Patagonian Ribes and Rubus: native fruits with nutraceutical potential.

JIMENEZ ASPEE, FELIPE; THEODULOZ, CRISTINA; LADIO, A H; SCHMEDA-HIRSCHMANN, GUILLERMO

Aschville

Congreso; Xth International Ribes and Rubus Symposium; 2015

North Carolina State University

Wild or cultivated berries are recognized as healthpromotingfruits due to their high content of antioxidantphytochemicals. In the Chilean and Argentinian Patagonia,wild growing Ribes and Rubus species are interesting sourceof bioactive compounds. Ongoing studies have shown thatRubus geoides fruit extracts protect human epithelial gastriccells against oxidative stress through glutathione-mediatedmechanisms. Patagonian Ribes magellanicum, R. punctatum,R. valdivianum and R. cucullatum fruits exhibit antioxidantproperties and present a rich phenolic composition, includingflavonoids, phenylpropanoids and anthocyanins. The study ofthe chemical constituents and biological properties ofPatagonian berries adds evidence to support the possibledevelopment of this native fruits into new crops