Search Results (270)

Agave species are plants with great economic value and multiple possibilities of use as ornamentals, medicinal plants, and fibers, as well as being significant sources of bioethanol. However, their long life cycles hinder their conventional breeding. Therefore, biotechnology tools are the most effective means for clonal propagation and genetic improvement. In vitro micropropagation of A. sisalana via axillary shoot proliferation from bulbil explants was attained using Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with cytokinins (CKs), such as 6-benzyladenine (BA), kinetin (KIN), or thidiazuron (TDZ). The optimum significant shoot proliferation (14.67 shoots/explant) was achieved on 1.0 mg L⁻¹ TDZ. The carry-over effect of CKs on subsequent rooting could be detected. Control and KIN treatments could enhance the rooting of shoots on shoot proliferation media. The regenerated plantlets were acclimatized directly with 100% survival. To mitigate this carry-over effect, that causes hindering further root growth and development, and promote healthy growth of roots, subculturing shoots onto a CK-free medium is a recommended practice. The shoots induced on all BA treatments, and TDZ at 0.5 and 1.0 mg L⁻¹ could be rooted after two subcultures on CK-free medium, then they were acclimatized with 100% survival. However, the higher concentrations of TDZ inhibited in vitro rooting even after two subcultures on CK-free medium, and the acclimatization percentage was reduced by increasing the TDZ concentration recorded from 10 to 0%. Full article

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are short fructans with different degrees of polymerization (DP) and bonds in their structure, generated by the distinct activities of fructosyltransferase enzymes, which produce distinct types of links. FOS are in high demand on the market, mainly because of their prebiotic effects. In recent years, depending on the link type in the FOS structure, prebiotic activity has been shown to be increased. Studies on β-fructanofuranosidases (Ffasa), enzymes with fructosyltransferase activity in yeasts, have reported the production of ¹F-FOS, ⁶F-FOS, and ⁶G-FOS. The aims of this investigation were to evaluate the capability of fifteen different yeasts to grow in Agave sp. juices and to determine the potential of these juices as substrates for FOS production. Additionally, the research aimed to corroborate and analyze the fructosyltransferase activity of enzymatic extracts obtained from agave yeasts by distinct induction media and to identify the role and optimal parameters (time and sucrose and glucose concentrations) for FOS and disaccharides production through Box–Behnken designs. To carry out such a task, different techniques were employed: FT-IR, TLC, and HPAEC-PAD. We found two yeasts with fructosyltransferase activity, P. kudriavzevii ITMLB97 and C. lusitaniae ITMLB85. In addition, within the most relevant results, the production of the FOS 1-kestose, 6-kestose, and neokestose, as well as disaccharides inulobiose, levanobiose, and blastose, molecules with potential applications, was determined. Overall, FOS production requires suitable yeast species, which grow in a medium under optimal conditions, from which microbial enzymes with industrial potential can be obtained. Full article

Feed supplementation strategies are essential for optimizing cattle productivity, and the incorporation of non-conventional feed resources may reduce both production costs and environmental impact. This study evaluated the effects of pelletized protein concentrates (including Acacia farnesiana, A. schaffneri, and Agave duranguensis bagasse) on rumen fermentation parameters, microbial communities, and gas emissions. Fistulated bullocks received the concentrate daily, and ruminal contents were collected and filtered before and after supplementation to assess in vitro gas and methane production, pH, and microbial composition using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and mcrA amplicons. In addition, in situ degradability was evaluated during and after the supplementation period. Supplementation led to a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in degradability parameters and methane production, along with a marked decrease in the abundance of Methanobrevibacter and an increase in succinate-producing taxa. These effects were attributed to the enhanced levels of non-fiber carbohydrates, hemicellulose, crude protein, and the presence of bioactive secondary metabolites and methanol. Rumen microbiota composition was consistent with previously described core communities, and mcrA-based sequencing proved to be a valuable tool for targeted methanogen detection. Overall, the inclusion of non-conventional ingredients in protein concentrates may improve ruminal fermentation efficiency and contribute to methane mitigation in ruminants, although further in vivo trials on a larger scale are recommended. Full article

Raicilla is a distinctive Mexican beverage produced in two central regions of Jalisco. This study aimed to analyze the physicochemical parameters of 25 raicilla alcoholic drinks originating from the Coast and Sierra regions. Each of the 25 raicilla brands underwent measurements of pH, conductivity, alcohol content, total solids, viscosity, sound velocity, density, and refractive index. Notably, these measurements are cost-effective and their analysis is straightforward. The results were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. According to the PCA, two main components were identified, explaining 81.77% of the total variability of the physicochemical measurements of the distinct Coast and Sierra regions. Furthermore, applying Fisher’s LSD to the Sierra raicilla cluster allowed for the identification of variations. Specifically, samples from the Sierra zone groups were identified through cluster analysis, demonstrating similarities in physicochemical parameters; both statistical methods indicated no significant differences in the physicochemical parameters between a more acidic pH, higher conductivity, and greater density than those from the Coast zone. After the analysis was carried out, it was possible to find similarities and differences between the raicilla produced in the two regions, so it is possible to assume that using these results could facilitate the authentication of raicilla. Full article

This study evaluated the viability of using the solid residues (bagasse) of the mezcal industry produced with Agave durangensis as a substrate for biogas production, using two chemical pretreatments, acid (HCl) and alkaline (KOH + Ca(OH)₂), to enhance its biodegradability and improve the anaerobic digestion (AD) process. The chemical composition of bagasse was analyzed before and after the chemical pretreatments and then AD experiments were conducted in anaerobic sequential batch reactors (A-SBR) to analyze the effect of pretreatments on biogas production performance. The results showed that acid pretreatment increased cellulose content to 0.606 g, which represented an increase of 34%, and significantly reduced hemicellulose. In contrast, alkaline pretreatment did not show significant changes in cellulose composition, although it caused a swelling of the Agave durangensis mezcal bagasse (Ad-MB) fibers. In terms of biogas production, Ad-MB pretreated with acid (Ad-MB-acid) increased cumulative production by 76% compared to the Agave durangensis mezcal bagasse that was not pretreated (Ad-MB-not pretreated) and by 135% compared to Agave durangensis mezcal bagasse pretreated with an alkaline solution (Ad-MB-alkaline). These results confirmed that Agave durangensis solid waste from the mezcal industry that receives acidic chemical pretreatment has the potential to generate biogas as a sustainable biofuel that can be used to reduce the ecological footprint of this industry. Full article

Background/Objectives: The formulation of microspheres for lipophilic drugs using aqueous methods, such as spray drying, faces significant challenges. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the process parameters and polymer selection on the production of microspheres by spray drying for a lipophilic drug. Methods: Lipophilic drug-loaded microspheres were developed using various polymers via the aqueous spray drying method. The effects of the factors on the yield percentage and encapsulation efficiency were analyzed. Microspheres preparation included Agave inulin, guar gum, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and Eudragit^® S100. A 2³ factorial design was performed, and the parameters were optimized. Results: Inlet temperature, feed flow, and polymer percentage showed a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the yield percentage of guar gum microspheres and encapsulation efficiency of the inulin microspheres. Inulin and guar gum microspheres showed the best yield percentage (75.41%) and encapsulation efficiency (100%), respectively. In addition, guar gum microspheres had the best morphology, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose microspheres were smaller and had an irregular surface. Eudragit did not maintain its delayed release property due to limitations of the aqueous method; inulin released the drug immediately, and guar gum and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose microspheres prolonged release only by a few additional hours. Conclusions: The experimental design showed that optimizing the parameters (inlet temperature, feed flow, and the type and percentage of polymer) can regulate the microsphere development process to obtain improved product yield and encapsulation efficiency results. Full article

Edible flowers are gaining recognition as rich sources of nutrients and phytochemicals. In Mexico, the flower of Agave inaequidens has been traditionally consumed since pre-Hispanic times. This study investigated its nutritional profile and the in vitro gastrointestinal bioaccessibility of its phenolic fraction. During in vitro digestion (oral, gastric, and intestinal), the total phenolic content of A. inaequidens significantly decreased from 138 to 21 mg GAE/100 g DW (15.22% bioaccessibility), while total flavonoid content dropped from 8 to 4.6 mg CE/100 g DW (57.5% bioaccessibility). Consequently, antioxidant activity, assessed by ABTS, DPPH, and hemolysis inhibition assays, also declined post-digestion. Interestingly, the digestive process modulated the flower’s inhibitory activity against digestive enzymes before and after in vitro digestion: α-amylase inhibition slightly decreased (IC₅₀ 1.8 to 2.1 mg/mL), but α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ 2.7 to 1.6 mg/mL) and lipase (IC₅₀ > 3 to 1.4 mg/mL) inhibition increased. The A. inaequidens flower is a good source of fiber and low in fat. These findings underscore its potential as a functional food ingredient, offering bioaccessible phenolic compounds with antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties. Full article

Biopesticides represent a safe and sustainable strategy for biological pest management, applicable to weed and fungal control. Biotechnological processing offers a promising approach to enhance the bioactivity of natural products for agricultural use. In this study, guishe juice, an agroindustrial residue derived from Agave lechuguilla, was bioprocessed via inoculation with Fusarium chlamydosporum, and its fungicidal and herbicidal potentials were evaluated. The fungal biotransformation led to the accumulation of phytochemicals, including flavonoids and polyphenols, significantly enhancing antioxidant activity to 76% and 96% as measured by DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. The resulting bioprocessed guishe extract (BGE), particularly at 10% concentration (BGE-10), exhibited strong fungicidal activity, achieving 100% control of phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium spp. and Penicillium spp. Additionally, BGE-10 demonstrated a bioherbicidal effect, with a 77% weed control rate against Verbesina encelioides. These findings emphasize the potential of bioprocessed agave residues as dual-action bioagents, supporting the development of novel, eco-friendly agricultural solutions. Full article

Sustainable rural development seeks to balance social, economic, and environmental needs in rural areas, improving the quality of life of communities and the long-term protection of natural resources. Indigenous local solutions give place to grassroots entrepreneurial initiatives, which together with associative and economic integration are key factors for agricultural production, transformation of products, self-consumption, and commercialization. This study was done in Hñähñu communities with the aim to test if participative workshops based on detonating questions are an effective approach for developing entrepreneurship agriculture initiatives of self-managed social enterprises. The initiatives were proposed by the communities to solve local problems. Three initiatives arose: (1) a community seed bank of local species associated with the Milpa including agave; (2) reforestation with agave to produce agave shoots, leaves, and sap; and (3) a company to produce agave-sap syrup. The participants, based on their traditional knowledge, developed the projects, including economic evaluation, risk analysis, and environmental aspects. Some impacts are the conservation of soil and endangered landraces, accessibility to quality seeds not commercially available, building of local organizational and entrepreneurial capacities, strengthening the community, improving the family’s income, recovery of traditional agroecological techniques, and conservation of agrobiodiversity. In conclusion, the methodology is effective for the Indigenous communities to develop initiatives for sustainable self-managed social enterprises. Full article

Background/Objectives: Agave amica (Medik.) Thiede & Govaerts (Asparagaceae family) is an ornamental bulbous species, widely used for its fragrance but less studied as a medicinal species. This study is aimed at assessing the phenolic profile and selected biological properties of ethanolic extracts obtained from the aerial parts and bulbs of A. amica cultivated in Romania. Methods: The phenolic composition was characterized by spectrophotometric methods and LC/MS analysis. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity) and FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) tests, while the in vitro antimicrobial capacity was investigated by the agar-well diffusion, the broth microdilution, and the antibiofilm assays. Cytotoxicity was tested on a colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (DLD-1) by a CCK-8 assay. Results: Both ethanolic extracts showed important polyphenol content and caffeic acid as their main compound. Significantly higher amounts of total polyphenols (44.25 ± 1.08 mg/g), tannins (12.55 ± 0.34 mg/g), flavonoids (9.20 ± 0.19 mg/g), caffeic acid derivatives (19.95 ± 0.05 mg/g), and also antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 0.82 ± 0.02 mg/mL, and 79.75 ± 1.80 µM TE/g, respectively) were found for the aerial parts extract compared to the bulbs one (p < 0.001). Notable anti-Candida albicans activity and moderate efficacy against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were displayed by both extracts against planktonic cells and biofilm. A dose-dependent cytotoxicity towards the colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line was recorded as well. Conclusions: This study brings novelty to the scientific literature by characterizing the phenolic profile and in vitro antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities of the ethanolic extracts obtained from A. amica, thus highlighting this herbal species’s medicinal potential. Full article

Research on using biochar as an adsorbent of contaminants in aqueous matrices has gained significant relevance in recent years due to the surface chemistry and porous structure of biochar, which facilitate the retention of a wide range of pollutants. This study explores the adsorption performance of a novel biochar produced from agave bagasse—a readily available agro-industrial waste in Mexico—through low-temperature pyrolysis. The biochar was evaluated for its capacity to remove conventional water quality parameters (chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrates (NO₃⁻), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), ammonium (NH₄⁺), turbidity, apparent color, and true color) from water samples collected from the polluted Bustillos Lagoon in Chihuahua, Mexico. Additionally, the removal of emerging pharmaceutical contaminants, specifically acetaminophen (Act) and diclofenac (Dfc), was assessed in synthetic aqueous solutions. Potentiometric titration analyses revealed a significant contribution of surface acidity in the adsorption of pharmaceutical derivatives, highlighting the relevance of functional groups retained during low-temperature pyrolysis. The biochar derived from agave bagasse (BBAF1) was tested in a fixed-bed column system and compared with two commercial activated carbons (CACCF2 and CVCF3). The BBAF1 biochar achieved average removal efficiencies ranging from 50% to 90% for all conventional parameters. In contrast, those of ACT and DFC were between 0.43 and 0.67 mg g⁻¹ (59–85%) and 0.34 and 0.62 mg g⁻¹ (37–79%), respectively, demonstrating their potential as an adsorbent material for improving water quality. This work supports the development of circular economic strategies by valorizing agricultural residues while offering an effective solution to environmental pollution challenges. Full article

The process of obtaining Agave L. fibers dates back to pre-Hispanic times, and although humans have obtained different products from this crop, to date, the impact of humans (artificial selection, domestication and intensive cultivation) on these species is unknown. In this study, the expression of the CesA gene was evaluated in three species, namely, Agave L, A. sisalana Perrine and A. fourcroydes Lem. (Sac ki), both of which are used for fiber production, and Agave tequilana Weber. The results revealed that, compared with A. fourcroydes and A. tequilana, A. sisalana had a greater leaf area, a significantly greater cellulose content and a greater number of cellulose fibrils. In terms of cell organization, the number and size of sclerenchyma fibers were similar between A. sisalana and A. fourcroydes. However, the relative expression of the CesA gene was five times greater in A. fourcroydes than in A. sisalana and A. tequilana, in contrast with the number of copies in those genomes. In addition, the tertiary structure of the CESA protein in fiber-producing species was modeled, placing agaves in a group along with Populus, Linum, Corchorus and Boehmeria. The haplotype network analysis revealed that A. tequilana is closely grouped with species of the order Poales, unlike the rest of the fiber-producing agaves, which formed a unique cluster. These findings suggest that artificial selection by humans, for various purposes, has contributed to the specialization of genes associated with traits such as fiber production. Full article

Brazil is considered one of the world’s most important sisal fiber producers (derived from Agave sisalana), with areas concentrated in the Bahia state. There has been a movement in agriculture toward a circular economic system (take-produce-consume-recycle). Based on this idea, the focus of this study was: (i) to estimate the theoretical available amount of sisal residues based on fiber and area productions; (ii) to monitor the use of sisal residues for improving sisal plant growth; and (iii) to monitor the residue stocks on surface soil with the application of sisal residues. Areas of sisal were visited periodically, monitoring the application of sisal residue on the soil surface. The results showed that there is an expressive production of sisal residues, mainly of green liquid, sisal pulp, and sisal ball. The application of sisal pulp on the soil surface, close to sisal plants, is an optimal alternative to improve sisal leaf development. The application of sisal residues on soil increased 50% of residue stocks with sizes lower than 10 cm. Based on the results, we concluded that the sisal residues have a great potential for improving sisal plant growth and soil residue stocks. More studies are required to improve circular agriculture in the sisal sector. Full article

This article presents a tentative proposal for biodiversity and endemic agave species conservation from a cultural anthropology perspective based on qualitative ethnographic research with a mezcal-producing community in Oaxaca, Mexico, and a comparative analysis of broader scientific research regarding agaves and mezcal production throughout Mexico. I argue that there is an urgent necessity for the implementation of processes of what I call “rewilding” in the mezcal market. Rewilding entails the development and application of locally based strategies that focus on feasible practices of environmental sustainability that can ensure the future of mezcal and the socioeconomic security of those who produce it while protecting biodiversity as follows: reducing the overall rate of mezcal production, establishing practical collaborative networks, implementing feasible reforestation programs, the replanting of endemic agave species, and water-recycling strategies, avoiding the piracy and illegal sale of wild and endangered agave species as well as massive monoculture agave planting projects, and by promoting a return to more “homemade” mezcal production techniques. Full article

Traditional methods of synthesizing nanoparticles often rely on physical and chemical processes using synthetic hazardous chemicals. In contrast, the rise in green chemistry emphasizes using bioactive compounds from plants for the eco-friendly synthesis of nanostructures. These green synthesis techniques are increasingly recognized for their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and ability to yield non-toxic by-products, an approach that aligns with sustainable practices. In this research, a straightforward, cheap, environmentally friendly, and sustainable procedure was developed to fabricate Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) employing three different pulp extracts: Agave (Agave americana), Chiku (Manilkara zapota), and Soursop (Annona muricata) to serve in the synthesis as capping, reduction, or stabilization agent. Analytical characterization techniques confirmed the successful phytosynthesis of ZnO-NPs, evidenced by significant absorbance peaks of UV-Vis spectra at 362 nm, and the chemical composition of ZnO without noticeable traces of phytochemical residues by carrying out ATR-FTIR analysis. SEM, STEM microscopies, and XRD analysis verified that the ZnO nanoparticles possess spherical geometries and hexagonal crystal structures. The average size of these nanoparticles was around 15.94, 18.08, and 23.32 nm for Agave, Chiku, and Soursop extract-based synthesis, respectively. Additionally, the in vitro antibacterial activity of phytosynthetized ZnO-NPs was evaluated against E. coli and S. aureus, confirming effective bacterial growth inhibition and demonstrating their significant antimicrobial potential. Full article