Objective: The encapsulation of bioactive compounds of food interest provide protection against ambiental factors and degradation reactions. Therefore, the encapsulation of these compounds, was studied and analyzed considering the applications, current advances, challenges, and opportunities on the topic. Design/methodology/approach: Wall materials, bioactive compounds of food interest, encapsulation methods, applications, current advances, challenges, and opportunities in encapsulation of bioactive compounds were explored, described, and discussed considering the principal literature on the topic, and scientific databases were used for the bibliographic research. Results: Encapsulation process is a novel technology that allows the increasing the stability of aromas, flavors, pigments, and microorganisms, beside of improve the sensory, physical chemical and functional properties, quality, and the extend the shelf-life. Limitations on study/implications: Foods contain bioactive compounds that are susceptible to oxidation and degradation, which can reduce their quality and shelf life. To preserve these compounds, is important to develop other encapsulation systems considering alternative wall materials from different sources that can be applied under different process conditions from laboratory, pilot to industrial scale.  Findings/conclusions: Encapsulation process provide protection to bioactive compounds enhancing the sensory, physical chemical and functional properties, quality, and extend the shelf-life considering the integral and sustainable use of agricultural products.

Objective: Whey proteins, as β-lactoglobulin, have biological activity. Controlled hydrolysis of this protein could generate peptides with some biological function. The aim of this work was to analyze the peptides resulting from the in vitro hydrolysis with chymotrypsin in order to evaluate the presence of bioactive peptides. Design/methodology/approach: Chymotrypsin was used in the hydrolysis of β-lactoglobulin, and its peptides were evaluated by ultrafiltration, electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry. Findings/conclusion: Results showed that 2 h of chymotrypsin hydrolysis (T1) released peptides with molecular weight values of 8 and 9 KDa, while 4 h of hydrolysis (T2) produced peptides with molecular mass weight values of 7 and 5 KDa. The mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) showed six peaks and five of them were comparable with those obtained by in silico hydrolysis results (done previously by Fonseca Ayala, 2018). The identified peptides (DTDYK, DAQSAPL and LKPTPEGDL) in the fraction <1 kDa showed inhibitory activity of angiotensin converting enzyme and inhibitory activity of enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV according BIOPEP database. These results showed that β-lactoglobulin peptides obtained by chymotrypsin hydrolysis could have biological activity that can be used in different types of industries as pharmaceutical and food. Limitations on study/implications: The in vitro evaluation of the biological activity of the characterized peptides is necessary.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the growth and proximal analysis of twelve accessions of Moringa oleifera Lam. grown in Mexico. Design/ Methodology/ Approach: The seeds were collected in Veracruz, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Chiapas, and Yucatan. The seeds were sown in a nursery and transplanted in the field in a completely randomized block experimental design. Height, basal diameter, and the number of branches were recorded, and leaves were collected for proximal analysis determination. Results: Significant statistical differences (P< 0.05) were identified among the accessions based on tree height, basal diameter, number of branches, moisture content, ash, protein, and fat contents.   Study limitations/implications: Accessions with high growth rates and nutritional characteristics can be selected to establish low-cost food banks. Result / Finding / Conclusion: The accessions from Chiapas (C1 and C2) were superior to the others in tree height, basal diameter and number of branches, protein, and fat contents.

Objective:  Evaluate the antioxidant activity of protein fractions obtained from (bovine serum albumin) BSA protein hydrolysates. Design / methodology / approach: Bioinformatics tools, such as the NCBI database, were used to search for primary sequences of BSA proteins. The methodology included a prediction of peptides with antioxidant activity through various bioinformatics servers. The antioxidant activity was determined by different methods. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate possible significant differences using the Student Newman Keulls test for group comparison. Results: Through in silica hydrolysis the following peptides were found: valine-alanine-phenylalanine (VAF), lysine-tryptophan (KW), phenylalanine-tyrosine (FY), alanine-proline (AP), among others that may have antioxidant activity. The results showed that the fraction <1 kDa hydrolyzed with chymotrypsin, this fraction showed 84% copper chelation, 61% iron chelation, while 75% inhibition of the DPPH radical. In the case of the fraction <1 kDa hydrolyzed with pepsin, it only showed 16% iron chelation, while in the other methods no value was detected. Study limitations / implications: The enzyme used for enzymatic hydrolysis generates low degrees of hydrolysis and generates oligopeptide dipeptides that may not be as like some of the tested methods, in addition to the protein concentration in the fraction <1 kDa with pepsin it had very low values that could not be detected by some antioxidant methods. Findings / conclusions: The antioxidant activity of the <1 kDa fraction obtained with chymotrypsin showed greater antioxidant and chelating activity, compared to the <1 kDa fraction obtained with pepsin. However, at the concentration of 2% and 5% fluctuations are observed in both fractions, because probably the composition of amino acids that is present in both fractions determines the activity in each of the tested methods

Objective: to characterize the seeds of Moringa oleifera present in various crops in Mexico morphologically. Design / Methodology / Approach: An analysis of variance, principal components, and conglomerates of qualitative morphological descriptors (shape, color, presence of wings and wing color) and quantitative (length, width, and weight) were carried out. Results: Significant statistical differences (P˂0.05) were found in the seeds' length, width, weight, and almonds. The principal component analysis indicated that components 1 (70.58%) and 2 (25.59%) contributed 96.17% of the variation, and the cluster analysis identified four groups. The evaluated populations showed qualitative variation (shape, color, presence of wings, and color of wings) and quantitative (length, width, and weight). Study limitations/implications: the germination percentage could not be evaluated because no information was obtained on the age of the seed and the storage conditions. Result/Finding:Conclusion: This information enriches the knowledge of Moringa oleifera in Mexico and serves as a basis for selecting materials of most significant interest.