Endophytic fungi (EFs) have emerged as promising modulators of plant growth and stress tolerance in agricultural ecosystems. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on the role of EFs in enhancing the adaptation of crops to abiotic stress. Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures, pose significant challenges to crop productivity worldwide. EFs have shown remarkable potential in alleviating the adverse effects of these stresses. Through various mechanisms, including the synthesis of osmolytes, the production of stress-related enzymes, and the induction of plant defense mechanisms, EFs enhance plant resilience to abiotic stressors. Moreover, EFs promote nutrient uptake and modulate the hormonal balance in plants, further enhancing the stress tolerance of the plants. Recent advancements in molecular techniques have facilitated the identification and characterization of stress-tolerant EF strains, paving the way for their utilization in agricultural practices. Furthermore, the symbiotic relationship between EFs and plants offers ecological benefits, such as improved soil health and a reduced dependence on chemical inputs. However, challenges remain in understanding the complex interactions between EFs and host plants, as well as in scaling up their application in diverse agricultural systems. Future research should focus on elucidating the mechanisms underlying endophytic-fungal-mediated stress tolerance and developing sustainable strategies for harnessing their potential in crop production.

Microorganisms of subaerial biofilms, which develop on the surface of stone monuments, have been widely studied due to their impact on Cultural Heritage deterioration. Nevertheless, these extremophile microorganisms are poorly characterised. In this study, a cyanobacterial strain isolated from an archaeological zone in north-central Mexico was characterised through a polyphasic study based on ecological, morphological, and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses were done using sequences of the 16S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S ITS region. Based on the polyphasic data, a new species corresponding to the genus Nodosilinea is described. This alkaliphilic species has optimum growth at pH of 9. Its fatty acid profile indicates that C18:1, 9E and C16:0 are its most abundant fatty acids. Extracellular polymeric substance production was verified on this strain. Only a few species of the genus Nodosilinea have been documented and described, and this is the first report of their presence in central Mexico. Hence the name Nodosilinea chupicuarensis sp. nov. is proposed.

In the present study, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory effect and antioxidant activity of capsaicin and piperine from the ethanolic extract of Capsicum chinense (EECch) and Piper nigrum (EEPn) fruits were investigated. Results revealed that EECch exhibited the highest phenolic (154 mg GAE/100 g of tissue) and flavonoid content (75 mg RtE/100 g of tissue) in comparison with EEPn. The predominant compound detected in EECch and EEPn by GC-EIMS analysis was the capsaicin and piperine, respectively. The capsaicin and piperine showed the highest α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory effect and antioxidant activity rather than extracts. The EEPn (IC₅₀= 216 µg/mL) and piperine (IC₅₀= 105 µg/mL) present a highest α-amylase inhibitory effect, while the EECch (IC₅₀= 225 µg/mL) and capsaicin (IC₅₀= 117 µg/mL) showed highest anti-α-glucosidase activity. Molecular docking established that capsaicin and piperine bind at the α-glucosidase and α-amylase through hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bond, and charge interactions with amino acid residues. The enzyme inhibitory activity and antioxidant properties exhibited by EECch and EEPn could be attributed to the capsaicin and piperine content and other compounds present such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids. These fruits are potential sources of natural antioxidant agents and α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors.

Highly branched neo-fructans (agavins) are natural prebiotics found in Agave plants, with a large capacity to mitigate the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Here, we investigated the impact of agavins intake on gut microbiota modulation and their metabolites as well as their effect on metabolic endotoxemia and low-grade inflammation in mice fed high-fat diet. Mice were fed with a standard diet (ST) and high-fat diet (HF) alone or plus an agavins supplement (HF+A) for ten weeks. Gut microbiota composition, fecal metabolite profiles, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), pro-inflammatory cytokines, and systemic effects were analyzed. Agavins intake induced substantial changes in gut microbiota composition, enriching Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Prevotella, Allobaculum, and Akkermansia genus (LDA > 3.0). l-leucine, l-valine, uracil, thymine, and some fatty acids were identified as possible biomarkers for this prebiotic supplement. As novel findings, agavins supplementation significantly decreased LPS and pro-inflammatory (IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNF-α; p < 0.05) cytokines levels in portal vein. In addition, lipid droplets content in the liver and adipocytes size also decreased with agavins consumption. In conclusion, agavins supplementation mitigate metabolic endotoxemia and low-grade inflammation in association with gut microbiota regulation and their metabolic products, thus inducing beneficial responses on metabolic disorders in high-fat diet-fed mice.