Cristian Torres-León

Durante los últimos años, el mercado mundial del café ha sufrido cambios importantes, motivados por una demanda en constante aumento y por la evolución hacia un producto de calidad. El presente artículo analiza literatura sobre el mercado internacional del café, abordando la cadena de valor, el comercio global, las tendencias de consumo del café de especialidad y la volatilidad de los precios internacionales. La investigación se desarrolló mediante una revisión sistemática de literatura siguiendo el enfoque PRISMA. Los resultados evidencian una distribución desigual del valor dentro de la cadena global del café, donde los pequeños productores enfrentan limitaciones para capturar mayores beneficios económicos. En este contexto, se identifica la postcosecha como un eslabón estratégico para la captura de valor, destacando el potencial de procesos de fermentación controlada para mejorar la calidad del café y fortalecer la participación de los pequeños productores en segmentos de mayor valor agregado.

This study aimed to evaluate the substitution of wheat flour (WF) for grape (Vitis vinifera L.) pomace (GP) on cookie formulation. The techno-functional properties of GP flour (GPF) were characterized, and cookie formulations containing 15% (C15) and 20% (C20) GPF were developed. To evaluate the antioxidant and functional potential, free (FPF, soluble phenols) and bound phenolic fraction (BPF, insoluble phenols) were extracted. The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant potential (ABTS and DPPH assays) were measured. The GPF shows differences in oil and water retention, non-foaming properties, and non-significant differences in swelling capacity compared to WF. C15 and C20 show L* values from 27.9 to 36.2, b* values from 2.22 to 2.64, and a* values from 8.84 to 10.49. GPF addition elevates ash and fiber content by 3.5–4.2 and 14–31.6 times. GPF cookie (C15) exhibited a significantly higher TPC compared to WF. Although the FPF fraction in the cookies was higher compared to BPF, the contribution of BPF to antioxidant activity was high (DPPH = 29.9%, ABTS = 16.3%) compared to FPF (DPPH = 26.3%, ABTS = 20.3%). Given that FPF is traditionally the only antioxidant fraction measured, the antioxidant potential of incorporating grape by-products is being underestimated; this is the first report of this in a cookie.

Background and Aims: Buddleja scordioides and Flourensia cernua are plants traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal infection. They belong to the great diversity of medicinal plants in Mexico. The objective of this research was to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and phytochemical compound profile of hydroalcoholic extracts of Buddleja scordioides and Flourensia cernua.Methods: MIC was evaluated against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. Total polyphenol content (TPC) was quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, total flavonoid content (TFC) using the aluminum chloride colorimetric technique, and antioxidant activity (AA) using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP. Phytochemical compounds were analyzed using HPLC-MS.Key results: Buddleja scordioides showed moderate inhibition against Candida albicans at 1.87 mg/ml and 7.5 mg/ml, in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli it showed low inhibition at 15 mg/ml. Meanwhile, Flourensia cernua showed moderate activity against Candida albicans (3.75 mg/ml) and low inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (15 mg/ml). The highest concentration of TPC with 76.37±1.56 mg AGE/g, and in TFC with 42.03±0.98 mg QE/g. The AA of Flourensia cernua in DPPH and FRAP was 132.08±2.23 mg TE/g and 128.01±1.52 mg TE/g, respectively, with higher values than in Buddleja scordioides. Finally, Buddleja scordioides showed a higher value in ABTS with 142.25±19.06 mg TE/g compared to Flourensia cernua. In the identification of phytochemicals, the presence of caffeic acid, quercetin, and hydroxybenzoic acid was detected as components of Buddleja scordioides, and carnosol and gallic acid in the extract of Flourensia cernua.Conclusions: Hydroalcoholic extracts of Buddleja scordioides and Flourensia cernua showed antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Additionally, a high concentration of polyphenols and flavonoids led to significant antioxidant potential.

La lombricultura es una práctica agroecológica en la que se crían lombrices de tierra y se obtienen productos como la lombricompost y el humus líquido que se pueden usar como fertilizantes orgánicos. Esto resulta de la descomposición de la materia orgánica por parte de la lombriz, que convierte los residuos en un abono nutritivo para las plantas. Además, estos productos pueden ser sustitutos de fertilizantes sintéticos. Se considera a la lombricultura como una práctica sustentable, ya que tiene beneficios económicos, sociales y ambientales. En zonas áridas la lombricultura podría ser una alternativa sustentable, ya que el humus líquido y el vermicompost que genera puede usarse para cultivos o plantas que están en suelos con pocos nutrientes y con escasez de agua. Especialmente, la lombricultura podría implementarse con fines de autoconsumo o de comercio local en zonas rurales, donde las prácticas agrícolas son poco tecnificadas y no usan o usan muy pocos agroquímicos. Un caso de referencia es el lombricario del Centro de Investigación y Jardín Etnobiológico de la Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, localizado en Viesca, Coahuila. En este jardín a las plantas se les agrega el humus líquido y la lombricompost que se obtienen de este lombricario, El objetivo de este trabajo es exponer la experiencia obtenida en este jardín, pues podría ser una estrategia sustentable para otros modelos de aprovechamiento de los recursos vegetales en zonas áridas.

Oral diseases pose a major public health challenge, especially in low-income countries where dental care is limited due to high costs. In this context, phytotherapy has gained attention as a complementary approach due to its bacteriostatic, anti-inflammatory, healing, and analgesic properties. These therapeutic effects are mainly attributed to plant-derived bioactive metabolites, which interact with cellular structures, especially the plasma membrane, to modulate inflammation, stimulate tissue regeneration, and support antimicrobial defense. This review systematically examined the scientific literature to identify Latin American medicinal plants with therapeutic potential in dentistry. Based on their clinical and ethnobotanical applications, the analysis focused on species with anti-inflammatory, healing, analgesic, and relaxing effects, particularly in conditions such as dental pain, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Given the close relationship between pain, inflammation, and periodontal disease, these conditions cannot be studied in isolation. Gingivitis and periodontitis often present with painful symptoms and inflammatory responses that overlap with mechanisms of tissue damage and repair. Therefore, broadening the scope of this review allows for a more comprehensive understanding of how Latin American medicinal plants can contribute not only to pain relief but also to periodontal health, inflammation control, and wound healing. Fifty plant species were identified. Among these, 35 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity, 28 had healing properties, 20 showed analgesic effects, and 12 were associated with relaxing properties. Mexico accounted for the highest proportion of species (60%), followed by Colombia and Peru (54%) and then Brazil (32%). These percentages represent the proportion of plant species reported in studies originating from each country, relative to the total number of species identified in the review. The most studied species were Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (Lamiaceae), Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae), Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (Asphodelaceae), and Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae). Latin American medicinal plants demonstrate strong potential not only in dental therapy but also in the management of periodontal inflammation and oral diseases. However, further research and clinical validation are needed to ensure their safe integration into conventional treatments.

Medicinal plants are widely used in traditional medicine because of their bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. The semidesert Mexican species Flourensia cernua, Artemisia ludoviciana, and Phoradendron californicum have been traditionally employed as infusions for gastrointestinal disorders. In this study, chemical composition, infusion extraction, phytochemical profiling, antioxidant capacity, and antiparasitic and antibacterial activity were evaluated. The extracts were characterized via HPLC–MS, encapsulated in agar–agar beads, and subjected to in vitro simulated digestion. A. ludoviciana presented the highest content of hydrolysable and condensed tannins (5473.33 ± 305.5 mg GAE/100 g; 959.58 ± 14.6 mg CE/100 g, respectively). F. cernua presented the highest flavonoid concentration (582.67 ± 16.90 mg CE/100 g). The highest antioxidant activity was observed in P. californicum (IC₅₀ 74.18 ± 18.43 μg TE/mL in DPPH; IC₅₀ 333.38 ± 56.36 μg TE/mL in ABTS). In terms of antiparasitic effects, A. ludoviciana extracts presented the lowest IC₅₀ value (0.51 ± 0.01 mg/mL), indicating the highest antiparasitic activity. Antibacterial assays revealed that F. cernua had the greatest inhibitory effect on E. coli (79.60%) and S. aureus (78.40%). Encapsulation preserved extract integrity, although simulated digestion resulted in limited compound release, with hydrolysable tannins being the most released. Overall, P. californicum presented the strongest antioxidant response, and encapsulation was confirmed as an effective strategy to preserve extract integrity.

Wine is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages, produced from the fermentation of the grape Vitis vinifera. Currently, the wine industry is exploited worldwide in multiple regions, generating significant amounts of agro-industrial waste at different stages of the production chain. These wastes represent a source of environmental contamination due to the toxic nature of some of their compounds. From a biotechnological perspective, the by-products of the wine industry are an attractive source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in various fields, including food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The extraction of these compounds can be carried out using fermentation techniques that utilize microorganisms to facilitate the release and biotransformation of the desired metabolites through their enzymatic tools. This work provides a review of the history of the wine industry and its current activities, describes the wine production process, and outlines the waste generated during this process. The fermentation process is described as a biotechnological alternative for the valorization of these residues. This purpose enables their reintegration into the production chain through the extraction of high-value bioactive compounds with potential use as drugs in pharmacology.

En la boca se esconde un pequeño caos invisible: placa, bacterias y zonas inflamadas que, en personas con brackets u otros aparatos ortodónticos, pueden multiplicarse rápidamente. Frente a este ejército microscópico, surge un aliado inesperado: el propóleo. Las abejas lo crean mezclando resinas vegetales con cera y enzimas propias, y esta sustancia resinosa posee propiedades antimicrobianas, antiinflamatorias y cicatrizantes. Estudios recientes muestran que ayuda a reducir la placa, controlar la inflamación de encías, cicatrizar úlceras y prevenir complicaciones frecuentes en tratamientos de ortodoncia. Sus aplicaciones van más allá de un simple enjuague: geles y biopelículas permiten un cuidado más directo y eficaz de los tejidos bucales. Producto del trabajo milenario de las abejas, el propóleo se convierte en un aliado silencioso en la rutina de cuidado oral. ¿Cómo puede una sustancia tan diminuta cambiar la manera en que enfrentamos los retos de la ortodoncia?

Congenital developmental defects are among the postnatal consequences of early exposure to hydrogen peroxide or other teratogens that induce oxidative stress, highlighting a potential mechanistic link between oxidative stress, redox signaling, and developmental processes. This study evaluated the morphological and behavioral abnormalities induced by hydrogen peroxide in the Drosophila melanogaster model, as well as its teratogenic index. The results demonstrated that hydrogen peroxide induces morphological abnormalities in adult wings, legs, and abdomen, as well as necrosis and developmental disruptions during larval and pupal stages. A median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of 0.16% and a teratogenic index (TI) of 0.44 were calculated when considering anomalies at any development stage; a TI of 0.21 was obtained when considering only adult abnormalities. Regarding behavioral changes, an increase in locomotor activity was observed in both larvae and adults, with significantly greater activity recorded in adult females than in males. These findings suggest that hydrogen peroxide can induce both morphological and behavioral abnormalities in D. melanogaster, although it presents a low teratogenic index.