Sesquiterpene lactones (SL), characterized by their high prevalence in the Asteraceae family, are one of the major groups of secondary metabolites found in plants. Researchers from distinct research fields, including pharmacology, medicine, and agriculture, are interested in their biological potential. With new SL discovered in the last years, new biological activities have been tested, different action mechanisms (synergistic and/or antagonistic effects), as well as molecular structure–activity relationships described. The review identifies the main sesquiterpene lactones with interconnections between immune responses and anti-inflammatory actions, within different cellular models as well in in vivo studies. Bioaccessibility and bioavailability, as well as molecular structure–activity relationships are addressed. Additionally, plant metabolic engineering, and the impact of sesquiterpene lactone extraction methodologies are presented, with the perspective of biological activity enhancement. Sesquiterpene lactones derivatives are also addressed. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding the therapeutic potential of sesquiterpene lactones within immune and inflammatory activities, highlighting trends and opportunities for their pharmaceutical/clinical use.

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Traditionally, water conditions of coffee areas are monitored by measuring the leaf water potential (Ψ W) throughout a pressure pump. However, there is a demand for the development of technologies that can estimate large areas or regions. In this context, the objective of this study was to estimate the Ψ W by surface reflectance values and vegetation indices obtained from the Landsat-8/OLI sensor in Minas Gerais-Brazil Several algorithms using OLI bands and vegetation indexes were evaluated and from the correlation analysis, a quadratic algorithm that uses the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) performed better, with a correlation coefficient (R 2) of 0.82. Leave-One-Out Cross-Validation (LOOCV) was performed to validate the models and the best results were for NDVI quadratic algorithm, presenting a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 27.09% and an R 2 of 0.85. Subsequently, the NDVI quadratic algorithm was applied to Landsat-8 images, aiming to spatialize the Ψ W estimated in a representative area of regional coffee planting between September 2014 to July 2015. From the proposed algorithm, it was possible to estimate Ψ W from Landsat-8/OLI imagery, contributing to drought monitoring in the coffee area leading to cost reduction to the producers.

Meloidogyne paranaensis is a species of root‐knot nematode that affects coffee (Coffea arabica L.) tree growth by causing severe damages to the plant root. This study evaluated the agronomic performance of Coffea arabica progenies in an M. paranaensis‐infested field and assessed the compatibility of resistant C. arabica genotype 28‐I‐4 (GEN28) as rootstock for susceptible cultivars. Experiment 1: under field conditions, six progenies were analyzed; the controls were ‘IPR100’ as resistant and ‘Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144’ (CtV144) as susceptible. Experiment 2: under greenhouse conditions, combinations of grafts and rootstocks between susceptible CtV144 and GEN28 were evaluated regarding their resistance to M. paranaensis alongside their noninoculated counterparts. For this, M. paranaensis reproduction factor (RF), total population of the nematode per gram of root system, growth parameters, gas exchange, and water potential (ψpd) were evaluated. In Experiment 1, resistant C. arabica progenies were more vigorous, productive, and showed a population of M. paranaensis threefold‐times lower than that observed in roots of susceptible CtV144. Among the resistant progenies selected in the field experiment, GEN28 was chosen for physiological compatibility study with the traditional cultivar CtV144. In Experiment 2, the CtV144 grafted onto GEN28 led to resistance to M. paranaensis, as well as a higher leaf area and ψpd as compared with nongrafted CtV144. Therefore, the GEN28 holds suitable characteristics to be used as a new Coffea arabica rootstock applied to production of resistant seedlings to Meloidogyne paranaensis nematodes. This technology represents an alternative to keep up coffee activity in infested areas.