Search Results (48)

Soursop fruit (Annona muricata L.) exhibits a rapid loss of firmness during postharvest ripening, mainly attributed to pectin depolymerization and cell wall restructuring. Among the enzymes involved, rhamnogalacturonan lyase (RGL), belonging to the PF06045 protein family, contributes to the degradation of rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I), a key structural component of pectin. However, the regulatory mechanisms and transcriptional dynamics of RGL genes in tropical fruits remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to evaluate RGL in three soursop varieties (GUANAY-1, GUANAY-2, and GUANAY-3) during postharvest ripening through integrative bioinformatic, transcriptional, and enzymatic analyses. Bioinformatic analysis identified five soursop genes containing the PF06045 domain, designated RGL1–RGL5, which were grouped into three phylogenetic clusters. Differential expression analysis revealed that RGL1, RGL2, and RGL3 were differentially expressed, while functional enrichment analysis indicated that these genes are mainly associated with lyase activity and cell wall polysaccharide disassembly. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) revealed variety-dependent transcriptional patterns. RGL2 showed expression peaks on day 5 in GUANAY-1 and GUANAY-3 and on day 7 in GUANAY-2, while RGL3 reached its maximum expression on day 5 in all varieties. Enzymatic activity also varied among varieties, showing concordance with RGL2 and RGL3 expression in GUANAY-1, a delayed maximum in GUANAY-2, and a progressive decline in GUANAY-3. Principal component analysis explained 87.2% of the total variation, with enzymatic activity contributing mainly to PC1 and RGL2 and RGL3 expression to PC2. Overall, these results demonstrate differential regulation of RGL among soursop varieties and confirm its central role in RG-I degradation during postharvest fruit softening. Full article

The absence of domestic wastewater (DWW) treatment in impoverished rural communities of the global south remains a pressing challenge for both public health and environmental sustainability. This study presents a simplified and decentralized treatment chain at laboratory-scale designed under the principles of nature-based solutions (NBS) and the circular economy (CE), emphasizing the integration of the macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes (EC) and bioproducts derived from aloe vera waste (AVW) and soursop seed waste (SSW). The system comprises three sequential stages: (1) coagulation using AVW, which achieved up to 39.9% turbidity reduction; (2) a horizontal flow biofilter system (HFB) employing the aquatic macrophyte EC, which removed 97.9% of fecal coliforms, 82.4% of Escherichia coli, and 99.9% of heterotrophic bacteria; and (3) a tertiary treatment step employing adsorbent derived from SSW, which attained 99.7% methylene blue removal in preliminary tests and an average 97.5% turbidity reduction in DWW. The integrated configuration demonstrates a practical, effective, and replicable approach for decentralized domestic wastewater treatment, fostering local waste valorization, reducing reliance on commercial chemicals, and enhancing water quality in resource-limited rural areas, with potential for scaling to pilot applications in rural communities. Full article

Annona muricata (soursop) produces secondary metabolites with antimicrobial and insecticidal properties. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to enhance the production of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the insecticidal activity of ethanolic leaf extracts from AMF-colonized soursop trees against the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and the triatomine bug Triatoma pallidipennis, a vector of Chagas disease. Ethanolic leaf extracts were obtained from trees inoculated with two AMF consortia (Cerro del Metate and Agua Dulce), with the species Rhizophagus intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae, and from non-mycorrhizal plants (SM). Extracts were tested in bioassays specific to each insect, including chemical and negative controls, and survival was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves. Extracts from plants colonized by F. mosseae exhibited insecticidal activity against S. frugiperda, causing 72% larval mortality, comparable to that of the commercial insecticide. In contrast, extracts from plants inoculated with the Agua Dulce consortium caused 65% mortality in T. pallidipennis adults. These extracts showed significantly higher annonacin content (µg·g⁻¹ DW). Overall, the results demonstrate that AMF colonization can enhance the synthesis of metabolites such as annonacins and contribute to increased insecticidal activity in A. muricata. Our findings suggest AMF-assisted cultivation has the potential to enhance botanical insecticides. Full article

Soursop fruit of Annona muricata L. is a delicious tropical fruit with several medicinal properties. Previous research focused mainly on postharvest fruit development. This study aims to study the changes during preharvest development and ripening of soursop fruit. Flowers were tagged, and fruit samples were collected at different developmental stages based on days after take-off (DAT). The weight changes, flesh firmness, ethylene production, respiration rate, pH, total acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), and cuticle thickness were measured. An increase in respiration rate from 7 to 41 mL CO₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹, a weight increase from 20 to 600 g, a pH decrease from 6.5 to 3.8, a firmness reduction from 20 to 0.8 N, and a cuticle thickness change from 6 to 4 μm were recorded. During preharvest, two different growth periods were recorded: a continuous increase in respiration rate and TSS, a slow decrease in TA, and a constant pH. Further, an increase in firmness was observed until 75 DAT and a decrease after 90 DAT. Cuticle thickness did not show significant changes. During postharvest, soursop fruit showed a sharp increase in TSS, TA, and a notable decrease in pH and firmness. A climacteric peak was recorded six days after harvest with a short postharvest shelf life. It was concluded that the fruit showed the typical behavior of a climacteric fruit. Also, future investigations should focus on the period between 105 and 120 DAT to identify the optimal harvest periods due to the relatively short postharvest shelf life. Full article

The oxidation of meat and meat products can be delayed or mitigated through the use of natural antioxidants. Soursop leaf extracts have potential as a natural additive in meat products, offering a rich source of antioxidants. However, the impact and safety of incorporating soursop leaf extracts on the oxidative stability of meat products are not yet well understood. This study evaluated the antioxidant activity and acute oral toxicity of hydroalcoholic extracts from soursop leaves, as well as their effects on color and the oxidative stability of lipids and proteins in chilled Mexican Hairless pork patties. The results suggest that hydroalcoholic soursop leaf extracts may serve as a safe source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties, suitable for use as an additive in meat and meat products to reduce color loss and lipid oxidation, with a lesser effect on protein oxidation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Annona muricata (AM), commonly known as soursop or guanabana, has long been used in traditional medicine for its purported anticancer properties. However, scientific studies evaluating its potential enhancing or additive effects with conventional antineoplastic drugs (ADs) remain limited. This study aimed to assess the cytotoxic effects of an aqueous AM infusion alone and in combination with standard ADs in cancer cell lines, while also evaluating its safety in healthy cells. Additionally, we explored the potential molecular interactions of AM metabolites with therapeutic targets using silico modeling. Methods: An AM infusion (125 and 250 µg/mL) was tested on two cancer cell lines—MDA-MB-231 (human triple-negative breast cancer) and TC-1 (murine HPV16-positive cancer)—as well as healthy human leukocytes and a non-tumorigenic mouse lung cell line. Cell viability was assessed using the Alamar Blue™ assay. The combined effects of AM with multiple first-line ADs were evaluated. In silico molecular docking was performed with Molegro Virtual Docker to assess the interaction of AM metabolites (quercetin and hyperoside) with the A2B adenosine receptor. Additionally, the physicochemical properties of 13 AD were analyzed to explore correlations with cytotoxic outcomes. Results: AM infusion alone exhibited low cytotoxicity in both cancer and healthy cell types. However, when combined with ADs, it enhanced cytotoxic effects in cancer cells while sparing healthy cells at the evaluated concentrations. Docking studies revealed strong interactions between quercetin and hyperoside (major metabolites in the AM infusion) and the A2B receptor, supporting a possible mechanistic explanation for the observed effects. Conclusions: AM infusion may act as a chemical modulator, potentiating the effects of conventional ADs in cancer cells while preserving normal cell viability. These findings encourage further preclinical exploration of AM as a complementary agent in integrative oncology. Full article

Traditional methods of synthesizing nanoparticles often rely on physical and chemical processes using synthetic hazardous chemicals. In contrast, the rise in green chemistry emphasizes using bioactive compounds from plants for the eco-friendly synthesis of nanostructures. These green synthesis techniques are increasingly recognized for their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and ability to yield non-toxic by-products, an approach that aligns with sustainable practices. In this research, a straightforward, cheap, environmentally friendly, and sustainable procedure was developed to fabricate Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) employing three different pulp extracts: Agave (Agave americana), Chiku (Manilkara zapota), and Soursop (Annona muricata) to serve in the synthesis as capping, reduction, or stabilization agent. Analytical characterization techniques confirmed the successful phytosynthesis of ZnO-NPs, evidenced by significant absorbance peaks of UV-Vis spectra at 362 nm, and the chemical composition of ZnO without noticeable traces of phytochemical residues by carrying out ATR-FTIR analysis. SEM, STEM microscopies, and XRD analysis verified that the ZnO nanoparticles possess spherical geometries and hexagonal crystal structures. The average size of these nanoparticles was around 15.94, 18.08, and 23.32 nm for Agave, Chiku, and Soursop extract-based synthesis, respectively. Additionally, the in vitro antibacterial activity of phytosynthetized ZnO-NPs was evaluated against E. coli and S. aureus, confirming effective bacterial growth inhibition and demonstrating their significant antimicrobial potential. Full article

The effectiveness of multi-targeted treatments including pulsed electric field (PEF), soursop leaf extract (SLE), vacuum impregnation (VI), and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), with and without cold plasma (CP) treatment, on the quality and shelf life of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) during refrigerated storage for 21 days was investigated. PEF inhibited melanosis and reduced the initial bacterial load, as evidenced by lower melanosis scores and total bacterial counts in the treated samples. Integrating 1% SLE through VI effectively lowered color alteration, retarded melanosis, and preserved textural integrity in the SLE-treated samples (p < 0.05). SLE1 (1%) significantly reduced lipid oxidation, as witnessed by lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (p < 0.05) and minimal fatty acid profile changes. MAP3, comprising CO₂/N₂/Ar (60%/30%/10%), combined with CP treatment, ensured microbiological quality and maintained total viable count within the acceptable limit (6 Log CFU/g) throughout the storage time of 21 days. Notably, the PEF-SLE1-VI-MAP3-CP sample exhibited superior quality preservation, as shown by a lower pH and total volatile base content than the others. Sensory evaluation confirmed that the PEF-SLE1-VI-MAP3-CP sample remained sensorially acceptable during storage. Thus, this multi-hurdle approach demonstrated the synergistic potential of integrating nonthermal processing technologies with plant extracts, contributing to the extended shelf life and safety of the refrigerated shrimp for up to 21 days. Full article

This work proposes a vision system mounted on the head of an omnidirectional robot to track pineapples and maintain them at the center of its field of view. The robot head is equipped with a pan–tilt unit that facilitates dynamic adjustments. The system architecture, implemented in Robot Operating System 2 (ROS2), performs the following tasks: it captures images from a webcam embedded in the robot head, segments the object of interest based on color, and computes its centroid. If the centroid deviates from the center of the image plane, a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller adjusts the pan–tilt unit to reposition the object at the center, enabling continuous tracking. A multivariate Gaussian function is employed to segment objects with complex color patterns, such as the body of a pineapple. The parameters of both the PID controller and the multivariate Gaussian filter are optimized using a genetic algorithm. The PID controller receives as input the (x, y) positions of the pan–tilt unit, obtained via an embedded board and MicroROS, and generates control signals for the servomotors that drive the pan–tilt mechanism. The experimental results demonstrate that the robot successfully tracks a moving pineapple. Additionally, the color segmentation filter can be further optimized to detect other textured fruits, such as soursop and melon. This research contributes to the advancement of smart agriculture, particularly for fruit crops with rough textures and complex color patterns. Full article

Non-target organisms are not well studied. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of seven essential oils, two fixed oils, d-limonene and eugenol on the mortality, behavior and infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes (ENPs). The oils were diluted at 1% (v/v) in water with Tween^® 80 PS at 0.05% (v/v), and water with Tween^® alone was used as the control treatment. In the mortality test, 2 mL of solution containing 50 µL of the nematode suspension, 20 µL of oil/compounds solution isolated with Tween 80, and 1930 µL of water were placed in plastic containers. After four days, the number of dead juveniles was counted. In the bioassay of the behavior of the EPNs, the frequency of lateral body beats of the infective juveniles in liquid medium was analyzed after exposure to the solutions. In the infectivity test, after contact of the EPNs with oils and essential oil chemical compounds, the juveniles were washed and applied to second-instar Spodoptera eridania larvae. All oils and isolated compounds caused mortality in H. amazonensis and S. rarum, with Ocimum canum and the isolated compound eugenol showing the highest efficacy against H. amazonensis and O. canum, Eucalyptus citriodora, Zingiber officinale, Salvia sclarea and the isolated compound eugenol being the most effective against S. rarum. There was a reduction in the number of lateral beats of H. amazonensis and S. rarum for all treatments, with the exception of Cymbopogon winterianus in H. amazonensis and Annona muricata in S. rarum. The infectivity of H. amazonenis and S. rarum on S. eridania was reduced when exposed to the solutions, with the exception of the isolated compound d-limonene in both species, soursop for H. amazonenis and rosemary for S. rarum, which were classified as non-toxic to the species tested. The results obtained in this study may be useful for the choice of oils and essential oil chemical compounds with potential use in integrated pest management programs. Full article

This study focused on analyzing and comparing bioactive compounds, specifically phenolics, in the pulp and leaf of Annona muricata (soursop), a crop highly valued in Latin America for its culinary and traditional uses. Methanolic extractions of leaf and pulp were performed for phytochemical screening, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and measurements of antioxidant capacity. The results confirmed the presence of 15 phenolic compounds in the leaf and 14 in the pulp; these included phenolic acids and flavonoids. Shikimic acid was the main component identified, constituting 85 mg/g of the dry leaf sample and 17.50 mg/g of the dry pulp. The antioxidant capacity was determined using DPPH and FRAP. The percentages of inhibition were 70.93 and 15.10 in the leaf and pulp, respectively. This work expands our knowledge about the compounds present in A. muricata, which may be partly responsible for the known benefits of this plant for human health and nutrition. Full article

This study focuses on four species of Lasiodiplodia (L. euphorbiaceicola, L. mahajangana, L. theobromae, and L. pseudotheobromae), which are associated with avocado stem end rot (SER) in Hainan, China. The factors affecting the growth of Lasiodiplodia, pathogenicity to avocado and other tropical fruits, and sensitivity to 12 fungicides, were tested. All Lasiodiplodia spp. isolates were grown between 10 °C and 40 °C, with optimal growth temperature ranging from 28 to 30 °C; the lethal temperature ranged from 51 to 53 °C for 10 min. Optimal growth pH ranged from 5 to 6. The most suitable medium was PDA, the preferred carbon sources were D–fructose and soluble starch, and the preferred nitrogen sources were yeast and beef extract. All Lasiodiplodia spp. isolates were highly pathogenic to avocado fruit. In addition, their pathogenicity to six tropical fruits (banana guava, mango, papaya, pitaya, and soursop) was evaluated, and the results reveal that all four species of Lasiodiplodia are able to infect these fruits to various degrees of severity. The pathogenicity of both L. theobromae and L. pseudotheobromae was the highest among all the species tested. All Lasiodiplodia spp. isolates were highly susceptible to the fungicides fludioxonil, carbendazim, thiophanate–methyl, tetramycin, iprodione, tebuconazole, prochloraz, and imazalil, which are good candidates for controlling avocado SER. The results of the present study provide important information on the biological characteristics of these four species of Lasiodiplodia and provide a basis for the management of SER in avocado. Full article

Tropical fruits such as cherimoya, soursop, and pineapple share sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) in common but may differ in the content of other phytochemicals. In the present work, confocal Raman spectroscopy and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were used to establish a classification model among the three fruits and to evaluate the effect of pre-processing methods on the model’s performance. The Raman spectra showed that glucose was present in the fruits in the 800–900 cm⁻¹ band and the 1100–1200 cm⁻¹ band. While sucrose was present in the bands of 1131.22 cm⁻¹, 1134.44 cm⁻¹, and 1133.37 cm⁻¹ in the three fruits, fructose was present in the bands of 1464.22 cm⁻¹, 1467.44 cm⁻¹, and 1464.22 cm⁻¹ in cherimoya, soursop, and pineapple. The accuracy of the PLS-DA model varied according to the pre-processing methods used. The Savitzky–Golay first derivative method produced a model with 98.69–100% and 100% precision on the training and prediction data, respectively. Full article

Soursop (Annona muricata L.) is a tropical fruit grown in the semi-arid region of Brazil, where problems of quantitative and qualitative scarcity of water for irrigation are frequent. Using alternative water sources, such as fish farming effluents, can increase water availability; however, it presents risks due to its high salinity levels. We aimed to evaluate the effect of irrigation with saline fish farming effluent and NPK doses on soursop seedlings’ ecophysiology. We conducted a greenhouse experiment using a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 5 factorial scheme. The factors consisted of two irrigation water sources (local supply water with 0.5 dS m⁻¹ and fish farming effluent with 3.5 dS m⁻¹) and five doses of NPK (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, and 125% of the fertilizer recommendation of 100:300:150 mg dm⁻³ of N:P₂O₅:K₂O for soil). The soursop seedlings showed the best growth results for plant height, stem diameter, and shoot dry mass when irrigated with low-salinity water at 95% of the recommended NPK dose. However, under saline stress, the soursop seedlings showed optimal growth when fertilized with 69% of NPK dose. We recommend the following NPK fertilization for soursop seedlings: 95:285:143 mg dm⁻³ of N:P₂O₅:K₂O for those irrigated with low-salinity water and 69:207:104 mg dm⁻³ for those irrigated with fish farm effluent. Irrigating with fish farm effluent can be a practical option for soursop seedlings as it can help save fertilizers and promote environmental sustainability. Full article

Annona fruit, leaves, seeds, roots, and bark have been conventionally used in many countries for medical treatments as they are considered ideal sources of pharmacologically active compounds, but Annona remains an underutilized fruit in many countries. The fruit of these plants is delicately flavored and is used in industrial products such as ready-to-serve beverages, wine, jellies, jam, and fruit-butter preserve, while the seeds generally go to waste. Annona seed oil contains numerous health-benefiting factors such as vitamins, minerals, bioactive compounds, fatty acids, antioxidants, and phenolic compounds, which are responsible for various biological activities, including antibacterial, antioxidant, and antitumor activities. Cancer is a worldwide major health problem that remains unresolved. Even though the current treatments can manage to reduce tumor growth, there is an urgent need to investigate more efficient but less expensive novel techniques to overcome some of the restrictions in treating tumors. Annona might offer an indispensable choice besides chemotherapy and radiotherapy, especially for terminally ill patients, as the Annona genus contains secondary metabolites in nearly every component of Annona plants. Research has shown that many Annona species contain promising components that could potentially exhibit anticancer activity, but the information available is scarce and inconsistent. Annona muricata (Soursop, “Katuanoda”), Annona squamosa (Sweetsop, “Seenianoda”), and Annona reticulata (Custard apple, “Welianoda”) are three commonly cultivated edible Annona species in Sri Lanka. The main objective of the review was to present an updated comprehensive literature analysis of the putative chemopreventive functions against cancer cell lines/the anticancer effect on cancers, phytochemical properties, and antioxidant properties possessed by the seed oils of three selected common Annona species. Although there are some in vitro and in vivo experimental investigations supporting the benefits of Annona seed oils, clinical investigations are still needed to explore concealed areas, determine the effects on the human body, determine the safest concentration, and determine health-contributing benefits before they are submitted to clinical trials. Full article