Search Results (67)

This research analyzes the innovative development of carnauba wax coatings enriched with essential oils (EOs: lemon, orange, grapefruit, clove, oregano, and cinnamon) or fruit by-products (FBPs: avocado, tomato, carrot, orange, lemon, and grapefruit) to improve postharvest preservation of organic oranges and lemons. Six EOs and six FBPs were evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC) and in vitro antifungal activity against Penicillium digitatum. Based on results, grapefruit, oregano, and clove EOs were selected for lemons, while avocado, orange, and grapefruit FBPs were selected for oranges. An in vivo test at 20 °C for 15 days with carnauba wax coatings assessed antifungal performance. Clove EO and avocado FBP showed strong in vitro inhibition and consistent hyphal suppression (~100 and ~82%, respectively). In vivo, coatings with grapefruit EO and avocado FBP significantly reduced fungal decay and sporulation (~75%) in lemons and oranges, respectively. Coated fruits also retained weight losses by ~25% compared to uncoated ones. These findings suggest that phenolic-rich natural extracts, especially from agro-industrial residues like avocado peels, offer a promising and sustainable strategy for postharvest citrus disease control. Further studies should test coating effectiveness in large-scale trials under refrigeration combined with other preservation strategies. Full article

Persea americana (avocado) is a healthy fruit, rich in unsaturated fatty acids, various minerals, and vitamins. As avocado cultivation continues to expand globally, its development is increasingly constrained by concomitant diseases, among which fruit rot and anthracnose have emerged as significant threats to fruit quality. Menglian in Yunnan Province is the largest avocado production area in China. In November 2024, fruit rot was observed on avocado fruits in Yunnan, China, characterized by reddish-brown discoloration, premature ripening, softening, and pericarp decay, with a field infection rate of 22%. Concurrently, anthracnose was detected in avocado fruits, presenting as small dark brown spots that developed into irregular rust-colored lesions, followed by dry rot depressions, ultimately leading to soft rot, peeling, or hardened dry rot, with a field infection rate of 15%. Infected fruit samples were collected, and fungal strains were isolated, purified, and inoculated via spore suspension, followed by re-isolation. The strains were conclusively identified as Diaporthe phaseolorum (SWFU20, SWFU21) and Colletotrichum fructicola (SWFU12, SWFU13) through an integrated approach combining DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing, phylogenetic reconstruction, and morphological characterization. This is the first report of D. phaseolorum causing fruit rot and C. fructicola causing anthracnose on avocado in China. In future research, we will test methods for the control of D. phaseolorum and C. fructicola. The identification of these pathogens provides a foundation for future disease management research, supporting the sustainable development of the avocado industry. Full article

Background: Avocado (Persea americana) peels account for ~20% of the fruit weight and are rich in bioactive compounds, offering significant revalorization potential. This study optimized the extraction parameters of phenolics using ultrasound- (UAE) and microwave-assisted technologies (MAE) with a Central Composite Design (CCD). Methods: The extraction variables included EtOH concentration (0–100%), temperature (13–47 °C for UAE and 55–95 °C for MAE), and time (3–37 min for UAE and 3–27 min for MAE). Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total phenolic compounds (TPC) were measured, while individual phenolics were analyzed via HPLC/MS. Results: EtOH concentration was the most influential variable, with optimal conditions involving 94.55% EtOH and moderate temperatures over short times (45 °C for 5 min in UAE and 67 °C for 12 min in MAE). Both techniques yielded comparable results for effective conditions, though MAE required higher temperatures and longer times. In this sense, the data show that UAE extracted higher concentrations of procyanidins (+15%), demonstrating superior performance using a lower time and temperature, making it more efficient. Conclusions: UAE and MAE effectively extract antioxidants, promoting sustainability in the agri-food sector. Full article

One of the world’s most sustainable solutions is to replace fossil-based polymers with biopolymers. The production of xanthan gum can be optimized using various renewable and cost-effective raw materials, which is a key focus in industrial biotechnology. Xanthan gum is a bioengineered thickening, stabilizing, and emulsifying agent. It has unique properties for use in many industries (food, biotechnology, petrochemicals, agricultural, cosmetics, wastewater treatment) and medical applications. It is tasteless, environmentally safe, non-toxic, and biodegradable. The biotechnological production of xanthan gum depends on several factors: bacterial strain development, culture medium preparation, carbon sources, fermentation parameters and modes, pH, temperature, recovery, purification, and quality control regulations. Bio-innovative strategies have been developed to optimize the production of xanthan gum. A variety of carbon and nitrogen sources, as well as alternative renewable sources, have been used in the production of xanthan gum. The aim of the present study was to optimize the xanthan gum yield using Xanthomonas campestris bacteria and different carbon (D-glucose, D-sorbitol, lactose, sucrose, D-mannitol, D-fructose, erythritol, coconut palm sugar, L-arabinose, unrefined cane sugar), various nitrogen (bacterial peptone, casein peptone, L-glutamic acid, L-arginine, L-methionine, L-tryptophan, malt extract, meat extract, L-phenylalanine, soy peptone) and alternative carbon (orange peels, tangerine peels, lemon peels, avocado peels, melon peels, apple peels, cellulose, xylose, xylitol) sources. The xanthan gum samples were analyzed using antioxidant methods. Our study showed that using L-glutamic acid as the carbon source for 72 h of bacterial fermentation of Xanthomonas campestris resulted in the highest xanthan gum yield: 32.34 g/L. However, using renewable resources, we achieved a very high concentration of xanthan gum in just 24 h of fermentation. According to the reducing power and DPPH methods, the highest antioxidant activities were measured for xanthan gum whose biosynthesis was based on renewable resources. Xanthan gum structures have been verified by FT-IR and ¹H NMR analysis. The sustainable biotechnology study has the advantage of increasing the sustainable production of xanthan gum by using renewable alternative resources compared to other production processes. Xanthan gum continues to be a valuable biopolymer with a wide range of industrial applications while promoting environmentally friendly production practices. Full article

Avocado is a rich source of numerous nutrients, such as micro- and macroelements, essential unsaturated fatty acids, and vitamins essential for the correct functioning of the body. Consequently, its consumption has significantly increased in recent years. The primary edible part of the fruit is the flesh, while the seed is still considered biowaste. Currently, various methods for utilization of this biowaste are being explored, prompting the authors of this work to investigate the catalytic properties of ground avocado seeds. Dried, ground avocado seeds were used as the catalyst in the environmentally friendly oxidation of limonene with oxygen. The process was carried out in mild conditions, without the use of any solvent and at atmospheric pressure. The studies examined the influence of temperature (70–110 °C), the amount of the catalyst (0.5–5.0 wt%), and the reaction time (15–360 min). The analyses of the post-reaction mixtures were performed using the gas chromatography method (GC). The maximum value of the conversion of limonene obtained during the tests was 36 mol%. The main products of this process were as follows: 1,2-epoxylimonene, carveol, and perillyl alcohol. Also, the following compounds were determined in the post-reaction mixtures: carvone and 1,2-epoxylimonene diol. The studied process is interesting, taking into account both the management of waste in the form of avocado seeds and possible wide applications of limonene transformation products in medicine, cosmetics and the food industry. Given that limonene is now increasingly being extracted from waste orange peels, this is also a good way to manage the future naturally derived limonene and reduce the amount of waste orange peels. The presented studies fit perfectly with the goals of sustainable development and circular economy and may be the basis for the future development of “green technology” for obtaining value-added oxygenated derivatives of limonene. These studies show the use of waste biomass in the form of avocado seeds to obtain a green catalyst. In this context, our research presents an effective way of waste valorization. Full article

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by the inflammation of synovial fluid. The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is increasing in RA patients. This research is the first report to investigate the anti-arthritic effect of avocado peel nutraceutical (APN) and its potential in mitigating the cardiovascular risk associated with RA. The antioxidant activity and phytochemical composition of APN were assessed. The potential interaction of APN’s active compounds with protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) was studied using molecular docking. The impact of APN on the plasma lipid profile, oxidative and inflammatory markers, and the indices of coronary risk and atherogenicity as CVD markers were evaluated. The gene expression of COX-2, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and TNF-α in liver and spleen tissues were measured. The rat gut microbiota profile was investigated using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. APN exhibited high antioxidant activity, low atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices, and a high ratio of hypocholesterolemic to hypercholesterolemic fatty acids indicating its cardioprotective potential. The administration of APN led to a reduction in oxidative stress markers, inflammatory markers, dyslipidemia, and CVD markers. APN administration downregulated the expression of COX-2, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α genes, while the IL-10 gene was significantly upregulated in the liver and spleen. Treatment with APN was favorable in restoring eubiosis in the gut by modulating RA-associated bacterial taxa linked to impaired immune function and cardiometabolic diseases. In molecular docking, β-amyrin and ellagic acid showed the highest binding affinity for PTPN22. APN may represent a promising approach to ameliorating the cardiovascular risk of RA. The present results will be offering a foundation for future in-depth research in nutraceuticals from agriculture by-products. Additionally, they will be supporting the public health policies aimed at preventing and controlling rheumatoid arthritis. Full article

Carbon quantum dots (CQD) are an emergent nanomaterial with unique optical and biological properties. However, the purification of CQD is one of the bottlenecks that makes it difficult to scale for application in different areas. In this work, we explore for the first time the potential of centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) as an alternative preparative technology to achieve the purification of CQD at the gram scale. The hydrothermal method was used to synthesize CQD from avocado peels. After 6 h at 250 °C, a complex mix of strong blue-fluorescent CQDs were obtained and submitted to CPC fractionation without pretreatment. The best results were obtained with the solvent system n-hexane–ethyl acetate–methanol–water (1:2:1:2, v/v/v/v), in an elution-extrusion protocol. Nine fractions were obtained and were characterized by UV-VIS spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared (F-TIR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), confirming the presence of CQD of different sizes. CPC fractionations indicate that a polarity-based separation mechanism can be used to purify CQD. Interestingly, four fractions showed antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects on Pseudomonas putida and Listeria monocytogenes. Therefore, CPC allows for better refining of this type of nanomaterial, and in combination with other techniques, it would serve to obtain CQD of higher purity, facilitating the physicochemical and bioactivity characterization of these particles. CPC would also allow the use of waste, such as avocado peels, to obtain new materials. Full article

Avocado landraces have gained great interest due to their importance in maintaining biodiversity and the presence of bioactive compounds in their fruit, depending on fruit tissues or ripening stages. This study aimed to evaluate the morpho-physicochemical and nutritional components of the peel, pulp, and seed tissues from Lagunero (LA) and Criollo (CA) avocado landraces at different ripening stages. Additionally, phenolic profiles were analyzed by using UPLC-DAD/ESI-MS, and a principal component analysis (PCA) was constructed to determine variations among the determined contents from avocado landraces, fruit tissues, and ripening stages. The CA showed a 30% higher fruit weight and higher percentages of seed (0.52%) and peel (3.62%) weight yields as compared to the LA. Ripening significantly affected the physical characteristics of LA and CA, and a substantial decrease in hardness (83%) after 4 days of storage. In LA, ripening resulted in an increase in fat content in both the peel and pulp. In contrast, CA showed an increase in protein content in the peel and pulp but a decrease in seeds; fat content increased significantly in the pulp of CA and carbohydrates remained the predominant component in all tissues, though they decreased slightly in CA peels during ripening. The ripe LA peel presented approximately 50% more total phenolic compounds than other tissues. The unripe CA peel showed a higher antioxidant capacity according to DPPH (3831.97 µMol Eq Trolox/g dw) and ABTS+ (3674.70 µMol Eq Trolox/g dw) assays. The main phenolic compounds identified in the avocado peel were chlorogenic acid, catechin, quercetin-3-O-hexoside, quercetin-3-O-pentoside, coumaric acid, caffeic acid, neochlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, kaempferol-3-O rhamnoside, and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside. The PCA analysis revealed a strong correlation between chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid with TPC, while catechin was more closely related to antioxidant activity. These findings suggest that peel and seed tissues of avocado landraces, often considered byproducts, are valuable sources of bioactive compounds with high antioxidant potential. Full article

The release of tannery wastewater contributes to chromium (Cr) pollution globally. Herein, we conduct a novel consolidation of research from the Arequipa region of southern Peru that integrates university theses written in Spanish alongside peer-reviewed journal articles. The objective is to provide a place-based complement to existing research in English scientific journals focused on effective tools for Cr treatment from tannery wastewater. Our consolidation categorized a total of 75 publications (70 theses and five peer-reviewed) into five distinct strategies for Cr treatment: adsorption (twenty-three studies), phytoremediation (eighteen studies), bioremediation (thirteen studies), electrocoagulation (five studies), and other techniques (fifteen studies). This synthesis highlighted potentially promising approaches that could be sustainably tailored to regional resources and waste products. This includes sorptive materials derived from food waste such as native achiote peels (B. orellana) and avocado seeds (P. americana) either used directly or as a feedstock for biochar. Other technologies include phytoremediation using microalgae and resident vascular plants and microbial bioremediation that capitalizes on indigenous bacteria and fungi. Promise was also discerned in studies that incorporated a combination of abiotic and biotic mechanisms tailored toward the region, such as infiltration using selective and bioactive materials, wetlands, solar distillation, iron-based coagulation and flocculation, and bioreactors. These findings provide a sustainable complement to prior global investigations for effective attenuation strategies by adding novel materials and techniques that could be further explored to assess the viability of implementation at pilot and larger scales. These promising technologies and the ability to tailor sustainable treatments toward local resources highlight the opportunity to prioritize the treatment of tannery wastewater to ensure a cleaner environment by informing policy makers, academics, and industry on technologies that could be adopted for implementation in the region. Full article

The growing global population has led to increased food consumption and a significant amount of food waste, including the non-consumed parts of fruits (e.g., stems, rinds, peels, seeds). Despite their nutrient richness, these by-products are often discarded. With the rising interest in nutrient-dense foods for health benefits, fruit by-products have potential as nutritious ingredients. Upcycling, which repurposes waste materials, is one solution. White flour, which is common in food products like bread and pasta, has good functional properties but poor nutritional value. This can be enhanced by blending white flour with fruit by-product flours, creating functional, nutrient-rich mixtures. This review explores using flours from common Brazilian fruit by-products (e.g., jaboticaba, avocado, guava, mango, banana, jackfruit, orange, pineapple, and passion fruit) and their nutritional, physical–chemical properties, quality and safety, and applications. Partially replacing wheat flour with fruit flour improves its nutritional value, increasing the amount of fiber, protein, and carbohydrates present in it. However, higher substitution levels can alter color and flavor, impacting the sensory appeal and acceptability. While studies showed the potential of fruit by-product flours in food formulation, there is limited research on their long-term health impacts. Full article

In Colombia, different varieties of avocados are produced. In the Montes de María region, Creole-Antillean avocados are grown, but part of the production is lost due to the presence of fungi and pests, lacking marketing strategies, poor road conditions, and other factors. For this reason, we propose utilizing avocados under the concept of biorefinery to produce value-added products such as bio-oil, biopesticide, and chlorophyll from the pulp, seed, and peel, respectively. The objective is to evaluate the safety of establishing an avocado biorefinery by determining the inherent safety index of the chemical processes. The process inherent safety index is a methodology that allows the assessment of processes in the conceptual design stages. This technique identifies the characteristics of the process by determining the properties of the chemical substances, maximum operating conditions, types of equipment, construction materials, reported accidents, and other relevant factors. In the present study, the safety performance of the process is observed. A total inherent safety index of 18 points was obtained, indicating that the process is viable from a safety perspective if we compare it to the permitted limit of 24 points. This is because the process does not represent a considerable safety hazard, though some precautions must be taken due to the maximum operating temperature of 81 °C. Additionally, the chemical substances (methanol, acetone, and ethanol) necessary for obtaining bio-oil, chlorophyll, and biopesticide must be handled appropriately. Full article

Botanically speaking, avocado (Persea americana) is a fruit. It consists of a single large seed surrounded by a creamy, smooth-textured edible mesocarp or pulp covered by a thick, bumpy skin. Avocado is a nutrient-dense fruit, containing a range of bioactive compounds which have been independently associated with cardiovascular health. These compounds have been obtained from the pulp, peel, and seed. This narrative review summarizes the current understanding of the cardioprotective potential of avocado fruit, especially the pulp and seed, and its food products, and examines the biological mechanism behind it. Full article

In recent years, the environmental evaluation of biorefineries has become critical for ensuring sustainable practices in bio-based production systems. This study focuses on the application of the Waste Reduction (WAR) Algorithm to assess the environmental impacts of an Extractive-based Creole-Antillean Avocado Biorefinery located in Northern Colombia, aimed at producing bio-oil, chlorophyll, and biopesticide from avocado pulp, peel, and seed, respectively. The environmental impacts were evaluated using the WAR algorithm, which quantifies the potential environmental impacts (PEI) of different process streams. The following four scenarios were developed: (1) considering only waste, (2) including waste and products, (3) including waste and energy sources, and (4) incorporating waste, products, and energy consumption. This study analyzed global impacts focusing on atmospheric and toxicological categories, with a detailed assessment of the most critical scenario. The results indicated that Scenario 4 had the highest PEI, particularly in the atmospheric and toxicological categories, driven by emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), greenhouse gases (GHGs), and the presence of heavy metals. However, the avocado biorefinery process demonstrated a net reduction in overall environmental impacts, with negative PEI generation rates across all scenarios, suggesting that the biorefinery transforms high-impact substances into products with lower global impact potential. Energy consumption emerged as a significant contributor to environmental impacts, particularly in acidification potential (AP) and Atmospheric Toxicity Potential (ATP). Using natural gas as an energy source had a relatively lower environmental impact compared to coal and liquid fuels, emphasizing the need to optimize energy use in biorefinery design to improve environmental performance. Full article

Nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation of the proton spins of liquid molecules and their evolution during processes such as drying, fluid flow, and phase change of a sample can be monitored in a nondestructive way. A unilateral ¹H NMR sensor made with a permanent magnet array, inspired by the NMR MOUSE, with an RF coil tuned to 11.71 MHz was developed. This creates a sensitive homogeneous measuring volume parallel to the sensor surface and located 14 mm from its surface, allowing contactless measurements from the sample’s interior. As this sensitive volume is moved across the sample using a semi-automatic linear displacement mechanism with millimetric precision, spatial T₂ lifetime and signal intensity 1D profiles can be obtained. To characterize the sensor’s sensitive volume, eraser samples were used. To evaluate the sensor’s ability to characterize different materials, cement paste samples containing ordinary and white Portland cement were prepared and measured at seven days of age. In addition, measurements were made on organic samples such as a Hass avocado and beef steak. Based on the results, a 1 mm spatial resolution of the sensor was achieved. The sensor was able to detect differences in T₂ lifetimes in eraser specimens composed of layers of three different erasers. Also, a clear difference in T₂ lifetimes and signal intensities was observed in cement pastes composed of white and ordinary Portland cement. On the other hand, it was possible to obtain signals from the peel and pulp of the avocado fruit, as well as from the fat and meat in a beef steak in a nondestructive way. The T₂ lifetimes of the different materials agreed with those obtained using a commercial NMR spectrometer. Full article

This study evaluated the adsorbent capacity of the Ecuadorian avocado (Persea americana Hass.) seed and peel wastes as an alternative method for cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) ion removal from aqueous solutions. The laboratory microscale process was performed using fixed-bed columns containing 1 g of 600 μm particles of biomaterial pretreated with ethanol and ethylene glycol. Subsequently, metal solutions of different concentrations were eluted and measured by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results showed that fixed-bed columns allow efficient adsorption of Pb (2.6 mg/g) with ethanol pretreatment. Lower adsorption capacity was achieved for Cd, Hg, and Ni ions. Favorable adsorption with high retention capacity was found for Pb⁺² for the ethanol pretreated bio-adsorbent at higher concentrations (120 mg/L). Lower removal percentages were found for Cd⁺², Hg⁺², and Ni⁺²; Ni showed the lowest adsorption capacities and negative R_L values, suggesting inefficient adsorbent development. Regeneration of Cd, Hg, and Pb ions from avocado peel and seed showed the highest recovery when 1 mol/L HCl solution was used. Regarding the adsorption isotherms, the Langmuir model was the one that best fit our data, demonstrating that adsorption takes place in a uniform monolayer and that each contaminant ion occupies a single site. Full article