Cheese whey wastewater (CWW) is the major by-product of the dairy industry. CWW is produced in large quantities, has varied characteristics and is usually disposed of. The disposal of CWW causes a negative impact on the environment of different agroindustrial areas due to the physic-chemical composition that significantly increases its high organic load and nutrients. For this reason, the aim of this work was to carry out an evaluation of the anaerobic treatability of an Expanded Granular Sludge Bed (EGSB) bioreactor as a new sustainable alternative for treatment of these effluents with bioenergy production. In this study, the bioreactor was operated under stable conditions (i.e., buffer index of 0.23 ± 0.1, pH 7.22 ± 0.4 and temperature 26.6 ± 1.4 °C) for 201 days. During evaluation the hydraulic retention time (HRT) was 6 and 8 days, and it was buffered with NaHCO₃. At these conditions, the COD removal rate and biochemical methane potential (BMP) were 90, 92%; and 334, 328 mLCH₄/gCOD, respectively. The evidence found in this study highlighted that the CWW is a viable substrate to be treated in the EGSB bioreactor as long as it keeps buffered. Furthermore, the process to treat the CWW in an EGSB bioreactor can be a sustainable alternative to simultaneously solve the environmental pollution that this agro-industry confronts and produce renewable and environmentally-friendly bioenergy.

Petiveria alliacea L. is an herb used in traditional medicine in Mexico and its roots have been studied to treat pain. However, until now, the antinociceptive properties of the leaves have not been investigated, being the main section used empirically for the treatment of diseases. For this reason, this study aimed to evaluate the antinociceptive and toxoicological activity of various extracts (aqueous, hexanic, and methanolic) from P. alliacea L. leaves in NIH mice and to perform an in silico analysis of the phytochemical compounds. Firstly, the antinociceptive effect was analyzed using the formalin model and the different doses of each of the extracts that were administered orally to obtain the dose–response curves. In addition, acute toxicity was determined by the up and down method and serum biochemical analysis. Later, the phytochemical study of extracts was carried out by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and visible light spectroscopy, and the volatile chemical components were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Moreover, the most abundant compounds identified in the phytochemical study were analyzed in silico to predict their biological activity (PASSonline) and toxicology (OSIRIS Property Explorer). As a result, it was known that all extracts at doses from 10 to 316 mg/kg significantly reduced the pain response in both phases of the formalin model, with values of 50–60% for the inflammatory response. The toxicological studies (DL50) exhibited that all extracts did not cause any mortality up to the 2000 mg/kg dose level. This was corroborated by the values in the normal range of the biochemical parameters in the serum. Finally, the phytochemical screening of the presence of phenolic structures (coumarins, flavonoids) and terpenes (saponins and terpenes) was verified, and the highest content was of a lipid nature, 1.65 ± 0.54 meq diosgenin/mL in the methanolic extract. A total of 54 components were identified, 11 were the most abundant, and only four (Eicosane, Methyl oleate, 4-bis(1-phenylethyl) phenol, and Ethyl linolenate) of them showed a probability towards active antinociceptive activity in silico greater than 0.5. These results showed that the P. alliacea L. leaf extract possesses molecules with antinociceptive activity.

Drought, exacerbated by climate change, represents a growing challenge for agriculture, significantly impacting on crops such as chili peppers (Capsicum), essential in the global diet. This work evaluated the response to water stress by suspending irrigation in Siete Caldos chili pepper plants (Capsicum frutescens). Control plants were watered every 48 h, while stress was induced in the test plants by withholding irrigation for 14 days, followed by an evaluation of recovery through rehydration on day 15. Growth parameters such as the fresh weight of the aerial part, root length, and number of flower buds showed significant differences between the two groups from the eighth day onwards. However, physiologically and biochemically stress-induced decreased relative water content, membrane stability, and chlorophyll content, coupled with increased electrolyte leakage, proline content, and antioxidant activity (catalases and peroxidases), were observed starting on the third day. These effects were more severe on day 14. At the molecular level, the expression of stress response genes (AP2, LOX2, CAT, CuSOD, MnSOD, and P5CS) was quantified at days 3, 14, and 15, revealing differences in transcript levels between the treatments. Finally, rehydration in the stressed plants resulted in the recovery of the evaluated parameters and a survival rate of 100%. Therefore, chili pepper has tolerance mechanisms that allow it to withstand a period of 14 days without irrigation, without reaching its permanent wilting point, and it can recover if conditions improve. This study underscores the complexity of plant responses and tolerance mechanisms to drought, providing insights into the behavior of semi-domesticated species.

Currently, there are various physical and mechanical agents that can cause skin wounds, which are still traditionally treated with plant extracts. It has been reported that the genus Tagetes has a wide range of biological properties, including antibacterial and wound healing activity. Likewise, Agave americana extract and Aloe vera gel have shown potential in the treatment of burn wounds and other skin conditions both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, the antibacterial and wound healing activities of each of these plants were investigated, as well as the possibility of enhancing these activities by combining them. First, the secondary metabolites of the extracts were quantified, the antibacterial activity was evaluated using the Kirby-Bauer method, and their cytotoxicity was measured in 3T3 and HaCaT cells using the sulforhodamine B assay. The results revealed that Tagetes nelsonii extract had a higher amount of secondary metabolites, which is why it exhibited antibacterial activity. Finally, the scratch assay showed that the individual extracts of T. nelsonii and A. americana demonstrated greater cell migration and proliferation starting from 12 h, as well as when using the combination of A. americana extract and A. vera gel, which almost completely closed the wound compared to the control.

Historically, microorganisms have proven to be efficient alternatives for the removal of PCBs, since these contaminants continue to be a major problem for human health and the environment. In this work, the removal of decachlorobiphenyl (PCB-209) was evaluated using native bacterial strains individually and in consortia through biostimulation and bioaugmentation processes. Bacillus sp. DCB13, Staphylococcus sp. DCB28, and Acinetobacter sp. DCB104 were biostimulated in a minimal medium that initially contained biphenyl and later PCB-209 for adaptation as a carbon source. The removal potential of PCB-209 by bacterial strains was evaluated in a bioaugmentation process under aerobic conditions. Using a completely randomized design, ten different treatments were evaluated. Finally, the bacterial growth (CFU/g of soil) and the chemical characteristics of the bioaugmented soil were determined, as was the content of PCB-209 removed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Strains DCB13, DCB28, and DCB104 showed cell growth (>3.4 × 10⁵ CFU/mL) during 120 h of biostimulation, with a marked difference between treatments with biphenyl compared with those where PCB-209 was added. Strains DCB13 and DCB104 (3.4 × 10⁵ CFU/mL and 2.0 × 10⁶ CFU/mL, respectively) grew better with PCB-209, while DCB28 grew better with biphenyl (4.5 × 10⁶ CFU/mL). In bioaugmented soils contaminated with PCB-209, the strains showed maximum growth when inoculated in a consortium (>2.0 × 10⁴ CFU/g). The results showe that the range of the bacterial elimination of PCB-209 in the treatments was from 9.58 to 17.33 mg/kg. The highest elimination potential of PCB-209 was obtained when the bacterial strains were inoculated in a consortium. These findings open a wide perspective for the use of native bacteria for the cleaning and restoration of soils contaminated by toxic chemicals.