Sweetened nopal flakes: a functional snack

Nopal (Opuntia spp. and Nopalea spp. genera) is a crop, recognized for its nutritional and medicinal properties; however, there are some underused species, despite the great genetic diversity in Mexico. The genus Opuntia spp. is the most consumed nopal, whereas Nopalea spp. has low commercial demand, possibly because their nutraceutical attributes are unknown. Additionally, the nopal pads or cladodes are little accepted by many consumers, due to their texture and flavor. The study objectives were 1) evaluate the nutraceutical content and antioxidant activity of four nopal cultivars: Nopalea cochenillifera cv. Texas (NT) and Opuntia ficus-indica cv. Jade (OJ), Milpa Alta (OMA), and Atlixco (OA); 2) develop nopal flakes, sweetened with rebaudioside A, from the cultivar with the best nutraceutical quality and sensory acceptability. Ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and total flavonoids were determined by spectrophotometric methods, individual flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin) by HPLC, and antioxidant activity by the DPPH assay. OA was the cultivar with the best nutraceutical quality. The sweetened nopal flakes of OA, at a concentration of 1.1 mg g-1 rebaudioside A, had the highest sensory acceptability by the panelists in intensity and sweetness preference. The addition of rebaudioside A improved the product’s flavor and contributed to preserve the flavonoids and antioxidant activity. These results will contribute to the chemotaxonomy of O. ficus-indica and N. cochellinifera species,and to the utilization of nopals as functional foods, due to their nutraceutical quality

Fruits of the pitahaya Hylocereus undatus and H. ocamponis: nutritional components and antioxidants

The pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.) is a cactus native to America. Despite the great diversity of species located in Mexico, there are few studies on the nutritional and nutraceutical value of its exotic fruits, ancestrally consumed in the Mayan culture. An evaluation was made regarding the physical-chemical characteristics, the nutritional components and the antioxidants of the fruits of H. ocamponis (mesocarp or red pulp) and H. undatus (white pulp), species of great commercial importance. The pulp of the fruits presented nutritional and nutraceutical differences between both species. The red pulp of H. ocamponis presented the highest content of betalains (15.94 mg 100 g-1), ascorbic acid (10.13 AAE mg 100 g-1) and antioxidant activity (2009.58 μM TE 100 g-1) compared to that of H. undatus. The seeds of both species had a higher content of linoleic acid (ω-6) compared to other fatty acids. The underused skin (epicarp) of the white pulp pitahaya presented a higher content of betalains (19.83 mg 100 g-1) than that found in the pulp and the red skin of the other species (13.21 mg 100 g-1). The red pitahaya that is for regional consumption presented a better functional quality. The skin of both species could be a source of pigments in the food industry

Phytotoxicity of extracts of Dieffenbachia amoena, Nerium oleander, Raphanus sativus and Brassica napobrassica

El potencial que ofrecen las plantas como fuente de principios bioactivos ha sido poco estudiado. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar la actividad fitotóxica de los extractos metanólicos de Dieffenbachia amoena, Nerium oleander, Raphanus sativus y Brassica napobrassica en la germinación y vigor de las plántulas de Chenopodium album, Echinochloa crus-galli, Lactuca sativa, Solanum lycopersicum y Oryza sativa. Las variables evaluadas fueron porcentaje de germinación y vigor de la plántula (longitud de radícula, LR y longitud de la parte aérea, LPA). Se realizó un análisis de varianza y comparaciones de medias de Tukey (P ≤ 0,05). Los extractos de B. napobrassica y R. sativus presentaron el mayor efecto fitotóxico en comparación con los extractos de las especies restantes, al afectar la germinación de las semillas de E. crus-galli y L. sativa (96 y 99% a la concentración de 1%, y 90 y 100% a la concentración de 5%, respectivamente). Ambos extractos inhibieron el crecimiento de la LR y LPA de C. album, E. crus-galli, L. sativa y O. sativa, la excepción fue S. lycopersicum. Se identificó la presencia de glucosinolatos en los extractos de las especies de Brassica napobrassica y Raphanus sativus.The potential of plants as a source of bioactive principles has been little studied. The objective of this research was to determine phytotoxic activity of methanol extracts of Dieffenbachia amoena, Neriu moleander, Raphanus sativus and Brassica napobrassica on germination and seedling vigor of Chenopodium album, Echinochloa crus-galli, Lactuca sativa, Solanum lycopersicum and Oryza sativa. The variables evaluated were germination percentage and seedling vigor (radicle length, RL and aerial part length, APL). An analysis of variance and Tukey's comparison of means test (P ≤ 0.05) was performed. The methanol extracts of B. napobrassica and R. sativus showed the highest phytotoxic effect in comparison with the extracts of the other species, by affecting the germination of the seeds of E. crus-galli and L. sativa (96 and 99% at the concentration of 1%, and 90 and 100% at the concentration of 5%, respectively). Both extracts inhibited the growth of RL and APL of C. album, E. crus-galli, L. sativa and O. sativa; the only exception was S. lycopersicum. Glucosinolates were detected in the extracts of the Brassica napobrassica and Raphanus sativus species.Fil: Díaz-Mota, María de los Ángeles. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo (México)Fil: Martínez-Solís, Juan. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo (México)Fil: Acosta-Ramos, Marcelo. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo (México)Fil: Serrato-Cruz, Miguel Ángel. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo (México)Fil: Colinas-León, María Teresa. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo (México)Fil: Magdaleno-Villar, Jesús. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo (México)Fil: María Rosario García-Mateos. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo (México

Extractos vegetales para el control de Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in vitro y en periodo de floración y poscosecha del fruto de Carica papaya

The objective was to evaluate the activity of the extracts of six species for control in vitro on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and on papaya fruit (Carica papaya) during blooming period and postharvest stage. Evaluated variables were inhibition percentage and biological effectiveness for in vitro evaluation; incidence and biological effectiveness for field crop flowering stage evaluation and severity and effectiveness for postharvest fruits. Species’ extracts phytochemical analysis identified the presence of flavonoids in S. rostratum, and E. arvense; alkaloids in D. stramonium, M. parviflora, and A. ochroleuca; and terpenoids in P. icosandra. P. icosandra methanolic extract shown greater in vitro biological effectiveness against C. gloeosporioides fungus from remaining species, it was the only one evaluated during blooming period and postharvest stage, and was observed in blooming stage with a 60-70 % effectiveness, where the flowers showed necrosis and rot (typical symptoms of the disease) and 71.4 % in the control of anthracnose in postharvest fruits.El objetivo fue evaluar la actividad de los extractos orgánicos de seis especies vegetales para el control de Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in vitro y en periodo de floración y poscosecha en el fruto de papaya (Carica papaya L.). Las variables evaluadas fueron efectividad biológica para la evaluación in vitro, efectividad en flores y severidad y efectividad en frutos poscosecha. El análisis fitoquímico de los extractos de las especies permitió identificar la presencia de flavonoides en S. rostratum y E. arvense; alcaloides en D. stramonium, M. parviflora y A. ochroleuca y terpenoides en P. icosandra. El extracto metanólico de P. icosandra mostró la mayor efectividad biológica in vitro contra el hongo C. gloeosporioides en comparación con las especies restantes. Por lo tanto, fue el único que se evalúo durante el periodo de floración y en poscosecha. La efectividad del extracto metanólico en la etapa de floración fue 60-70%, donde las flores mostraron necrosis y pudrición (síntomas típicos de la enfermedad) y 71.4% en el control de antracnosis en los frutos poscosecha

Prevalence of post-intensive care syndrome in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) patients usually require long periods of mechanical ventilation and sedation, which added to steroid therapy, favours a predisposition to the development of delirium and subsequent mental health disorders, as well as physical and respiratory sequelae. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) at 3 months after hospital discharge, in a cohort of mechanically ventilated patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). An ambispective, observational study was conducted in three hospitals with intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up clinics. We studied adults who survived a critical illness due to SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. A physical (muscle strength and pulmonary function), functional [12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and Barthel score], psychological [hospital anxiety and depression (HADS) and posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity scales], and cognitive [Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) test] assessment were performed. A total of 186 patients were evaluated at 88 days (IQR 68–121) after hospital discharge. Mean age was 59 ± 12 years old, 126 (68%) patients were men, and median length of mechanical ventilation was 14 days (IQR 8–31). About 3 out of 4 patients (n = 139, 75%) met PICS criteria. Symptoms of cognitive and psychiatric disorders were found in 59 (32%) and 58 (31%) patients, respectively. Ninety-one (49%) patients had muscle weakness. Pulmonary function tests in patients with no respiratory comorbidities showed a normal pattern in 93 (50%) patients, and a restrictive disorder in 62 (33%) patients. Also, 69 patients (37%) were on sick leave, while 32 (17%) had resumed work at the time of assessment. In conclusion, survivors of critical illness due to SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring mechanical ventilation have a high prevalence of PICS. Physical domain is the most frequently damaged, followed by cognitive and psychiatric disorders. ICU follow-up clinics enable the assistance of this vulnerable populationThis study did not receive any funding or fnancial support. JMA and JV are funded by Grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain (CB06/06/1088, PI19/00141)

Alkaloids from the seed, calyx, and corolla of Erythrina americana Miller and Erythrina coralloides A.DC.

Objective: Identified the main alkaloids present in the seeds, calyx and corolla of E. americana and E. coralloides using HPLC/MS Design/methodology/approach: The seeds, calyx and corolla of both species were separated, the preparation of crude extracts of alkaloids was done according to the method described by Games et al. (1974).The crude extracts of alkaloids were analysed using a high performance liquid chromatograph interfaced to a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. Results: The lactonic alkaloids -a-erythroidine and b-erythroidine were the main alkaloids found in E. americana whereas in E. coralloides is characteristic the presence of erythrinine and 8-oxo erythraline. These compounds can be used to distinguish both species. Limitations on study/implications: The use of HPLC-MS technique allowed the detection of a large numbers of structures of alkaloid natures in different parts of plants; however this technique is not available in any laboratory. Findings/conclusions: A large number of erythrinane type alkaloids were found in seed, calyx and corolla. The use of seeds and flowers in the preparations of diverse traditional foods can caused a tranquilizing and sedating effects in the consumers because the presence of lactonic alkaloids. The method of HPLC/MS allowed the detection of alkaloidal structures in flowers and seeds of this species that had not been identifies in previous studies.Objective: To identify the main alkaloids present in the seeds, calyx, and corolla of E. americana and E. coralloides (Fabaceae) using HPLC-MS. Design/methodology/approach: The seeds, calyx, and corolla of both species were separated; the crude alkaloid extracts were prepared according to the method described by Games et al. (1974). The crude alkaloid extracts were analyzed using a high-performance liquid chromatograph interfaced to a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. Results: The lactonic alkaloids -a-erythroidine and b-erythroidine were the main alkaloids found in E. americana, whereas the presence of erythrinine and 8-oxo erythraline is typical of E. coralloides. These compounds can be used to distinguish both species. Limitations on study/implications: The use of the HPLC-MS technique allowed the detection of a large numbers of alkaloidal structures in different parts of the plants; however, this technique is not available in any laboratory. Findings/conclusions: A large number of erythrinane-like alkaloids were found in seed, calyx, and corolla. The use of seeds and flowers in the preparation of diverse traditional dishes can cause soothing and sedating effects in consumers, as a result of the presence of lactonic alkaloids. The HPLC-MS method allowed the detection of alkaloidal structures in flowers and seeds that had not been identified in previous studies about this species.