Czech J. Food Sci., 2025, 43(5):336-343 | DOI: 10.17221/218/2024-CJFS

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

Javier Castro-Rosas1, Carlos Alberto Gómez-Aldapa1, Edna Zaranne Martinez-Ramirez2, Netzahualcoyol Calcáneo-Martíne1, Reyna Nallely Falfán-Cortés1,3
1 Autonomous University of Hidalgo State (UAEH), Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico
2 Technological Institute of the Western of the State of Hidalgo (ITSOEH), Mixquiahuala de Juárez, Hidalgo, Mexico
3 Researcher for Mexico, National Council of Humanities, Sciences, and Technologies (CONAHCYT), Mexico City, Mexico

The aim of this research was to quantify the bioactive compounds; antioxidant, antibacterial, and antihypertensive capability of different cahuiche (Vaccinium leucanthum Schltdl.) extracts in vitro. Aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts were obtained from cahuiche berries (Vaccinium leucanthum 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 (%) in vitro. 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 of 80.20 ± 2.46%. All extracts presented antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Listeria monocytogenes (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.

Keywords: Vaccinium; ACE inhibitors (%); antioxidant activity; antibacterial activity

Received: November 7, 2024; Revised: June 30, 2025; Accepted: July 3, 2025; Prepublished online: October 27, 2025; Published: October 31, 2025  Show citation

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Castro-Rosas J, Gómez-Aldapa CA, Zaranne Martinez-Ramirez E, Calcáneo-Martíne N, Nallely Falfán-Cortés R. Cahuiche (Vaccinium leucanthum Schltdl.): A berry with antioxidant, antihypertensive and antibacterial potential. Czech J. Food Sci. 2025;43(5):336-343. doi: 10.17221/218/2024-CJFS.
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