Antiviral Potential and Chemical Composition of Wild <i>Baccharis crispa</i> Spreng. Populations (Asteraceae) from Córdoba, Argentina: Perspective on Population Variability
Giuliana Lingua,
Ana Guadalupe Chaves,
Juan Javier Aguilar,
Florencia Martinez,
Tomás Isaac Gomez,
Kevin Alen Rucci,
Lorena E. Torres,
Carmen Ancín-Azpilicueta,
Irene Esparza,
Nerea Jiménez-Moreno,
Marta Contigiani,
Susana Nuñez Montoya,
Brenda S. Konigheim
Affiliations
Giuliana Lingua
Instituto de Virología “Dr. J. M. Vanella”-Argentina, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
Ana Guadalupe Chaves
Cátedra de Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Valparaíso S/N Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
Juan Javier Aguilar
Instituto de Virología “Dr. J. M. Vanella”-Argentina, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
Florencia Martinez
Instituto de Virología “Dr. J. M. Vanella”-Argentina, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
Tomás Isaac Gomez
Dpto. de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Edificio de Ciencias 2, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
Kevin Alen Rucci
Instituto de Virología “Dr. J. M. Vanella”-Argentina, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
Lorena E. Torres
Cátedra de Genética, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Valparaíso S/N Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
Carmen Ancín-Azpilicueta
Department of Sciences, Universidad Pública de Navarra, Campus Arrosadía s/n, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
Irene Esparza
Department of Sciences, Universidad Pública de Navarra, Campus Arrosadía s/n, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
Nerea Jiménez-Moreno
Department of Sciences, Universidad Pública de Navarra, Campus Arrosadía s/n, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
Marta Contigiani
Instituto de Virología “Dr. J. M. Vanella”-Argentina, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
Susana Nuñez Montoya
Dpto. de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Edificio de Ciencias 2, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
Brenda S. Konigheim
Instituto de Virología “Dr. J. M. Vanella”-Argentina, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
Medicinal plants have been explored worldwide as potential alternatives for the prevention and treatment of different diseases, including viral infections. Baccharis crispa Spreng. (Asteraceae) is a native medicinal species widely used in South America. Given the influence of genetic and environmental factors on secondary metabolites biosynthesis and accumulation, this study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antiviral activity of four wild populations of B. crispa from Córdoba, Argentina, and assess the variability in their bioactivity and chemical composition. The cytotoxicity of chloroform, ethanol, and aqueous extracts from aerial parts was evaluated by the neutral red uptake method. Antiviral and virucidal activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) were assessed via plaque-forming unit (PFU) reduction assay. Phytochemical analyses of the extracts were conducted using HPLC-ESI- MS/MS. The Puesto Pedernera population showed the strongest antiviral activity, with inhibition rates of 82% for CHIKV and 79% against HSV-1, as well as potent virucidal effects, reducing PFU formation by up to 5 logarithms for both viruses. Remarkably, ethanol extract exhibited the least toxicity and strongest inhibitory activity. Villa del Parque population was inactive. We identified 38 secondary metabolites, predominantly phenolic acids (12) and flavonoids (18), in varying proportions. Delphinidin and delphinidin-3-glucoside are described for the first time in the species. Differences in phytochemical profiles were observed among extract types and populations. Key phenolic compounds showed moderate positive correlations with the evaluated bioactivities, emphasizing the complexity of phytochemical properties and interactions. These results highlight the therapeutic potential of B. crispa extracts against viral infections and underscore the importance of considering the geographical source of plant material in bioactivity evaluations.
