No abstract

The antioxidant capacity (AC), total anthocyanins (TA) and total phenols (TP) of calafate fruit from four locations in southern Chile (El Blanco, Lonquimay, Mañihuales and Temuco) were determined using both the free radical 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and the linoleic acid oxidation inhibition method as well as the pH-differential and Folin-Ciocalteu methods. Phenolic compounds were also identified using HPLC-DAD (High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode-Array Detection). The results showed that TP varied significantly according to the location. Mañihuales was noteworthy, with 34.9 mg of GAE g -1 dried fruit. The measured AC level depended on the methodology used, varying significantly between locations according to the DPPH results. Mañihuales was again noteworthy, with the highest AC values (9.4 mg of TE g -1 dried fruit). The results based on the inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation showed no significant differences between Temuco and El Blanco, and the highest value was found for Mañihuales (0.25 mg of TE g -1 dried fruit). The TA showed significant differences among locations and was highest for El Blanco (0.64 mg of cyanidin g -1 dried fruit). The phenolic acid compounds that were identified included gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid and flavonoids such as rutin, myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol. These compounds varied according to location. Temuco showed a higher content of coumaric acid; Lonquimay of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid and flavonoids such as rutin and quercetin; Mañihuales of gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and flavonoids such as rutin and quercetin; and El Blanco of caffeic acid and flavonoids such as myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol. The AC was positively correlated with TP (DPPH r=1, linoleic acid r=0.84). In contrast, a low correlation was obtained between AC and TA (DPPH r=0.31; linoleic acid r=-0.28) and between TP and AT (r=0.27). It is concluded that calafate fruits from different geographical areas of southern Chile show statistically significant differences in antioxidant capacity, total phenols, anthocyanins and phenolic compounds, with Mañihuales showing the highest values for these parameters. The chemical composition of the fruits also varies with the origin of the samples.

It is possible to incorporate a lot of natural antioxidants into the human organism by consuming berries which can prevent diseases generated by the action of free radicals. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and thus protect the organism from the oxidative damage of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Berries stand out as one of the richest sources of antioxidant phytonutrients among various fruits and vegetables. The objective of this research was to determine antioxidant capacity (AC), total anthocyanins (TA), and total phenols (TP) of wild and cultivated berries in different localities of La Araucanía and Los Ríos Regions in Chile. These parameters were analyzed by using the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) method, pH-differential, and Folin-Ciocalteu method. Percentages of DPPH discoloration of different berries studied were between 67.8% and 95.3% for red sarsaparilla and rosehip, respectively. Maqui berries showed a significantly higher TA content (2240.2 and 1445.3 mg L-1 cyanidin 3-glucoside) than other berries, and a mean for all berries of 335.5 mg L-1. Higher phenol content levels were obtained in two cultivars of saskatoon (773.9 and 1001.9 mg L-1 gallic acid) and wild rosehip (1457.0 and 1140.4 mg L-1 gallic acid). We conclude that there are significant differences in antioxidant capacity of wild and cultivated Chilean berries in this study which show a strong correlation between AC and TP content.

Fungi are an extraordinary and immensely diverse group of microorganisms that colonize many habitats even competing with other microorganisms. Fungi have received recognition for interesting metabolic activities that have an enormous variety of biotechnological applications. Previously, volatile organic compounds produced by fungi (FVOCs) have been demonstrated to have a great capacity for use as antagonist products against plant pathogens. However, in recent years, FVOCs have been received attention as potential alternatives to the use of traditional pesticides and, therefore, as important eco-friendly biotechnological tools to control plant pathogens. Therefore, highlighting the current state of knowledge of these fascinating FVOCs, the actual detection techniques and the bioactivity against plant pathogens is essential to the discovery of new products that can be used as biopesticides.

No abstract