Description of the antioxidant capacity of Calafate berries (Berberis microphylla) collected in southern Chile

Raúl Sánchez Gutiérrez,Carla Guzmán Pincheira

doi:10.1590/fst.25820

Raúl Sánchez Gutiérrez, Carla Guzmán Pincheira

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/fst.25820

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Abstract

Abstract The Berberidaceae family of shrubs has about 20 species present in Chile; however, the Calafate (Berberis microphylla) native to Chilean and Argentinean Patagonia, is the most widely distributed. The objective of this study was to compare the antioxidant capacity of Calafate collected at different locations in southern Chile, specifically Aysen and Magallanes. Methods: 2000 g of Calafate berries were harvested in both regions. The fruit was lyophilized for subsequent quantification of polyphenols, anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity. Results: All parameters evaluated were superior in the samples from Aysen. Conclusion: The results confirm the high content of polyphenolic compounds present in Calafate, with variations according to the geographical area where they grow. The higher antioxidant capacity of the fruit harvested in Aysen could be associated with the abiotic stress present in that location.

Highlights

Calafate (Berberis microphylla), native to South American Patagonia, is the most widely distributed member of the Berberidaceae family of shrubs in Chile (Bustamante et al, 2018). It has great antioxidant capacity, comparable to that contained in other native berries (Brito et al, 2014), which correlates with the high content of total polyphenols in the fruit and its concentration of anthocyanins (Speisky et al, 2012), mainly delphinidin 3-glycoside, cyanidin 3-glycoside and malvidin 3-glycoside (Chamorro et al, 2019), corresponding to a group of water-soluble pigments, which give the berries their blue, red, violet or purple color (Singla et al, 2019)
3.1 Total polyphenol and anthocyanin content: The berries harvested for this study showed higher phenol contents, expressed as mg gallic acid per 100 g of dry fruit, than reported for other berries (Grace et al, 2014)
The Calafate has a wide geographical distribution in the extreme south of Patagonia; the berries of the bush may have different concentrations of phenolic compounds according to the climatic characteristics present during the ripening of the fruit

Summary

Introduction

Calafate (Berberis microphylla), native to South American Patagonia, is the most widely distributed member of the Berberidaceae family of shrubs in Chile (Bustamante et al, 2018) It has great antioxidant capacity, comparable to that contained in other native berries (Brito et al, 2014), which correlates with the high content of total polyphenols in the fruit and its concentration of anthocyanins (Speisky et al, 2012), mainly delphinidin 3-glycoside, cyanidin 3-glycoside and malvidin 3-glycoside (Chamorro et al, 2019), corresponding to a group of water-soluble pigments, which give the berries their blue, red, violet or purple color (Singla et al, 2019). The objective of this study was to compare the antioxidant capacity of Calafate collected at different locations in southern Chile, Aysén and Magallanes

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion