Abstract

Ugni molinae Turcz., Myrtaceae, is a chilean shrub also known as “murtilla”, “murta” or “uñi", used in folk medicine because of its health beneficial effects. The properties attributed to its leaves are due in part to the presence of different phenolic compounds that have been identified in its extracts, such as tannins and flavonoids, and its antioxidant activity. Because this chemical composition can be affected by different factors (i.e. the genotype), the aim of this study was determine and compare the flavonoid content (AlCl3 colorimetric assay), total phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteau assay) and the antioxidant activity (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power, FRAP assay) in ethanolic leaves extracts (EETs) of 5 different genotypes of murtilla cultivated under the same conditions and selected by their quantity of leaves. Significant differences (p<0,05) were found in the results of the assays, being the ZF-18 genotype the one that presented the highest phenolic content (259.59 ± 3.83 GAE g-1 dry matter (dm)) and the highest FRAP value (5.40 ± 0.12 mmol Fe+2 g-1 dm at 60 min). The 19-2 genotype presented the lowest values in the two assays (157.63 ± 2.96 GAE g-1 dm y 4.51 ± 0.14 mmol Fe+2 g-1 dm, respectively). No correlation was found in the total flavonoid content, being the 31-1 genotype the one that obtained the highest value (53.52 ± 0.79 mg quercetin g-1 dm). There are significant differences in the chemical composition and the antioxidant activity of murta leaves extracts that can be attributable to genotype.