Physical characterization, polyphenolic components, antioxidant activity and betalains of the fruits of Berberis lutea and Berberis virgata

• These two new berberis species, whose fruits offer new prospects for use as natural ingredients in food and other product production. • Compared to other Berberis species, the polyphenols and betalains present in the exotic fruits B. lutea and B. virgata are of interest. • The total polyphenolic content, antioxidant activity, and betalains are higher in B. virgata than in B. lutea. Berberis lutea and Berberis virgata are wild ethnobotanical species native to the high Andean regions of Peru, specifically the Huancavelica region, where they grow in the province of Acobamba. In high Andean communities, they are used to treat certain ailments due to their medicinal properties and to dye textiles. Currently, there are no studies on their phytochemical composition, making it timely to investigate their benefits and scientific validation. The objective was to characterize the physical properties, polyphenolic components, antioxidant activity, and betalains of the fruits of Berberis lutea and Berberis virgata . The methodology involved collecting ripe berries, measuring their weight and morphology, preparing extracts, and quantifying total polyphenols, antioxidant activity, and total betalains. The results of the morphophysical analysis of the fruits showed a moderately elongated ovoid shape, dark blue color, and little variability in weight and diameter parameters. In terms of bioactive composition, Berberis virgata exhibited significantly higher concentrations of total polyphenols, antioxidant activity, and betalains compared to Berberis lutea . In conclusion, exotic fruits offer significant bioactive compounds, surpassing other fruits in their potential for incorporation into the agro-industrial, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agricultural sectors, including propagation, sustainable production, utilization of their functional compounds, and the generation of food additives.