Phytochemical study of Ilex paraguariensis fruits.

COGOI, LAURA; LÓPEZ, PAULA; GIACOMINO, M. SILVIA; PELLEGRINO, NESTOR; ANESINI, CLAUDIA; FERRARO, GRACIELA E; FILIP, ROSANA

Montevideo- Uruguay

Simposio; PRIMER SIMPOSIO INTERNACIONAL SOBRE YERBA MATE Y SALUD.; 2008

    Ilex paraguariensis St. Hilaire (Aquifoliaceae) is commercialized in South America as "Yerba Mate"  which grows naturally in NE. Argentina, Uruguay, SE. Brazil and E. Paraguay, where it is also cultivated. It is one of the most known specie and used to prepare a tea like beverage (infusions or decoctions) appreciated for its peculiar flavor, stimulating, antioxidant, choleretic and nutritional properties. Technically, Yerba Mate is defined as the product which is constituted exclusively by the dried, slightly roasted and milled leaves of I. paraguariensis which can have fragments of young branches, and floral pedicles. The fruits are red coloured berries with 4 to 5 seeds and are not used in the industrialization of Yerba Mate. The objective of this work was to explore the possible use of I. paraguariensis fruits for human consumption or industrial use. Methanolic and hexanic extracts were prepared. Methanolic extracts were analyzed by HPLC with Diode Array Detector for the methylxanthines content. Caffeine (0,118 ± 0,001%) and theobromine (0,0125 ± 0,0002 %) were isolated and quantified. Hexanic extracts are being analyzed by GC with FID detector for fatty acids profile. The results obtained lead to the development of products with potential use in the alimentary, phytopharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.