Changes in GC-MS metabolite profile, antioxidant capacity and anthocyanins content during fermentation of fine-flavor cacao beans from Ecuador

The fermentation of fine-flavor cacao beans is a key process contributing to the enhancement of organoleptic attributes and monetary benefits for cacao farmers. This work aimed to describe the dynamics of the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolite profile as well as the antioxidant capacity and anthocyanin contents during fermentation of fine-flavor cacao beans. Samples of Nacional x Trinitario cacao beans were obtained after 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours of spontaneous fermentation. Total phenolic content (TPC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total anthocyanin content were measured by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry. Volatiles were adsorbed by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) while other metabolites were assessed by an extraction-derivatization method followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) detection and identification. Thirty-two aroma-active compounds were identified in the samples, including 17 fruity, and 9 floral-like volatiles as well as metabolites with caramel, chocolate, ethereal, nutty, sweet, and woody notes. Principal components analysis and Heatmap-cluster analysis of volatile metabolites grouped samples according to the fermentation time. Additionally, the total anthocyanin content declined during fermentation, and FRAP-TPC values showed a partial correlation. These results highlight the importance of fermentation for the improvement of the fine-flavor characteristics of cacao beans.

Chemical Characterization of Trichoderma spp. Extracts with Antifungal Activity against Cocoa Pathogens

Ecuador is one of the major cocoa producers worldwide, but its productivity has lately been affected by diseases. Endophytic biocontrol agents have been used to minimize pathogenic effects; however, compounds produced by endophytes are minimally understood. This work presents the chemical characterization of the Trichoderma species extracts that proved inhibition against cocoa pathogens. Solid-liquid extraction was performed as a partitioning method using medium with the fungal mycelia of Trichoderma reesei (C2A), Trichoderma sp. (C3A), Trichoderma harzianum (C4A), and Trichoderma spirale (C10) in ethyl acetate individually. The extract of T. spirale (C10) exhibited the growth inhibition (32.97-47.02%) of Moniliophthora perniciosa at 10 µg/mL, while a slight stimulation of Moniliophthora roreri was shown by the extracts of T. reesei (C2A) and T. harzianum (C4A) at higher concentrations. The inhibitory activity could be related to alkaloids, lactones, quinones, flavonoids, triterpenes, and sterols, as indicated by chemical screening and antifungal compounds, such as widdrol, β-caryophyllene, tyrosol, butyl isobutyrate, sorbic acid, palmitic acid, palmitelaidic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid, which were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the extracts, particularly T. spirale (C10), have the potential as biocontrol agents against witches' broom disease; however, further studies are needed to confirm their effectiveness.

Condiciones óptimas de extracción de compuestos antioxidante del alga roja Acanthophora spicifera

La Acanthophora spicifera un alga roja de fácil adaptación a diferentes condiciones ambientales, por su capacidad de regenerarse por fragmentación, convirtiéndola en una especie invasora en áreas tropicales y subtropicales. Además, es conocida por sus componentes bioactivos (antioxidantes, fitohormonas, fitopigmentos). En este estudio se plantea determinar las condiciones óptimas de extracción de compuestos antioxidantes de la macroalga que crece en la zona intermareal de la playa de San Pedro de la provincia de Santa Elena, en dos procesos de secado (horno y liofilización) y extracción etanólica (digestión y ultrasonido) a diferentes concentraciones de etanol (50% y 70%) en rangos de tiempo y temperatura para su posterior determinación de actividad antioxidante por los métodos DPPH, ABTS, fenoles, flavonoides y auxinas totales en microplacas. Los datos se analizaron mediante análisis de varianza (ANOVA) usando el software estadístico R.4.2.0 e InfoStat, observan que los mejores resultados se dieron por digestión con una concentración de etanol al 50% y se obtuvieron valores para: la actividad captadora de radicales DPPH 3.65±0.011 µmol ET/g ps, mayor actividad inhibidora del radical catiónico ABTS 14.06±0.03 µmol ET/g ps, para flavonoides 1278.58±2.94 µg EQ/g ps, para fenoles 900±0.129 µg GEA/g ps. Las condiciones óptimas para la extracción etanolica de la macroalga A. spicifera., fueron 47 °C y 47 minutos para la actividad captadora de radicales DPPH y 47 °C y 39 minutos para la actividad inhibidora del radical catiónico ABTS, 45 °C y 37 minutos para Fenoles totales y 43 °C y 38 minutos para Flavonoides totales. Palabras clave: actividad antioxidante, Acanthophora spicifera, optimización

Anti-inflammatory potential of processing Vernonanthura patens (Kunth) H. Rob. leaves aqueous extract

Folk medicine uses decoctions of Vernonanthura patens (Kunth) H. Rob. leaves for healing wounds, and moderate pains. In this study, anti-inflammatory activity of decocted aqueous extract and its fractions is discussed. The fractions were obtained by liquid-liquid extraction in a separating funnel with solvents of increasing polarity: hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate. Antioxidant capacity, COX1, and COX2 cyclooxygenase inhibitory activities of aqueous extract (A1), aqueous (A2), and ethyl acetate (A3) fractions were assessed. A3 revealed the highest flavonoid content, and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity. Nevertheless, no significance differences were observed between IC₅₀ values of A1 and A2, and A1 showed anti-inflammatory activity with potential selectivity against COX2 enzyme, but intermediate COX1 inhibition. Further experiments are required to complement the remarkable anti-inflammatory effect of assessed aqueous extract. These results support the medicinal use of this plant species and indicate that A1 can be used as raw material for prospective nutraceutical products.

Relationship of SARS-CoV-2 and chronic diseases of nutritional origin

The worldwide spread of the virus has claimed multiple lives, especially in vulnerable groups. Therefore, an investigation was carried out to present a viable solution for health personnel using the “JES” algorithm. The present study used the research to determine the possible complications presented by the sick individual, providing a viable and accessible healthcare personnel solution through the proposed “JES” algorithm. A non-experimental, descriptive, correlational, and explanatory research is presented. According to pathologies of interest, the articles were taken virtually from scientific journals present in Google Scholar and PubMed. The excluded publications were: articles that do not detail the established protocol for detecting SARS-CoV-2, studies that do not present a significant number of people with Covid-19 disease, articles that the person has the covid-19 disease but no underlying diseases of nutritional origin. It focused on the vulnerable or higher risk population group, including scientific information from children (over five years old), adults (over 18 years old), and older adults (over 65 years old) found in countries of the Asian and American continents. The R program analyzed the scientific articles using the ggplot2 package with a pie and bar diagram. A higher prevalence in men than women (56% vs. 44%) stood out. Likewise, arterial hypertension was presented in the first place with 40.82%, followed by diabetes with 30.61%, obesity with 12.24%, overweight and dyslipidemia with 6.12%, malnutrition with 4.08%. There was a higher prevalence of stable individuals (29%) within the health facility than those admitted to the ICU (20%). Adults with 69.39%, followed by older adults with 16.33%, and mixed ages with 14.29%. Comorbidities stand out as risk factors in people infected with SARS-CoV-2, regardless of age. A more significant contagion was observed in the male versus female population; since men do not develop a rapid immune response and have a high content of cytokines that at the time of infection are released more quickly and can cause more significant damage

Acute oral toxicity of a novel functional drink based on Ilex guayusa, Vernonanthura patens, and cocoa husk

A novel functional drink with nutraceutical properties was formulated from the aqueous extracts of Ilex guayusa, and Vernonanthura patens leaves, and cocoa husks. This juice contains various bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds and methylxanthines, with antioxidant and stimulant properties of pharmacological interest. However, it is known whether herbal extracts' interaction may have adverse toxic effects on human health. To evaluate this functional drink's innocuity, we estimated the acute oral toxicity (AOT) in experimental mice. This paper presents the AOT evaluation of two formulations of a functional drink (pre-formulation and microencapsulation) at a single dose of 2000 mg/kg of body weight (b.w.). No signs of adverse toxicity and mortality were observed after a single oral dose of 2000 mg/kg b.w. Likewise, no significant body and organ weight changes, food and water consumption behavior, and no histopathological changes were observed in the main organs evaluated. In conclusion, this functional drink can be categorized as low toxicity " according to the Globally Harmonized Classification System (GHS), making it a potential beverage with high nutritional and pharmacological value.

Porous Sponges from the Mesocarp of Theobroma Cacao L. Pod Shells for Potential Biomaterial Applications

Lignocellulosic materials have garnered significant attention in recent years to generate biomaterials, but nothing has been investigated with cacao residues of significant importance in Ecuador. This study's objective was to generate porous, three-dimensional sponges from cacao pod shell mesocarp with potential use in biomaterial application. Discs from the mesocarp of cacao pod shells were subjected to neutral, acid, and alkaline treatments, at 25oC and 100oC, followed by washing and lyophilization. Sponge composition was evaluated, with the alkaline treatment resulting in the highest cellulose content and the lowest percentage of lignin, with the removal of hemicellulose corroborated by FITR. The sponges presented high water absorption capacities, which increased with the treatment temperature; mainly, the alkaline generated structures had the largest capacity. The sponges' porosity also depended on the treatment, with the acid and alkaline treatments generating larger pores, which significantly grew with treatment temperature. Preliminary in vitro cytotoxicity tests were carried out using Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells, according to ISO 10993.5.2009, with none of the materials being cytotoxic; however, those with greater lignin contents resulted in lower cell viability. In general, it is considered that the alkaline generated sponges presented the more significant potential for biomaterial applications, which could be further tested with In vitro cell proliferation and differentiation studies and possible in vivo assays.

Effect of solvent-solvent partition on antioxidant activity and GC-MS profile of Ilex guayusa Loes. leaves extract and fractions

The use of guayusa (Ilex guayusa Loes.) leaves as functional food has increase recently. This work discusses the antioxidant activity and volatile compounds of guayusa leaves extract and fractions. The methanol crude extract was obtained by maceration, subsequently hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions were collected by solvent-solvent partition. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonol/flavone content (TFC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were measured by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry. The results revealed that ethyl acetate fraction showed highest inhibition against DPPH radical (93.86 ± 0.95%) at 500 µg/mL, and reduce the ferric-tripyridyltriazine complex (Fe³⁺-TPTZ) at 1619.81 mg trolox equivalent (TE)/g, followed by aqueous fraction. This bioactivity could be related to phenolic acids, flavones and flavonols content, as well as the caffeine, dodecanoic acid isopropyl ester, caffeic acid, and malic acid identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). These findings support the antioxidant properties of this plant material.

Identification of lupeol produced by Vernonanthura patens (Kunth) H. Rob. leaf callus culture

The lupeol detection in callus of Vernonanthura patens (Kunth) H. Rob. leaves is discussed. Leaf segments previously treated with sodium hypochlorite, ethanol, and distilled water were placed in MS basal medium (Murashige and Skoog) for 7 days. Next, callus induction were done in two complemented MS medium for 6 weeks. Then, callus propagation were performed in MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L of benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.5 mg/L of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for 50 days. Fresh callus were extracted every 10 days in an ultrasonic bath using ethyl acetate (1.0 g/10 mL). The identification was carried out by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) using selected ion monitoring (SIM) acquisition mode with characteristic ions of lupeol. The results obtained indicate the occurrence of lupeol in callus extract after twenty days of proliferation. These findings could be use in subsequent scale-up studies for biomass production containing this active compound in order to replace conventional methods.

Chemical, antimicrobial, and molecular characterization of mortiño (Vaccinium floribundum Kunth) fruits and leaves

Fruits and leaves of Vaccinium spp. are known for their high content of bioactive compounds, but the chemical and biological characteristics of mortiño (Vaccinium floribundum Kunth) have not been fully described. In this study, the levels of polyphenols, antioxidant capacity, anthocyanins, antimicrobial activity, and genetic variability were determined in mortiño plants. The Folin-Ciocalteu's, ABTS scavenging, pH differential, and well diffusion methods were used to evaluate the levels of polyphenols, antioxidant capacity, anthocyanins, and antimicrobial activity, respectively. The genetic variability was evaluated by sequencing of the matK and rbcl DNA regions. Polyphenol content was up to 229.81 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g, the average antioxidant capacity was 11.01 mmol Trolox equivalents/100 g, and anthocyanin content was up to 1,095.39 mg/100 g. Mortiño extracts significantly inhibited the growth of Gram-negative bacteria including Burkholderia gladioli, Burkholderia cepacia, Salmonella Typhimurium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio vulnificus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomona aeruginosa, as well as Gram-positive bacteria such as Probionibacterium propionicum, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis showing greater inhibition halos than those produced by the antibiotic ampicillin. A polymorphic nucleotide was found in position 739 of the matK region. This study shows the potential of mortiño for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction due to anti-M antibody

A female patient with delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction due to anti-M antibody is described. Diagnosis was based on laboratory evidence of haemolysis and on characteristic serological findings. Anti-M was detected in the recipient's serum 7 d after the last transfusion episode. This alloantibody had not been present in the pretransfusion serum. In addition, the direct antiglobulin test was positive on post-transfusion testing and the implicated antibody was eluted from post-transfused red cells. Delayed haemolytic transfusion reactions have long been recognized as a potential hazard of transfusion therapy, but such cases due to anti-M are extremely rare.