Bifidobacteria have been investigated due to their mutualistic microbe–host interaction with humans throughout their life. This work aims to make a biochemical and genomic characterization of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum JCLA3. By multilocus analysis, the species of B. pseudocatenulatum JCLA3 was established as pseudocatenulatum. It contains one circular genome of 2,369,863 bp with G + C content of 56.6%, no plasmids, 1937 CDSs, 54 tRNAs, 16 rRNAs, 1 tmRNA, 1 CRISPR region, and 401 operons predicted, including a CRISPR-Cas operon; it encodes an extensive number of enzymes, which allows it to utilize different carbohydrates. The ack gene was found as part of an operon formed by xfp and pta genes. Two genes of ldh were found at different positions. Chromosomally encoded resistance to ampicillin and cephalothin, non-hemolytic activity, and moderate inhibition of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 were demonstrated by B. pseudocatenulatum JCLA3; it can survive 100% in simulated saliva, can tolerate primary and secondary glyco- or tauro-conjugated bile salts but not in a mix of bile; the strain did not survive at pH 1.5–5. The cbh gene coding to choloylglycine hydrolase was identified in its genome, which could be related to the ability to deconjugate secondary bile salts. Intact cells showed twice as much antioxidant activity than debris. B. pseudocatenulatum JCLA3 showed 49% of adhesion to Caco-2 cells. The genome and biochemical analysis help to elucidate further possible biotechnological applications of B. pseudocatenulatum JCLA3.

Agave species are a source of diverse products for human use, such as food, fiber, and beverages, which include mezcal, a distilled beverage produced by spontaneous fermentation. Agave is an excellent source of high amounts of sugars, minerals, and phenolic compounds, which favor the growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast communities. In this work, 20 promising LAB strains with probiotic characteristics were isolated from the agave fermentation stage in mezcal production. The strains belonged to Lactobacillus plantarum (15), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (2), Enterococcus faecium (2), and Lactococcus lactis (1). These isolates were characterized for their resistance under gastrointestinal conditions, such as lysozyme, acid pH, and bile salts. In addition, the adherence of these LABs to human intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2 and HT-29 cells) was tested in vitro and their antioxidant and immunomodulatory profile was determined using cellular models. Lactobacillus rhamnosus LM07 and Lactobacillus plantarum LM17 and LM19 strains were selected for their antioxidant properties, and their capacities in an oxidative stress model in intestinal epithelial cells IECs (Caco-2 and HT-29 cells) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide were evaluated. Interestingly, Lactobacillus rhamnosus LM07 and Lactobacillus plantarum LM17 and LM19 strains showed anti-inflammatory properties in TNF-α-stimulated HT-29 cells. Subsequently, bacterial strains exhibiting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were tested in vivo in a mouse model with dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced chronic colitis. Weight loss, intestinal permeability, and cytokine profiles were measured in mice as indicators of inflammation. One of the selected strains, Lactobacillus plantarum LM17, improved the health of the mice, as observed by reduced weight loss, and significantly decreased intestinal permeability. Altogether, our results demonstrate the potential of LAB (and lactobacilli in particular) isolated from the agave fermentation stage in mezcal production. Lactobacillus rhamnosus LM07 and Lactobacillus plantarum LM17 strains represent potential candidates for developing new probiotic supplements to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Currently, emerging alimentary alternatives are growing, leading to the consumption of natural products including bio, fermented, and traditional foods. The studies over functional properties of food matrices and their derived compounds have resulted in the development of new functional alimentary items. However, most of the population still has limited access to, and information about, suitable foods. Analyzing traditional fermented products, we found fermented food matrices containing beneficial bacteria, with the possibility of exerting effects on different substrates enhancing the bioavailability of short-chain fatty acids (SFCAs), antioxidants, among other food-derived products. Maize (Zea mays L.), agave varieties, nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica), and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were key foods for the agricultural and nutritional development of Mesoamerica. We believe that the traditional Mexican diet has relevant ingredients with these functionalities and their association will allow us to develop functional food suitable for each population and their current needs. In this review, the functional properties of maize, agave, nopal, and frijol are detailed, and the functional food innovation and development opportunities for these food matrices are analyzed, which may be an important precedent for future basic and applied research.

ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL abstractThe hydro-alcoholic extract from Calendula officinalis petals, was evaluated showing beneficial effects against oxidative stress and therefore on diseases associated to inflammatory processes. The content of polyphenols of the extract was determined by TLC and HPLC-UV-DAD and the antioxidant efficiency estimated from Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ reducing power, Cu 2+and Fe 2+ chelation,• OH radical scavenging, ABTS [2, 2´-azino bis (3 ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)] and DPPH (2,2´diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assays. The in vitro growth inhibition (IC 50 ) in human cancer cell breast (MDA-MB-231), uterine cervix (HeLa), lung (A-549), colon (HT-29) and (Caco-2) was determined by MTT method. The extract showed that the polyphenols content in the hydro-alcoholic extract was 37.01±0.015 mg GAE g -1 , being rutin the most abundant one. ABTS TEAC and DPPH TEAC tests showed a high antioxidant capacity. The antioxidant activity profile displayed high reducing capacity and ability to chelate Cu 2+ and Fe 2+ as well as good• OH radical scavenging capacity. The extract showed a cytotoxic effect on human cancer cell lines of colon (HT-29) and (Caco-2), breast (MDA-MB-231), uterine cervix (HeLa), and lung (A-549) (IC 50 = 10.84, 11.73, 11.26, 11.53, and 11.96 µg mL -1 , respectively). The correlation analysis suggests that the Calendula officinalis polyphenols are directly related to the antioxidant efficiency of the extract and inversely to the cell viability.Key Words: Calendula officinalis, polyphenols, antioxidant, cytotoxicity. OH, y ensayos ABTS [2, 2´-azino-bis (3 etilbenzotiazolin-6-sulfónico) y DPPH (2,2´difenil-1-picrilhidracilo). La inhibición del crecimiento in vitro (IC 50 ) en células cancerosas humanas de mama (MDA-MB-231), de cuello uterino (HeLa) , pulmón (A-549) , y colon (HT-29 y Caco-2), fue determinado por el método de MTT. El extracto mostró que el contenido total de polifenoles fue de 37.01±0.015 mg GAe g -1 , siendo la rutina la más abundante. Las pruebas ABTS TEAC y DPPH TEAC mostraron una alta capacidad antioxidante. El perfil de actividad antioxidante mostró buena capacidad reductora y capacidad para quelar Cu 2+ y Fe 2+, así como una buena capacidad de eliminación de radicales • OH. El extracto también mostró efecto citotóxico en células de colon (HT-29 y Caco-2) , de mama (MDA-MB-231), de cuello uterino (HeLa) y pulmón (A-549) (IC 50 = 10.84, 11.73, 11.26, 11.53 y 11.96 μg mL -1 , respectivamente). El análisis de correlación sugiere que los polifenoles de Calendula officinalis están directamente relacionados con la capacidad antioxidante del extracto y se asocian inversamente con la viabilidad celular.Palabras Clave: Calendula officinalis, polifenoles, antioxidante, citotoxicidad.

We evaluated whether Arthrospira maxima, known as spirulina (Sp) counteracts the teratogenic effects induced by cyclophosphamide (Cp) in mice. Ninety pregnant CD-1 mice were divided into 6 groups: control, Cp 20 mg/kg, Sp 400 mg/kg and three with Sp at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg with Cp. Sp was administered intragastrically from day of gestation (DG) 6 to 16 and Cp, intraperitoneally to DG 10. Females did not differ in weight, except for DG 10. In gravid parameters, Cp and Sp alone or in association did not show significant effects, except for umbilical cord length, placental diameter, weight and size of fetuses. At DG 17 the females were sacrificed to obtain pregnancy parameters. In the fetuses, macroscopic malformations such as anasarca, exencephaly, hydrocephalus, open eye, cleft palate, absence and deformations of upper and lower extremities and tail were evaluated, in skeletal anomalies absences, deformations, supernumerary bones and a delay in mineralization were observed, antioxidant enzymes were determined in the livers, as well as markers of damage due to oxidative stress. Sp 400 along with Cp counteracted the malformations significantly. Sp protects against Cp teratogenicity in mice by decreasing reactive oxygen species and increasing concentrations of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, although not catalase.