2.2 The Problem of Ilex-Related Non-Yerba Mate Plants, Between Confusion …
37
2.2 The Problem of Ilex-Related Non-Yerba Mate Plants,
Between Confusion and Adulterations
Other Ilex genus plants are available in South America and also in East Asia. In
relation to discrimination between different Ilex types found in South America only,
the genus includes the following types which could be of interest because of the
possible confusion with I. paraguariensis var. paraguariensis St. Hill (Choi et al.
2005):
• I. argentina Lillo
• I. brasiliensis (Spreng) Loes.
• I. brevicuspis Reissek
• I. dumosa var. dumosa Reissek
• I. dumosa var. guaranina Loes.
• I. integerrima (Vellozo) Reissek
• I. microdonta Reissek
• I. pseudobuxus Reissek
• I. taubertiana Loes.
• I. theezans Reissek.
It has been reported that the taxonomic classification of Ilex species is workable
by means of chemometrics and fingerprinting methods (Kim et al. 2010). This and
other studies demonstrate the interest in the discrimination between different Ilex
plants (Giberti 1979) with the aim of preserving quality and integrity (authenticity)
of the real yerba mate. Some of the studied features concern the substantial absence
of caffeine and different amounts of saponins in non-yerba mate leaves if compared
with the authentic I. paraguariensis leaf.
Some doubts about the exact definition of yerba mate in the past occurred in past
years because of the similarity between I. paraguariensis and I. argentina (found in
the area approximately located between Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, and Andagalá, Argentina). As a result, yerba mate was initially defined as a native Bolivian
plant, until recent times. This confusion depends on the remarkable diversification of
the Ilex genus (more than 600 species) and its localisation, not only in South America
but also in East Asia (Croge et al. 2020).
References
Botanical-Online SL (2019) Mate plant. Botanical-online SL. Available: https://www.botanical-onl
ine.com/en/botany/mate-plant. Accessed 14 Dec 2020
Choi YH, Sertic S, Kim HK, Wilson EG, Michopoulos F, Lefeber AW, Erkelens C, Prat Kricun
SD, Verpoorte R (2005) Classification of Ilex species based on metabolomic fingerprinting using
nuclear magnetic resonance and multivariate data analysis. J Agric Food Chem 53(4):1237–1245.
https://doi.org/10.1021/jf0486141
37
2.2 The Problem of Ilex-Related Non-Yerba Mate Plants,
Between Confusion and Adulterations
Other Ilex genus plants are available in South America and also in East Asia. In
relation to discrimination between different Ilex types found in South America only,
the genus includes the following types which could be of interest because of the
possible confusion with I. paraguariensis var. paraguariensis St. Hill (Choi et al.
2005):
• I. argentina Lillo
• I. brasiliensis (Spreng) Loes.
• I. brevicuspis Reissek
• I. dumosa var. dumosa Reissek
• I. dumosa var. guaranina Loes.
• I. integerrima (Vellozo) Reissek
• I. microdonta Reissek
• I. pseudobuxus Reissek
• I. taubertiana Loes.
• I. theezans Reissek.
It has been reported that the taxonomic classification of Ilex species is workable
by means of chemometrics and fingerprinting methods (Kim et al. 2010). This and
other studies demonstrate the interest in the discrimination between different Ilex
plants (Giberti 1979) with the aim of preserving quality and integrity (authenticity)
of the real yerba mate. Some of the studied features concern the substantial absence
of caffeine and different amounts of saponins in non-yerba mate leaves if compared
with the authentic I. paraguariensis leaf.
Some doubts about the exact definition of yerba mate in the past occurred in past
years because of the similarity between I. paraguariensis and I. argentina (found in
the area approximately located between Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, and Andagalá, Argentina). As a result, yerba mate was initially defined as a native Bolivian
plant, until recent times. This confusion depends on the remarkable diversification of
the Ilex genus (more than 600 species) and its localisation, not only in South America
but also in East Asia (Croge et al. 2020).
References
Botanical-Online SL (2019) Mate plant. Botanical-online SL. Available: https://www.botanical-onl
ine.com/en/botany/mate-plant. Accessed 14 Dec 2020
Choi YH, Sertic S, Kim HK, Wilson EG, Michopoulos F, Lefeber AW, Erkelens C, Prat Kricun
SD, Verpoorte R (2005) Classification of Ilex species based on metabolomic fingerprinting using
nuclear magnetic resonance and multivariate data analysis. J Agric Food Chem 53(4):1237–1245.
https://doi.org/10.1021/jf0486141