Abstract

Polyphenols are hydroxylated aromatic compounds commonly found in the diet1. These bioactive substances show antioxidant properties that are important for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Calafate (Berberis microphylla G. Forst) is a shrub with a high content of polyphenols, as described using chemical approaches2,3, but this has not been proved in biological models. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant capacity of a fruit extract of Calafate in an oxidative stress model using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).