Grape pomace (GP) is a by-product resulting from the winemaking process and its potential use as a source of bioactive compounds is well known. The GP bioactive compounds can be retained in the well-known polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP), industrially used in the clarification and stabilization of wine and other drinks. Thus, the polyphenolic compounds (PC) from the Chilean Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot GP were extracted, and their compositions and antioxidant capacities (ORAC-FL) were determined. In addition, the retention capacity of the PC on PVPP (PC-PVPP) was evaluated. The bioactivities of GP extracts and PC-PVPP were estimated by the agar plate inhibition assay against pathogenic microorganisms. Results showed a high amount of TPC and antioxidant capacity in the three ethanolic GPs extracts. Anthocyanins, flavan-3-ol, and flavonols were the most abundant compounds in the GP extract, with retentions between 70 and 99% on PVPP. The GP extracts showed inhibition activity against B. cereus and P. syringae pv. actinidiae but the GP-PVPP had no antimicrobial activity. The high affinity of the identified PCs from GPs on PVPP polymer could allow the design of new processes and by-products for the food or cosmeceutical industry, promoting a circular economy by reducing and reusing wastes (GPs and PVPP) and organic solvents.

This study is part of a screening program aimed at searching for bioactive metabolites from Chilean basidiomycetes. Submerged cultivation of fungal mycelia in liquid media was evaluated for antimicrobial activity. A total of 148 strains were obtained in vitro. The extracts produced from submerged cultures were evaluated against bacteria and fungi. In the primary antimicrobial assay, approximately 60 % of the extracts presented positive biological activity. The highest frequencies of active strains were from the orders Agaricales (31.0 %), Polyporales (20.6 %), Sterales (18.3 %), Boletales (11.4 %), and Cortinariales (9.1 %). Antifungal activity was more pronounced than antibacterial activity. Twelve extracts that exhibited strong antimicrobial activity showed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 50 µL/mL against Bacillus brevis and 25 ∼ 50 µL/mL against Penicillium notatum and Paecilomyces variotii. The biological activity of some strains did not vary considerably, regardless of the substrate or collection site whereas, for others, it showed marked variations. Differences in antimicrobial activities observed in the different fungal genera suggested that the ability to produce bioactive compounds is not homogenously distributed among basidiomycetes. The information obtained from this study reveals that Chilean basidiomycetes are able to generate small and/or large variations in the normal pathway of compounds production. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate this biological and chemical wealth, which could be an unsuspected reservoir of new and potentially useful molecules.

Endophyte fungi (EF) are considered a new and valuable reservoir of bioactive molecules of biotechnological interest for pharmacy, agricultural and forestry industries. In this study, thirty EFs, isolated from three Chilean Nothofagus species (N. alpina, N. dombeyi, N. oblicua) were identified and cultured in submerged liquid fermentations aimed at searching for natural active substances. The extracts obtained were evaluated against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Sixteen extracts (53.3%) presented antibacterial and fourteen (46.6%) presented antifungal activities in different intensities. Extracts from isolates Coryneum sp.-72 and P. cinnamomea-78 exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity. Using bioautography, the compounds responsible for the antimicrobial activity exhibited by Coryneum sp.-72 and P. cinnamomea-78 were detected and characterized. Coryneum sp.-72 showed bactericidal properties at 200 μg/mL and bacteriostatic effects at 50 μg/mL against B. cereus, B. subtilis, L. monocytogenes and S. aureus. MIC values indicated that P. cinnamomea-78 exhibited a strong fungistatic and fungicidal effect against B. cinerea and C. gloesporioides at 10–50 μg/mL. Isolates were grouped in the following order: Botryosphaeriales, Diaporthales, Eurotiales, Helotiales, Hypocreales, Pleosporales, Magnaporthales, Sordariales and Polyporales. EF isolated, identified and evaluated constitute the first report for Chilean Nothofagus genus.