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. 2025 Mar 19;20(3):e0319524.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319524. eCollection 2025.

DNA Barcode, chemical analysis, and antioxidant activity of Psidium guineense from Ecuador

Joel Eduardo Vielma-Puente  1 , Efrén Santos-Ordóñez  2   3 , Xavier Cornejo  4 , Iván Chóez-Guaranda  2 , Ricardo Pacheco-Coello  2 , Liliana Villao-Uzho  2 , Christian Moreno-Alvarado  1 , Natalia Mendoza-Samaniego  1 , Yuraima Fonseca  5
Affiliations

DNA Barcode, chemical analysis, and antioxidant activity of Psidium guineense from Ecuador

Joel Eduardo Vielma-Puente et al. PLoS One. .

Erratum in

Abstract

This study investigates the phytochemical, genetic, and antioxidant properties of Psidium guineense, a species native to the tropical dry forests of Ecuador. Leaves were collected, preserved in recognized herbaria, and subjected to Soxhlet extraction using polar and non-polar solvents. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of secondary metabolites, while GC-MS analysis detected chemical compounds in the extracts. Antioxidant assays demonstrated high phenolic (54.34 ± 0.49 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (6.43 ± 0.38 mg QE/g) content, with significant antioxidant activity in DPPH (0.57 ± 0.04 mg TE/g), FRAP (105.52 ± 6.85), and ABTS (1.25 ± 0.01 mg TE/g) assays. DNA barcoding of nine loci, (seven from the chloroplast genome and two nuclear genome) using a CTAB extraction protocol and PCR, provides the first genetic characterization of this species, contributing to genetic diversity assessments and phylogenetic studies. These findings underscore the importance of P. guineense as a source of potent bioactive compounds with significant antioxidant potential, highlighting its applicability in nutritional and pharmaceutical industries. Additionally, the genetic insights gained support efforts to expand DNA barcoding databases for tropical biodiversity conservation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Phylogenetic tree of the psbA-trnH barcode with accessions from the genus Psidium spp. and different genera selected from the blastn results.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Phylogenetic tree of the rpoB barcode with accessions from the genus Psidium spp. and different genera selected from the blastn results.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Phylogenetic tree of the rbcL barcode with accessions from the genus Psidium spp. and different genera selected from the blastn results.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Phylogenetic tree of the matK barcode with accessions from the genus Psidium spp. and different genera selected from the blastn results.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Phylogenetic tree of the ITS1 barcode with accessions from the genus Psidium spp. and different genera selected from the blastn results.
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