Cahuiche (Vaccinium leucanthum Schltdl.): A berry with antioxidant, antihypertensive and antibacterial potential

<br />The aim ofthis research was toquantify the bioactive compounds; antioxidant, antibacterial, and antihypertensive capability ofdifferent cahuiche (V<i>accinium leucanthum</i> Schltdl.) extracts <i>invitro</i>. Aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts were obtained from cahuiche berries (<i>Vaccinium leucanthum</i> Schltdl.). Total phenols, flavonoids (quercetin and catechin), and anthocyanins contents were determined, and antioxidant activity was also determined using ABTS [2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic)acid] and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), antibacterial activity, and antihypertensive potential, using angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor activity (%) <i>invitro</i>. Methanolic extract showed the highest total phenols (1187.88 ±87.48 mg gallic acid equivalents), catechin (372.17 ±35.23 mg catechin equivalents), anthocyanins (578.89 ±38.5 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents), ABTS (98.26 ±0.00%) and DPPH (44.06 ±3.95%) antioxidant activity, and ACE inhibitor activity of80.20 ±2.46%. All extracts presented antibacterial activity against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (ATCC 25923) and <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> (ATCC 19115) with inhibitor zones of > 11 and 13 mm, respectively. Cahuiche berries are potentially an ideal food or functional ingredient due to their biological activities as natural antihypertensive and antibacterial agent, and high bioactive compound contents.