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Dimerocostus strobilaceus (Caña Agria) as an Emerging Reservoir of Bioactive Metabolites with Potential Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Anticancer and Anti-Inflammatory Health Benefits
(MDPI AG, 2025-10-29)
Coyago Cruz Elena Del Rocío
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GONZÁLEZ PASTOR, REBECA EUGENIA
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Gabriela Méndez
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Jeico Usinia-Carranza
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JUAN ANDRÉS
The Amazon region is home to a wide variety of plant species that are of interest for their medicinal and nutritional properties. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties, bioactive compound profile, and antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity of Dimerocostus strobilaceus leaves, stems, and seeds. Vitamin C, organic acids, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds were quantified using RPLC. Antioxidant activity was determined using ABTS and DPPH, while antimicrobial activity was assessed against pathogenic and multidrug-resistant bacteria. Anticancer activity was evaluated in tumour cell lines (HeLa, HCT116, HepG2, and THJ29T), and anti-inflammatory activity was examined in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The seeds stood out for their content of ferulic, caffeic and chlorogenic acids, while kaempferol and quercetin predominated in the leaves. The leaves exhibited greater antimicrobial efficacy and antiproliferative activity (IC50 < 0.2 mg/mL), albeit with limited selectivity. These findings suggest that ‘caña agria’ is a promising source of bioactive metabolites with biotechnological and therapeutic applications.
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Dynamics of Bioactive Compounds and Their Relationship with Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity in the Pulp, Peel, and Seeds of ‘Salak’ During Ripening
(MDPI AG, 2025-10-12)
Elena Coyago-Cruz
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Gabriela Méndez
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ZÚÑIGA MIRANDA, JOHANA JANINA
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Nubia Jami
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Ramiro Acurio-Vásconez
Fruit is an important source of bioactive compounds, and making full use of them can contribute to the development of natural alternatives to microbial resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of bioactive compounds and their relationship with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in the pulp, peel, and seeds of Salacca zalacca at three stages of ripeness (M1, 30 days after flowering; M2, 90 days after flowering; and M3, 120 days after flowering). The physicochemical characteristics (weight, size, pH, soluble solids, titratable acidity, moisture, ash, and minerals) and the bioactive compounds (vitamin C, organic acids, carotenoids, chlorophylls, and phenolic compounds) were determined using liquid chromatography. Antioxidant activity was determined using the ABTS and DPPH methods, and antimicrobial activity was assessed against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. The results showed that the pulp had the highest concentrations of malic acid (8018.6 mg/100 g DW in M1); the peel in M1 had the highest concentrations of chlorogenic (705.0 mg/100 g DW), caffeic (321.0 mg/100 g DW) and ferulic acids (173.5 mg/100 g DW); and the seeds had the highest levels of vitamin C (16.81 mg/100 g DW in M2). The pulp in M2 and M3 and the peel in M2 exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity (5.5 mmol ET/100 g DW by DPPH), as well as the most potent antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. In conclusion, the peel, in addition to the edible pulp, represents a relevant source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in functional foods and natural products.
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Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anticancerogenic Activity in Lacmellea edulis H. Karst., at Different Stages of Maturity
(MDPI AG, 2025-10-14)
Elena Coyago-Cruz
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ZÚÑIGA MIRANDA, JOHANA JANINA
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Gabriela Méndez
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Melany Alomoto
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Steven Vélez-Vite
Lacmellea edulis, traditionally known as chicle, is a species that has received little attention despite its nutraceutical potential. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics (pH, soluble solids, titratable acidity, moisture, ash, and minerals) and the content of bioactive compounds (vitamin C, organic acids, carotenoids, and phenols) of fruits at different stages of ripeness, as well as their antimicrobial (against Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus mutans), antiproliferative and antihaemolytic activity. Bioactive compounds were quantified using liquid chromatography, while biological activities were assessed via spectrophotometric assays. The results revealed a high concentration of ascorbic acid in the ripe pulp (3.0 mg/100 g DW), higher levels of organic acids in the unripe pulp (3947.6 mg/100 g DW), and a high total phenol content in the ripe peel (10,890.9 mg/100 g DW). The peel exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (63.3 mmol ET/100 g DW). Regarding antimicrobial activity, the pulp exhibited the lowest MIC values against E. coli (2.7 mg/mL) and S. mutans (2.6 mg/mL), the peel against S. aureus (21.3 mg/mL) and C. tropicalis (5.3 mg/mL), and the seeds against C. albicans (20.8 mg/mL). Additionally, the peel exhibited the greatest antiproliferative efficacy against cervical (HeLa) and hepatoma (HepG2) cancer cells. None of the evaluated extracts showed significant haemolytic effects, confirming their safety. Overall, L. edulis appears to be a promising source of bioactive metabolites with potential applications in functional foods and pharmaceutical products.
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Functional and Antioxidant Evaluation of Two Ecotypes of Control and Grafted Tree Tomato (Solanum betaceum) at Different Altitudes
(MDPI AG, 2023-09-20)
Elena Coyago-Cruz
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Aida Guachamin
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Gabriela Méndez
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Melany Moya
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Aníbal Martínez
<jats:p>Tree tomato (Solanum betaceum) is susceptible to nematode attack; for this reason, grafting is used as an alternative to reduce this impact. In this study, the bioactive compounds of the fruit (shell, pulp, and seed jelly) of two tree tomato ecotypes (‘giant orange’ and ‘giant purple’) were evaluated in both control and grafted plants grown at different altitudes (2010–2250, 2260–2500, 2510–2750 and 2760–3000 masl). Commercial quality, vitamin C, organic acids, phenolics, carotenoids and antioxidant activity were determined by microextraction and quantified by liquid chromatography (RRLC) or spectrophotometry (microplate reader). The results showed high concentrations of vitamin C, organic acids and antioxidant activity in the seed jelly, organic acids in the pulp and phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and antioxidant activity in the shell. The main phenolics were ferulic acid, caffeic acid and luteolin, while the main carotenoids were lutein, B-cryptoxanthin and B-carotene. Multivariate analysis showed that tree tomato quality was mainly influenced by altitude and fruit part and that grafting positively affected soluble solids for both ecotypes and all altitudes.</jats:p>
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Evaluation of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in 51 Minor Tropical Fruits of Ecuador
(MDPI AG, 2023-12-11)
Elena Coyago-Cruz
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Aida Guachamin
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Michael Villacís
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Jason Rivera
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María Neto
<jats:p>Less common tropical fruits have been the subject of little research, leaving a vast field to be explored. In this context, a comprehensive study was carried out on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of 51 non-traditional fruits consumed in Ecuador. Vitamin C, organic acids, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds were evaluated using microextraction and rapid resolution liquid chromatography (RRLC) techniques, while antioxidant activity was measured using microplate readings. The results showed high levels of vitamin C (768.2 mg/100 g DW) in Dovyalis hebecarpa, total organic acids (37.2 g/100 g DW) in Passiflora tripartita, carotenoids (487.0 mg/100 g DW) in Momordica charantia, phenolic compounds (535.4 mg/g DW) in Nephelium lappaceum, Pourouma cecropiifolia (161.4 µmol TE/g DW) and Morus alba (80.5 µmol AAE/g DW) in antioxidant activity. Effective extraction of carotenoids was also observed using a mixture of methanol: acetone: dichloromethane (1:1:2) with an extraction time of 2 min, while an 80% solution of 0.1% acidified methanol with hydrochloric acid with an extraction time of 3 min was highly effective for phenolics in fruit. These results provide a valuable basis for optimising future extraction processes of bioactive compounds from non-traditional fruits, with significant implications for their potential use in various nutritional and pharmaceutical contexts.</jats:p>

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