Phytochemical investigation of the Chilean berries Aristotelia chilensis and Ugni molinae. Evaluation of their anti-ageing effects employing a Drosophila model.

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.