Eucryphia cordifolia extracts: Phytochemical screening, antibacterial and antioxidant activities

Abstract

Eucryphia cordifolia is a native and dominant species from the Temperate Forest in the southern region of Chile. It is a crucial melliferous species producing unifloral honey with outstanding antibacterial properties with great commercial value at international markets. A phytochemical screening was developed by colorimetric and gravimetric methods. Antioxidant activities were assessed by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was the method used to determine the antibacterial activity. The results revealed the highest antioxidant activity for the methanolic extracts of branches (IC₅₀ 35.7 µg/mL for DPPH, IC₅₀ 11.0 µg/mL for ABTS, and 4.6 mM FeSO₄·7H₂O/g in FRAP), attributed to its high content of total phenols (332.8 mg GAE/g). The quantification of the MBC led to values in the range of 0.78–12.5 mg/mL for S. aureus and S. pyogenes, and 6.25–50 mg/mL for E. coli and P. aeruginosa, respectively. The presented work provides valuable first in vitro evidence regarding the potential application of E. cordifolia extracts as antioxidants and antibacterial agents in the nutraceutical and phytopharmaceutical industry.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Eucryphia cordifolia
• antibacterial
• antioxidant activity
• phenols content
• flavonoids

Acknowledgments

RV is thankful to Secretaría de Educación Superior, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Ecuador. The authors thank for financial support to FONDEQUIP under Grant EQM160042 and Gobierno Regional Metropolitano de Santiago Project FIC-R 2019-BIP 40026817-0. We also want to thank Víctor Ahumada as a microbiologist technician and Lars Ratjen PhD for the English revision of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.