Abstract

Cedroncillo (Aloysia herrerae) and pampa muña (Hedeoma mandoniana) are native Peruvian plants traditionally used in folk medicine; however, their potential as sources of phenolic compounds remains underexplored. In this study, phenolic compounds were identified in ethanolic extracts of both plants using LC-PDA-QTOF-MS, and their in vitro bioactive properties, including antiglycemic, anti-obesity, antihypertensive, anticholinesterase, and antimicrobial activities, were evaluated. The main phenolic constituents were hydroxycinnamic acids, with verbascoside being predominant in the cedroncillo phenolic extract (CPE), and rosmarinic acid in the pampa muña phenolic extract (PPE); flavones were also detected in both. Both extracts showed promising pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity, with IC50 values of 0.19 and 0.32 GAE ml?1 for CPE and PPE, respectively. Similarly, they exhibited angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE-I) inhibition (IC50 of 1.25 and 3.06 GAE ml?1 for CPE and PPE, respectively), as well as ?-glucosidase inhibition and anticholinesterase activity. Antimicrobial activity was observed against Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enteritidis, mainly attributed to caffeic acid derivatives. These findings support the potential of CPE and PPE as viable candidates for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Institute of Food Science and Technology.