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Chemically modified starches from underutilized food sources such as Colombian Musaceae can be combined with additives and proper transformation procedures, as wall materials preserving bioactive compounds. This work aims to find the best conditions for encapsulating blackberry concentrate (BBC) using octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA)‐modified starch from Gros Michel banana (GMB). Experimental designs are conducted to optimize the BBC emulsion and the spray‐drying process. The solubility is the most influenced response in the spray‐drying process. Synergistic interactions between the OSA‐modified GMB starch and maltodextrin content contribute to the desirability response. OSA‐modified GMB starch produces appropriate powders with low particle size (D10: 22.2 µm, D50: 40.7 µm) and hygroscopicity (20.87 g/100 g) while exhibiting a high yield (58.94 g/100 g), total phenolics (TP) content (≈91 mg GAE/g sample), antioxidant capacity (≈89 µg TE/g sample), and encapsulation efficiency (53.01%). The obtained powders in this work have a half‐life time (15 °C) of 3.1 months (solubility) and 51.6 months (D10). These results indicate the advantage of using OSA‐modified GMB starch to produce spray‐dried BBC powders, preserving its TP content. In conclusion, OSA‐modified starches from GMB are new materials that can be used in spray drying.

Andean Berry (Vaccinium meridionale Sw.) is a South American fruit rich in phytochemicals with promising anti‐cancer properties as co‐adjuvants to nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs such as Aspirin. This study aimed to evaluate the antiproliferative potential of Andean Berry Juice (ABJ) in combination with Aspirin in human SW480 colon adenocarcinoma cells. ABJ primarily contained 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic and chlorogenic acids. The combined treatment of ABJ (IC50: 30.0 ± 0.11%) and Aspirin (IC50: 20.0 ± 0.57) exhibited a higher (p < .01) antiproliferative effect than each counterpart. Moreover the same mixture displayed a lower reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) than the untreated cells. ABJ‐Aspirin combination induced late apoptosis stage without stimulating mitochondrial depolarization and prompted phosphatidylserine relocalization. These results emphasize the antiproliferative potential of bioactive compounds from ABJ and Aspirin combinations. Practical applications Natural products such as Andean Berry (V. meridionale Sw.) juice (ABJ) contains antioxidant polyphenols that could reduce the need to use non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, currently employed in cancer treatment, to prevent its side effects. The high abundance of polyphenols from this underutilized berry could stimulate the standardization of its production and industrial exploitation to be transformed into suitable food products delivering natural bioactive compounds with potential anti‐cancer effects in vitro.

Objectives This research aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory properties of two different aqueous extracts from Mexican Castor bean leaves accessions (R1 and R2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged murine RAW 264.7 cells. Methods Two leaves accessions (S1 and S2) grown in Amazcala (Mexico) were washed, sun-dried (35–60 °C), ground, and screened (250 mm particle size). Aqueous extracts were prepared by dissolving 100 mg of the powders in 10 mL distilled water and maintained in a water bath (40 °C) under stirring for 1 h. Samples were then centrifuged (3500 g, 15 min, 4 °C). Total phenolics (TP), total flavonoids (TF), condensed tannins (CT), and antioxidant capacity measurements (ABTS and DPPH) were quantified spectrophotometrically. Individual phenolics were quantified by HPLC-DAD, and metabolomic analysis from gas chromatography (GC)-MS was conducted using MetaboAnalyst. The extracts were assayed against LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, whereas cell viability (MTT) and nitric oxide (Griess reaction) measurements were carried out. Results The total polyphenolic composition of the extracts showed no differences (P &lt; 0.05) on their TF and CT composition, but S2 displayed a higher TF content than S1. Identifying individual phenolic compounds by HPLC-DAD highlighted ellagic and gallic acids (17.13–28.77 mg/g dry weight) as the primary phenolic acids, whereas S2 showed the highest abundance of (+)-catechin. S1 was the extract with the highest DPPH antioxidant capacity (P &lt; 0.05) (80.17%). None of the extracts was cytotoxic at the evaluated concentrations (10–50% v/v), but S2 was more effective in inhibiting nitric oxide production (44.94%). Conclusions The extracts showed anti-inflammatory potential by inhibiting NO production and could be used to manufacture bioactive compounds-rich food-grade-based ingredients. However, as ricinine, a toxic protein, has been reported in the leaves, methods eliminating ricinine from the extracts are required for safely using the extracts. Funding Sources The authors acknowledge “Fondos para el Desarrollo del Conocimiento (FONDEC) from Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro (UAQ) 8289, Registry SVSU-DV-2021–09) for the provided resources.