Study of the chemical composition and biological activities of wild blueberries (Vaccinium sp.) collected in Michoacán
Resumen
Blueberries belong to the Vaccinium genus, and some species and varieties are cultivated on a large scale, increasing the demand for their antioxidant effect that prevents chronic degenerative diseases. There are 450 species of Vaccinium distributed in the world, but they have been little studied, such as Vaccinium stenophyllum Steud. and Vaccinium leucanthum Schltdl. reported in Michoacán. Therefore, phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts and biological activities of leaves and fruits of Vaccinium stenophyllum Steud. and Vaccinium leucanthum Schltdl. collected in Michoacán were evaluated in this research. The V. stenophyllum leaf extract showed the highest content of phenols (58.699 ± 0.690 mg EAG/g PS), total flavonoids (27.091 ± 1.455 mg EQ/g PS) and hyperoside (36.1 ± 0.8 mg EH/g PS). The best antioxidant effect was presented in V. stenophyllum leaf extract by both ABTS?+ method (575.0 ± 8.2 µmol ET/g PS) and DPPH? method (1144.3 ± 32.8 µmol ET/g PS). V. stenophyllum leaf extract showed the best MIC (2.96 mg PS/mL) and MBC (8.89 mg PS/mL), being the same MIC and MBC for the bacteria under study. Chlorogenic acid and hyperoside were shown as the main antioxidant compounds. V. stenophyllum leaves could be used as a source of natural additives for the food industry or for cultivar improvement purposes.