Using ERA5 Meteorological Reanalysis to Characterize Phytochemical Variability and Antibacterial Activity in Larrea species from the Calchaquí Valleys

Authors

  • Daniela Agustina Albarracín Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía, Zootecnia y Veterinaria. Avenida Presidente N. Kirchner 1900. T4000. San Miguel de Tucumán. Tucumán. Argentina https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4597-2368
  • Antonio Mario Fortuna Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía, Zootecnia y Veterinaria. Avenida Presidente N. Kirchner 1900. T4000. San Miguel de Tucumán. Tucumán. Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4520-2680
  • Cecilia Carolina Cundon Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Av. Chorroarín 280.C1427CWO. Buenos Aires. Argentina https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8317-3527
  • Ximena Blanco Crivelli Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Av. Chorroarín 280.C1427CWO. Buenos Aires. Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5335-1301
  • César Emmanuel Ale Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía, Zootecnia y Veterinaria. Avenida Presidente N. Kirchner 1900. T4000. San Miguel de Tucumán. Tucumán. Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3891-3628
  • Diego Alejandro Sampietro Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Batalla de Ayacucho 471. T4000INI. San Miguel de Tucumán. Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2956-7484

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48162/rev.39.231

Keywords:

ERA5 reanalysis data, environmental stress, medicinal plants, secondary metabolites , diarrhea in lambs

Abstract

Larrea divaricata and L. cuneifolia are medicinal plants from arid zones of Argentina whose aerial parts vary in phytochemical composition, complicating raw material standardization. This study explored ERA5 meteorological reanalysis to characterize the relationship between environmental patterns, phytochemical variability, and antibacterial activity. Nine marker compounds and total phenolic content (TPC) were quantified in extracts from aerial parts collected at San Carlos, El Desmonte and Ampimpa in the Calchaquí Valleys during February 2022 and 2023. Monthly ERA5 data for temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation showed robust correlations (r = 0.89-0.99) with local weather station measurements, unlike direct solar radiation and wind speed. Analysis of historical ERA5 data (2014-2024) identified warmer and drier conditions as the primary driver for higher levels of marker compounds, with plant samples from San Carlos showing the highest accumulations in both Larrea species. Extracts from plants under such conditions showed the strongest antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli strains causing lamb diarrhea. This bioactivity was inversely correlated to NDGA (nordihydroguaiaretic acid) and TPC contents (r = -0.60 to -0.96). ERA5 data are proposed for pre-selection of collection sites under persistent stress, guaranteeing plant materials suitable for the development of veterinary products.

Highlights:

  • ERA5 validates temperature, humidity, and rainfall in Calchaquí Valleys.
  • Warmer and drier conditions increase secondary metabolites in Larrea.
  • San Carlos showed the highest levels of NDGA and total phenolic content.
  • Extracts under climate stress have higher bioactivity against coli.
  • ERA5 data helps pre-select collection sites under persistent stress.

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Published

14-10-2026

How to Cite

Albarracín, D. A., Fortuna, A. M., Cundon, C. C., Blanco Crivelli, X., Ale, C. E., & Sampietro, D. A. (2026). Using ERA5 Meteorological Reanalysis to Characterize Phytochemical Variability and Antibacterial Activity in Larrea species from the Calchaquí Valleys. Revista De La Facultad De Ciencias Agrarias Uncuyo, 58(2), e9867. https://doi.org/10.48162/rev.39.231

Issue

Vol. 58 No. 2 (2026): July-December

Section

Natural resources and environment

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