Octavio Paredes-Lopez

Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute | Cinvestav · Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica (Irapuato)

Mesoamerica is the center of origin of a great number of food crops that nowadays are part of a healthy diet. Pre-Columbian civilizations utilized more than 90% of these foods as ingredient or in main dishes, as well as for remedies and religious ceremonies. Since several years ago, Mesoamerican foods have been recognized by their outstanding conce...

Introduction. Mushrooms have been consumed since earliest times and have been recognized for their attractive sensory and culinary attributes; besides, they contain high amounts of bioactive and health-promoting compounds. This review is devoted to wild edible mushrooms and their role in the life of modern man. Materials and methods. Literature res...

Cultivated fruits and berries, such as raspberries, strawberries, black currants, cherries, blueberries, are generally recognized sources of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other substances beneficial to human health and well-being. However, there are also wild berries and fruits that are of undoubted interest as food products having valuable...

Organized in five parts, Bioenhancement and Fortification of Foods for a Healthy Diet addresses bakery and confectionery products, technologies for cereals enhancement, technologies for dairy products enhancement, food supplements, and finally, new technology processes. The book is an aide to food scientists and engineers contributing to the develo...

Citation: Apostolopoulos, V.; Bojarska, J.; Chai, T.-T.; Feehan, J.; Kaczmarek, K.; Matsoukas, J.M.; Paredes Lopez, O.; Saviano, M.; Skwarczynski, M.; Smith-Carpenter, J.; et al.

Beverages are a convenient and versatile product that may either serve to fulfill consumers’ needs for hydration or as a pleasant liquor. Among the sensory attributes of beverages that drive consumer acceptability is aroma, directly influenced by the quantity and type of volatile compounds contained inside them. Volatile Compounds Formation in Spec...

Functional foods improve health and can reduce the risk of different diseases. In this sense, a variety of bioactive compounds present in functional foods are able to modulate inflammatory responses or exhibit interesting bioactivities such as antihypertensive, antioxidants, anticancer, antimicrobials, anticariogenics, among others.

Populations like to have a healthy diet without changing their fundamental dietary pattern. The importance of dietetic foods with health potential has increased the interest of consumers on crops with nutraceutical messages. Several plant food products from selected ancient crops like flax, chia, black cumin, sunflower, sesame, and pumpkin seeds co...

Peptides are fragments of proteins that carry out biological functions. They act as signaling entities via all domains of life and interfere with protein-protein interactions, which are indispensable in bio-processes. Short peptides include fundamental molecular information for a prelude to the symphony of life. They have aroused considerable inter...

W.M.W.) † Dedicated to Professor Garland Marshall on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Citation: Apostolopoulos, V.; Bojarska, J.; Chai, T.-T.; Elnagdy, S.; Kaczmarek, K.; Matsoukas, J.; New, R., Parang, K.; Lopez, O.P.; Parhiz, H.; et al. A Global Review on Short Peptides: Frontiers and Perspectives. Molecules 2021, 26, 430. https://doi.

Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum) fruits, usually termed as chili, have been used since ancient times as food vegetables, flavoring ingredients, natural colorants, and in traditional medicines. Nowadays, a wide variation of sweet and pungent peppers are consumed worldwide in a large variety of forms. Interestingly, the most important hot pepper at the g...

Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) have high amounts of nutraceutical compounds and a great commercial potential. The aim of this work was to identify proximate composition, fatty acids profile, total phenolics and antioxidant capacity of chia, as well the protein fractions and determine their antihypertensive potential. The seeds exhibited high cont...

Plant tissue culture allows the maintenance of species of interest under controlled conditions. There have been few studies related to the morphological changes that take place during callus formation and redifferentiation processes. The aim of this work was to analyze the morphological changes during dedifferentiation and redifferentiation process...

Background Nopal (Opuntia spp.) is by excellence the most utilized cactus in human and animal nutrition. It is also a very noble plant; its main physicochemical, nutritional and nutraceutical characteristics allow the use of nopal in diverse food applications. Special focus has been given over the past decades in the use of Opuntia for the treatmen...

Salvia hispanica (chia) constituted an important crop for pre-Columbian civilizations and is considered a superfood for its rich content of essential fatty acids and proteins. In this study, we performed the first comprehensive comparative transcriptome analysis between seeds from cultivated varieties and from accessions collected from native wild...

In the present study, a novel transformation protocol for Opuntia ficus-indica was generated by means of particle bombardment. The best conditions obtained were: 900 psi rupture disk pressure, 8 cm microprojectile travel distance, and 4 h of exposition to 0.2 M mannitol. For all experiments, gold particles coated with 1.0 µg/µL of pBI426 plasmid DN...

The importance of all positive aspects of agro-biotechnology for production of foods, nutrients and medicines along history; but the high negative impacts on the environment. Therefore, the challenges we have ahead of us.

In food industry, roselle beverages and their subproducts could be functional ingredients since they are an excellent source of bioactive compounds with improved performance due to their important anthocyanins content. The aim of this study was to analyze anthocyanin content and antioxidant properties of aqueous infusions elaborated with color cont...

This study aimed to determine the phytochemical profile and nutraceutical properties of nopal cladodes (Opuntia ficus-indica) at different stages of maturity. Medium-age cladodes showed the highest total saponins, phytosterols, and indigestible fiber, as well as the highest in vitro antioxidant capacity and digestive enzymes inhibitory activity. Fu...

This review reported an updated survey on the molecular functional properties of bioactive peptides derived from different Latin American ancient grains such as Maize, common Bean, Amaranth, Quinoa and Chia seeds. Seed storage proteins encrypted in their sequences diverse peptides associated with a wide range of benefit effects on the human health...

Tagetes erecta is an asteraceous plant of industrial, ornamental and medicinal importance; its inflorescences have been used as a pigment source for food coloring, mainly for poultry skin and eggs. Nevertheless, there are few reports on plant regeneration or micropropagation, because unsuccesfull results in the plant’s reaction to the growth regula...

Salvia hispanica L. commonly is known as chia, is an annual plant of Lamiaceae family. Nowadays, chia popularity has been increasing due to its several nutraceutical compounds such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, phenolic compounds and bioactive peptides encrypted in proteins. The aim of this study was to characterize the storage proteins from comm...

Chia is a plant used from pre-Hispanic times. Nowadays, the seed has taken presence due to nutritional content such as: polyunsaturated fatty acids ω-3 and ω-6, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, and, storage proteins that encrypted bioactive peptides with different nutraceutical properties. The objective of this project was...

Digestate, the product obtained after anaerobic digestion of organic waste for biogas production, is rich in plant nutrients and might be used to fertilize crops. Wheat (Triticum spp. L.) was fertilized with digestate, urea, or left unfertilized and cultivated in the greenhouse for 120 d. Emissions of greenhouse gasses (carbon dioxide (CO2), methan...

Mexico is a major avocado producer and exporter, mainly the Hass variety, while the Mexican creole genotypes remain unexplored. We investigated the physicochemical characteristics, phenolics, and bioactivity of oils from six different Mexican avocado genotypes to increase their consumption and utilization. Oil content varied significantly among Mex...

Canary seed (Phalaris canariensis) is used to feed birds but it has been recently considered a promising cereal with nutraceutical potential for humans. The aim of this work was to analyze the protein fractions from canary seed flour and from milk substitutes (prepared by soaking the seeds in water 12 and 24 h), and to evaluate antioxidant and anti...

Huitlacoche mushroom (composed by the fruiting bodies growing on the maize ears from the basidiomycete Ustilago maydis) is a culinary delicacy with a great economic and nutraceutical value. In this work, phenolic content, antioxidant activity, ergosterol and fatty acids profile from huitlacoche produced in 15 creole and in one hybrid maize genotype...

Salvia hispanica L. commonly known as chia is an ancient food that provides a balanced amount of nutrients composed of insoluble fiber, high ω-3/-6 fatty acids, proteins with an excellent quality of amino acids, high content of antioxidants, and minerals. In first instance, chia seeds contain a coat mucilage that covers completely all seed nutrient...

Amaranth seeds have a high content of bioactive compounds with a remarkable nutritional and nutraceutical positive potential for human health. Their composition includes key proteins, some interesting essential amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, dietary fiber and important phytochemicals. Since the last decades amaranth has been considered the mos...

The snack foods market is currently demanding healthier products. A ready-to-eat expanded snack with high nutritional and antioxidant value was developed from a mixture (70:30) of whole amarantin transgenic maize (Zea mays L.) and black common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) by optimizing the extrusion process. Extruder operation conditions were: feed...

Background: The acidic subunit of amarantin (AAC)—the predominant amaranth seed storage protein—has functional potential and its third variable region (VR) has been modified with antihypertensive peptides to improve this potential. Here, we modified the C-terminal in the fourth VR of AAC by inserting four VY antihypertensive peptides. This modified...

Roselle is a plant that accumulates anthocyanins significantly, hence its importance as food coloring and as a source of antioxidant compounds for human health. This study was aimed to determine phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of methanolic extracts, and beverages obtained from native roselle cultivars in Mexico (Negra, Sudan, Rosa an...

Extracts of Styrax ramirezii Greenm, a fruit traditionally valued for health and wellness in Mexico, were analyzed phytochemically and evaluated for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Six norneolignans were identified by HPLC-TOF-MS, and the two major compounds were isolated for further evaluation. The effects of the isolated norneolignans...

Mushrooms have been consumed since earliest history; ancient Greeks believed that mushrooms provided strength for warriors in battle, and the Romans perceived them as the " Food of the Gods. " For centuries, the Chinese culture has treasured mushrooms as a health food, an " elixir of life. " They have been part of the human culture for thousands of...

Nixtamalization is an ancient process developed by the Mesoamerican cultures. Initially, volcanic ashes were used and then calcium hydroxide in commercial production, and more recently nixtamalization with calcium salts (NCS) has been proposed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of NCS on carbohydrate digestibility and antioxidant cap...

Seed storage proteins have been nutritional and functionally valuable in the food industry and for human consumption. The Osborne's classical technique has been used to extract and classify seed storage proteins; additionally, in the last decades molecular properties have been also used for their characterization. Amaranth proteins, most of them be...

Carotenoids are of interest for natural food colorants uses and have been relevant against protection from a range of diseases. In vitro culture of Marigold (Tagetes erecta) shows potential for commercial production of carotenoid pigments this has led to the application of elicitation of vegetal culture for improved production of pigments. In these...

Carotenoids are of interest for natural food colorants uses and have been relevant against protection from a range of diseases. In vitro culture of Marigold (Tagetes erecta) shows potential for commercial production of carotenoid pigments this has led to the application of elicitation of vegetal culture for improved production of pigments. In these...

Carotenoids are of interest for natural food colorants uses and have been relevant against protection from a range of diseases. In vitro culture of Marigold (Tagetes erecta) shows potential for commercial production of carotenoid pigments this has led to the application of elicitation of vegetal culture for improved production of pigments. In these...

Endoglucanase activity produced by Paenibacillus polymyxa BEb-40 was studied. In submerged culture with minimal medium supplemented with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), this microorganism produced up to 0.37 U/mL endoglucanase activity with high specific activity (14.3 U/mgtotal protein). Detection of endoglucanase activity through zymography reveale...

Nopal is by far the most important cactus worldwide. Since its pre-Hispanic use for food and cochineal dye production, domestication of this plant was one of the most important inheritances left by ancient Mexicans. Nowadays, nopal research is increasing mainly due to the many nutraceutical properties that have been attributed to this plant. Its po...

3-Hydroxyindole was isolated from the EtOH extract of fruits of Aristotelia chilensis during analyses by HPLC/MS and GC/MS and identified by its mass fragmentation pattern and spectrophotometric data. Additionally, this extract showed an interesting antioxidant activity in DPPH, crocin and TBARS assays. The presence of this type of compound in this...

Background The properties of natural pigments, such as antioxidants, functional, medical, and nutraceutical, have demonstrated the advantages of these natural compounds over synthetic ones. Some products are accepted only when they are pigmented with natural, food-quality colorants: for example poultry products (manly marigold flower extracts). Car...

The potential use of quality protein transgenic maize (genetically modified maize with the cDNA of amarantin) for preparation of flour and tortillas through an extrusion lime cooking process was investigated. Tortillas from extruded transgenic maize flour had similar physicochemical and sensory properties than those from the commercial brand MASECA...

Nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica) cladodes are recommended for their therapeutic properties; their maturity stage may affect their biological properties. Cladodes of three maturity stages, from the same crop and location, were dehydrated and evaluated for some of their physicochemical and nutritional characteristics, and anti-diabetic properties. The sm...

Anthocyanins are a group of water-soluble pigments that provide red, purple or blue color to the leaves, flowers, and fruits. In addition, benefits have been attributed to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. This study compared the content of total anthocyanins and volatile compounds in aqueous and ethanolic extracts of four varieties of Mexi...

The potential use of quality protein transgenic maize (genetically modified maize with the cDNA of amarantin) for preparation of flour and tortillas through an extrusion lime cooking process was investigated. Tortillas from extruded transgenic maize flour had similar physicochemical and sensory properties than those from the commercial brand MASECA...

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) is a plant that produces seeds rich in some nutraceutical compounds with high protein content, but little is known about them; for this reason the aim of this study was to characterize the seed storage proteins. Protein fractions were extracted from chia seed flour. The main protein fraction corresponded to globulins (52%...

In this research it was attempted to overexpress the acidic subunit, from the 11S amaranth seed globulin termed amarantin, modified with antihypertensive peptides in Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3) by manipulating some factors in batch fermenter such as growth medium composition, inducer (isopropyl β-D-thiogalactopyranoside [IPTG] or lactose), air f...

Current knowledge on Opuntia spp is increasing. Many research groups around the world are gaining insight in different aspects of the potential use of these plants. Much of this research is focusing mainly on nutraceutical properties in the search for new food-medical alternatives, since most of the current medicines are costly and encounter many s...

Isolating RNA from cactus fruit is notoriously difficult because the fruit contains high amounts of secondary metabolites and polysaccharides. These form insoluble complexes with nucleic acids during extraction and can inhibit enzyme action. Our procedure allows for the extraction of RNA from finely ground tissue. The RNA we isolated was of high qu...

Marigold (Tagetes erecta) is an Asteraceous plant of industrial, ornamental and medicinal importance. This plant is grown as ornamental plant and is adapted to several agro-climates. Its inflorescences have been used as a pigment source for food colouring, mainly of poultry skin and eggs. Tagetes erecta flowers accumulate high levels of carotenoids...

Common smut or boil smut are the young, fleshy, edible galls produced in the ears of maize (Zea mays) when they are infected by the fungus Ustilago maydis. U. maydis belongs to the Ustilaginales order and has been established as a robust pathogenic model to study fungi and fungi–plant relationships; also, it has been transformed and its genome sequ...

The expression in Escherichia coli strain Rosetta of the recombinant acidic subunit from the 11S amaranth seed storage protein (protein ACM3) was studied at flask and at bioreactor levels. This subunit was modified by inserting four Val-Tyr antihypertensive peptides in tandem into its third variable region and also with the tripeptide Ile-Pro-Pro i...

Fruit ripening involves a series of physiological, biochemical, and organoleptic changes that lead to the development of a soft and edible ripe fruit with desirable quality attributes. Due to its nutritional value and economic potential, and unique physiological characteristics, prickly pear is considered to be a model for the study of fruit ripeni...