Special issue on advances in marine biotechnology: exploitation of Halophyte plants

Pereira, Catarina Guerreiro

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/18455

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Authors

Pereira, Catarina Guerreiro

Abstract(s)

Halophyte (salt tolerant) plants encompass roughly 1% of the world’s plant species that can thrive in a multitude of saline biotopes, where glycophytes (non-salt tolerant) cannot [1,2]. They are highly resistant to the abiotic constraints characteristic of saline ecosystems, such as salinity, drought, extreme temperatures, and UV radiation, having evolved specialized morphological and physiological adaptations in response to the challenges of living in such harsh conditions [1,3]. The response mechanisms to handle abiotic stress include the synthesis and accumulation of bioactive metabolites, like phenolic compounds, terpenoids, vitamins, etc. These molecules are usually powerful antioxidants but can display other biological activities such as enzyme inhibition, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, and antitumoral activities, among others, thus granting halophytes with potential biotechnological applications for the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries