Analysis of fruit ripening in Theobroma cacao pod husk based on untargeted metabolomics.

The pod husk of Theobroma cacao (CPH) plays an important agronomical role, as its appearance is used as indicator of ripening, guiding the farmers in the harvest process. Cacao harvesting is not a standardized practice because farmers harvest between six up to eight months from flowering, guided by pod's color and shape. The mixture of cacao beans from different ripening stages (RS), negatively affecting the quality and price of grain. A way to help the farmers in the harvest standardization could be through the use of chemical markers and visual indicators of CPH ripening. This study analyses CPH's metabolic distribution of two cacao clones, ICS95 and CCN51 at six, seven, and eight months of ripening. Untargeted metabolomics was done using HPLC-MS/MS for biomarker discovery and association to cacao ripening. The results indicated a strong metabolic differentiation of the sixth month with the rest of the months independent of the variety. Also, metabolic differences were found between cacao clones for the seventh and eighth month. We annotated five potential biochemical markers including 3-caffeoylpelargodinin 5-glucoside, indoleacetaldehyde, procyanidin A dimer, procyanidin C1, and kaempferol. We further looked for correlation between patterns of progression of our markers against quantitative indicators of CPH appearance and texture, at the same ripening stages. We also performed a functional analysis and three possible metabolic pathways: flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and tryptophan metabolism were identified associated with stress sensing, plant development and defense respectively. We found significant and positive correlations between green color density and all metabolites. For texture, the correlations were significantly negative with all metabolites. Our results suggest that about the sixth month is appropriate for harvesting cacao in the region of Caldas, Colombia in order to avoid all the metabolic variations occurring at later stages of ripening which impact the cacao bean quality. Therefore, studying the cacao ripening process can help in the estimation of the best harvest time and contribute to the standardization of harvest practices.

Towards Bioprospection of Commercial Materials of Mentha spicata L. Using a Combined Strategy of Metabolomics and Biological Activity Analyses.

Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) has been widely studied for its diversity of compounds for product generation. However, studies describing the chemical and biological characteristics of commercial spearmint materials from different origins are scarce. For this reason, this research aimed to bioprospecting spearmint from three origins: Colombia (Col), Mexico (Mex), and Egypt (Eg). We performed a biological activity analysis, such as FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS, inhibition potential of S. pyogenes, K. pneumoniae, E. coli, P. aeuroginosa, S. aureus, S aureus Methicillin-Resistant, and E. faecalis. Furthermore, we performed chemical assays, such as total polyphenol and rosmarinic acid, and untargeted metabolomics via HPLC-MS/MS. Finally, we developed a causality analysis to integrate biological activities with chemical analyses. We found significant differences between the samples for the total polyphenol and rosmarinic acid contents, FRAP, and inhibition analyses for Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus and E. faecalis. Also, clear metabolic differentiation was observed among the three commercial materials evaluated. These results allow us to propose data-driven uses for the three spearmint materials available in current markets.

Scientometric Overview of Coffee By-Products and Their Applications.

As coffee consumption is on the rise, and the global coffee production creates an excess of 23 million tons of waste per year, a revolutionary transition towards a circular economy via the transformation and valorization of the main by-products from its cultivation and preparation (Coffee Husk (CH), Coffee Pulp (CP), Coffee Silverskin (CS), and Spent Coffee Grounds (SCG)) is inspiring researchers around the world. The recent growth of scholarly publications in the field and the emerging applications of coffee by-products published in these scientific papers encourages a systematic review to identify the knowledge structure, research hotspots, and to discuss the challenges and future directions. This paper displays a comprehensive scientometric analysis based on 108 articles with a high level of influence in the field of coffee by-products and their applications. According to our analysis, the research in this field shows an explosive growth since 2017, clustered in five core applications: bioactive compounds, microbial transformation, environmental applications, biofuels from thermochemical processes, and construction materials.

Análisis de coliformes y bacterias reductoras de sulfato en reservorios acuíferos de corrales de San Luis Beltrán, Atlántico, Colombia / Analysis of coliforms and sulfate-reducing bacteria in reservoirs aquifer of corrales de San Luis Beltran, Atlantico, Colombia

Introducción: La verificación y seguimiento de la presencia de microrganismos indicadores de la calidaddel agua es imprescindible debido al riesgo que representan para la población que la utiliza para consumo, recreación o deporte. Los reservorios acuíferos de Corrales de San Luis Beltrán, Atlántico, Colombia, son fuente de sustento de las comunidades campesinas aledañas, animales y plantas de la reserva; sin embargo, su calidad microbiológica no ha sido estudiada. Objetivo: Evaluar la calidad sanitaria del agua de reservorios acuíferos de Corrales de San Luis Beltrán. Materiales y métodos: Se realizaron muestreos de aguas superficiales y sedimento de reservorios acuíferos de Corrales de San Luis Beltrán, y se midieron in situ algunos parámetros fisicoquímicos (temperatura, pH, y oxígeno disuelto), y la calidad microbiológica (coliformes totales, coliformes fecales y bacterias reductoras de sulfato). Resultados: Se presentaron concentraciones bajas de oxígeno disuelto (2,71 mg/L), temperatura promedio de 26 °C y pH ligeramente básico (8,1). Los coliformes totales oscilaron entre 1,0x104 y 1,3x107 UFC/100 mL y los fecales entre 0 y 1,3x105 UFC/100 mL. Se encontró una correlación negativa entre el pH y los coliformes totales, y entre el oxígeno disuelto y los coliformes fecales; y una correlación positiva entre los coliformes fecales y la temperatura. Los recuentos de bacterias reductoras de sulfato fueron superiores a 103 UFC/100 g...

Introduction: The verification and monitoring of indicator microorganisms of water quality is essential.A low water quality may represent a risk for human health, because human populations frequently use it for consumption, recreation, or sport. Water reservoirs situated in Corrales de San Luis Beltran, Atlantico, Colombia, are source of sustenance to local peasant communities, animals, and plants around the village. However, the microbiological quality has not been established. Objective: To assess the sanitary water quality from Corrales de San Luis Beltran. Materials and methods: Surface water and sediment were sampled and some physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen), and the microbiological quality (total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and sulfate-reducing bacteria) were measured in situ. Results: The analysis showed low dissolved oxygen levels (2,71 mg/L), an average temperature of 26 °C and a slightly basic pH (8,1). Total coliform counts ranged from 1,0x104 and 1,3 x 107 CFU/100 mL and fecal coliform between 0 and 1,3 x 105 CFU/100 g. A negative correlation occurred between pH and total coliform as well as between dissolved oxygen and fecal coliforms. In addition, a positive correlation occurred between fecal coliform and temperature. The number of sulfate-reducing bacteria was more than 103 CFU/100 mL...

Identification and structural characterization of novel cyclotide with activity against an insect pest of sugar cane.

Cyclotides are a family of plant-derived cyclic peptides comprising six conserved cysteine residues connected by three intermolecular disulfide bonds that form a knotted structure known as a cyclic cystine knot (CCK). This structural motif is responsible for the pronounced stability of cyclotides against chemical, thermal, or proteolytic degradation and has sparked growing interest in this family of peptides. Here, we isolated and characterized a novel cyclotide from Palicourea rigida (Rubiaceae), which was named parigidin-br1. The sequence indicated that this peptide is a member of the bracelet subfamily of cyclotides. Parigidin-br1 showed potent insecticidal activity against neonate larvae of Lepidoptera (Diatraea saccharalis), causing 60% mortality at a concentration of 1 µm but had no detectable antibacterial effects. A decrease in the in vitro viability of the insect cell line from Spodoptera frugiperda (SF-9) was observed in the presence of parigidin-br1, consistent with in vivo insecticidal activity. Transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy of SF-9 cells after incubation with parigidin-br1 or parigidin-br1-fluorescein isothiocyanate, respectively, revealed extensive cell lysis and swelling of cells, consistent with an insecticidal mechanism involving membrane disruption. This hypothesis was supported by in silico analyses, which suggested that parigidin-br1 is able to complex with cell lipids. Overall, the results suggest promise for the development of parigidin-br1 as a novel biopesticide.

Activity of alpha-amylase inhibitors from Phaseolus coccineus on digestive alpha-amylases of the coffee berry borer.

Seeds of scarlet runner bean ( Phaseolus coccineus L.) were analyzed for alpha-amylase inhibitor (alpha-AI) activity. Through the use of polyclonal antibodies raised against pure alpha-AI-1 from common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.), typical alpha-AlphaIota polypeptides (Mr 14-18 kDa) as well as a large polypeptide of Mr 32000 Da, usually referred to as "amylase inhibitor like", were detected. The inhibitor activity present in four accessions of P. coccineus was examined, both in semiquantitative zymograms allowing the separation of different isoforms and in quantitative assays against human salivary amylase, porcine pancreatic amylase, and coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) amylase. Differential inhibition curves lead to the suggestion that the gene encoding one of the inhibitors in P. coccineus (in accession G35590) would be a good candidate for genetic engineering of coffee resistance toward the coffee berry borer. An in vitro proteolytic digestion treatment of pure alpha-AlphaIota-1 resulted in a rapid loss of the inhibitory activity, seriously affecting its natural capacity to interact with mammalian alpha-amylases.