Numerous reports describe the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of polyphenols-rich plant extracts. The aim of this study was to determine the total polyphenols content (TPC), and the in vitro (DPPH, FRAP and TEAC) antioxidant and antibacterial activity of leaves and wood of six native woody species (Aspidosperma quebracho-blanct, Sarcomphalus mistol, Geoffroea decorticans, Prosopis chilensis, Larrea divaricata and Larrea cuneifolia) from Catamarca. Also, the phenolic profile was determined in the species with higher activity. L. cuneifolia leaf extracts showed the highest antioxidant activity followed by L. divaricata and S. mistol, while S. mistol wood extracts showed the highest. Furthermore, Larrea species showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. faecalis strains showing cidal effects mainly against S. aureus. Fifty-nine polyphenols were identified in leaves and wood of Larrea and S. mistol species, which are likely to be responsible for the different activities observed.
Keywords: Polyphenols; antibacterial activity; antioxidant characteristics; woody species.