Chilean native species as source of natural polyphenols

Abstract

This chapter discusses the traditional uses of native medicinal plants from Chile and provides tabulated data on Chilean medicinal plants, including the parts used and their effects, in order to analyse compounds that could be responsible for these medicinal effects. It presents scientific evidence supporting biological activity associated with the presence of polyphenols in Chilean plants. The determination of polyphenols in Chilean plants and their antioxidant capacity are described. The main factors affecting polyphenol content in plants are also mentioned, i.e. genotype, environment, storage and processing, and stage of harvest.