Berries from Luzuriaga Radicans Ruiz &Amp; Pav.: A Southern Chile Climbing Shrub as a Source of Antioxidants Against Chronic Diseases

In recent years, numerous studies have emerged on the biological activities of endemic berries from the Valdivian forest and their potential for therapeutic use. However, some species appear to be a relatively neglected group. The objective of this study was to conduct for the first time a phytochemical composition analysis of the hydroalcoholic extract of Luzuriaga radicans Ruiz & Pav. and to evaluate its potential as an antioxidant and inhibition of enzymes related to chronic non communicable diseases. The berries were co- llected in the Saval Park in Valdivia, and subsequently extracted by maceration in ethanol/water. UHPLC-DAD, HPLC-APCI (+)-MS and UHPLC-ESI (+)-TOF-MS analysis a- llowed the identification of several carotene and carotenoid ester species. The determination of sum of carotenoids by UHPLC-DAD yielded 983.4 ± 26.3 mg/kg DW. The concentration of the phenolic compounds was 9.33 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g dry fruit. The extract exhibited antioxidant properties by scavenging DPPH, ABTS•+ radicals and FRAP. Additionally, it demonstrated antienzymatic activity (AChE and BuChE: IC50: 6.904 ± 0.42 and 18.38 ± 0.48 µg/mL, respectively). Docking calculations were additionally performed for a selection of compounds occurring in the berries. The data obtained suggest that the hydroalcoholic extract of L. radicans possesses significant potential as a natural antioxidant and inhibition of enzymes, making it a promising candidate for the development of phytotherapeutic and nutraceutical products, especially as a supplement against chronic diseases.