Showing 1–10 z 34 results
Peniocereus greggii roots contain sterols investigated in metabolic experiments. A 2022 study connected blood glucose measurements in mice with insulin secretion by cells and analysis of myotube respiration. Individual compounds produced different responses, and separating them allowed more precise description of the activity of a plant mixture. [Muñoz-Gómez et al. 2022]
7 min readSaponins isolated from Polaskia chichipe altered the amyloid beta aggregation signal and the response of SH-SY5Y cells. Two experiments reported in 2017 identified different compounds as the most active. Their comparison shows the importance of precise molecular structure and the measurement employed. [Fujihara et al. 2017]
8 min readSeeds of Agave lechuguilla collected in a Mexican mining area already contained cadmium before the experiment began. They germinated less successfully, and their seedlings accumulated more of this element than material from the comparison site without mining activity. The 2013 study by Méndez-Hurtado and colleagues connects this difference in seed provenance with measurements of root growth, tissue structure and metallothionein gene expression. [Méndez-Hurtado et al. 2013]
8 min readThe fruit of Myrtillocactus geometrizans, known as garambullo, provides material for studying relationships between food, microorganisms and an animal host. Whole-fruit powder, an extraction residue and juice concentrate each have a defined experimental context. Three studies in rats illustrate how the choice of preparation and measured parameter affects the meaning of the resulting evidence. [Sánchez-Recillas et al. 2026] [García-Chávez et al. 2026] [Sandoval-Salazar et al. 2023]
8 min readIn 1954, Carl Djerassi and colleagues described dumortierigenin obtained from a cactus studied as Lemaireocereus dumortieri. The isolation account follows the steps of a historical natural-product investigation, from plant material to identification of chemical groups. [Djerassi et al. 1954]
1 min readAqueous Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage was used to prepare powders containing jiotilla and pitaya pigments. The study follows two distinct stages of betalain preservation, losses during drying and retention of the pigments subsequently present in the stored powder. [Soto-Castro et al. 2019]
3 min readA dye attached to a semiconductor surface can participate in converting light into electricity. Escontria chiotilla and Stenocereus sp. extracts were used to build small cells that compared the effects of pigment source and juice processing. [Romero-Contreras et al. 2026]
3 min readExtracts of fungi living inside a cactus can alter the growth of tumour cells in culture. A study of two endophytes shows how this measurement is followed by an experiment in mice and how the apparent activity of an extract can change between the two systems. [Clark-Pérez et al. 2024]
2 min readJuvenile Acanthocereus tetragonus stems are a traditional vegetable in parts of Mexico. Analyses of raw and cooked stems reveal changes in metabolite profiles and extract responses in two chemical assays. [Cornejo-Campos et al. 2022]
4 min readFruit colour connects betalain biochemistry with gene regulation. The yellow dragon fruit genome and polyploidization experiments illustrate opportunities for breeding research and the importance of accurate pigment and plant-material identification. [Cohen and Tel-Zur 2012] [Abirami et al. 2021] [Pucker and Brockington 2022]
4 min read
