The Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Polyphenols from Mexican Firecracker (Hamelia patens Jacq.): Evaluation of Bioactivities and Identification of Phytochemicals by HPLC-ESI-MS.

The objective of the present work was to optimize the extraction of phytochemicals from Hamelia patens Jacq. by ultrasound-assisted extraction. Taguchi L9 orthogonal array was used to evaluate the factors solid/liquid ratio (1:8, 1:12, and 1:16), extraction time (10, 20, and 30 min), and ethanol concentration (0, 35, and 70%). Total polyphenols were the response variable. Chromatographic fractionation using Amberlite XAD-16 was carried out and the total polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins were quantified. The redox potential, the reduction of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and the lipid oxidation inhibition were determined. Anti-bacterial activity was evaluated. The phytochemicals were identified by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Optimal extraction conditions were a solid/liquid ratio of 1:16, ethanol of 35%, and 10 min of ultrasound-assisted extraction. Maximum polyphenol content in the crude extract was 1689.976 ± 86.430 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g of dried plant material. The purified fraction showed a total polyphenols content of 3552.84 ± 7.25 mg of GAE, flavonoids 1316.17 ± 0.27 mg of catechin equivalents, and condensed tannins 1694.87 ± 22.21 mg of procyanidin B1 equivalents, all per 100 g of purified fraction. Its redox potential was 553.93 ± 1.22 mV, reducing 63.08 ± 0.42% of DPPH radical and inhibiting 77.78 ± 2.78% of lipid oxidation. The polyphenols demonstrated antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Enterococcus faecalis. The HPLC-ESI-MS analysis revealed the presence of coumarins, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonoids.

Nutraceutical Quality and Soluble Solids of Cucumis melo Developed in Vermicompost-River Sand Mixtures, Under Shade Mesh Conditions.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> There is ample evidence that the consumption of fruits and vegetables, with a high content of secondary metabolites, favours better human health. In the same sense, the application of organic fertilizers has favoured the content of phenolic compounds and a greater antioxidant capacity in various crops. Factoring that the application of Vermicompost (VC) increases the nutritional quality of plants. This research determined the content of soluble solids, biochemical components and the antioxidant capacity of the melon fruits (<i>Cucumis melo</i> L.) developed under shade net conditions with VC as a source of fertilization. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> During the 2020 spring-summer season, a hybrid melon Honeydew type was grown under five mixtures of VC: River sand (RS), with ratios 0:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4. Nutrient Steiner solution was applied only in the first mixture (control) while VC was used as an organic nutrient for all other mixtures. The five formulated mixtures, with five replications, were randomly distributed. The total phenolic content, total flavonoids, antioxidant capacity and the total soluble solids of the melon fruit were determined. Data obtained were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance and means were compared by Tukey 0.05 test. <b>Results:</b> The ANOVA indicates that no statistical differences were registered for any of the variables under study, however, the levels of the parameters were high. <b>Conclusion:</b> VC treatment of melon fruit is proven to be a promising source of nutrients to plants increasing their natural antioxidants and content of soluble solids.

Nutritional Parameters, Biomass Production, and Antioxidant Activity of Festuca arundinacea Schreb. Conditioned with Selenium Nanoparticles.

Festuca arundinacea Schreb. is a widely used type of forage due to its great ecological breadth and adaptability. An agricultural intervention that improves the selenium content in cultivated plants has been defined as bio-fortification, a complementary strategy to improve human and non-human animals' nutrition. The advancement of science has led to an increased number of studies based on nanotechnologies, such as the development of nanoparticles (NPs) and their application in crop plants. Studies show that NPs have different physicochemical properties compared to bulk materials. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the behavior of F. arundinacea Schreb. plants cultivated with Se nanoparticles, (2) to identify the specific behavior of the agronomic and productive variables of the F. arundinacea Schreb. plants, and (3) to quantify the production and quality of the forage produced from the plant (the bioactive compounds' concentrations, antioxidant activity, and the concentration of selenium). Three different treatments of SeNPs were established (0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 mg/mL). The effects of a foliar fertilization with SeNPs on the morphological parameters such as the root size, plant height, and biomass production were recorded, as well as the effects on the physicochemical parameters such as the crude protein (CP), lipids (L), crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), carbohydrates (CH), the content of total phenols, total flavonoids, tannins, quantification of selenium and antioxidant activity 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between treatments in all the response variables. The best results were obtained with foliar application treatments with 3.0 and 4.5 mg/mL with respect to the root size (12.79 and 15.59 cm) and plant height (26.18 and 29.34 cm). The F. arundinacea Schreb. plants fertilized with 4.5 mg/L had selenium contents of 0.3215, 0.3191, and 0.3218 mg/Kg MS; total phenols of 249.56, 280.02, and 274 mg EAG/100 g DM; and total flavonoids of 63.56, 64.96, and 61.16 mg QE/100 g DM. The foliar biofortified treatment with a concentration of 4.5 mg/mL Se NPs had the highest antioxidant capacities (284.26, 278.35, and 289.96 mg/AAE/100 g).

Medicinal plants used in the Huasteca Potosina, México.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE: Medicinal plants have been a source of medicinal compounds since ancient times. This study documented the use of plant species in traditional medicine in the municipality of Aquismón, San Luis Potosí, México. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Direct interviews were performed with inhabitants from Aquismón. The interviews were analyzed with two quantitative tools: (a) the informant consensus factor (ICF) that estimates the level of agreement about which medicinal plants may be used for each category and (b) the relative importance (RI) that determines the extent of potential utilization of each species. RESULTS: A total of 73 plant species with medicinal purposes, belonging to 37 families and used to treat 52 illnesses and 2 cultural filiations were reported by interviewees. Nineteen mixtures with medicinal plants were reported by the interviewers. Matricaria recutita was the most used plant for combinations (five mixtures). The results of the ICF showed that diseases of the digestive and respiratory systems had the greatest agreement. The most versatile species according to their RI are Ruta graveolens, Tagetes erecta, Ocimum basilicum and Erigeron karwinskianus. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that plant species play an important role in healing practices and magical-religious rituals among inhabitants from Huasteca Potosina. Further studies with medicinal flora, including mixtures, from Aquismón are required for the experimental validation of their traditional uses.