñanza de la química y contribuir a una educación científica más inclusiva e innovadora en el siglo XXI.

Since the year 2011 the Caribbean region has seen a massive seasonal influx of pelagic Sargassum. The proliferation of this algae adversely affects the island nations by deteriorating their coastal and marine ecosystems, like coral reefs; decreasing biodiversity, and lowering water quality, while also diminishing tourism revenue, which may be the economic backbone of most countries in this region. The proliferation of Sargassum seaweed and its effects on Guadalupe and Dominican Republic are directly linked to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which seeks to "conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development". The impact from the seasonal assault on both nations has led to different mitigation, usage, and conservation strategies that can be developed into a comprehensive program for the management and valorization of sargassum, which in turn can become an opportunity for sustainable development.This work will present the strategies followed by a group of universities within the Dominican Republic’s interuniversity Sargassum research network which tackle the arrivals through four fundamental research lines:- Monitoring and prediction: The Dominican Republic is developing a prediction model based on aerial and satellite imagery, GPS tracking and ocean current models which will try and identify sargassum accumulation from trajectories through monitoring of sargassum windrows. This work includes the deployment of a nanosatellite focused on sargassum monitoring in coastal waters.- Containment and collection: the group has made advances in sargassum containment through sea barriers and water collection in order to guarantee high quality biomass for value aggregated processing.- Valorization: Sargassum is being processed through modular systems to obtain biomass that can be converted into energy (via anaerobic digestion or gasification), biofertilizers, biochars, activated carbon (through both conventional and microwave pyrolysis), alginate, and biocomposites of fibers and biopolymers.- Impact assessment and management: experiences in management research will be shared, especially in the analysis of risk perception and the development of a comprehensive management model for sargassum in the Dominican Republic, which guarantees compliance with SDG 14 by 2030, as proposed by the United Nations.