Metabolic profile and antioxidant capacity of five Berberis leaves species: A comprehensive study to determine their potential as natural food or ingredient.

A comprehensive study of bioactive compounds was carried out in the leaves of the main Berberis species growing in Chile (Berberis microphylla, Berberis darwinii, Berberis empetrifolia, Berberis trigona, and the introduced Berberis vulgaris). We identified 117 compounds, by a detailed analysis of each molecule, including phenolic acids, alkaloids, flavonols, and other compounds, using high-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Quantitative analysis of main compound was also included for all species. Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were the main compounds in all the studied leaves, with the highest concentration in Berberis microphylla. Quercetin derivatives were the most relevant flavonols in all species, except in Berberis vulgaris, in which isorhamnetin-3-rutinoside was the most concentrated. The fatty acid profile, determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry revealed the presence of linoleic and linolenic acids in all species studied. Berberis vulgaris showed higher levels of these fatty acids. The antioxidant capacity, explored by three in vitro methods, showed high values for all studied Berberis species. The obtained levels are higher than those of other prominent foods. The findings will inform novel approaches for the valorization of these leaves as natural food or ingredient.

Physical-Chemical Evaluation of Active Food Packaging Material Based on Thermoplastic Starch Loaded with Grape cane Extract.

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological properties of active thermoplastic starch-based materials. The extract obtained from grape cane waste was used as a source of stilbene bioactive components to enhance the functional properties of thermoplastic starch (TPS). The biomaterials were prepared by the compression molding technique and subjected to mechanical, thermal, antioxidant, and microbiological tests. The results showed that the addition of grape cane extract up to 15 wt% (TPS/WE15) did not significantly influence the thermal stability of obtained biomaterials, whereas mechanical resistance decreased. On the other side, among all tested pathogens, thermoplastic starch based materials showed antifungal activity toward Botrytis cinerea and antimicrobial activity toward Staphylococcus aureus, suggesting potential application in food packaging as an active biomaterial layer.

The Chilean wild raspberry (Rubus geoides Sm.) increases intracellular GSH content and protects against H2O2 and methylglyoxal-induced damage in AGS cells.

The Chilean raspberry Rubus geoides Sm. (Rosaceae) is a native species occurring in the Patagonia. Five R. geoides samples were assessed for phenolic content and composition, antioxidant activity, effect on total reduced glutathione (GSH) synthesis and protective effect against H2O2 and methylglyoxal (MGO)-induced stress in epithelial gastric AGS cells. The HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS profiles allowed the tentative identification of 39 phenolics including flavonol glycosides and tannins. R. geoides presented higher total phenolic and flavonoid content than Rubus idaeus. Two out of the five phenolic enriched R. geoides extracts (PEEs) exhibited better antioxidant activity than R. idaeus in the DPPH, FRAP and TEAC assays. A significant cytoprotective activity was observed when AGS cells were pre-incubated with extracts and subsequently challenged with H2O2 or MGO. Treatment with the PEEs increased the intracellular GSH content. R. geoides fruit extracts may induce the activation of intracellular protection mechanisms against oxidative and dicarbonyl-induced stress.

Flavonols, alkaloids, and antioxidant capacity of edible wild berberis species from patagonia.

There are 20 species of the Berberidaceae family described in Chile, whose fruits are edible and show high anthocyanin and hydroxycinnamic acid levels. Berberis microphylla G. Forst, commonly known as calafate, is the most extensively distributed. Flavonols and alkaloids in seed, pulp, skin, and whole calafate berry extracts and other Berberis were studied using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS and HPLC with fluorescence detector. Berry samples from different locations in Chilean Patagonia, including different phenological stages, were systematically addressed. Results were compared with other organs of the plant and with other Berberis species. Total flavonol concentration in calafate (n = 65) was 1.33 ± 0.54 µmol/g. Glycosyl metabolites of quercetin and isorhamnetin were the most abundant. Similar profiles were observed in calafate from distinct locations, but important differences were observed for the other edible Berberis species. Calafate pulp and skin have higher flavonol concentrations than seeds, and the maturation process reduced its levels. TEACCUPRAC and TEACABTS of whole calafate extracts and fractions are also explored. Finally, only berberine was detected in the fruit (0.001%), mainly in seeds. Results contribute to the promotion of this berry as a superfruit from Patagonia.

Influence of post-pruning storage on stilbenoid levels in Vitis vinifera L. canes.

Increasing evidence for the health benefits of E-resveratrol has triggered interest in stilbenoids in grapes, wine and by-products. Less attention has been paid to stilbenoid levels in viticulture residues. However, grape canes are a promising source of stilbenoids and have economic potential because they are a source of high-value phytochemicals. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of post-pruning storage on stilbenoid levels in grape canes. In most samples, the predominant stilbenoid was (E)-resveratrol, followed by (E)-ε-viniferin. In Pinot Noir canes stored after pruning at room temperature, the stilbenoid levels increased significantly after 8 months. The concentration was increased by up to fivefold, reaching 4,777 mg kg(-1)dw (dry weight). This effect did not occur in frozen, lyophilised or milled material. Branches collected directly from the plants after grape vintage and those remaining on the plant after pruning showed only a small increase in stilbenoid levels.

Analysis of hydroxycinnamic acids derivatives in calafate (Berberis microphylla G. Forst) berries by liquid chromatography with photodiode array and mass spectrometry detection.

Calafate (Berberis microphylla G. Forst) is a Patagonian barberry very rich in anthocyanins and one of the fruits with the highest levels of these polyphenols. Other phenolic compounds have also been described in calafate berries. However, to the best of our knowledge there is no available information on hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives. The complexity of hydroxycinnamic acids determination in calafate berries, due to their structure similarities and the interference of high anthocyanin concentration is addressed by means of solid liquid extraction, followed by solid phase extraction clean-up on MCX columns and HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS. The optimized extraction, clean-up and HPLC separation method allowed the assignation of identity and quantification of 20 hydroxycinnamic acids from calafate fruits. 5-Caffeoylquinic acid was the main compound found in all the studied samples. Other 13 hydroxycinnamoyl quinic acids and 6 caffeic acid esters with aldaric acid derivatives assigned as glucaric acid were also identified. Moreover, the glucaric-based hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives accounted for almost the half of total content of this kind of phenolic compounds. The total concentration of hydroxycinnamic acids derivatives ranged between 0.32±0.00 µmol/g and 8.28±0.01 µmol/g. Effect of ripening and geographical location on hydroxycinnamic acid profiles and concentrations are also evaluated. The methodology allows the determination of hydroxycinnamic acids from calafate despite of the high anthocyanin concentrations, showing a much higher concentration of these acids than other widely consumed berries. Thus suggesting that calafate could be considered a very interesting fruit from the point of view of their nutraceutical composition. However, geographical location and ripening have incidence in levels of studied compounds.

In vitro activity on human gut bacteria of murta leaf extracts (Ugni molinae turcz.), a native plant from Southern Chile.

Despite the fact that murta infusions have been used to treat gut/urinary infections by native Chileans for centuries, the mechanisms promoting such effects still remain unclear. As a first attempt to unravel these mechanisms, human fecal samples were incubated in a medium containing water extract of murta leaves (ML) and the growth of different bacterial groups was evaluated. Control incubations were made in media containing fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and glucose as a carbon source. Phenolic compounds in the ML extract, likely promoters of bioactivity, were identified by HPLC-DAD-MS(n) . Concentrations (log10 CFU/mL) of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in media containing the extract and FOS were 7.33 ± 0.05/4.95 ± 0.20 and 6.44 ± 0.22/6.05 ± 0.06, respectively. Clostridia, anaerobes and Enterobacteriaceae grew to a similar extent in media containing murta extract and FOS. In vitro tests (disk diffusion) showed that Gram-positive (Bacillus and Paenibacillaceae) and Gram-negative (Enterobacteriaceae) bacteria isolated from fecal samples were sensitive to both water and 50/50 ethanol/water extracts of ML (28.4 µg gallic acid equivalents). At this concentration, the antimicrobial activity of ML extracts was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of penicillin (10 U), whereas the difference between activity of ML extracts and gentamicine (10 µg) was no significant (P > 0.05). No evidence of dependency between the antimicrobial activity of ML extracts and the enzymatic capability of the sensitive strains was found.