**Native Chilean Fruits and the Effects of Their Functional Compounds on Human Health Native Chilean Fruits and the Effects of Their Functional Compounds on Human Health**

Elizabeth M. Ulloa-Inostroza, Eric G. Ulloa-Inostroza, Miren Alberdi, Daniela Peña-Sanhueza, Jorge González-Villagra, Laura Jaakola and Marjorie Reyes-Díaz Eric G. Ulloa-Inostroza, Miren Alberdi, Daniela Peña-Sanhueza, Jorge González-Villagra, Laura Jaakola and Marjorie Reyes-Díaz

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/67067

Elizabeth M. Ulloa-Inostroza,

#### **Abstract**

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98 Superfood and Functional Food - An Overview of Their Processing and Utilization

June 12, 2015.

In recent years, there has been great interest in the nutraceutical compounds of fruits from native Chilean plant species. In this context, fruits of *Amomyrtus meli* (Meli), *Aristotelia chilensis* (Maqui), *Berberis microphylla* (Calafate), *Luma apiculata* (Arrayán), *Luma chequén* (Chequén), and *Ugni molinae* (Murtilla) growing predominantly in Chilean forests have been studied. This chapter has compiled the existing information about antioxidant activity and antioxidant compound contents of the above mentioned fruit species and their association with the prevention of pathophysiological disorders in humans, such as inflammation, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Results show that the antioxidant compounds of these species, particularly anthocyanins, decrease inflammation as well as the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, consumption of these fruits is a good alternative for preventing cardiovascular and age-related diseases and pathophysiological disorders.

**Keywords:** *Amomyrtus meli*, *Aristotelia chilensis*, arrayán, antioxidant, *Berberis microphylla*, calafate, cardiovascular, carcinogenesis, chequén, diabetes, inflammatory, *Luma apiculata*, *Luma chequén*, maqui, meli, murtilla, phenolic compounds, *Ugni molinae*
