Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of Native Chilean Plants

Abstract

: The native flora of Chile has unique characteristics due to the geographical situation of the country, with the vast desert in the North, Patagonia in the South, the Andean Mountains on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west. This exclusivity is reflected in high concentrations of phytochemicals in the fruits and leaves of its native plants. Some examples are Aristotelia chilensis (Molina) Stuntz (maqui), Berberis microphylla G. Forst. (calafate), Peumus boldus Molina (boldo), Ribes magellanicum Poir. (Magellan currant), Ugni molinae Turcz. (murtilla), Rubus geoides Sm. (miñe miñe), Drimys winteri J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. (canelo), Luma apiculata (DC.) Burret (arrayán) distributed throughout the entire Chilean territory. Some of these Chilean plants have been used for centuries in the country's traditional medicine. The most recent studies of phytochemical characterization of parts of Chilean plants show a wide spectrum of antioxidant compounds, phenolic components, terpenoids and alkaloids, which have shown biological activity in both in vitro and in vivo studies. This manuscript covers the entire Chilean territory characterizing the phytochemical profile and reporting some of its biological properties, focusing mainly on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, chemopreventive and cytotoxic activity, and potential against diabetes, metabolic syndrome and gastrointestinal disorders.

Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of Seven Native Species Growing in the Forests of Southern Chilean Patagonia

“…The antioxidant capacity of Aristotelia chilensis and Berberis microphylla fruits is widely documented [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. However, there are few reports of the antioxidant capacity of foliar extracts of Aristolelia chilensis [69][70][71] measured as DPPH free radical scavenging activity.…”

“…The inhibition percentage was calculated by the following equation: The sun protection factor (SPF) was calculated according to the method described by Mansur et al [50] and used by other authors [51][52][53]. Briefly, the method consists of measuring the absorbance of the sample between 290 and 320 nm, every 5 nm, and using the following equation: where CF is a correction factor (10), EE (λ) is the erythemal effect spectrum, and I (λ) is the solar intensity spectrum. The EE (λ) × I (λ) values are constant for each wavelength of the interval and they are reported in the literature (Table 4) [51][52][53].…”

“…There are many studies on various properties of forest berries. Among them, the antioxidant properties of their fruits and their benefits for humans have been studied [4][5][6][7][8][9][10].…”

Antimicrobial Properties of Chilean Native Plants: Future Aspects in Their Application in the Food Industry

“…Native and endemic vascular plant species add up to over 80% of total vascular plant diversity, making Chile a relevant hotspot for biodiversity conservation and a source of unique bio-resources [ 21 ]. Endemic species, such as Peumus boldus and Quillaja saponaria , have been highly studied regarding their components and biological properties of extracts and purified metabolites [ 22 ]. However, other plants commonly consumed by native indigenous people or rural populations due to their known effects on human health have been less scientifically examined.…”

Spray-Dried Formulations Rich in Malvidin from Tintorera Grape Wastes: Characterization, Stability, and Storage

“…The phenolic compounds in plant-derived foods have been associated with potential health-promoting characteristics due to their ability to act as antioxidants and free-radical scavengers [1]. Most plant phenolic compounds appear as simple phenols and flavonoids, which are polar hydroxylated or glycosylated compounds of relatively low molecular weights.…”