Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis, Elaeocarpaceae [Molina] Stunz) and Murta (Ugni molinae, Myrtaceae Turcz), are small trees native to South Chile, deeply rooted in traditional
culture of indigenous. Maqui and Murta berries have drawn research attention due to
their potential health benefits, among them anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic
and anti-obesity activities, which are largely attributed to their rich polyphenolic
content. The findings that diet interventions can increase lifespan, constitute dietary
plants a promising source of chemical entities that promotes healthy span and/or delay
ageing1.
A high-throughput comparative phytochemical investigation of methanol and water extracts
of both plants and specifically of their edible part, the fruits, was performed. Fingerprinting
procedures using HPTLC showed that both plants had a rich chemical profile, while
phenolic compounds prevailed. Profiling and dereplication procedures employing hyphenated
techniques (HPLC/UHPLC-PDA, LC-(ESI)-HRMS/MS) were also applied and various putative
bioactive compounds were identified. Hence, analytical and preparative techniques
afforded compounds belonging to anthocyanins, flavonoids, flavonoid glucosides and
phenolic acids, followed by structure elucidation (1D & 2D NMR). The in vivo evaluation of anti-oxidant and anti-ageing properties of maqui and murta berries
water extracts in Drosophila melanogaster flies revealed, that oral administration of both activate the Nrf2/Keap1 antioxidant
pathway and proteasome peptidase activities. At the gene expression level, the administration
of the above, altered the expression of well-known CncC/Nrf2 transcriptional targets,
namely the antioxidant gstd1 and trxr1 genes, the CncC/Nrf2 suppressor gene keap1 and the proteasomal genes α7 and β5.
Conclusively, Maqui and Murta water extracts could be directly applicable for the
development of anti-oxidant/anti-ageing nutraceuticals, while both extracts could
be an important source of antioxidants.
[1] Argyropoulou, A, Aligiannis, N, Trougakos, I. P. & Skaltsounis, A.-L. Natural
Product Reports 2013,30, 1412.
