Gustavo A. González Aguilar

Research Center for Food and Development A.C. | CIAD · Department of Technology of Food of Plant Origin

Tropical fruit is a source of bioactive substances. Phenolic compounds and cytotoxicity were quantified in nineteen tropical fruits grown in rural Yucatan, Mexico, and the fruits were classified based on their bioactive compound contents and antioxidant activity. Twelve phenolic compounds were identified (four hydroxycinnamic acids, two hydroxybenz...

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is a tree nut native to North America with high oil content. Pecan oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and other lipid soluble phytochemicals. Many geographical and environmental factors are responsible for the phytochemical content of the oil, and little current information exists on the properties of pecans grown in...

The objective of this research was to study the effect of avocado pulp (A) and tomato paste (T) addition on the physicochemical, nutritional and sensory quality of pork frankfurters. Treatments were: 1) Control; 2) A10 = 10% A; 3) A20 = 20% A; 4) T10 = 10% T; 5) T20 = 20% T; and 6) A10+T10 = 10% A+10% T. Colour (L*, a* and b*), fatty acid profile,...

The knowledge regarding the physicochemical characteristics of the honey produced by stingless bees is still limited, mainly due to the high diversity of the floral resources and the low production that is inherent to these species. This manuscript describes the physicochemical characterization of 27 honey samples produced by Melipona beecheii, fro...

Energy-dense foods are commonly rich in fat and simple sugars and poor in dietary fiber and micronutrients; regularly consuming them decreases the concentration and/or effect of anorexigenic hormones and may increase that of orexigenic ones, thereby decreasing satiety. In contrast, plant-derived phenolic-rich foods exert positive effects on satiety...

Bacterial diarrhea is a global health concern, particularly in developing countries like Mexico, where high morbidity and mortality rates persist, especially in children under five years of age. While antibiotics like ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and azithromycin are effective, increasing bacterial resistance has led to the search for alternatives....

Bacterial diarrhea is a global health concern, particularly in developing countries like Mexico, where high morbidity and mortality rates persist, especially in children under five years of age. While antibiotics like ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and azithromycin are effective, increasing bacterial resistance has led to the search for alternatives....

Using stress elicitors in fruits and vegetables is considered a good strategy to increase the content of bioactive compounds in plant foods. However, bioactive compounds can affect the sensory characteristics of food products, and little is known about their shelf-life stability in fresh produce treated with elicitors. In the present work, caroteno...

Using herbal resources for medicinal purposes has persisted across diverse cultures, harnessing potential bioactivities. Despite the availability of commercial drugs, populations, including those in Mexico, continue to integrate herbal medicine into their healthcare practices. This study on Hermosillo, city in Northwest Mexico, exploring the preval...

The importance of bioactive compounds in agro-industrial by-products of plant origin lies in their direct impacts on human health. These compounds have been shown to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, contributing to disease prevention and strengthening the immune system. In particular, the antimicrobial action of...

Avocado paste (AP) is an industrial byproduct and a potential source of bioactive compounds, so there is great interest in its valorization. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of adding AP to corn chips regarding their nutritional profile and sensory acceptability. Three AP-supplemented corn chip samples were prepared (C...

Guava and mamey are phenolic- and carotenoid-rich fruits with potential health benefits, but are minimally used as ingredients in functional beverages. The objectives of the present work are to optimize the content of guava and mamey pulps and a stevia solution in the formulation of a functional beverage with high content of bioactive compounds and...

Gastrointestinal infections caused by some Salmonella species pose a significant public health challenge. These bacteria can be transmitted through contaminated food and drinks, resulting in health complications. The Salmonella genus is responsible for approximately 16 million cases of gastrointestinal diseases worldwide each year. Although antibio...

Purpose To encapsulate β-carotene in oil-in-water emulsions added with mango peel phenolics (MPP), thereby utilizing mango peel as an economical source of natural antioxidants to protect this sensitive compound. Tons of mango peel from its industrial processing must be disposed of properly, thus, alternative applications could minimize these amount...

This study compared the effect of oregano essential oil versus sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, and benzalkonium chloride against the viability of adhered Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on 304 stainless steel. Oregano essential oil was effective in disrupting the biofilms of both bacteria at concentrations ranging from 0...

Avocado paste (AP) is the main industrial byproduct of its processing, and retains various phenolic compounds (PCs). PCs are known to normalize the plasma lipid profile, but those from avocado byproducts have been minimally studied. We report the normalizing effects of an AP-derived phenolic extract (PE) on the plasma lipid profile of male Wistar r...

Objective: To develop N-(levodopa) chitosan derivatives through click chemistry to study their effect in brain cells. Significance: This study presents a proof-of-concept that macromolecules such as N-(Levodopa) chitosan derivatives traverse brain cell membranes and induce biomedical functionalities. Methods: Through click chemistry we develop...

This study aims to evaluate the physico-chemical composition, techno-functional properties and in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of papaya, pineapple and mango peels for their possible use as functional ingredients. The peel powders were found to possess interesting techno-functional properties, high dietary fiber content (37.77 to 6...

El presente trabajo describe los nutrientes y compuestos fenólicos contenidos en diversos residuos agroindustriales (RAI). Los RAI pueden derivar en problemas que comprometen la alimentación y salud de las poblaciones más vulnerables si no son aprovechados adecuadamente. Por ello es importante crear alternativas que contribuyan a contrarrestar el p...

This study aimed to demonstrate that spray-drying encapsulation of cinnamon leaf essential oil (CLO) in Arabic gum can be used to stabilize the oil and delay microbial growth in fresh-cut kiwifruit without compromising consumer acceptability. The encapsulation efficiency of CLO in Arabic gum ranged from 39 − 72%, with the highest efficiency obtaine...

Obesity is a serious health problem worldwide, since it is associated with multiple metabolic disorders and complications such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and overall metabolic dysfunction. Dysregulation of the hunger–satiety pathway, which includes alterations of central and peripheral signaling, explains some f...

Classic non-homeostatic structures involved in food intake regulation are reciprocally influenced by metabolic signals. Orexigenic peptides expressed in the olfactory bulb (OB) and hippocampus (HP) modulate olfactory processing and memory, respectively. Hypothalamic circuits also modulate feeding behavior by activating and releasing Agouti-related...

Insulin resistance (IR) is the main feature of prediabetes (PD), which ultimately leads to diabetes. High-dose streptozotocin-treated rodents often show irreversible β-cell mass loss and function, leaving the premorbid diabetic state (PD/IR) unnoticed. This study aimed to re-evaluate the synergistic/independent effect of a sub-chronic consumption (...

Salmonella can form biofilms that contribute to its resistance in food processing environments. Biofilms are a dense population of cells that adhere to the surface, creating a matrix composed of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) consisting mainly of polysaccharides, proteins, and eDNA. Remarkably, the secreted substances, including cellulose...

Background and Aims: Parkinsonia praecox ,“palo brea”, is a medicinal plant distributed in the Mexican Sonoran Desert. However, there is little information about the chemical composition and biological potential of this plant. As a consequence, the objective of the present study was to determine the chemical composition, as well as the antioxidant...

Pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli threaten public health due to their virulence factors and antibiotic resistance. Additionally, the virulence of this bacterium varies by region depending on environmental conditions, agricultural practices, and the use of antibiotics and disinfectants. However, there is limited research on the prevalence of an...

This study aimed to determine the phenolic compounds profile, antioxidant potential and cytotoxicity of extracts and fractions of Caesalpinia palmeri. Methanolic extracts were generated from C. palmeri berries, stems and flowers. The latter was subjected to liquid-liquid partition, obtaining hexane, ethyl acetate and residues fractions. Results sho...

RESUMEN Escherichia coli es una bacteria que forma parte del tracto gastrointestinal de anima-les, incluido el hombre. Además, se encuentra entre los principales microorganismos contaminantes de alimentos de origen vegetal. E. coli ha evolucionado generando variantes que permiten clasificarla en cepas comensales y patogénicas, estas últimas se divi...

Food waste is a serious problem with negative environmental and economic consequences. Unused food (either as waste or by-products and referred to as food residues in the present work) is a source of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds that could be used in an alternate or secondary life cycle to avoid discar...

The meat industry has become increasingly interested in developing products containing new ingredients oriented to consumers’ health. Health benefits are gained from frequent consumption of pecan nut and roselle, which can therefore be used as ingredients in meat product formulations. However, incorporating novel ingredients or reducing the content...

One of the biggest problems faced by food industries is the generation of large amounts of agro-industrial byproducts, such as those derived from fruit processing, as well as the negative effects of their inadequate management. Approximately 1/3 of the food produced worldwide is unused or is otherwise wasted along the chain, which represents a burd...

Grape pomace (GP) and pecan shell (PS) are agro-industrial by-products rich in healthy bioactives, mainly phenolic compounds (PC) and dietary fiber (DF). Raw GP and PS were chemically characterized, and the adsorption isotherms of their PC-insoluble DF (IDF) complexes were evaluated. GP and PS statistically differed (p < 0.05) in chemical and physi...

The effect of ultrasound treatment (UT) on a beverage from mango pulp and carrot juice with added turmeric powder on total soluble phenolic content (TSP), total carotenoid content (TC) and antioxidant capacity (AOC) was evaluated. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to obtain the optimal formulation of the beverage. The AOC was assigned...

Açaí, lychee, mamey, passion fruit and jackfruit are some lesser-consumed tropical fruits due to their low commercial production. In 2018, approximately 6.8 million tons of these fruits were harvested, representing about 6.35% of the total world production of tropical fruits. The present work reviews the nutritional content, profile of bioactive co...

Aqueous and ethanolic pomegranate peel extracts (PPE) were studied as a source of phenolic compounds with antimicrobial, anti-quorum sensing, and antioxidant properties. The aqueous extract showed higher total phenolic and flavonoid content (153.43 mg GAE/g and 45.74, respectively) and antioxidant capacity (DPPH radical inhibition: 86.12%, ABTS rad...

PurposeTo determine the viability of using fruit peels to supplement extruded snacks that are rich in phytochemicals, and of good sensory characteristics and acceptability, thereby minimizing agro-industrial waste while also obtaining a value-added product.Methods Corn extrudates with 15% mango or papaya peel and their combinations were formulated;...

This study aimed to obtain sorghum doughs subjected to two fermentation processes (backslopping and spontaneous fermentation techniques) with enhanced biological properties and to assess their influence on the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds and Ferulic Acid (FA) of cookies formulated from fermented sorghum doughs. The best contents of Total...

In this work, the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) (operating conditions of sonication amplitude, pulse-cycle, and extraction time) was investigated to obtain an extract rich in biologically active compounds from Annona muricata leaves. In addition, the content of bioactive compounds from the extract by the optimal UAE conditions (UAE extract)...

Inflammation may negatively impact health, particularly that of the central nervous system. Phenolic compounds are bioactive molecules present in fruits and vegetables with potential anti‐inflammatory effects. The purpose of the present work is to review the immunomodulatory bioactivities of phenolic compounds in the periphery and in the central ne...

Escherichia coli is among the most prevalent food contaminant microorganisms that have evolved, generating variants based on their effects on the host; these include commensals or pathobiont strains. The last classifications of E. coli intestinal pathobionts found in this review are enteroinvasive, enterohemorrhagic, enteropathogenic, enterotoxigen...

La obesidad es actualmente un problema de salud pública a nivel mundial. Ésta se caracteriza por afectar a múltiples órganos, entre ellos el hígado, desarrollándose enfermedades como la enfermedad de hígado graso no alcohólico (EHGNA), la cual predispone al desarrollo de carcinoma hepatocelular. En esta revisión se discute la asociación entre la ob...

Sweet potato (SP; Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is an edible tuber native to America and the sixth most important food crop worldwide. China leads its production in a global market of USD 45 trillion. SP domesticated varieties differ in specific phenotypic/genotypic traits, yet all of them are rich in sugars, slow digestible/resistant starch, vitamins,...

The hypoglycemic effect of functional phytochemicals has been evaluated in diabetic rodents but scarcely in its premorbid condition (prediabetes; PD). This study aimed to evaluate a mango (cv. Ataulfo) peel hydroethanolic (20:80) extract (MPE) for in vivo glycemic/lipidemic-normalizing effect and in vitro enzyme inhibitory (α-amylase/α-glucosidase)...

Phellinus Quél is one of the largest genera of Hymenochaetaceae; it comprises about 220 species widely distributed on Earth. Most Phellinus species are lignicolous mushrooms that accumulate bioactive compounds. This research studied the phenolic composition of Phellinus spp. and their relationship with antibacterial and antiviral capacity. Phenolic...

Melatonin (MT) treatment (100 µM, 2 h) was applied to four mango fruit cultivars (‘Langra’, ‘Chaunsa’, ‘Dashehari’, and ‘Gulab Jamun’), before being stored at 5 ± 1 °C for 28 d, in order to alleviate chilling injury (CI). Maximum CI reduction was observed in ‘Langra’ mangoes, and minimum in ‘Gulab Jamun’ mangoes. This positive effect on quality pre...

The neurovascular unit, composed of neurons, brain endothelial cells, pericytes, microglia, and astrocytes, regulates cerebral blood flow. The physical and chemical signals govern the physiology of the neurovascular unit within the network composed of its cellular components. Astrocytes have an essential role in this network since they have a privi...

e effects of an exogenous application of various concentrations and dipping duration of melatonin (MT) treatment on postharvest senescence, quality, chilling tolerance, and antioxidant metabolism of mango fruit cv. "Dashehari" were examined. Fruits were treated with three concentrations of MT (50, 100, or 150 µM), each applied for three times (60,...

Guava fruit is rich in phenolic compounds (PCs), whose metabolic fate has not been explored. Non-digestible carbohydrates and PCs in whole guava (WG) and seedless guava (SG) were submitted to an in vitro colonic fermentation, followed by evaluation of the anti-proliferative activity of the fermentation extracts in HT-29 cancer cell lines. The main...

The prevalence of gastritis requires the consumption of functional foods to counteract this disease. The objective of this work was to characterize guava-Aloe vera purees, evaluate their in vitro anti-inflammatory effect and demonstrate the gastroprotective effect in a murine model induced to the gastric lesion. The nutritional composition, physico...

Avocado cv. ‘Hass’ paste is the main byproduct derived from industrial avocado processing, and contains various bioactive compounds (BCs). Consumption of these compounds from different sources has been associated with positive health effects, although studies of avocado byproducts remain minimal. Avocado paste was analyzed, regarding its physicoche...

Bacterial diseases and reactive oxygen species can cause dental caries and oral cancer. Therefore, the present review analyzes and discusses the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of synthetic and plant-derived substances and their current and future patents to formulate dental products. The reviewed evidence indicates that chlorhexidine, flu...

Introduction: Fouquieria splendens commonly named "ocotillo", is a native plant from Mexico, used in folk medicine against different illnesses. However, scientific evidence about its biological activities is limited. The objective of this study is to determine phenolic composition, antioxidant and antiproliferative effect of F. splendens. Methods:...

Consumption of tropical fruits is growing around the world, not only due to their flavor and appearance but also for their nutritional value. In addition to the content in macro and micronutrients, tropical fruits contain substantial amounts of bioactive compounds in peels, and seeds which constitute an underexploited source of bioactive compounds...

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a physical structure whose main function is to strictly regulate access to circulating compounds into the central nervous system (CNS). Vegetable-derived phenolic compounds have been widely studied, with numerous epidemiologic and interventional studies confirming their health-related bioactivities across multiple c...

Avocado paste (AP) is a phenolic-rich byproduct of avocado oil extraction. The effects of sub-chronic consumption of diets supplemented with an AP phenolic extract (PE) were analyzed. A standard diet (SD), high-fat diet (HFD), and these supplemented with PE (SD + PE and HFD + PE) were used. Significantly increased satiety was observed in PE-supplem...

The role of non-energy-yielding nutrients on health has been meticulously studied, and the evidence shows that a compound can exert significant effects on health even if not strictly required by the organism. Phenolic compounds are among the most widely studied molecules that fit this description; they are found in plants as secondary metabolites a...

Curcumin (CUR) is a phenolic compound that is safe for human consumption. It exhibits chemopreventive, antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, and antimetastatic effects. However, these benefits can be hampered due to the lipophilic nature, rapid metabolism, low bioavailability, and fast elimination of the molecule. Considering this, the present work re...

Exogenous melatonin (100 μM) was applied to four mango fruit cultivars, namely, ‘Langra’, ‘Dashehari’, ‘Chaunsa’, and ‘Gulab Jamun’, and subsequently stored at 5 ± 1 °C for 28 d. ‘Langra’ mangos responded best to melatonin treatment by increasing their chilling tolerance during storage, while ‘Gulab Jamun’ mangos did not experience any significant...

Con el fin de contribuir al conocimiento sobre la propagación asexual de Rubus idaeus L., se estableció un experimento cuyo objetivo fue conocer, en dos años consecutivos (2017 y 2018), los efectos de tipos de sustratos y ácido indol-3-butírico (IBA), en la propagación de diferentes variedades frambuesa a partir de esquejes de raíz bajo condiciones...

Diabetes induces inflammation in the brain and kidneys; it is also known to be linked with changes in the expression and functionality of Kir channels. Diets rich in antioxidants (e.g., phenolic compounds) tend to reduce diabetes-related oxidative damage in several organs and the expression of K+ channels. We evaluated the effect of a diet suppleme...