Magnetic nanomaterials assisted nanobiocatalysis to abate groundwater pollution.

Magnetic nanoparticles are of great interest for research as they have a wide range of applications in biotechnology, environmental science, and biomedicine. Magnetic nanoparticles are ideal for magnetic separation, improving catalysis's speed and reusability by immobilizing enzymes. Nanobiocatalysis allows the removal of persistent pollutants in a viable, cost-effective and eco-friendly manner, transforming several hazardous compounds in water into less toxic derivatives. Iron oxide and graphene oxide are the preferred materials used to confer nanomaterials their magnetic properties for this purpose as they pair well with enzymes due to their biocompatibility and functional properties. This review describes the most common synthesis methods for magnetic nanoparticles and their performance of nanobiocatalysis for the degradation of pollutants in water.•Magnetic nanomaterials have been synthesized for their application in nanobiocatalysis and treating groundwater.•The most used method for magnetic nanoparticle preparation is the co-precipitation technique.•Peroxidase and oxidase enzymes have great potential in the remotion of multiple contaminants from groundwater.

Underutilized Mexican Plants: Screening of Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Properties of Mexican Cactus Fruit Juices.

Cacti fruits are known to possess antioxidant and antiproliferative activities among other health benefits. The following paper evaluated the antioxidant capacity and bioactivity of five clarified juices from different cacti fruits (Stenocereus spp., Opuntia spp. and M. geomettizans) on four cancer cell lines as well as one normal cell line. Their antioxidant compositions were measured by three different protocols. Their phenolic compositions were quantified through high performance liquid chromatography and the percentages of cell proliferation of fibroblasts as well as breast, prostate, colorectal, and liver cancer cell lines were evaluated though in vitro assays. The results were further processed by principal component analysis. The clarified juice from M. geomettizans fruit showed the highest concentration of total phenolic compounds and induced cell death in liver and colorectal cancer cells lines as well as fibroblasts. The clarified juice extracted from yellow Opuntia ficus-indica fruit displayed antioxidant activity as well as a selective cytotoxic effect on a liver cancer cell line with no toxic effect on fibroblasts. In conclusion, the work supplies evidence on the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities that cacti juices possess, presenting potential as cancer cell proliferation preventing agents.