Patagonian Berries: An ethnobotanical approach to exploration of their nutraceutical potential

CHAMORRO M.F.; LADIO A.H.; MOLARES S.

Ethonobotany: Local Knowledge and Traditions

CRC PRESS

Año: 2019; p. 50 - 69

Native fruits have been much used by local populations as part of their diet, according to archaeological and recent records (Martínez-Crovetto 1982, Dillehay 1988, Rapoport and Ladio 1999). In this work, we are particularly interested in the berries which are native to this región. Pochettino (2015) proposed that berries correspond principally to the fleshy fruits of trees and shrubs of temperate areas, generally red to violet in colour, and are also called ?soft fruits?. In their natural state they normally contain more than 50% water, which they contribute to the people?s diet, and are low in calorific value. The sugars they contain are easily digested and absorbed by the body, and they also enrich the diet with fibre, minerals and vitamins (Hurrell et al. 2010). Berries can be classified generally into simple fruits, with pips (pome fruit), stones (drupes and polydrupes) and aggregate fruits (thickened receptacles containing partial fruits).