Crotalaria longirostrata (chipilin) leaves contain phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity. These phenolic compounds, however, could easily degrade after extraction. Microencapsulation is a possible solution for avoiding this degradation. Frequently, microencapsulation is carried out using conventional encapsulating agents. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of several nonconventional encapsulating agents on microencapsulation by spray drying of phenolic compounds from chipilin, stability and release of phenolic compounds were also studied. Maltodextrin (MD), gum Arabic (GA), soy protein (SP), cocoa shell pectin (CSP), and protein (PC), as well as the gum (GC) of Cajanus cajan seeds were used. Different blends of these matrixes containing phenolic compounds from chipilin leaves were spray dried at 120 °C. After drying, the yield and microencapsulation efficiency were determined. All results were analyzed by an ANOVA test (p \ 0.05). The release kinetics of phenolic compounds were modeled using zero, first-order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas models. The R 2 was calculated for each model. The blends of encapsulating agents allowed the formation of an efficient polymer matrix with yields between 46 and 64% and microencapsulation efficiency between 65 and 92%. Results show that maltodextrin with soy protein allowed the highest (92%) microencapsulation efficiency, although maltodextrin and cocoa shell pectin were more effective protective agents, showing greater stability. The Korsmeyer-Peppas model was the best in predicting the phenolic compounds release with R 2 values higher than 98%. The stability time for microcapsules with MD-CSP was 8.88 years and 1.43 years at 4 °C and 30 °C, respectively.

In the present study, the hexane, acetone and methanol extracts of stem, branches and roots from Crotalaria longirostrata were evaluated for their antifungal activity against Fusarium sp., Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus. The variables analyzed were inhibition halos, mycelial growth inhibition, sporulation and minimum inhibitory concentration. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, coumarins, anthrones, anthraquinones, flavonoids and alkaloids on different organic extracts. The hexane extract showed zones of inhibition between 6.3 and 10.5 mm. The mycelia growth and sporulation of A. flavus were reduced to 90% with methanol extract. The minimum inhibitory concentration values obtained with hexane extracts were 6.75 mg mL-1 and with methanol extracts were 50 and 25 mg mL-1 for Fusarium strains. This is the first study reporting of phytochemical composition and biological activity of C. longirostrata that could be used as a natural alternative to control in vitro of certain important pathogenic fungi.

The effect of temperature (60, 70, 80 and 90 ºC) and time (30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 min) on citric acid extraction of Haden mango ( Mangifera indica L . cv. Haden) peel pectin was evaluated in the present study. In order to obtain a better understanding of both the extraction process and the characteristics of the pectin (obtained from an agro-industrial waste) for a future scaling process, the following characterizations were performed: 1) Kinetic, with the maximum extraction times and yields at all evaluated temperatures; 2) thermodynamic, obtaining activation energies, enthalpies, entropies and Gibbs free energies for each stage of the process; 3) physicochemical (chemical analysis, monosaccharide composition, degree of esterification, galacturonic acid content, free acidity, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and derivative thermogravimetric analyses) and; 4) economical, of the pectin with the highest yield. The mango Haden peel pectin was found to be characterized by a high-esterified degree (81.81 ± 0.00 %), regular galacturonic acid content (71.57 ± 1.26 %), low protein (0.83 ± 0.05 %) and high ash (3.53 ± 0.02 %) content, low mean viscometric molecular weight (55.91 kDa) and high equivalent weight (3657.55 ± 8.41), which makes it potentially useful for food, pharmaceutical and environmental applications such as delivery system, gelling agent or as an emulsifier.Statement of NoveltyThe novelty of this work lies in the valorization of an agro-industrial waste (Haden mango peel) through the kinetic, thermodynamic, physicochemical, and economic characterization of a product obtained (pectin). This work contributes to laying the groundwork for an industrial scale-up for pectin production in a mango processing industry.