Nopal is a potential source of mucilage that can be used in different food applications. One of its potential use is the development of films and coatings where it can act as a packaging material but also as a source of bioactive compounds. Therefore, this work aimed to develop and characterize pectin-based films loaded with mucilage extracted from two species of nopal, Copena F1 (Cop) and Villanueva (Vi). The obtained mucilages were denominated as materials without fibre (Copwtf and Viwtf) and with fibre (Copwf and Viwf), according to the fibre’s size. Films were produced with pectin (2% w/v), mucilage (2.5% w/v) and glycerol (0.5% w/v) by the casting method. The addition of mucilages was shown to influence the visual appearance, optical properties and morphology of the films. The presence of mucilage also changed the moisture content, water contact angle and water vapour permeability of the films. The pectin-based films without mucilage presented the best mechanical properties. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed similar signals in terms of frequency and intensity, for all the films, not showing any chemical modification. Results show that the mucilage obtained from different nopal fractions can be used in pectin-based films foreseeing their use as films or coatings in food applications.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the metabolic disease with the highest morbidity rates worldwide. The condition is characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and chronic inflammation, among other detrimental conditions. These decrease the efficiency of the immune system, leading to an increase in the susceptibility to bacterial infections. Maintaining an optimal blood glucose level is crucial in relation to the treatment of T2DM, because if the level of this carbohydrate is lowered, the risk of infections can be reduced. Currently, this is achieved using synthetic drug treatments that seek to moderately inhibit digestive enzymes (e.g., α-amylase and α-glucosidase), such as acarbose, voglibose, miglitol, etc. However, the use of these compounds also generates unwanted side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, stomach aches and a loss of appetite. Therefore, there is an increasing demand to find effective and safe alternatives for treating T2DM, such as herbal treatments. As a result, there has been a search for possible drugs from plants with both antidiabetic and antibacterial activity. This study presents a review of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of T2DM, secondary effects of the disease such as bacterial infections, and general comprehension of synthetic and natural product treatments to help patients.

Flourensia cernua is a bush that grows in the semi-desert regions of Mexico. It has been used in traditional medicine due to its healing properties and currently represents an alternative source of bioactive molecules for different areas of the agri-food and health industries. The objective of this study was to extract and characterize the purified polyphenolic compounds (PPCs) and essential oils (EOs) of F. cernua leaves, determine the total flavonoid content, evaluate the antioxidant activity by three different assays, and determine, for the first time, its inhibitory effect against enzymes involved in the degradation of carbohydrates (α-amylase and α-glucosidase). In addition, the analysis of functional groups (by FTIR-ATR assay) and the identification of the chemical constituents present in both essential oils and phenolic compounds were carried out by GC/MS and UPLC-QToF/MS2, respectively. The results indicate that PPCs and EOs are rich in flavonoid-type compounds. In addition, they showed potential for free-radical scavenging and the inhibition of the lipid oxidation process. The analyzed EOs and PPCs had potential against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes, which are related to high blood sugar levels. FTIR-ATR analysis allowed for the identification of functional groups characteristic of polyphenolic compounds and the chemical constituents of EOs. Finally, compounds such as caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, and germacrene-D were identified by GC/MS assay and luteolin 7-O-rutinoside and apigenin-6-C-glucosyl-8-C-arabinoside by UPLC/QToF-MS2. The results indicate that the PPCs and EOs of F. cernua have the potential to be used as antioxidant and enzyme inhibitor agents.

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