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Research Project

XTREMEVEGGIES - SUSTAINABLE HALOPHYTES CULTIVATION TARGETING MULTIPLE COMMERCIAL PURPOSES

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A first approach for the micropropagation of the edible and medicinal Halophyte Inula crithmoides L.
Publication . Rodrigues, Maria João; Castañeda-Loaiza, Viana; Fernandes, Eliana; Custódio, Luísa
Inula crithmoides L. (golden samphire) is an edible aromatic halophyte species with confirmed nutritional and medicinal properties attributed to the presence of important metabolites, including proteins, carotenoids, vitamins, and minerals. Therefore, this study aimed at establishing a micropropagation protocol for golden samphire that can serve as a nursery approach to its standardized commercial cultivation. For that purpose, a complete regeneration protocol was developed by improving shoot multiplication from nodal explants, rooting, and acclimatization methodologies. The treatment with BAP alone induced the maximum shoot formation (7–7.8 shoots/explant), while IAA treatment increased the shoot height (9.26–9.5 cm). Furthermore, the treatment that coupled best shoot multiplication (7.8 shoots/explant) and highest shoot height (7.58 cm) was MS medium supplemented with 0.25 mg/L BAP. Moreover, all shoots produced roots (100% rooting), and multiplication treatments did not exert significant effect on root length (7.8–9.7 cm/plantlet). Moreover, by the end of the rooting phase, plantlets cultivated with 0.25 mg/L BAP had the highest shoot number (4.2 shoots/plantlet), and plantlets from 0.6 mg/L IAA + 1 mg/L BAP presented the highest shoot height (14.2 cm) similar to control plantlets (14.0 cm). The survival up to the ex-vitro acclimatization stage was increased from 9.8% (control) to 83.3%, when plants were treated with a paraffin solution. Nevertheless, the in vitro multiplication of golden samphire is a promising way for its rapid propagation and can be used as a nursery method, contributing to the development of this species as an alternative food and medicinal crop.
A comparative study of the influence of soil and non-soil factors on seed germination of edible salt-tolerant species
Publication . Castañeda-Loaiza, Viana; Rodrigues, Maria João; Fernandes, Eliana; Custódio, Luísa
Cultivating 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.
Antioxidant activity, enzyme inhibition, photoprotection, cytotoxicity, and phytochemical profiling of sea lavender (Limonium algarvense Erben) seed extracts for dermo-cosmetic use
Publication . Lescano, Leonardo; Cziáky, Zoltán; Kurt-Celep, İnci; Zengin, Gökhan; Fernandes, Eliana; Trentin, Riccardo; Guerreiro Pereira, Catarina Alexandra; Custódio, Luísa; Rodrigues, Maria João
Despite sea lavender being a medicinal species, research on its seeds' biological properties and chemical composition is unexplored. Thus, this study evaluated the effect of different extraction solvents on the biological activities and chemical profile of greenhouse-cultivated sea lavender seeds, aiming at their potential use as a dermo-cosmetic ingredient. Therefore, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, and water extracts were examined for their antioxidant activity, enzyme inhibition, photoprotection, and cytotoxicity, followed by phytochemical analysis through spectrophotometric methods, further detailed by Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Electrospray Ionization Mass/Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-Esi-MS/MS).ResultsThe water extract demonstrated significant antioxidant activity, evidenced by low half maximal effective concentration (EC50) values in scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2 '-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, reducing iron and chelating copper (296, 478, 230 and 678 mu g/mL, respectively). The ethanol extract was more effective in inhibiting cosmetic-related enzymes, particularly elastase and hyaluronidase (2.18 and 3.21 mu g/mL, respectively). The water and acetone extracts had the highest sun protection factors (23.2 and 18.9, respectively). All the extracts had nil to weak cytotoxicity (70-120% cell viability) towards mammalian cell lines. The water extract had the highest phenolics and condensed tannins (115 and 78.30 mg/g extract, respectively), while the ethanol contained the most flavonoids (62.73 mg/g extract). UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis identified ethyl gallate, myricetin, rutin, and quercetin as major components of the ethanol extract, whereas myricetin-O-rutinoside isomers are predominant in the water extract.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the potential of greenhouse-cultivated sea lavender seeds as potential dermo-cosmetic ingredients, with ethanol and water extracts demonstrating superior biological activities and chemical profiles, significantly contributing to general skin health and protection.

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Funding agency

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Funding programme

Funding Award Number

UI/BD/151301/2021

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