A rapid and convenient biochemometrics-based analysis of several cereal-derived extracts was used to identify n-alkyl(enyl)resorcinols (AR) as antifungals against Fusarium oxysporum. Total AR content and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based profiles were recorded for each extract, in addition to their antifungal activity, to help integrate these chemical and biological datasets by orthogonal partial least squares regression. In this study, we developed and used a micro-scale amended medium (MSAM) assay to evaluate the in vitro mycelial growth inhibition at low amounts of extracts. Triticale husk-derived extracts had the highest AR content (662.1 µg olivetol equivalent/g dry extract), exhibiting >79% inhibition at the highest doses (10.0–1.0 µg/µL). Correlation of the chemical and antifungal datasets using supervised metabolite profiling revealed that 5-n-nonadecanylresorcinol, 5-n-heneicosylresorcinol, and 5-n-tricosyl-resorcinol were the most active ARs occurring in cereal products from Colombia. Hence, we propose the biochemometrics-based approach as a useful tool for identifying AR-like antifungals against F. oxysporum.

Burkholderia glumae is a relevant worldwide pathogen of rice. B. glumae unfavorably affects the throughput of rice crops provoking seedling death and blight panicles. Different intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence the interaction, the host physiological response and its metabolic performance, e.g. biosynthesis of protecting metabolites such as 5-n-alkylresorcinols (AR). However, the metabolic responses of rice interacting with B. glumae and involving different factors are still unraveled. Thus, AR variations in two Colombian rice genotypes, grown in two climatically different locations and inoculated independently with two B. glumae strains were evaluated through total AR content and LC-MS-based characterization. AR accumulated in rice plants at different levels depending on genotypes, plant parts and phenological stages. Rice genotypes were affected by pathogen inoculation, promoting AR variations. Such pathogen-mediated influence was also affected by the test factors. This AR-based rice response against B. glumae constitutes a contribution to understand better this biotic interaction.

Erythroxylum coca, commonly known as "coca" is a plant native to the South American Andes, recognized for its high alkaloid content and potential medical and nutritional applications. This study aimed to characterize the chemical, nutritional, and cytotoxic properties of two E. coca morphotypes (Palo and Caimo) cultivated by Colombian indigenous communities, with the goal of promoting legal uses and economic opportunities in the region. Comprehensive analyses included the evaluation of sugars, organic acids, total polyphenols, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, volatile compounds, and cytotoxic activity. Chemical analysis revealed that E. coca leaves contain over 50% dietary fiber, while stems surpass 76%, primarily consisting of insoluble fiber. Significant amounts of sucrose, glucose, and fructose were detected, with succinic acid identified as the predominant organic acid. Cytotoxicity evaluation demonstrated that while both morphotypes are safe for consumption, they also exhibit cytotoxic activity against L929 murine fibroblast cell line. Volatile compound analysis highlighted the presence of hexadecanoic and octadecanoic acids, alongside characteristic alkaloids such as cocaine and benzoylecgonine. These findings underscore the nutritional, chemical, and cytotoxic potential of E. coca as a sustainable crop. Its cultivation and research can serve as a valuable resource for indigenous communities, contributing to the development of local economies and fostering its legal and beneficial applications.

Alkylresorcinols (ARs) are bioactive phenolic lipids with potential health-promoting properties; they are particularly abundant in wheat bran. This study aimed to compare the efficiency of eight extraction methods—including Soxhlet, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and overnight solvent-assisted maceration (OSAM) protocols—used in the removal of ARs from wheat bran, and to evaluate the association between AR composition and antiproliferative activity. A metabolite profiling approach using HPLC-DAD-MS identified 12 AR homologs differing in side-chain length and functional groups. Among the extraction strategies, the UA extraction, OSAM and Soxhlet-assisted with only acetone yielded the highest concentrations of bioactive ARs, particularly the C₁₇–C₂₅ homologs characteristic of cereals. Sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA) determined the discrimination of the different extraction methods, while variable importance scores revealed that AR homologs such as C₂₅, C_19:1, and C_23:Oxo were key to the distinguishment of the extraction methods. Antiproliferative assays against PC-3 prostate cancer cells (IC₅₀ = 13.3–55.6 µg/mL) demonstrated that extracts rich in oxygenated ARs exhibited significantly higher antiproliferative effects than those dominated by saturated compounds. This finding suggests that both side-chain length and functionalization (e.g., keto groups) influence AR bioactivity. These findings suggest that extraction conditions can be optimized not only to enhance AR yield but also to enrich homologs with higher antiproliferative potential, providing foundations for exploring AR-enriched products derived from wheat bran.