Loading...
2 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
- Phenolic profile, cytotoxicity and in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties of the edible halophyte Sarcocornia fruticosa from southeastern TunisiaPublication . Harboub, Nesrine; Mighri, Hedi; Bennour, Naima; Guerreiro Pereira, Catarina Alexandra; Fernandes, Eliana; Castañeda-Loaiza, Viana; Custódio, Luísa; Abdellaoui, Raoudha; Akrout, AhmedThis work aims to boost the sustainable valorization of the edible halophyte Sarcocornia fruticosa (L.) A.J. Scott ( Amaranthaceae ) from Southern Tunisia by assessing its potential as a source of bioactive components. To achieve this, hydroethanolic extracts of S. fruticosa, , collected from two distinct Tunisian biomes (Zarzis: SFZ and Djerba: SFDJ), were profiled for total phenolic, flavonoid, and condensed tannin contents, as well as for individual phenolic composition by HPLC-ESI-MS. Then, the extracts were evaluated for in vitro antioxidant properties via complementary methods and for in vitro inhibition of enzymes related to Alzheimer's disease (acetylcholinesterase: AChE, and butyrylcholinesterase: BuChE), type 2 diabetes (alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase), and hyper- pigmentation and food oxidation (tyrosinase). Finally, they were assessed for acute in vitro toxicity. Our findings identified thirteen phenolic compounds, with rutin being the predominant compound and its content being nearly twice as high in SFZ than in SFDJ (1224.51 and 643.61 mg/kg DW, respectively). Salvianolic acid B was also reported for the first time in Sarcocornia genus. The extracts exhibited notable ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), with SFZ displaying an effective median concentration (EC50) 50 ) value of 0.97 mg/mL. They also showed promising inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (>40%) and tyrosinase (>50%), without any cytotoxicity. The Zarzis ecotype in particular displayed superior bioactive properties, making it an excellent candidate for future cultivation trials under saline conditions, with potentially valuable economic outcomes for the region. These findings highlight the potential of S. fruticosa as a source of functional ingredients with nutraceutical and therapeutic applications.
- A comparative study of the influence of soil and non-soil factors on seed germination of edible salt-tolerant speciesPublication . Castañeda-Loaiza, Viana; Rodrigues, Maria João; Fernandes, Eliana; Custódio, LuísaCultivating edible salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) for human consumption is increasingly important due to climate change and soil salinization, and offers sustainable agricultural solutions. Optimizing seed germination, the crucial initial stage of crop growth, is essential for enhancing crop production. This study aimed to optimize the germination of edible halophytes under greenhouse conditions, focusing on select soil (salinity and substrate) and non-soil-related factors (chemical and mechanical treatments). The target species were selected for their commercial value and included Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. (crystalline iceplant), Salicornia ramosissima J. Woods (sea aspara gus), Medicago marina L. (sea medick), Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link (European beachgrass), Portulaca oleracea L. (common purslane), and Atriplex halimus L. (Mediterranean saltbush). Salinity negatively impacted germination rates (GRs) and delayed mean germination time (MGT) across species. P. oleracea had the highest GR (95.6%) in coco peat under freshwater irrigation, and the shortest MGT (5.2 days). A. halimus did not germinate under the tested conditions. Scarification with sulfuric acid improved the GR of M. marina by 42.2%, while scarification with ultrasounds improved the GR of A. arenaria by 35.5%. Our results indicate that the choice of substrate and the application of specific treatments like scarification can significantly improve the germination of certain halophyte species under variable saline conditions.