Biological capacities of seven Chilean ferns.

Sticherus squamulosus, Hymenophyllum dentatum, Blechnum microphyllum, Polypodium Feuillei, Blechnum chilense, Lophosoria quadripinnata, and Lissopimpla excelsa are native fern species found in southern Chile and are often used in traditional medicine. However, their bioactive properties have not been confirmed. In this study, ethanolic extracts of ferns exhibited significant antibacterial capacity against human pathogens. H. dentatum and S. squamulosus were selected for further analysis owing to their antimicrobial and antioxidant capacities. The entire H. dentatum extract exhibited fungistatic and fungicidal capacity on Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium digitatum, with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 1.56 mg/mL and 6.25 mg/mL and minimum fungicidal concentration values of 6.25 mg/mL and 12.5 mg/mL, respectively. The S. squamulosus extract presented the highest rutin content (222.5 µg/g fern). In addition, the ethanolic extract of H. dentatum inhibited 91% of DPPH radicals. Therefore, both types of ferns can be used in the food industry.

Ethanolic Extract from Fruits of Pintoa chilensis, a Chilean Extremophile Plant. Assessment of Antioxidant Activity and In Vitro Cytotoxicity.

Pintoa chilensis is a shrub with yellow flowers that reach up to two meters high, endemic of the Atacama Region in Chile. This species grows under special environmental conditions such as low altitude, arid areas, and directly sun-exposed habitats. In the present study, ethanolic extract was obtained from fruits of P. chilensis, and then partitioned in solvents of increasing polarity to obtain five fractions: hexane (HF), dichloromethane (DF), ethyl acetate (AF), and the residual water fraction (QF). The antioxidant activity of extracts was evaluated by using the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods. The results show that the antioxidant capacity of P. chilensis is higher than that reported for other plants growing in similar environments. This effect is attributed to the highest content of flavonoids and total phenols found in P. chilensis. On the other hand, the cell viability of a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and a non-tumor cell line (MCF-10A) was assessed in the presence of different extract fractions. The results indicate that the hexane fraction (HF) exhibits the highest cytotoxicity on both cell lines (IC50 values equal to 35 and 45 µg/mL), whereas the dichloromethane fraction (DF) is the most selective one. The GC-MS analysis of the dichloromethane fraction (DF) shows the presence of fatty acids, sugars, and polyols as major components.

Eucryphia cordifolia extracts: Phytochemical screening, antibacterial and antioxidant activities.

Eucryphia cordifolia is a native and dominant species from the Temperate Forest in the southern region of Chile. It is a crucial melliferous species producing unifloral honey with outstanding antibacterial properties with great commercial value at international markets. A phytochemical screening was developed by colorimetric and gravimetric methods. Antioxidant activities were assessed by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was the method used to determine the antibacterial activity. The results revealed the highest antioxidant activity for the methanolic extracts of branches (IC50 35.7 µg/mL for DPPH, IC50 11.0 µg/mL for ABTS, and 4.6 mM FeSO4·7H2O/g in FRAP), attributed to its high content of total phenols (332.8 mg GAE/g). The quantification of the MBC led to values in the range of 0.78-12.5 mg/mL for S. aureus and S. pyogenes, and 6.25-50 mg/mL for E. coli and P. aeruginosa, respectively. The presented work provides valuable first in vitro evidence regarding the potential application of E. cordifolia extracts as antioxidants and antibacterial agents in the nutraceutical and phytopharmaceutical industry.

Anti-inflammatory potential of processing Vernonanthura patens (Kunth) H. Rob. leaves aqueous extract.

Folk medicine uses decoctions of Vernonanthura patens (Kunth) H. Rob. leaves for healing wounds, and moderate pains. In this study, anti-inflammatory activity of decocted aqueous extract and its fractions is discussed. The fractions were obtained by liquid-liquid extraction in a separating funnel with solvents of increasing polarity: hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate. Antioxidant capacity, COX1, and COX2 cyclooxygenase inhibitory activities of aqueous extract (A1), aqueous (A2), and ethyl acetate (A3) fractions were assessed. A3 revealed the highest flavonoid content, and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity. Nevertheless, no significance differences were observed between IC50 values of A1 and A2, and A1 showed anti-inflammatory activity with potential selectivity against COX2 enzyme, but intermediate COX1 inhibition. Further experiments are required to complement the remarkable anti-inflammatory effect of assessed aqueous extract. These results support the medicinal use of this plant species and indicate that A1 can be used as raw material for prospective nutraceutical products.

Bioactive compounds in Apis mellifera monofloral honeys.

Honey is a natural product with a sweet flavor. Honey is made by the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) from the nectar of flowers or other plant secretions that are collected near the hive. These products are mixed with bee saliva and stored. Several studies have demonstrated that honey exhibits antioxidant, antimicrobial, nematicidal, antifungal, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. These properties are influenced by the plants from which the secretions are harvested, from the naturally occurring compounds present in the nectar. Studies of the properties and applications of honey have distinguished honey from other natural products due to the presence of certain compounds and due its bioactive properties. The focus of this review is to discuss the identified and isolated compounds from monofloral honey produced by A. mellifera, with specific emphasis on antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of honey and its therapeutic health benefits.

Effect of Cocoa Bean Shell Addition on Metabolite Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Herbal Infusions.

Cocoa bean shell (CBS) is a by-product with aromatic characteristics that can enhance the aroma and bioactivity of herbal infusions. This study was aimed to determine the effect of the addition of cocoa bean shell on the metabolite profile and antioxidant activity of infusions made with Ilex guayusa and Vernonanthura patens and their mixtures. Metabolite profile was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with multivariate analysis. Total polyphenol content and flavonoids were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and by the flavonoid-AlCl3 complex, respectively. Antioxidant activities were measured by the decolorization assay of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical and the ferric reducing antioxidant power. The results revealed that the addition of CBS increases the content of phenolic acids in the infusions (caffeic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and pyrocatechol). Nonetheless, the antioxidant activity of the infusions decreased with the addition of CBS (16.21 to 2.74 TEAC). Carboxylic acids and derivatives, major compounds present in the infusions prepared with V. patens, were the metabolites that showed the highest correlation with the antioxidant activity. This study suggests that the infusions made with CBS present a profile of metabolites different from the infusions of I. guayusa, V. patens, and their mixtures.