Patricia Manzano

Chemical, antimicrobial, and molecular characterization of mortiño (Vaccinium floribundum Kunth) fruits and leaves

Abstract Fruits and leaves of Vaccinium spp. are known for their high content of bioactive compounds, but the chemical and biological characteristics of mortiño (Vaccinium floribundum Kunth) have not been fully described. In this study, the levels of polyphenols, antioxidant capacity, anthocyanins, antimicrobial activity, and genetic variability were determined in mortiño plants. The Folin–Ciocalteus, ABTS scavenging, pH differential, and well diffusion methods were used to evaluate the levels of polyphenols, antioxidant capacity, anthocyanins, and antimicrobial activity, respectively. The genetic variability was evaluated by sequencing of the matK and rbcl DNA regions. Polyphenol content was up to 229.81 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g, the average antioxidant capacity was 11.01 mmol Trolox equivalents/100 g, and anthocyanin content was up to 1,095.39 mg/100 g. Mortiño extracts significantly inhibited the growth of Gram‐negative bacteria including Burkholderia gladioli, Burkholderia cepacia, Salmonella Typhimurium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio vulnificus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomona aeruginosa, as well as Gram‐positive bacteria such as Probionibacterium propionicum, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis showing greater inhibition halos than those produced by the antibiotic ampicillin. A polymorphic nucleotide was found in position 739 of the matK region. This study shows the potential of mortiño for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Field evaluation of plants molluscicide against Pomacea canaliculata.

Two plants reported as molluscicides have been tested against the snail Pomacea canaliculata under field conditions. The molluscicide activity of the formulation Sapindus saponaria L. (100%) was compared with the mixture of Sapindus saponaria L. and Solanum mammosum L. (50:50, w/w) using different concentrations (10, 50, 100, 200, 400 mg.L−1). LC50 and LC90 values were calculated using Probit Model. Sapindus saponaria L. (100%) showed higher molluscicide activity and reported a LC50 value of 66.6 mg.L-1. These results have not been informed in the literature.