Proximate composition and biological activity of food plants gathered by chilean Amerindians

The proximate composition and biological activity of food plants and mushrooms gathered by Chilean Amerindians were assessed. The gathered plants served primarily as sources of carbohydrates with highest values for Dioscorea tubers, Prosopis alba pods meal and Bromus catharticus seeds. The mushrooms Clavaria coralloides and Boletus loyus proved to be the best protein sources in our survey, but deficient in the amino acids methionine and cysteine. Some extracts of the plants and mushrooms under study showed biological activity as free radical scavengers, enzyme inhibitors, hypotensive or DNA binding effect. Free radical scavenging activity was detected in Cryptocarya alba fruit extract, while Typha angustifolia showed a strong DNA binding effect at 0.50 mg/ml. Methanolic extracts of the Apiaceae species Sanicula graveolens and Apium australe were moderately active as β-glucuronidase inhibitors at 50 fig/ml.