Murtilla (Ugni molinae) is a shrub native to Chile that has undergone an incipient domestication process aimed at increasing its productivity. The reduction in intrinsic chemical defenses due to the domestication process has resulted in a decrease in the plant's ability to defend itself against mechanical or insect damage. In response to this damage, plants release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as a means of defense. To understand how domestication has impacted the production of VOCs in the first offspring of murtilla, we hypothesized that their levels would be reduced due to the induction of mechanical and herbivore damage. To test this hypothesis, we collected VOCs from four offspring ecotypes and three wild relatives of murtilla. We induced mechanical and herbivore damage in the plants and then enclosed them in a glass chamber, where we captured the VOCs. We identified 12 compounds using GC-MS. Our results showed that wild relative ecotypes had a higher VOC release rate of 624.6 µg/cm2/day. Herbivore damage was the treatment that produced the highest release of VOCs, with 439.3 µg/cm2/day in wild relatives. These findings suggest that herbivory triggers defenses through the emission of VOCs, and that domestication has influenced the production of these compounds in murtilla. Overall, this study contributes to bridging the gap in the incipient domestication history of murtilla and highlights the importance of considering the impact of domestication on a plant's chemical defenses.

BACKGROUND: Sustained hyperglycemia leads to multiple health complications associated with oxidative balance and metabolic pathways alterations. Current treatments for hyperglycemia are not entirely effective thus, the identification of natural products from food sources, such as Ugni molinae berries, to reduce hyperglycemia and prevent the deleterious effect of oxidative stress is attractive to develop new therapeutics. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the antioxidant capacity and the inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase and glycogen phosphorylase A of polyphenolic extracts from different genotypes of U. molinae berries and to comparatively analyze their polyphenolic profile. METHODS: Berry extraction was performed by exhaustive maceration with increasing-polarity solvents. The antioxidant capacity, and inhibitory activity on enzymes were analyzed by different spectrophotometric methods. Moreover, the chemical profile of bioactive extracts was comparatively evaluated through LC-MS. RESULTS: 16 semi-purified extracts were obtained and showed antioxidant capacity and inhibitory activity on the evaluated enzymes. Moreover, the chemical analysis showed differences in phenolic profile among the extracts and, particularly, the acetonic extracts were more concentrated in phenolic compounds, which is associated with the more potent activities. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that murtilla berries’ acetonic extracts include a mixture of phenolic compounds that inhibit the activity of two enzymes related to carbohydrate metabolism and have a promising antioxidant capacity.

In terms of the domestication process in murtilla, studies have found changes in the concentration of phenolic compounds, with reduction of chemical defense of plants, depending on the change in the feeding behavior of insects. Thus, we hypothesized that the domestication of Ugni molinae decreases the content of phenolic compounds and modifies the feeding preference of Chilesia rudis larvae. Leaves of three parental ecotypes and four cultivated ecotypes were used in preference experiments to evaluate the mass gain and leaves consumption of larvae. Phenolic extracts from leaves of U. molinae were analyzed by HPLC. Identified compounds were incorporated in an artificial diet to assess their effect on mass gain, consumption, and survival of the larvae. The presence of phenolic compounds in bodies and feces was also evaluated. In terms of choice assays, larvae preferred parental ecotypes. Regarding compounds, vanillin was the most varied between the ecotypes in leaves. However, plant domestication did not show a reduction in phenolic compound concentration of the ecotypes studied. Furthermore, there was no clear relation between phenolic compounds and the performance of C. rudis larvae. Whether this was because of sequestration of some compounds by larvae is unknown. Finally, results of this study could also suggest that studied phenolic compounds have no role in the C. rudis larvae resistance in this stage of murtilla domestication process.

Accumulation of misfolded proteins in the brain is a common hallmark of most age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies from our group identified the presence of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds in leaves derived from the Chilean berry Ugni molinae (murtilla), in addition to show a potent anti-aggregation activity in models of Alzheimer´s disease. However, possible beneficial effects of berry extracts of murtilla was not investigated. Here we evaluated the efficacy of fruit extracts from different genotypes of Chilean-native U. molinae on reducing protein aggregation using cellular models of Huntington´s disease and assess the correlation with their chemical composition. Berry extraction was performed by exhaustive maceration with increasing-polarity solvents. An unbiased automatic microscopy platform was used for cytotoxicity and protein aggregation studies in HEK293 cells using polyglutamine-EGFP fusion proteins, followed by secondary validation using biochemical assays. Phenolic-rich extracts from murtilla berries of the 19–1 genotype (ETE 19–1) significantly reduced polyglutamine peptide aggregation levels, correlating with the modulation in the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins. Using LC-MS and molecular network analysis we correlated the presence of flavonoids, phenolic acids, and ellagitannins with the protective effects of ETE 19–1 effects on protein aggregation. Overall, our results indicate the presence of bioactive components in ethanolic extracts from U. molinae berries that reduce the load of protein aggregates in living cells.

Flavonoid biosynthesis may be affected by plant domestication, with flavonoid production being reduced in proportion to the degree of domestication. In this context, kaempferol (3,4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) has been identified in the leaves of wild and cultivated Ugni molinae, a berry endemic to Chile. The biosynthetic pathway of kaempferol production begins with naringenin (4', 5,7-trihydroxyflavanone), which is converted to dihydrokaempferol (3,4', 5,7-tetrahydroxyflavanone), catalyzed by flavanone 3 beta-hydroxylase (FHT) and then converted to kaempferol by a bifunctional enzyme called flavonol synthase (FLS). Therefore, our study aims to evaluate how FLS activity is affected in murtilla plants that are subjected to the domestication process. Kaempferol was quantified from methanolic extracts of leaf samples collected from both cultivated and wild U. molinae plants using high-performance liquid chromatography, and enzyme extraction was performed to determine FLS activity. The results showed that kaempferol concentration in wild plants from the Soloyo (0.14 mu g g(-1)), Mehuin (0.18 mu g g(-1)) and Queule (0.25 mu g g(-1)) sampling areas was higher than in their cultivated counterparts. Our data are consistent with the FLS activity detected in samples obtained from Manzanal Alto (134.79 pKatal, Soloyo (96.48 pKatal), and Mehuin (119.97 pKatal). These samples also exhibited higher enzymatic activity than their cultivated counterparts. Together, these data suggest that FLS activity is negatively affected by the domestication process.

Volatiles compounds are involved in defensive induction against insects, playing an important role in insect-plant interaction being induced by response to mechanical damage. However, they could decrease according to the domestication degree in cultivated plants. Currently, it has been established that secondary metabolites are reduced due to the domestication process in murtilla. Hence, the follow question emerges: Are volatile organic compounds induced by mechanical damage reduced in cultivated murtilla plants in relation to wild plants? Two cultivated ecotypes and their respective wild counterparts were sampled. Volatiles compounds were obtained using Porapak-Q columns and analyzed by gas chromatography. Results showed that compounds as 2-hexanone, a-pinene, 2-thujene, 3-thujene and 1,8-cineole were more abundant in wild plants exposed to a mechanical damage than cultivated plants. Hence, these compounds have been associated to induced defense, these results suggest that domestication reduced the induction of defensive volatiles in cultivated murtilla in response to mechanical damage.

Volatiles compounds are involved in defensive induction against insects, playing an important role in insect-plant interaction being induced by response to mechanical damage. However, they could decrease according to the domestication degree in cultivated plants. Currently, it has been established that secondary metabolites are reduced due to the domestication process in murtilla. Hence, the follow question emerges: Are volatile organic compounds induced by mechanical damage reduced in cultivated murtilla plants in relation to wild plants? Two cultivated ecotypes and their respective wild counterparts were sampled. Volatiles compounds were obtained using Porapak-Q columns and analyzed by gas chromatography. Results showed that compounds as 2-hexanone, α-pinene, 2-thujene, 3-thujene and 1,8-cineole were more abundant in wild plants exposed to a mechanical damage than cultivated plants. Hence, these compounds have been associated to induced defense, these results suggest that domestication reduced the induction of defensive volatiles in cultivated murtilla in response to mechanical damage.

ABSTRACT Plant domestication can modify flavonoid concentration, generating a decrease in plants subjected to cultivation, but when cultivated plants are transferred to their original wild area, flavonoids can be recovered. In this framework, a native shrub from Chile, Ugni molinae, has been domesticated due to their high phenolic composition. We hypothesised that plant domestication results in a decrease of flavonoid in cultivated plants, and that when they are exposed to a reciprocal transplant experiment, the flavonoid content can be recovered. Hence, a reciprocal transplant experiment for analysing the flavonoids of cultivated plants transferred to their original wild environments was carried out. Methanolic leaf extracts from two cultivated ecotypes and their respectively wild ancestors were collected for flavonoid analysis. Four flavonols and two isoflavonoids were identified and quantified by liquid chromatography. Results showed differences in flavonoids concentrations between wild (290 µg/g) and cultivated (160 µg/g) plants. Furthermore, when wild plants were transferred to cultivated areas, a reduction in flavonoids of 80 µg/g was observed. Moreover, rutin was the most abundant compound (36.09%) detected by chromatography in Mehuín wild plants. Our results showed that cultivated plants transferred to their respective wild environment presented a capacity of recover myricetin, daidzin and genistin content.

Plant domestication can modify and weaken defensive chemical traits, reducing chemical defenses in plants and consequently their resistance against pests. We characterized and quantified the major defensive flavonols and isoflavonoids present in both wild and cultivated murtilla plants (Ugni molinae Turcz), established in a common garden. We examined their effects on the larvae of Chilesia rudis (Butler) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). Insect community and diversity indices were also evaluated. We hypothesized that domestication reduces flavonoid contents and modifies C. rudis preference, the insect community, and diversity. Methanolic extracts were obtained from leaves of U. molinae plants and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Results showed higher insect numbers (86.48%) and damage index (1.72 ± 0.16) in cultivated plants. Four new first records of insects were found associated with U. molinae. Diversity indices, such as Simpson, Shannon, and Margalef, were higher in cultivated plants than in wild plants. Furthermore, eight isoflavonoids were identified in U. molinae leaves for the first time. The five flavonols showed higher concentrations in wild U. molinae leaves (89.8 µg/g) than in cultivated plants (75.2 µg/g); however, no differences were found in isoflavonoids between wild and cultivated plants. The larvae of C. rudis consumed more leaf material of cultivated plants than wild plants in choice (3.8 vs. 0.8 mm2) and no-choice (7.5 vs. 3.0 mm2) assays. Our study demonstrates that domestication in U. molinae reduces the amount of flavonoids in leaves, increasing the preference of C. rudis and the insect community.

The aim of this study was to assess the differences in qualitative-quantitative composition of triterpenoids and total phenolic contents, together with anti-inflammatory activity of Ugni molinae leaves obtained from ten genotypes. The ethyl acetate (EAE) and ethanol extracts (ETE) were obtained and analyzed. The plant genotypes were grown under same soil and climate conditions and under same agronomic management; the leaves were also harvested under the same conditions. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by mice ear edema induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) at a single dose of 200 mg/kg BW of each extract. Composition of triterpenoids and total phenolic contents was determined by HPLC-DAD and Folin-Ciocalteu method, respectively. Ugni molinae leaves of different plant genotypes exhibited significant differences in regard to their anti-inflammatory activity, as well as in qualitative-quantitative composition of triterpenoids and total phenolic content.

Plant domestication is a process in which plants' chemical defenses that help them cope with herbivores might decline. Consequences of this process could be reflected in an increase in insect pests. Therefore, we carried out a survey to contrast the diversity, damage indexes and insect assemblages between cultivated and wild "Murtilla" (Ugni molinae) plants. The main scientific question put forward in this paper is as follows: Is there a decrease in diversity and an increase in both insect assemblages and damage indexes associated with the domestication process in U. molinae plants? The objective of this report was to compare the structure of a taxonomic assemblage collected in both wild and cultivated plants and their temporal variation over the year. Seven ecotypes and their respective wild populations were selected for these studies. The results showed higher insect assemblages in wild parents (77.35%) vs. cultivated (22.7%). The damage indexes were also higher in wild plants (0.23). The diversity indexes according to Margalef (12.98), the Shannon index (5.15) and the Simpson index (19.04) were higher in wild plants. Moreover, approximately 60 species were determinate. We detected changes in insect assemblages, damage and diversity indexes that could suggest that murtilla domestication has altered insect assemblages.

Ugni molinae Turcz. is a native shrub of Chile, known for its edible berries and its leaves, which have been the focus of recent attention, as a good source of phenolic compounds to be used in cosmetics and food products. The aim of this study was to assess the differences in the phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of the ethanolic extracts from the leaves of 10 genotypes of U. molinae, that were cultivated under the same soil, climate and agronomical management. Antioxidant activity was assessed by complementary methods (ORAC-Fl, FRAP and DPPH assay), phenolic composition of each extract was analyzed by LC-MS. Phenolic and flavonoid total contents were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 methods. Significative differences were found by these methods, and ellagitannins, gallic acid derivatives and flavonols were identified as responsible for these differences, showing the influence of the genotype on the phenolic composition of U. molinae leaves.

ABSTRACT Plant domestication can have negative consequences for defensive traits against herbivores, potentially reducing the levels of chemical defenses in plants and consequently their resistance against herbivores.We characterized and quantified the defensive flavonols frommultiple cultivated ecotypes with wild ancestors of murtilla, Ugni molinae Turcz, an endemic plant from Chile, at different times of the year, and examined their effects on a native insect herbivore, Chilesia rudis Butler (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). We hypothesized that domestication results in a decrease in flavonol levels in U. molinae plants, and that this negatively affected C. rudis performance and preference. Ethanolic extracts were made from leaves, stems, and fruit of murtilla plants for flavonol analysis. Flavonols identified were kaempferol, quercetin, rutin, and quercetin 3-D-&bgr;-glucoside, the last two being themost abundant.More interestingly, we showed differences in flavonol composition between wild and cultivated U. molinae that persisted for most of the year. Relative amounts of all four flavonols were higher in wild U. molinae leaves; however, no differences were found in the stem and fruit between wild and cultivated plants. In choice and no-choice assays, C. rudis larvae gained more mass on, and consumed more leaf material of, wild as compared with cultivated U. molinae plants.Moreover, when applied to leaves, larvae ate more leaf material with increasing concentrations of each flavonol compound. Our study demonstrates that domestication in U. molinae reduced the amount of flavonols in leaves as well as the performance and preference of C. rudis, indicating that these compounds stimulate feeding of C. rudis.

Murtilla (Ugni molinae Turcz) fruit has a unique aroma; along with its pleasant sweet flavour, this has stimulated its commercial development in international markets. This development, however, requires the application of suitable conservation methods. Five different packaging treatments for murtilla fruit (Red Pearl-INIA variety) conservation were evaluated at 0 degrees C for 60days. The treatments consisted of two types of packaging [polyethylene terephthalate (PET) punnets and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bags] and the application of an edible coating of carboxymethyl cellulose to the fruits. The incorporation of the aqueous extracts of murtilla leaves from the 18-1 and 27-1 ecotypes into the carboxymethyl cellulose edible coating was also evaluated for its antimicrobial effects. There was a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the moisture content, a significant weight loss and an increase in soluble solids when the murtilla fruit was packed only in a PET punnet. However, with the other four treatments, in which an LDPE bag and edible coating were used, the moisture content (76.8-74.4g/100g) and soluble solids (15.6-17.8oBrix) in the fruit remained stable during storage. Low weight loss (1.64-2.25%) occurred in the fruits that received treatments with the LDPE bag and edible coating. Under experimental conditions and from operational facilities, packaging in PET punnets with an LDPE bag was the best alternative to preserve the murtilla fruit at 0 degrees C for 60days. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘Murtilla’ (Ugni molinae Turcz) is a native Chilean species that belongs to the Myrtaceae family. It produces a small, globular fruit with pleasant flavor and recognized antioxidant activity. Convective hot-air and freeze drying are important techniques for fruit preservation, but their effect on murtilla fruit polyphenols and antioxidant activity has not yet been studied simultaneously. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of convective hot-air drying at 65 and 80 ºC and freeze drying on total polyphenol content (TPC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), polyphenols and anthocyanins of the Red Pearl-INIA variety of fresh murtilla fruits as measured by HPLC and antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS). The freeze dried fruit retained higher values for TPC (2192.4 mg/100 g d.w.), TAC (13.4 mg/100 g d.w.), polyphenols (79.02 mg/100 g d.w. by HPLC) and anthocyanins (0.188 mg/100 g d.w. by HPLC) than the murtilla dried by convective hot-air at both 65 and 80 ºC. The application of all treatments showed a positive increase in the DPPH (2945.4 to 3677.6 ?mol TE/100 g d.w.) and ABTS (2664.8 to 3397.2 ?mol TE/100 g d.w.) antioxidant activity of the dried murtilla compared to the DPPH (2111.1 ?mol TE/100 g d.w.) and ABTS (2247.8 ?mol TE/100 g d.w.) of the fresh fruit. Freeze drying was the best technique for the retention of polyphenols and antioxidant activity from the fresh murtilla fruit. Therefore, freeze drying is recommended over convective hot-air drying at 65 and 80 ºC when these bioactive compounds need to be preserved.

Polyphenol content and antioxidant activity in murtilla (Ugni molinae Turcz) fruit from three genotypes (the 14-4 genotype and the Red Pearl-INIA and South Pearl-INIA varieties) were studied over five growing seasons. Our results showed significant differences in total polyphenol content among yearly harvests. The lowest value (283 +/- 72 mg GAE/100 g dw) was obtained for the 14-4 genotype in the 2008 harvest, and the highest value (2,152 +/- 290 mg GAE/100 g dw) was observed for the variety South Pearl-INIA in 2007. The lowest value for antioxidant activity (2,234 +/- 337 mu mol TE/100 g dw) was obtained for the Red Pearl-INIA variety in 2008, and the highest value (4,073 +/- 76 mu mol TE/100 g dw) was observed for the 14-4 genotype in 2007. There was a significant effect of genotype and growing season on polyphenol content, antioxidant activity and dry matter content for the murtilla fruits evaluated in this study, but additional studies examining other abiotic and biotic factors are required to fully explain causality.

BACKGROUND: 'Murtilla', 'mutilla' or 'murta' (Ugni molinae Turcz) is a native Chilean species that produces a small berry fruit with a special aroma, whose volatile compounds have not yet been identified. The fruit may be consumed raw and also as jams, juice, canned products, confections and liquor.RESULTS: At the beginning and end of the storage, 24 volatile compounds were identified in murtilla fruit aroma and the concentration of these compounds in murtilla fruit ranged from 1.2 to 250.5 mu g kg(-1) fresh weight. Methyl 2-methyl butanoate, ethyl butanoate, ethyl 2-methyl butanoate, methyl hexanoate, ethyl hexanoate, methyl benzoate and ethyl benzoate were the major components, all of which have been reported as potent odors in other aromatic fruits. Based on estimated odor activity value, the most potent compound in the murtilla fruit aroma were ethyl hexanoate and 4-methoxy-2,5-dimethyl-furan-3-one. The statistical analysis showed that the storage produced a distinct effect on the same volatile compounds released from the murtilla ecotypes.CONCLUSION: The volatile compounds identified in murtilla fruit aroma, which may be described as fruity, sweet and floral, have been found in other aromatic fruits. Concerning the aroma, the murtilla fruit from ecotype 19-1 was shown to be the best in cooled storage. (c) 2007 Society of Chemical Industry.

There is no report in Chile about quality in the supplier chains of fruits and vegetables often are visible deterioration in the retail market. This study pretends to enhance their quality, with rather simple techniques, like edible coatings/films acting as bioactive packaging, with extract of the native plant murta (Ugni molinae Turcz), ecotype Soloyo Chico (SC) of Pumalal, near Temuco, Chile. The leaves water extract, rich in polyphenols (HPLC-MS chromatograrn shows that SC has more myricetin than another ecotype), was evaluated for antioxidant activity by measuring their ability to scavenge DPPH radicals and the protective action toward linoleic acid peroxidation in micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate, and presents a significantly better antioxidant capacity than the other ecotype tested. The edible coatings were prepared of carboxymethylcellulose with glycerol and sunflower oil as plasticizers (CMC), and water (CMC-H2O) or extract (CMC-SC), spreading 20 ml of film forming solutions on a 18 x 9 cm area, dried at 25 degrees C, films were peeled off (0.016-0.046 mm thickness), water vapor permeability measured with cup-method, gas permeability (O-2 and CO2) measured by isostatic-method/gas-chromatography. Comparing with the CMC-H2O, films with CMC-SC acts as barrier to O-2 but not to H2O and CO2, modifying significantly (p < 0.05) the permeability of the film. Treatments on apricots (Prunus armeniaca var. Patterson): fruits were coated with either CMC-SC or CMC-H2O, dried at 25 degrees C and Control-fruits, without any treatment, were stored at 0 degrees C, 95%RH. After 14 days, a better weight retention and color (measured with a tristimulus colorimeter) as lightness (L*), Chroma and Hue, although not significant, was observed with CMC-SC compared to CMC-H2O, being both CMC treatments significantly better (p < 0.05) than the Control fruits, showing that these edible films can improve shelf-life of horticultural products, which could be applied in the supply chains.