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Halophytes: Nutrients, Bioactive Compounds, Chemical Characterisation and Potential Applications

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2023) | Viewed by 19154

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maria Lopes

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Guest Editor

1. University of Coimbra, Faculty of Pharmacy, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
2. REQUIMTE/LAQV, R. D. Manuel II, Apartado 55142, Oporto, Portugal
Interests: food analysis; food security; food safety; sustainability; halophytes; functional foods; bioactive compounds; development and validation of analytical methods

Prof. Dr. Fernando Ramos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

1. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
2. REQUIMTE/LAQV, R. D. Manuel II, Apartado 55142, Oporto, Portugal
Interests: food analysis; food security; food safety; development and validation of analytical methods; bioactive compounds; foods of marine origin; aquaculture; one health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The world is facing a global hunger crisis of historic proportions, fuelled by climate change, health crises, and armed conflicts. Indeed, in the last 2 years, the number of people worldwide experiencing or at risk of suffering from hunger has more than doubled. Urgent solutions are sorely needed to resolve this food insecurity crisis and prevent future disasters. Hence, it is time to seriously consider alternative sources of nutrition, such as halophyte plants, which can thrive in the most adverse conditions, including salinity levels higher than those of seawater, while still providing high yields and exhibiting remarkable nutritional and functional properties. These plants with unique characteristics are distributed almost everywhere across the world, and can thrive in areas ranging from saline deserts to salt marshes. To survive in these extreme environments, they have developed a variety of special mechanisms for maintaining homeostasis, such as the notable synthesis of different secondary metabolites with potent biological activities—antioxidant and antimicrobial—as is the case for polyphenols. Thus, their contribution extends beyond their role as a source of nutrients and comprises the expansion of our therapeutic arsenal, and the reduction in food waste through molecules acting as preservatives. The possibilities are numerous, and exploring and putting them at the service of the population is of the utmost urgency. Hence, this Special Issue, which aims to gather high-quality scientific research addressing the study of halophytes, will cover the following aspects:

Nutrients, anti-nutrients, bioactive compounds, and contaminants;
Sensory properties;
Biological activities;
New methods for nutritional and chemical analyses of halophytes, especially those which are environmentally friendly.

Both research and review articles are welcome. We look forward to your contributions.

Dr. Maria Lopes
Prof. Dr. Fernando Ramos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

halophytes
nutritional profile
chemical composition
sensory analysis
bioactive compounds
contaminants
analytical methods

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 3533 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Constituents of Halophyte Suaeda glauca and Their Therapeutic Potential for Hair Loss

by Yun-Na Kim, Min-Gyu Park, Yu-Jung Kim, Jae-Sun Lee, Bong-Oh Kwon, Jung-Rae Rho and Eun-Ju Jeong

Molecules 2024, 29(2), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29020298 - 6 Jan 2024

Viewed by 951

Abstract

Suaeda glauca, a halophyte in the Amaranthaceae family, exhibits remarkable resilience to high salt and alkali stresses despite the absence of salt glands or vesicles in its leaves. While there is growing pharmacological interest in S. glauca, research on its secondary metabolites remains limited. In this study, chemical constituents of the aerial parts of S. glauca were identified using 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments, and its biological activity concerning hair loss was newly reported. Eight compounds, including alkaloids (1~3), flavonoids (4~6), and phenolics (7 and 8), were isolated. The compounds, except the flavonoids, were isolated for the first time from S. glauca. In the HPLC chromatogram, quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-d-glucoside, and kaempferol were identified as major constituents in the extract of S. glauca. Additionally, the therapeutic potential of the extract of S. glauca and the isolated compounds 1~8 on the expressions of VEGF and IGF-1, as well as the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, were evaluated in human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Among the eight compounds, compound 4 was the most potent in terms of increasing the expression of VEGF and IGF-1 and the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin. These findings suggest that S. glauca extract and its compounds are potential new candidates for preventing or treating hair loss. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Halophytes: Nutrients, Bioactive Compounds, Chemical Characterisation and Potential Applications)

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0 pages, 882 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Isolation of Polyphenols from Aqueous Extract of the Halophyte Salicornia ramosissima

by Malthe Fredsgaard, Job Tchoumtchoua, Stephan Kohnen, Tanmay Chaturvedi and Mette Hedegaard Thomsen

Molecules 2024, 29(1), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29010220 - 31 Dec 2023

Viewed by 817

Abstract

Polyphenols from residual non-food grade Salicornia ramosissima have health-promoting effects in feed, food, or nutraceutical applications. Therefore, the isolation of polyphenols is of interest from a series of environmentally friendly isolation methods with recyclable solvents. The isolation of polyphenols from non-food grade S. ramosissima was investigated using sequential membrane filtration with and without acid pretreatment, liquid–liquid extraction, resin adsorption, and centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC); analyzed by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay for total polyphenols; and finally analyzed using UPLC-TQMS in negative ion-spray mode for detection of 14 polyphenols. Sequential membrane filtration and acid hydrolysis indicated the polyphenols forming complexes with other compounds, retaining the polyphenols in the retentate fraction of large molecular weight cut-off membrane sizes. Conventional liquid–liquid extraction using sequential ethyl acetate and n-butanol showed most polyphenols were extracted, apart from chlorogenic acids, indicating a low isolation efficiency of higher polarity polyphenols. Analysis of the extract after resin adsorption by Amberlite XAD-4 resin showed high efficiency for separation, with 100% of polyphenols adsorbed to the resin after 13 bed volumes and 96.7% eluted from the resin using ethanol. CPC fractionations were performed to fractionate the concentrated extract after resin adsorption. CPC fractionations of the 14 polyphenols were performed using an organic or aqueous phase as a mobile phase. Depending on the mobile phase, different compounds were isolated in a high concentration. Using these easily scalable methods, it was possible to comprehensively study the polyphenols of interest from S. ramosissima and their isolation mechanics. This study will potentially lead the way for the large-scale isolation of polyphenols from S. ramosissima and other complex halophytes. The compounds of the highest concentration after CPC fractionation were isoquercitrin and hyperoside (155.27 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (85.54 mg/g), cryptochlorogenic acid (101.50 mg/g), and protocatechuic acid (398.67 mg/g), and further isolation using CPC could potentially yield novel polyphenol nutraceuticals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Halophytes: Nutrients, Bioactive Compounds, Chemical Characterisation and Potential Applications)

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25 pages, 4868 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Different Drying Methods on the Microbiota, Volatilome, Color, and Sensory Traits of Sea Fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) Leaves

by Antonietta Maoloni, Federica Cardinali, Vesna Milanović, Anna Reale, Floriana Boscaino, Tiziana Di Renzo, Ilario Ferrocino, Giorgia Rampanti, Cristiana Garofalo, Andrea Osimani and Lucia Aquilanti

Molecules 2023, 28(20), 7207; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28207207 - 21 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1021

Abstract

Sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) is a strongly aromatic herb of the Apiaceae family, whose full exploitation by the modern food industry is of growing interest. This study aimed at investigating the microbiological quality, volatile profile, and sensory traits of sea fennel spices produced using room-temperature drying, oven drying, microwave drying, and freeze drying. All the assayed methods were able to remove moisture up until water activity values below 0.6 were reached; however, except for microwave drying, none of the assayed methods were effective in reducing the loads of contaminating microorganisms. The metataxonomic analysis highlighted the presence of phytopathogens and even human pathogens, including members of the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Alternaria, and Cryptococcus. When compared to fresh leaves, dried leaves showed increased L* (lightness) and c* (chroma, saturation) values and reduced hue angle. Dried leaves were also characterized by decreased levels of terpene hydrocarbons and increased levels of aldehydes, alcohols, and esters. For the sensory test, the microwave-dried samples obtained the highest appreciation by the trained panel. Overall, the collected data indicated microwave drying as the best option for producing sea fennel spices with low microbial loads, brilliant green color, and high-quality sensory traits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Halophytes: Nutrients, Bioactive Compounds, Chemical Characterisation and Potential Applications)

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17 pages, 1523 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Moench Inflorescence Extract for Tomato Disease Management

by Eva Sánchez-Hernández, Javier Álvarez-Martínez, Vicente González-García, José Casanova-Gascón, Jesús Martín-Gil and Pablo Martín-Ramos

Molecules 2023, 28(15), 5861; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28155861 - 3 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1667

Abstract

Helichrysum stoechas is a singular halophyte that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and allelopathic properties. In the work presented herein, we have characterized its inflorescences hydromethanolic extract and assessed its antifungal activity for the pre- and postharvest management of tomato crop diseases. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry characterization of the extract showed that 4-ethenyl-1,3-benzenediol, 2,3-dihydro-benzofuran, quinic acid, 3,5-dihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxy-2-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one, 1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucopyranose, catechol, scopoletin, and maltol were the main constituents. The co-occurrence of pyranones, benzenediols, and quinic acids as phytoconstituents of H. stoechas extract resulted in promising in vitro minimum inhibitory concentrations of 500, 375, 500, 187.5, 187.5, and 375 μg·mL⁻¹ against mycelia of Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum coccodes, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and Verticillium dahliae, respectively. Further, to assess the potential of H. stoechas inflorescence extract for postharvest tomato crop protection, ex situ tests were conducted against C. coccodes, obtaining high protection at a dose of 750 μg·mL⁻¹. Taking into consideration that the demonstrated activity is among the highest reported to date for plant extracts and comparable to that of the synthetic fungicides tested as positive controls, H. stoechas inflorescence extract may be put forward as a promising biorational and may deserve further testing in field-scale studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Halophytes: Nutrients, Bioactive Compounds, Chemical Characterisation and Potential Applications)

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25 pages, 2688 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Characterisation, Antidiabetic, Antibacterial, and In Silico Studies for Different Extracts of Haloxylon stocksii (Boiss.) Benth: A Promising Halophyte

by Syed Nabil Raza Rizvi, Samina Afzal, Kashif-ur-Rehman Khan, Hanan Y. Aati, Huma Rao, Bilal Ahmad Ghalloo, Muhammad Nadeem Shahzad, Duraiz Ahmed Khan, Tuba Esatbeyoglu and Sameh A. Korma

Molecules 2023, 28(9), 3847; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28093847 - 1 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2218

Abstract

The objective of the study is to evaluate the chemical characterisation, and biological and in silico potential of Haloxylon stocksii (Boiss.) Benth, an important halophyte commonly used in traditional medicine. The research focuses on the roots and aerial parts of the plant and extracts them using two solvents: methanol and dichloromethane. Chemical characterisation of the extracts was carried out using total phenolic contents quantification, GC-MS analysis, and LC-MS screening. The results exhibited that the aerial parts of the plant have significantly higher total phenolic content than the roots. The GC-MS and LC-MS analysis of the plant extracts revealed the identification of 18 bioactive compounds in each. The biological evaluation was performed using antioxidant, antibacterial, and in vitro antidiabetic assays. The results exhibited that the aerial parts of the plant have higher antioxidant and in vitro antidiabetic activity than the roots. Additionally, the aerial parts of the plant were most effective against Gram-positive bacteria. Molecular docking was done to evaluate the binding affinity (BA) of the bioactive compounds characterised by GC-MS with diabetic enzymes used in the in vitro assay. The results showed that the BA of γ-sitosterol was better than that of acarbose, which is used as a standard in the in vitro assay. Overall, this study suggests that the extract from aerial parts of H. stocksii using methanol as a solvent have better potential as a new medicinal plant and can provide a new aspect to develop more potent medications. The research findings contribute to the scientific data of the medicinal properties of Haloxylon stocksii and provide a basis for further evaluation of its potential as a natural remedy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Halophytes: Nutrients, Bioactive Compounds, Chemical Characterisation and Potential Applications)

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24 pages, 2078 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Armeria maritima (Mill.) Willd. Flower Hydromethanolic Extract for Cucurbitaceae Fungal Diseases Control

by Eva Sánchez-Hernández, Pablo Martín-Ramos, Luis Manuel Navas-Gracia, Jesús Martín-Gil, Ana Garcés-Claver, Alejandro Flores-León and Vicente González-García

Molecules 2023, 28(9), 3730; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28093730 - 26 Apr 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2186

Abstract

The cliff rose (Armeria maritima), like other halophytes, has a phenolics-based antioxidant system that allows it to grow in saline habitats. Provided that antioxidant properties are usually accompanied by antimicrobial activity, in this study we investigated the phytochemicals present in a hydromethanolic extract of A. maritima flowers and explored its antifungal potential. The main phytocompounds, identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, were: hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid, 3-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-acrylic acid ethyl ester, and benzeneacetaldehyde. The antifungal activity of the extract and its main constituents—alone and in combination with chitosan oligomers—was tested against six pathogenic taxa associated with soil-borne diseases of plant hosts in the family Cucurbitaceae: Fusarium equiseti, F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Neocosmospora falciformis, N. keratoplastica, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. In in vitro tests, EC₉₀ effective concentrations in the 166−865 μg·mL⁻¹ range were obtained for the chitosan oligomers–A. maritima extract conjugate complexes, lower than those obtained for fosetyl-Al and azoxystrobin synthetic fungicides tested for comparison purposes, and even outperforming mancozeb against F. equiseti. In ex situ tests against S. sclerotiorum conducted on artificially inoculated cucumber slices, full protection was achieved at a dose of 250 μg·mL⁻¹. Thus, the reported results support the valorization of A. maritima as a source of biorationals for Cucurbitaceae pathogens protection, suitable for both organic and conventional agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Halophytes: Nutrients, Bioactive Compounds, Chemical Characterisation and Potential Applications)

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24 pages, 3605 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards the Sustainable Exploitation of Salt-Tolerant Plants: Nutritional Characterisation, Phenolics Composition, and Potential Contaminants Analysis of Salicornia ramosissima and Sarcocornia perennis alpini

by Maria Lopes, Ana Sanches Silva, Raquel Séndon, Letricia Barbosa-Pereira, Carlos Cavaleiro and Fernando Ramos

Molecules 2023, 28(6), 2726; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062726 - 17 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2072

Abstract

Increasing soil salinisation represents a serious threat to food security, and therefore the exploitation of high-yielding halophytes, such as Salicornia and Sarcocornia, needs to be considered not merely in arid regions but worldwide. In this study, Salicornia ramosissima and Sarcocornia perennis alpini were evaluated for nutrients, bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, and contaminants. Both were shown to be nutritionally relevant, exhibiting notable levels of crude fibre and ash, i.e., 11.26–15.34 and 39.46–40.41% dry weight (dw), respectively, and the major minerals were Na, K, and Mg. Total phenolics thereof were 67.05 and 38.20 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g extract dw, respectively, mainly p-coumaric acid and quercetin. Both species displayed antioxidant capacity, but S. ramossima was prominent in both the DPPH and ß-carotene bleaching assays. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in S. ramosissima, at 5.21 µg/Kg dw, which may pose a health threat. The Cd and Pb levels in both were low, but the 0.01 mg/Kg Hg in S. perennis alpini met the maximum legal limit established for marine species including algae. Both species exhibit high potential for use in the agro-food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors, but specific regulations and careful cultivation strategies need to be implemented, in order to minimise contamination risks by mycotoxins and heavy metals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Halophytes: Nutrients, Bioactive Compounds, Chemical Characterisation and Potential Applications)

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11 pages, 1364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Qualitative and Quantitative Content of the Phenolic Compounds of Selected Moss Species under NaCl Stress

by Marija V. Ćosić, Danijela M. Mišić, Ksenija M. Jakovljević, Zlatko S. Giba, Aneta D. Sabovljević, Marko S. Sabovljević and Milorad M. Vujičić

Molecules 2023, 28(4), 1794; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28041794 - 14 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1299

Abstract

The response to salt stress analysed by quantitative and qualitative analyses in three selected moss species was studied. Non-halophytic funaroid Physcomitrium patens and two halophytic mosses, funaroid Entosthodon hungaricus and pottioid Hennediella heimii were exposed to salt stress under controlled in vitro conditions. The results clearly showed various phenolics to be present and included to some extent as a non-enzymatic component of oxidative, i.e., salt stress. The common pattern of responses characteristic of phenolic compounds was not present in these moss species, but in all three species the role of phenolics to stress tolerance was documented. The phenolic p-coumaric acid detected in all three species is assumed to be a common phenolic included in the antioxidative response and salt-stress tolerance. Although the stress response in each species also included other phenolics, the mechanisms were different, and also dependent on the stress intensity and duration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Halophytes: Nutrients, Bioactive Compounds, Chemical Characterisation and Potential Applications)

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Review

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32 pages, 7154 KiB

Open AccessReview

Phytochemical Profiles and Biological Activities of Frankenia Species: A Review

by Meyada Khaled, Rachid Ouache, Patrick Pale and Hassina Harkat

Molecules 2024, 29(5), 980; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29050980 - 23 Feb 2024

Viewed by 762

Abstract

The relatively small Frankeniaceae family is represented by halophyte plants, growing in arid and semi-arid climates in saline, alkaline or calcareous soils. Due to their living conditions, they usually produce a large diversity of compounds, which often exhibit bioactivities. Some species of this genus have long been used as traditional herbal medicines to treat dysentery, diarrhea, gonorrhea, vaginal leucorrhea, respiratory diseases and wounds. To date, several studies on either phytochemical or pharmacological aspects, or both, have revealed that this genus is a rich source of diverse and novel bioactive chemicals, including phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids and fatty acids. This review describes all the reported chemical profiles of Frankenia species, as well as the corresponding biological properties, when available. The aim of this review is to show the potential of these plants for various applications, especially therapeutic ones. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Halophytes: Nutrients, Bioactive Compounds, Chemical Characterisation and Potential Applications)

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23 pages, 2259 KiB

Open AccessReview

Phenolic Compounds in Salicornia spp. and Their Potential Therapeutic Effects on H1N1, HBV, HCV, and HIV: A Review

by Malthe Fredsgaard, Samba Evelyne Kabemba Kaniki, Io Antonopoulou, Tanmay Chaturvedi and Mette Hedegaard Thomsen

Molecules 2023, 28(14), 5312; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28145312 - 10 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2104

Abstract

Despite public health risk mitigation measures and regulation efforts by many countries, regions, and sectors, viral outbreaks remind the world of our vulnerability to biological hazards and the importance of mitigation actions. The saltwater-tolerant plants in the Salicornia genus belonging to the Amaranthaceae family are widely recognized and researched as producers of clinically applicable phytochemicals. The plants in the Salicornia genus contain flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, and hydroxycinnamic acids, including caffeic acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, apigenin, kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, myricetin, isoquercitrin, and myricitrin, which have all been shown to support the antiviral, virucidal, and symptom-suppressing activities. Their potential pharmacological usefulness as therapeutic medicine against viral infections has been suggested in many studies, where recent studies suggest these phenolic compounds may have pharmacological potential as therapeutic medicine against viral infections. This study reviews the antiviral effects, the mechanisms of action, and the potential as antiviral agents of the aforementioned phenolic compounds found in Salicornia spp. against an influenza A strain (H1N1), hepatitis B and C (HBV/HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), as no other literature has described these effects from the Salicornia genus at the time of publication. This review has the potential to have a significant societal impact by proposing the development of new antiviral nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals derived from phenolic-rich formulations found in the edible Salicornia spp. These formulations could be utilized as a novel strategy by which to combat viral pandemics caused by H1N1, HBV, HCV, and HIV-1. The findings of this review indicate that isoquercitrin, myricetin, and myricitrin from Salicornia spp. have the potential to exhibit high efficiency in inhibiting viral infections. Myricetin exhibits inhibition of H1N1 plaque formation and reverse transcriptase, as well as integrase integration and cleavage. Isoquercitrin shows excellent neuraminidase inhibition. Myricitrin inhibits HIV-1 in infected cells. Extracts of biomass in the Salicornia genus could contribute to the development of more effective and efficient measures against viral infections and, ultimately, improve public health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Halophytes: Nutrients, Bioactive Compounds, Chemical Characterisation and Potential Applications)

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23 pages, 2890 KiB

Open AccessReview

Sea Fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) as an Emerging Crop for the Manufacturing of Innovative Foods and Nutraceuticals

by Maryem Kraouia, Ancuta Nartea, Antonietta Maoloni, Andrea Osimani, Cristiana Garofalo, Benedetta Fanesi, Lama Ismaiel, Lucia Aquilanti and Deborah Pacetti

Molecules 2023, 28(12), 4741; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28124741 - 13 Jun 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1927

Abstract

Sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) is a perennial, strongly aromatic herb that has been used since ancient times in cuisine and folk medicine due to its renowned properties. Recently described as a “cash” crop, sea fennel is an ideal candidate for the promotion of halophyte agriculture in the Mediterranean basin due to its acknowledged adaptation to the Mediterranean climate, its resilience to risks/shocks related to climate changes, and its exploitability in food and non-food applications, which generates an alternative source of employment in rural areas. The present review provides insight into the nutritional and functional traits of this new crop as well as its exploitation in innovative food and nutraceutical applications. Various previous studies have fully demonstrated the high biological and nutritional potential of sea fennel, highlighting its high content of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, carotenoids, ω-3 and ω-6 essential fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, and essential oils. Moreover, in previous studies, this aromatic halophyte showed good potential for application in the manufacturing of high-value foods, including both fermented and unfermented preserves, sauces, powders, and spices, herbal infusions and decoctions, and even edible films, as well as nutraceuticals. Further research efforts are needed to fully disclose the potential of this halophyte in view of its full exploitation by the food and nutraceutical industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Halophytes: Nutrients, Bioactive Compounds, Chemical Characterisation and Potential Applications)

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