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Volume 16
Issue 13
10.3390/agriculture16131484
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Article

Comprehensive Characterization of the Nutritional Composition, Mineral Profile, Phytochemical Characteristics, and Antioxidant Capacity of Aquaponically Grown Red Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.)

by
Neli Grozeva
1,2,*,
Galina Gospodinova
3,
Roksana Mineva
3,
Denitsa Georgieva
4,
Silviya Hristova
4,
Milena Tzanova
1,
Svetoslava Terzieva
1,
Georgi Beev
1,2,
Neven Terziev
5,
Daniela Tsvetanova Stoeva
1 and
Zvezdelina Yaneva
4
1
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University, Students Campus, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
2
Center of Competence AgriFood Systems and Bioeconomy, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
3
Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
4
Department of Pharmacology, Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Chemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
5
Aqua Field Ltd., 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agriculture 2026, 16(13), 1484; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16131484 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 2 June 2026 / Revised: 2 July 2026 / Accepted: 5 July 2026 / Published: 7 July 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Production)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Aquaponics is an integrated and resource-efficient production system that combines aquaculture and hydroponics in a closed-loop environment with reduced water consumption and nutrient losses. The present study evaluated the nutritional composition, mineral profile, microbiological quality, and antioxidant-related phytochemical characteristics of red amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) cultivated in a recirculating aquaponic system under controlled environmental conditions. Leaf biomass was analyzed for proximate composition, macro- and micronutrient content, total phenolic and flavonoid compounds, betalains, chlorophyll pigments, and antioxidant activity using standard analytical and spectrophotometric methods. The results demonstrated high crude protein content and substantial accumulation of essential minerals, particularly calcium, potassium, and magnesium. The analyzed biomass also exhibited elevated levels of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, betalains, and chlorophyll pigments associated with considerable antioxidant potential. The pigment profile suggested good physiological adaptation of plants to aquaponic cultivation conditions. In addition, microbiological analysis confirmed acceptable hygienic quality and safety of the harvested plant material. Overall, the findings indicate that red amaranth can be successfully cultivated in aquaponic systems while maintaining high nutritional value and functional food potential. The study highlights aquaponic cultivation as a sustainable approach to producing nutrient-dense leafy vegetables within environmentally responsible agricultural systems.
Keywords: recirculating aquaculture system (RAS); Amaranthus cruentus L.; antioxidant activity; bioactive compounds; mineral composition; sustainable agriculture; functional food; resource-efficient production; circular bioeconomy recirculating aquaculture system (RAS); Amaranthus cruentus L.; antioxidant activity; bioactive compounds; mineral composition; sustainable agriculture; functional food; resource-efficient production; circular bioeconomy

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MDPI and ACS Style

Grozeva, N.; Gospodinova, G.; Mineva, R.; Georgieva, D.; Hristova, S.; Tzanova, M.; Terzieva, S.; Beev, G.; Terziev, N.; Stoeva, D.T.; et al. Comprehensive Characterization of the Nutritional Composition, Mineral Profile, Phytochemical Characteristics, and Antioxidant Capacity of Aquaponically Grown Red Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.). Agriculture 2026, 16, 1484. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16131484

AMA Style

Grozeva N, Gospodinova G, Mineva R, Georgieva D, Hristova S, Tzanova M, Terzieva S, Beev G, Terziev N, Stoeva DT, et al. Comprehensive Characterization of the Nutritional Composition, Mineral Profile, Phytochemical Characteristics, and Antioxidant Capacity of Aquaponically Grown Red Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.). Agriculture. 2026; 16(13):1484. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16131484

Chicago/Turabian Style

Grozeva, Neli, Galina Gospodinova, Roksana Mineva, Denitsa Georgieva, Silviya Hristova, Milena Tzanova, Svetoslava Terzieva, Georgi Beev, Neven Terziev, Daniela Tsvetanova Stoeva, and et al. 2026. "Comprehensive Characterization of the Nutritional Composition, Mineral Profile, Phytochemical Characteristics, and Antioxidant Capacity of Aquaponically Grown Red Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.)" Agriculture 16, no. 13: 1484. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16131484

APA Style

Grozeva, N., Gospodinova, G., Mineva, R., Georgieva, D., Hristova, S., Tzanova, M., Terzieva, S., Beev, G., Terziev, N., Stoeva, D. T., & Yaneva, Z. (2026). Comprehensive Characterization of the Nutritional Composition, Mineral Profile, Phytochemical Characteristics, and Antioxidant Capacity of Aquaponically Grown Red Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.). Agriculture, 16(13), 1484. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16131484

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