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Applied Sciences
Volume 15
Issue 10
10.3390/app15105599
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Characterization of Dietary Constituents, Phytochemicals, and Antioxidant Capacity of Carpobrotus edulis Fruit: Potential Application in Nutrition

by
Carlota R. Marques
1,
Carla Sousa
1,2,
Carla Moutinho
1,2,3,
Carla Matos
1,2,3 and
Ana Ferreira Vinha
1,2,*
1
Faculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal
2
LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
3
FP-I3ID, FP-BHS, GIT-LoSa, University Fernando Pessoa, Praça 9 de Abril, 349, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(10), 5599; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105599
Submission received: 5 March 2025 / Revised: 13 May 2025 / Accepted: 14 May 2025 / Published: 16 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Phytochemistry and Its Applications)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Carpobrotus edulis (chorão-da-praia) is an edible and medicinal plant native to South Africa, currently distributed worldwide. Due to the urge for novel foods, invasive species can be considered valuable food supplies to accomplish the current goals of the 2030 Agenda. In this study, C. edulis fruits harvested in northern Portugal’s Atlantic coast were evaluated for proximate analysis (AOAC methods), mineral contents (ICP-MS), and fatty acid composition (GC-FID). Total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP assays) were carried out by colorimetric methods. The fruits exhibited high amounts of carbohydrates (60.5%), ash (10.9%), and total crude protein (22.8%). A low content of total fat (4.5%) was observed. Linoleic acid (C18:2n6c) was the predominant unsaturated fatty acid (52.08%) among the 11 identified fatty acids. The highest amounts of total phenolics (311.7 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (50.43 mg CE/g) contents were observed in hydroalcoholic fruit extracts. The high concentration of bioactive compounds in the C. edulis fig is directly reflected in its antioxidant properties, enhancing the usefulness of this invasive species in food and pharmaceutical industries.
Keywords: invasive plant; chorão-da-praia; hottentot fig; nutrients; bioactive compounds; antioxidant activity; sustainable economy invasive plant; chorão-da-praia; hottentot fig; nutrients; bioactive compounds; antioxidant activity; sustainable economy

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MDPI and ACS Style

Marques, C.R.; Sousa, C.; Moutinho, C.; Matos, C.; Vinha, A.F. Characterization of Dietary Constituents, Phytochemicals, and Antioxidant Capacity of Carpobrotus edulis Fruit: Potential Application in Nutrition. Appl. Sci. 2025, 15, 5599. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105599

AMA Style

Marques CR, Sousa C, Moutinho C, Matos C, Vinha AF. Characterization of Dietary Constituents, Phytochemicals, and Antioxidant Capacity of Carpobrotus edulis Fruit: Potential Application in Nutrition. Applied Sciences. 2025; 15(10):5599. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105599

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marques, Carlota R., Carla Sousa, Carla Moutinho, Carla Matos, and Ana Ferreira Vinha. 2025. "Characterization of Dietary Constituents, Phytochemicals, and Antioxidant Capacity of Carpobrotus edulis Fruit: Potential Application in Nutrition" Applied Sciences 15, no. 10: 5599. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105599

APA Style

Marques, C. R., Sousa, C., Moutinho, C., Matos, C., & Vinha, A. F. (2025). Characterization of Dietary Constituents, Phytochemicals, and Antioxidant Capacity of Carpobrotus edulis Fruit: Potential Application in Nutrition. Applied Sciences, 15(10), 5599. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105599

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