UPLC-QTOF-MSE based metabolomics and chemometrics study of the pitaya processing.

The search for knowledge related to the Pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus [F.A.C. Weber] Britton & Rose, family Cactaceae) is commonly due to its beneficial health properties e aesthetic values. But process to obtain pitaya pulp is a first and important step in providing information for the subsequent use of this fruit as colorant, for example. Therefore, the effects of the pulping process on the metabolomic and chemometric profile of non-volatile compounds of pitaya were assessed for the first time. The differences in metabolic fingerprints using UPLC-QTOF-MSE and multivariate modeling (PCA and OPLS-DA) was performed in the following treatments: treatment A, which consists of pelled pitaya and no ascorbic acid addition during pulping; treatment B, use of unpelled pitaya added of ascorbic acid during pulping; and control, unpelled pitaya and no ascorbic acid addition during pulping. For the metabolomic analysis, UPLC-QTOF-MSE shows an efficient method for the simultaneous determination of 35 non-volatile pitaya metabolites, including isorhamnetin glucosyl rhamnosyl isomers, phyllocactin isomers, 2'-O-apiosyl-phylocactin and 4'-O-malonyl-betanin. In addition, the chemometric analysis efficiently distinguished the metabolic compounds of each treatment applied and shows that the use of unpelled pitaya added of ascorbic acid during pulping has an interesting chemical profile due to the preservation or formation of compounds, such as those derived from betalain, and higher yields, which is desirable for the food industry.

Irrigation level and substrate type on the acclimatization and development of mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru DC.): an emblematic cactus from Brazilian semiarid region.

Mandacaru is a cactus with great socioeconomic potential, but lack of information about its cultivation hinders its domestication. Here, we aimed to evaluate the acclimatization and vegetative development of mandacaru under different substrates and irrigation levels. For this, seeds inoculated in vitro were grown for 120 days, being transplanted to pots containing four types of substrate (S1-caatinga soil + gravel; S2-washed sand + organic matter + soil + charcoal; S3-washed sand + cattle manure + soil + sand; S4-commercial organic substrate). Pots were irrigated with 100% of the field capacity (FC) once-a-week, or with 50% FC twice-a-week, and kept in a greenhouse for six months. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 4 × 2 factorial scheme, with six replications. Plant height and diameter, axial and radial growth rate, fresh and dry mass of stem and root, water content, and photosynthetic pigments were determined. Growth was affected mainly by the substrate, with S4 resulting in higher growth and pigment content, while S1 was impaired and S2 and S3 resulted in intermediate growth. The use of S4 and 100% FC once per week was the best condition for mandacaru.

Elucidation of the mescaline biosynthetic pathway in peyote (Lophophora williamsii).

Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is an entheogenic and medicinal cactus native to the Chihuahuan desert. The psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties of peyote are principally attributed to the phenethylamine derivative mescaline. Despite the isolation of mescaline from peyote over 120 years ago, the biosynthetic pathway in the plant has remained undiscovered. Here, we use a transcriptomics and homology-guided gene discovery strategy to elucidate a near-complete biosynthetic pathway from l-tyrosine to mescaline. We identified a cytochrome P450 that catalyzes the 3-hydroxylation of l-tyrosine to l-DOPA, a tyrosine/DOPA decarboxylase yielding dopamine, and four substrate-specific and regiospecific substituted phenethylamine O-methyltransferases. Biochemical assays with recombinant enzymes or functional analyses performed by feeding putative precursors to engineered yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) strains expressing candidate peyote biosynthetic genes were used to determine substrate specificity, which served as the basis for pathway elucidation. Additionally, an N-methyltransferase displaying broad substrate specificity and leading to the production of N-methylated phenethylamine derivatives was identified, which could also function as an early step in the biosynthesis of tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids in peyote.

Betacyanins obtained from alternative novel sources as natural food colorant additives: incorporated in savory and sweet food products.

The aim of this study was to assess the performance and stability of betacyanin compounds present in enriched extracts of red-fleshed pitaya peels (Hylocereus costaricensis) and the flowers of Amaranthus caudatus; they were evaluated as natural food colorants in tagliatelle pasta and meringue cookies. The recovered natural extracts showed promising stability, maintaining a deep pink color over a storage time of 14 days, without deeply changing the chemical composition. A number of factors were assessed, including the microbial load, texture, color, nutritional value, and contents of organic acids, fatty acids, and even free sugars of the products. Some significant interactions between the type of colorant and storage time contributed to the changes in some analyzed parameters, as can be observed from the results for organic and fatty acids in the tagliatelle pasta and meringue cookies. Another significant achievement was the reduction in the microbial load during the storage time, which strengthens the antibacterial power of these natural extracts.

Bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in garambullo fruit (Myrtillocactus geometrizans) at different ripening stages.

Garambullo (Myrtillocactus geometrizans) is endemic in México, and although popularly consumed locally, its nutritional characteristics and value have not been studied in details. The objective of this work was to investigate the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in garambullo fruit from different sites at three ripening stages. Fruit from the three ripening stages (red, purple, and dark purple) were investigated for their physicochemical characteristics, hydrophilic (phenolic compounds, betalains, and ascorbic acid), and lipophilic (carotenoids, tocopherols, and fatty acids) bioactive compounds, using spectrophotometry, gas chromatography (GC-FID), and high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC/DAD-ESI-MS). The antioxidant capacity was measured with the 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and the ferric-ion-reducing antioxidant power assays. The color components of the fruit, chroma and a* values increased, whereas lightness (L*) and b* significantly decreased during ripening. Five betacyanins and four betaxanthins were tentatively identified with HPLC/DAD-ESI-MS, and betacyanins were more abundant than betaxanthins. Betalains content and antioxidant capacity of hydrophilic extracts significantly increased during ripening. Ten phenolic compounds were identified, with ferulic acid being the most abundant. Tocopherols were low (0.023-0.033 mg/100 g fw). Five fatty acids were abundant, and linoleic acid was the most important. Phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid, total carotenoids, and fatty acids decreased during fruit ripening. Garambullo fruit is rich in phytochemical compounds of importance for human nutrition and health. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The physicochemical and bioactive compounds characterization in garambullo fruit is important to establish maturation and harvesting indices, postharvest strategies to preserve fruit quality and prolong postharvest life, promote the consumption and utilization of the fruit, and the designing of proper functional foods. In addition, the knowledge on the bioactive components might be useful to include this fruit in personalized nutritional approaches for patients with risks of certain chronic diseases. The methodology used in this study could be useful for the study of other fruits, especially those from the Cactaceae family.

Application of fermentation for the valorization of residues from Cactaceae family.

Cactaceae family is well-known for their adaptations to drought and arid environments. This family, formed by four subfamilies (Cactoideae, Opuntioideae, Pereskioideae, and Maihuenioideae) are known for being leafless stem succulent plants with numerous spines, and their commercial fruits, distinguished by their bright colors and their skin covered with bracts. Some of these species have been traditionally used in the food industry (e.g., pitaya, cactus, or prickly pear) or as pharmaceuticals to treat specific diseases due to their active properties. The processing of these fruits leads to different residues, namely pomace, skin, spines, and residues from cladodes; besides from others such as fruits, roots, flowers, mucilage, and seeds. In general, Cactaceae species produce large amounts of mucilage and fiber, although they can be also considered as a source of phenolic compounds (phenolic acids, flavonols and their glycosides), alkaloids (phenethylamines derived betalains), and triterpenoids. Therefore, considering their high content in fiber and fermentable carbohydrates, together with other target bioactive compounds, fermentation is a potential valorization strategy for certain applications such as enzymes and bioactive compounds production or aroma enhancement. This review will comprise the latest information about Cactaceae family, its potential residues, and its potential as a substrate for fermentation to obtain active molecules with application in the food industry.

Development and characterization of a novel active and intelligent film based on pectin and betacyanins from peel waste of pitaya (Hylocereus undatus).

In the present study, peel waste of pitaya (Hylocereus spp.) was used to develop a novel active and functional film. The film was developed with a combination of the white-fleshed pitaya peel pectin (WPPP) as a biopolymer and white-fleshed pitaya peel betacyanins (WPPB) as an active constituent, respectively. Furthermore, montmorillonite (MMT), a cheap and environmental-friendly silicate material, was introduced into film matrix as a filler to reduce the moisture sensitivity of the film. The effect of the incorporation of WPPB on the properties of WPPP/MMT films was investigated. The colorimetric response of WPPP/MMT/WPPB to pH and ammonia was examined, respectively. Moreover, WPPP/MMT/WPPB-2 was employed to monitor the freshness of shrimp. The color of the film changed from redness to reddish-brown, and further to brownness, echoing the shrimp turned from fresh to spoiled. Therefore, WPPP/MMT/WPPB-2 composite films showed promise for the applications in monitoring the freshness of shrimp.

Cactaceae plants as sources of active bioavailable phytochemicals.

Arid-land plants from the Cactaceae family are endemic to the Americas and cultivated worldwide. Cactaceous plants and their fruits contain phenolic compounds, betalains, vitamins, carotenoids, minerals, and soluble fiber. Edible cactaceous matrices can be considered functional foods since their consumption may confer health benefits. These plants could be a source of novel bioactive compounds relevant to the area of phytomedicine. However, consumption of high concentrations of active molecules is not necessarily correlated to beneficial physiological effects because phytochemicals must be released from the food matrices under physiological conditions, resist digestion-associated chemical transformations, and remain in their active state in systemic circulation until the target tissues are reached. Notably, although digestion may either increase or decrease the bioactive phytochemicals' activity and stability, non-absorbed compounds may also be relevant for human health. Additionally, food matrices' type and composition and their technological processing operations may influence the compounds' release, stability, and accessibility. Thus, this review provides insights on the feasibility of using Cactaceae plants as sources of functional compounds. It is focused on compounds' bioactivity, bioaccessibility, and overall bioavailability after their metabolic transformation. Also, it addresses the influence of food processing on bioactive compounds. Many Cactaceae species are unexplored, and our understanding of how they confer health benefits is limited. To better understand the physiological relevance, nutraceutical potential, and therapeutic feasibility of cactaceous bioactive phytochemicals, future research should focus on the metabolic stability and safety of these compounds, as well as their assimilation mechanisms (absorption, distribution, and metabolic fate).

Ortholog genes from cactophilic Drosophila provide insight into human adaptation to hallucinogenic cacti.

Cultural transformations of lifestyles and dietary practices have been key drivers of human evolution. However, while most of the evidence of genomic adaptations is related to the hunter-gatherer transition to agricultural societies, little is known on the influence of other major cultural manifestations. Shamanism is considered the oldest religion that predominated throughout most of human prehistory and still prevails in many indigenous populations. Several lines of evidence from ethno-archeological studies have demonstrated the continuity and importance of psychoactive plants in South American cultures. However, despite the well-known importance of secondary metabolites in human health, little is known about its role in the evolution of ethnic differences. Herein, we identified candidate genes of adaptation to hallucinogenic cactus in Native Andean populations with a long history of shamanic practices. We used genome-wide expression data from the cactophilic fly Drosophila buzzatii exposed to a hallucinogenic columnar cactus, also consumed by humans, to identify ortholog genes exhibiting adaptive footprints of alkaloid tolerance. Genomic analyses in human populations revealed a suite of ortholog genes evolving under recent positive selection in indigenous populations of the Central Andes. Our results provide evidence of selection in genetic variants related to alkaloids toxicity, xenobiotic metabolism, and neuronal plasticity in Aymara and Quechua populations, suggesting a possible process of gene-culture coevolution driven by religious practices.

Pitahaya Peel: A By-Product with Great Phytochemical Potential, Biological Activity, and Functional Application.

Hylocereus spp. present two varieties of commercial interest due to their color, organoleptic characteristics, and nutritional contribution, such as Hylocerous polyrhizus and Selenicerus undatus. The fruit recognized as dragon fruit or Pitahaya is an exotic fruit whose pulp is consumed, while the peel is discarded during the process. Studies indicate that the pulp has vitamin C and betalains, and seeds are rich in essential fatty acids, compounds that can contribute to the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases (cancer, hypertension, and diabetes). In the present study, polyphenolic compounds, biological activity, and fatty acids present in the peel of the two varieties of pitahaya peel were evaluated, showing as a result that the variety S. undatus had higher antioxidant activity with 51% related to the presence of flavonoids 357 mgRE/g sample and fatty acids (hexadecanoic acid and linoleate) with 0.310 and 0.248 mg AG/g sample, respectively. On the other hand, H. polyrhizuun showed a significant difference in the inhibitory activity of amylase and glucosidase enzymes with 68% and 67%, respectively. We conclude that pitahaya peel has potential health effects and demonstrate that methylated fatty acids could be precursors to betalain formation, as well as showing effects against senescence and as a biological control against insects; in the same way, the peel can be reused as a by-product for the extraction of important enzymes in the pharmaceutical and food industry.

Influence of Harvest Time on the Chemical Profile of Pereskia aculeate Mill. Using Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry.

This study evaluated the physicochemical characteristics and the production of bioactive compounds of Pereskia aculeata Mill. at different harvest times. Here, we performed a qualitative evaluation of the chemical profile by paper spray mass spectrometry (PSMS), the phenolic acid and flavonoid profile by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), antioxidant activity, total carotenoids, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins, color characteristics, total soluble solids (TSS), total solids (TS), pH, and total titratable acidity (TTA). The chemical profile was not affected, with the exception of 4,5-dimethyl-2,6-octadiene and azelaic acid, which was only identified in the leaves harvested during the winter. The content of four phenolic acids and three flavonoids were analyzed; out of these, no significant amounts of ellagic acid and quercetin were detected. There was no difference in production of bioactive compounds between seasons, reflecting the antioxidant activity, which also did not differ. Brightness, chroma, and leaf pH were the only physicochemical characteristics that did not vary between seasons.

Studies on the storage stability of betacyanins from fermented red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) drink imparted by xanthan gum and carboxymethyl cellulose.

Red dragon fruit is rich in health-benefited betacyanins that are susceptible to degradation. The present study was to improve the fermented red dragon fruit drink (FRDFD) betacyanins stability by incorporating hydrocolloids solution of xanthan gum (XG, 0.15-0.30%, w/v) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC, 0.3-0.5%, w/v) to produce Improved-FRDFD-dH2O. Results revealed the viscosities of all samples were significantly increased as the hydrocolloids concentration increased. All the samples' pH, aw, total soluble solids (TSS) and betacyanins content were not significantly affected by the hydrocolloids solution added. After four-week storage (25 °C), the formulation of 0.3% XG and 0.5% CMC had significantly reduced the betacyanins degradation from 60.55% to 30.66%. Meanwhile, all samples added with 0.3% XG and 0.3-0.5% CMC remained no significant change in viscosity, pH, aw and TSS after storage. These conclude the hydrocolloids solution of 0.3% XG and 0.5% CMC successfully stabilise the betacyanins in the FRDFD at 25 °C over four-week storage.

The effects of dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) extract on indomethacin-induced stomach ulcer in rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) extract (DFE) on the stomach in ulcer model induced by indomethacin in rats. Effects of DFE were evaluated in indomethacin-induced gastric damage model on Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental model: all rats were fasted for 24 h. At the end of this period, DFE was administered to the ulcer-induced groups. One hour after this application, a dose of 25 mg/kg of indomethacin was applied by oral gavage to all groups except the HEALTHY and DFE1000 groups. Six hours after indomethacin administration, the rats were euthanized with high-dose anesthesia and the experiment was terminated. Macroscopic and microscopic analyses for investigating ulcerative area, molecular and biochemical analyses for oxidative damages investigation and molecular analyses for the effect mechanism of indomethacin and DFE were conducted on stomach tissues in the study. While oxidative stress-associated markers such as MDA, BAX, and Caspase 3 increased dramatically in the indomethacin group, GSH antioxidant levels decreased. It was observed that these parameters were significantly improved in DFE 500 mg/kg and DFE 1000 mg/kg groups compared to ulcer group, and the results of especially DFE 1000 mg/kg group were similar to famotidine group. We observed that our histopathological findings also supported all our other findings. Dragon fruit extract was protected against indomethacin-induced ulcer damage by decreased MDA levels, increased GSH levels, and inhibition of Caspase 3, BAX, and Cox-2, and activation of Cox-1. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: People of all ages around the world suffer from gastric ulcer which is one of the most common gastrointestinal ailments. The etiological factors of the disease are using of cigarette and alcohol, nutritional deficiencies, infections, and using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which use frequent and indiscriminate. Indomethacin is one of the NSAIDs and is commonly preferred to induce ulcer modeling in rats due to its gastric toxicity potential. Current anti-ulcer drugs have many serious side effects. Patients who suffered from gastric ulcer tend to discontinue the drug because of side effects. Therefore, patients need new agents that are non-toxic, have few side effects, and are easily accessible anti-ulcer drugs. Dragon fruit, as a medicinal herb, is highly valuable and widely used in traditional medicine, and may provide gastroprotective activity. Studies have shown that H. polyrhizus has antioxidant activities. We consider the effects of dragon fruit extract (DFE) to be a therapeutic drug for an indomethacin-induced ulcer model.

Identification of Allergens in White- and Red-Fleshed Pitaya (Selenicereus undatus and Selenicereus costaricensis) Seeds Using Bottom-Up Proteomics Coupled with Immunoinformatics.

White-fleshed pitaya (Selenicereus undatus) and red-fleshed pitaya (Selenicereus costaricensis) are becoming increasingly popular because of their nutritional and medicinal benefits. However, in addition to their beneficial properties, allergy to pitaya fruits has occurred in daily life. In this study, we investigated the protein profile of pitaya fruit seeds and focused on the most reactive proteins against immunoglobulin E (IgE) in sera from allergic patients by immunoblotting. A protein band of approximately 20 kDa displayed a clear reaction with the serum IgE. The protein bands of interest were excised, in-gel digested, and analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), followed by data searching against a restricted database (Caryophyllales in UniProtKB) for protein identification. Immunoinformatic tools were used to predict protein allergenicity. The potential allergens included cupin_1 and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in white-fleshed pitaya seeds, and cupin_1, heat shock protein 70, and heat shock protein sti1-like in red-fleshed pitaya seeds are potential allergens. The expression of potential allergens was further verified at the transcriptional level in the species of S. undatus and S. costaricensis.

Salt stress and organic fertilization on the growth and biochemical metabolism of Hylocereus costaricensis (red pitaya) seedlings.

Red pitaya (Hylocereus costaricensis) is a promising species, with high cultivation potential due to the organoleptic and functional qualities of its fruits. However, irrigation water salinity can affect the crop yield. Therefore, materials rich in organic substances can minimize the damage caused by excess salts in soil and/or water. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of organic matter sources as attenuators of salt stress on the production and biochemical responses of red pitaya seedlings. A completely randomized design in 4 × 5 factorial scheme, with five sources of organic matter (humus, sheep manure, biofertilizer, organic compost and sand + soil) and four salinities (0.6, 2.6, 4.6 and 6.6 dS m-1) with four replicates and two plants per plot was used. The shoot length, root length, cladode diameter, number of cladodes, number of sprotus, root volume, shoot dry mass, root dry mass and total dry mass, root and shoot dry mass ratio, chlorophyll a, b and total, amino acids and soluble sugars were evaluated at 120 days after the treatments began to be applied. Red pitaya is moderately tolerant to salinity (ECw from 4.0 to 6.0 dS m-1). Organic compost and sheep manure attenuate the harmful effects of salinity on red pitaya seedlings. Under salt stress conditions, red pitaya plants increase their levels of proline, amino acids and total sugars.

Evaluation of a Novel Phosphorylated Red Dragon Fruit Peel Pectin for Enhancement of Thermal Stability and Functional Activity.

Red dragon fruit peel, as a fruit waste, is rich in plant-based nutritional pectins that can be applied as food additives. The present study aims to characterize a novel phosphorylated red dragon fruit peel pectin (PRDFP-P) and to explore its functional activities. The thermal analysis, morphology analysis, antibacterial, antioxidant and antitumor activities of PRDFP-P were evaluated. The results showed that the phosphorylated derivative PRDFP-P had typical phosphate groups. Compared with the native red dragon fruit peel pectin (PRDFP), PRDFP-P possessed superior thermal stability and exhibited significant inhibition effects on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, the phosphate groups on the derivative PRDFP-P chains remarkably enhanced the scavenging ability of hydroxyl radicals and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. In addition, PRDFP-P showed a significant inhibition effect on growth of human hepatic carcinoma cells (HepG2) and the IC50 value was determined to be 248.69 µg/mL (P < 0.05). Our results suggested that the phosphorylated derivative PRDFP-P might be potentially applied as stabilizing, thickening and gelling agents with functional activities in the food industry.

Storage Stability and In Vitro Bioaccessibility of Liposomal Betacyanins from Red Pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus).

In order to address the poor stability of the betacyanins from red pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus, HP), which are considered as good sources of natural colorant, liposomal-encapsulation technique was applied in this study. Thin-layer dispersion method was employed to prepare HP betacyacnin liposomes (HPBL). The formulation parameters for HPBL were optimized, and the characteristics, stability, and release profile of HPBL in in vitro gastrointestinal systems were evaluated.Results showed that an HP betacyanin encapsulation efficiency of 93.43 ± 0.11% was obtained after formulation optimization. The HPBL exhibited a narrow size distribution of particle within a nanometer range and a strong electronegative ζ-potential. By liposomal encapsulation, storage stability of HP betacyanin was significantly enhanced in different storage temperatures. When the environmental pH ranged from 4.3-7.0, around 80% of HP betacyanins were preserved on Day 21 with the liposomal protection. The loss of 2,2'-Diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity and color deterioration of HPBL were developed in accordance with the degradation of HP betacyanins during storage. In in vitro gastrointestinal digestion study, with the protection of liposome, the retention rates of HP betacyanins in vitro were enhanced by 14% and 40% for gastric and intestinal digestion, respectively.This study suggested that liposomal encapsulation was an effective approach to stabilize HP betacyanins during storage and gastrointestinal digestion, but further investigations were needed to better optimize the liposomal formulation and understand the complex liposomal system.

Nutritional Analysis of Red-Purple and White-Fleshed Pitaya (Hylocereus) Species.

Pitaya is one of the most preferred and produced tropical fruit species recently introduced to the Mediterrranean region in Turkey. Due to its nutritional fruits with high economic value, the popularity of pitaya increases steadily in Turkey as an alternative crop. No detailed nutritional analysis has been undertaken in Turkey so far on fruits of the pitaya species. In this study, we determined and compared some nutritional parameters in fruit flesh of two pitaya (dragon fruit) species (Hylocereus polyrhizus: Siyam and Hylocereus undatus: Vietnam Jaina) grown in the Adana province located in the eastern Mediterranean region in Turkey. The individual sugars, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, phenolic compounds and volatiles were determined for the first time in Turkey on two pitaya species. The results showed that total phenol content and antioxidant capacity are notably higher in red-fleshed fruits than white-fleshed ones and the predominant phenolic compound in fruits of both species was quercetin. The total sugar content and most of the phenolic compounds in fruits of two pitaya species were similar. A total of 51 volatile compounds were detected by using two Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) fibers, coupled with Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques, and more volatile compounds were presented in the white-fleshed species. Total phenolic content (TPC) of the red-fleshed and white-fleshed pitaya species were 16.66 and 17.11 mg GAE/100 g FW (fresh weight). This study provides a first look at the biochemical comparison of red-fleshed and white-fleshed pitaya species introduced and cultivated in Turkey. The results also showed, for the first time, the biochemical content and the potential health benefit of Hylocereus grown in different agroecological conditions, providing important information for pitaya researchers and application perspective.

Fruit extract of red pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) prevents and reverses stress-induced impairments in the cholinergic and antioxidant systems of Caenorhabditis elegans.

The addition of fruit to the diet is very important, and we can use nutraceutical and functional foods for this supplement. A little-known fruit is a red pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) that has been widely reported to have a high antioxidant potential. In this study, we analyzed the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant capacity of microencapsulated pitaya extract on the behavior, antioxidant, and nervous system of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The worms were treated with fruit extract before and after juglone-induced stress, to determine the protective or curative effects of pitaya. We have been evaluated cholinergic, antioxidant, and behavioral biomarkers. We have evidenced that the pulp of pitaya contains antioxidant compounds and can serve as a potential nutraceutical product. In addition, the fruit extract was effective in preventing and/or reverse the stress-induced damages, even at high levels of chemical stress at all evaluated parameters. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The potential applications and uses aimed by this research are related to the supplementation of foods given the antioxidant effect. Our data suggested that the effect of the pitaya fruit microencapsulated pulp extract was effective to prevent and repair the damage caused by oxidative stress. Besides the use of this microencapsulated extract can be an auxiliary in the treatment of diseases related to oxidative damage as well as promoting senescent aging. Another important use is the application of this extract as a dietary supplement to fortify the antioxidant system.

Pereskia aculeata leaves: properties and potentialities for the development of new products.

Pereskia aculeata Mill., known as Ora-Pro-Nobis or Barbados gooseberry, arouse the interest of food and pharmaceutical industries due to its bioactive compounds and mucilage. We conducted a peer-reviewed survey using Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, Science Direct, and Scifinder platforms, as well as patent bases for new products. We selected articles which highlighted composition of leaves and applications in the development of new products. Mucilage shows great potential in the development of complexes or microparticles to transport active molecules. Reports on anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties of P. aculeata leaves open a research field to obtain pharmaceutical products. Emulsifying properties of mucilage have been explored in food processing. Another potential use is the development of films for functional and/or edible packaging. The polysaccharide chain, the main mucilage constituent, can interact with other biopolymers to be explored in colloidal chemistry for the production of biomaterials in the next years.