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Plant location and extraction procedure strongly alter the antimicrobial activity of murta extracts

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Abstract

Leaves and fruits of Murta (Ugni Molinae Turcz.) growing in three locations of Chile with diverse climatic conditions were extracted by using ethanol/water mixtures at different ratios and the antimicrobial activity was assessed. Extracts containing the highest polyphenolic content were from murta plants grown nearer to the mountain (58 mg GAE/g murta), subjected to extreme summer/winter-day/night temperature changes and rainy regime. Extracts from leaves collected in the valley and coast contained 46 and 40 mg GAE/g murta, respectively. A mixture of 50% ethanol/water was the most efficient in extracting polyphenols, showing pure solvents—both water and ethanol—a lower extraction capacity. No correlation between antioxidant capacity and polyphenolic content was found. Extracts from Murta leaves provoked a decrease in the growing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus, and showed no activity against the beneficial, probiotic bacteria. A significant correlation between polyphenol content and antimicrobial activity on harmful bacteria was found. Myricetin glucoside and quercetin glucoside/glucuronide/dirhamnoside presumably contributed to the antimicrobial activity of the extract. The higher antimicrobial activity of leaves extracts compared to the fruits could be attributed to flavan-3-ols and other flavonol glycosides. Quercetin glucuronide, myricetin xyloside and flavan-3-ols in polymeric form were tentatively identified for the first time in murta extracts. Both extracts showed an antimicrobial activity similar to some commercial antibiotics, suggesting their suitability to replace synthetic antimicrobials in food.

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Acknowledgments

Authors acknowledge the financial support given by Conicyt through Fondecyt project 1060311 and technical support provided by Dirección de Investigación at Universidad de La Frontera.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Centro de Genómica Nutricional Agroacuícola Unidad de Tecnología de Procesos, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar, 01145, Temuco, Chile

    Carolina Shene, Agnes K. Reyes, Mario Villarroel & Mónica Rubilar

  2. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería (ETSE), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Av. Lope Gómez de Marzoa s/n, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Jorge Sineiro

  3. Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Center for BioProcess Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, Building 229, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

    Manuel Pinelo

Authors
  1. Carolina Shene
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  2. Agnes K. Reyes
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  3. Mario Villarroel
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  4. Jorge Sineiro
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  5. Manuel Pinelo
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  6. Mónica Rubilar
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Correspondence to Mónica Rubilar.

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Shene, C., Reyes, A.K., Villarroel, M. et al. Plant location and extraction procedure strongly alter the antimicrobial activity of murta extracts. Eur Food Res Technol 228, 467–475 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-008-0954-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-008-0954-3

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