| Summary: | Wild indigenous berries including Vaccinium uliginosum, V. ovalifolium, Empetrum nigrum, Rubus chamaemorus , and R. spectabilis , traditional subsistence foods in American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) populations, are a rich source of anthocyanins (AC) and proanthocyanidins (PAC), with known efficacy against metabolic disorders. In recent years, AI/AN communities have exhibited disproportionately high rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus; over twice the national average. Wild berries were tested using "Screens‐to‐Nature" (STN), a community‐participatory approach to screen for potential antioxidants, glucosidase and protease inhibitors, in partnership with tribal members from three different Alaskan villages: Akutan, Seldovia, and Point Hope. Fruits that demonstrated activity in the STN were evaluated via HPLC and LC‐MS. Significant species and location‐based variation in AC (0.9‐438.6 mg eq /100g fw) and PAC (73.7‐625.2 mg eq /100g fw) were noted. Berries collected at the northernmost site (Point Hope) demonstrate significantly higher flavonoid concentrations in some species. A‐type PAC dimers through tetramers were also identified in various species, which are being examined for lipid accumulation inhibition activity and effects on mRNA expression levels in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes. Supported by EPA STAR Research Assistance Agreement No. EPA RD‐83370701.
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