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Aim: The Andean tubers Ullucus tuberosus and Arracacia xanthorrhiza are of great international importance due to their nutritional value (carbohydrates, fiber), functional and phenolic compounds. This study aimed to determine the proximate composition of the flours of these tubers, their functional properties, and the phenolic profiles of both the skin and the pulp, since the flour used is a mixture of both. Methods: The proximal characteristics were determined as established by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), the functional properties, water holding capacity (WHC), swelling capacity (SC), and oil holding capacity (OHC); and the profile of phenolic compounds was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Results: Results revealed that the tubers contain more than 50% carbohydrates, with U. tuberosus having 14% fiber and A. xanthorrhiza having 4.07% fiber. Notably, they are rich in minerals, such as potassium (K), with levels of 4.12% and 3.32% for U. tuberosus and A. xanthorrhiza, respectively. In terms of functional properties, U. tuberosus exhibited a WHC of 0.78 g water/g dry matter (DM), an SC of 1.42 g water/g DM, and an OHC of 0.44 g oil/g DM. In contrast, A. xanthorrhiza showed a WHC of 0.96 g water/g DM, an SC of 3.86 g water/g DM, and an OHC of 0.18 g oil/g DM. Additionally, the study identified various hydroxycinnamic acids, including caffeic acid 4-O-glucoside and p-coumaroyl glucose, as well as methoxyflavonols, such as 3,7-dimethylquercetin. Conclusions: These characteristics suggest that the flours could be valuable for the production of bakery products, pastries, pastas, or foods requiring high viscosity. Furthermore, U. tuberosus and A. xanthorrhiza flours have potential applications in the development of functional foods, thus promoting their use and adding value to these tubers produced in the Andean region.

Pomegranate peel is an important source of polyphenols of remarkable interest in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. The improved extraction of total polyphenolic compounds (TPC) from pomegranate peel by solid-state fermentation (SSF) was achieved. The Box, Hunter and Hunter (BHH) followed by the central composite design (CCD) processes were performed to assess the effect of the process variables on TPC release. The statistical designs indicate that the best TPC extraction (234.85 mg GAE/gdm) by means of SSF occurs at 42 °C, 50% moisture, 5.0 pH, mineral solution (g/L): NaNO3 (3.83), KH2PO4 (1.52), MgSO4 (4.66) and KCl (1.52) at 36 h. Under the best fermentation conditions TPC (248.78 ± 1.24 mgGAE/gdm) increased 5.96-fold more than values previously reported and antioxidant activity (AA) increased 5.81-fold compared to the value obtained before the SSF optimization. High-value citric acid, α and β punicalin, α and β punicalagin, punigluconin, galloyl-HHDP hexoside and ellagic acid molecules were identified. The increased extraction of TPC by SSF provides a suitable alternative for the valorization of pomegranate peel through the recovery of molecules with high added value with potential use in the food, pharmacy and cosmetic industries; a diversification in the use of food agroindustry by-products is obtained as an approach to the circular economy model through biotechnological processes.

Synthetic chemicals are mainly used for the control of fungal diseases in tomato, causing the phytopathogens to generate resistance to the chemical active ingredient, with a consequent risk to human health and the environment. The use of plant extracts is an option for the control of these diseases, which is why the main objective of this research was to study an alternative biocontrol strategy for the management of plant diseases caused by fungi through obtaining polyphenol extracts from mistletoe plants growing on three different tree species—mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), cedar (Cedrus), and oak (Quercus), which contain flavones, anthocyanins, and luteolin. The overall chemical structure of the obtained plant extracts was investigated by RP-HPLC-ESI-MS liquid chromatography. The antifungal effect of these extracts was examined. The target phytopathogenic fungi were isolated from tomato plantations located in Altamira, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The microorganisms were characterized by classical and molecular methods and identified as Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium sp., and Rhizoctonia solani.

Purpose: In recent years, interest in plant nutrition research has arisen with a strong focus on organic forms. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different organic fertilizers on growth, yield, fruit quality and polyphenol content in soilless grown grape tomatoes under greenhouse conditions. Materials and methods: Tomato plants were subjected to three organic nutrient solutions, which consisted of different mixtures of several OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) certified nitrogen fertilizers of industrially processed residues: Treatment I: solid and soluble liquid fertilizers of animal raw materials, natural potassium sulphate-non-synthetic, and calcium chloride; Treatment II: solid and soluble liquid fertilizers of animal raw materials, by-product of marine raw material (soluble liquid), natural potassium sulphate-non-synthetic, and calcium chloride; and Treatment III: solid fertilizers of animal raw materials, natural potassium sulphate-non-synthetic, and calcium chloride to 100% [0-30 days after transplanting (DAT)], 125% [31-80 DAT], and 150% [>81 DAT]. The Steiner solution (SS) was used as a control (Treatment IV). Results: Yield did not differ between organic and conventional treatments, ranging from 3.04 to 3.35 kg m-2 while fresh weight in organic treatments was 3.14 compared to 3.2 kg m-2 in plants fed with the SS. No significant differences in plant height or fruit quality were found. The application of organic fertilizers positively affected the total hydrolysable and condensed polyphenols of tomato fruits compared to the control. Twelve phenolic compounds were identified, highlighting 3-Caffeoylquinic acid, salvianolic acid and 5,6-Dihydroxy-7,8,3’,4’-tetramethoxyflavone (Treatment I) and Medioresinol (Lignan) (Treatment II). Conclusions: The results indicated that organic fertilization through animal-based fertilizer application is a feasible alternative for grape tomato production under greenhouse conditions.

Moringa oleifera has been a focus of interest because of the different properties (anticancer, antioxidant, etc.) that have been attributed to this plant. However, the most used methodology is soxhlet, which requires long periods of reaction (18 hours), generating greater energy expenditure. Recently, green extraction technologies have been developed like ultrasound and microwaves, reducing reaction time by up to 97%. The objectives of this study were to extract and identify the polyphenolic compounds present in aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extracts from Moringa oleifera dried leaves using ultrasound and microwave, as well as to evaluate their in vitro cytotoxic effect using cancer and non-cancer cells. A combination of ultrasound and microwave was utilized to extract polyphenolic compounds from Moringa dried leaves. HPLC–MS analysis was conducted to qualitatively identify the polyphenols in the samples. The cytotoxic effect was evaluated by MTT and comet assays using non-cancer (3T3, Hek293, and Vero) and cancer (HepG2) cells lines. Results: 30 polyphenolic compounds from 9 different families were identified by HPLC. Data suggested that hydro-alcoholic extracts from Moringa leaves have potent cytotoxic activities in a depend-doses response. Also, compounds from aqueous extracts did not cause cell death, while polyphenol extract from hydro-alcoholic extracts decreased populations in both cancer and non-cancer cell lines measurement by MTT. HepG2 cells showed DNA damage by comet assay. The extraction using ultrasound and microwaves at 30 minutes of reaction has an antiproliferative effect through apoptosis in cancer cells, in addition ethanolic extracts have higher cytotoxicity compared to aqueous extracts.