Metabolomic Profile and Biological Properties of Sea Lavender (Limonium algarvense Erben) Plants Cultivated with Aquaculture Wastewaters: Implications for Its Use in Herbal Formulations and Food Additives

Seasonal and Geographic Dynamics in Bioproperties and Phytochemical Profile of Limonium algarvense Erben

This study delved into the influence of ecological and seasonal dynamics on the synthesis of secondary metabolites in the medicinal halophyte Limonium algarvense Erben, commonly known as sea lavender, and examined their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Aerial parts of sea lavender were systematically collected across winter, spring, summer, and autumn seasons from distinct geographic locations in southern Portugal, specifically "Ria de Alvor" in Portimão and "Ria Formosa" in Tavira. The investigation involved determining the total polyphenolic profile through spectrophotometric methods, establishing the chemical profile via liquid chromatography electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS), and evaluating in vitro antioxidant properties using radical and metal-based methods, along with assessing anti-inflammatory capacity through a cell model. Results unveiled varying polyphenol levels and profiles across seasons, with spring and autumn samples exhibiting the highest content, accompanied by the most notable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities. Geographic location emerged as an influential factor, particularly distinguishing plants from "Ria de Alvor". Seasonal fluctuations were associated with environmental factors, including temperature, which, when excessively high, can impair plant metabolism, but also with the presence of flowers and seeds in spring and autumn samples, which also seems to contribute to elevated polyphenol levels and enhanced bioproperties of these samples. Additionally, genetic factors may be related to differences observed between ecotypes (geographical location). This study underscores sea lavender's potential as a natural source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents, emphasizing the significance of considering both geographic location and seasonal dynamics in the assessment of phenolic composition and bioactive properties in medicinal plant species.

Harnessing the Bioactive Potential of Limonium spathulatum (Desf.) Kuntze: Insights into Enzyme Inhibition and Phytochemical Profile

This study assessed the halophyte species Limonium spathulatum (Desf.) as a possible source of natural ingredients with the capacity to inhibit enzymes related to relevant human health disorders and food browning. Extracts using food-grade solvents such as water and ethanol were prepared by maceration from dried L. spathulatum leaves. They were evaluated for in vitro inhibition activity of enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), α-glucosidase, tyrosinase and lipase, related to Alzheimer's disease, type-2-diabetes mellitus, skin hyperpigmentation, and obesity, respectively. These extracts were also appraised for in vitro acute toxicity on tumoral and non-tumoral cell lines and their chemical composition by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The extracts were more effective towards BChE than AChE. The best results were obtained with the hydroethanolic and water extracts, with IC50 values of 0.03 mg/mL and 0.06 mg/mL, respectively. The hydroethanolic extract had the highest capacity to inhibit α-glucosidase (IC50: 0.04 mg/mL), higher than the positive control used (acarbose, IC50 = 3.14 mg/mL). The ethanol extract displayed the best inhibitory activity against tyrosinase (IC50 = 0.34 mg/mL). The tested samples did not inhibit lipase and exhibited low to moderate cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines. The hydroethanolic extract had a higher diversity of compounds, followed by the ethanol and water samples. Similar molecules were identified in all the extracts and were mainly hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonoids. Taken together, these results suggest that L. spathulatum should be further explored as a source of bioactive ingredients for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

Bioactive Extracts from Salicornia ramosissima J. Woods Biorefinery as a Source of Ingredients for High-Value Industries

Salt-tolerant plants, also known as halophytes, could provide a novel source of feedstock for biorefineries. After harvesting fresh shoots for food, the lignified fraction of Salicornia ramosissima J. Woods could be used to produce bioactive botanical extracts for high-value industries such as nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and biopharmaceuticals. The residual fraction after extraction can be further used for bioenergy or lignocellulose-derived platform chemicals. This work analysed S. ramosissima from different sources and growth stages. After pre-processing and extractions, the obtained fractions were analysed for their contents of fatty acids, pigments, and total phenolics. Extracts were also evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant properties and inhibitory effect towards enzymes related to diabetes, hyperpigmentation, obesity, and neurogenerative diseases. The ethanol extract from the fibre residue and the water extract from completely lignified plants showed the highest concentration of phenolic compounds along with the highest antioxidant potential and enzyme-inhibitory properties. Hence, they should be further explored in the context of biorefinery.

New Insights into the Phytochemical Profile and Biological Properties of Lycium intricatum Bois. (Solanaceae)

This work aimed to boost the valorisation of Lycium intricatum Boiss. L. as a source of high added value bioproducts. For that purpose, leaves and root ethanol extracts and fractions (chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water) were prepared and evaluated for radical scavenging activity (RSA) on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and metal chelating potential against copper and iron ions. Extracts were also appraised for in vitro inhibition of enzymes implicated on the onset of neurological diseases (acetylcholinesterase: AChE and butyrylcholinesterase: BuChE), type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM, α-glucosidase), obesity/acne (lipase), and skin hyperpigmentation/food oxidation (tyrosinase). The total content of phenolics (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), and hydrolysable tannins (THTC) was evaluated by colorimetric methods, while the phenolic profile was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, coupled to a diode-array ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV-DAD). Extracts had significant RSA and FRAP, and moderate copper chelation, but no iron chelating capacity. Samples had a higher activity towards α-glucosidase and tyrosinase, especially those from roots, a low capacity to inhibit AChE, and no activity towards BuChE and lipase. The ethyl acetate fraction of roots had the highest TPC and THTC, whereas the ethyl acetate fraction of leaves had the highest flavonoid levels. Gallic, gentisic, ferulic, and trans-cinnamic acids were identified in both organs. The results suggest that L. intricatum is a promising source of bioactive compounds with food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical applications.

Application of In Vitro Plant Tissue Culture Techniques to Halophyte Species: A Review

Halophytes are plants able to thrive in environments characterized by severe abiotic conditions, including high salinity and high light intensity, drought/flooding, and temperature fluctuations. Several species have ethnomedicinal uses, and some are currently explored as sources of food and cosmetic ingredients. Halophytes are considered important alternative cash crops to be used in sustainable saline production systems, due to their ability to grow in saline conditions where conventional glycophyte crops cannot, such as salt-affected soils and saline irrigation water. In vitro plant tissue culture (PTC) techniques have greatly contributed to industry and agriculture in the last century by exploiting the economic potential of several commercial crop plants. The application of PTC to selected halophyte species can thus contribute for developing innovative production systems and obtaining halophyte-based bioactive products. This work aimed to put together and review for the first time the most relevant information on the application of PTC to halophytes. Several protocols were established for the micropropagation of different species. Various explant types have been used as starting materials (e.g., basal shoots and nodes, cotyledons, epicotyls, inflorescence, internodal segments, leaves, roots, rhizomes, stems, shoot tips, or zygotic embryos), involving different micropropagation techniques (e.g., node culture, direct or indirect shoot neoformation, caulogenesis, somatic embryogenesis, rooting, acclimatization, germplasm conservation and cryopreservation, and callogenesis and cell suspension cultures). In vitro systems were also used to study physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes in halophytes, such as functional and salt-tolerance studies. Thus, the application of PTC to halophytes may be used to improve their controlled multiplication and the selection of desired traits for the in vitro production of plants enriched in nutritional and functional components, as well as for the study of their resistance to salt stress.

Nutritional anti-nutritional chemical composition and antioxidant activities of the leaves of the sea cliff dwelling species Limonium spathulatum (Desf.) Kuntze

This work explored the nutritional and antioxidant properties of the leaves of the halophytic species Limonium spathulatum (Desf.) Kuntze from Tunisian sea cliffs. Furthermore, the analysis of the total phenolics and flavonoids contents and their individual compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) were also studied. L. spathulatum leaves had high levels of moisture, ash, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber, but low concentrations of crude protein, crude fat and acid detergent lignin. It contained low carbohydrates levels, and low energetic values. The most abundant macroelements were Cl, Na and Ca while the microelements detected in the highest levels were Fe and Zn. No relevant α-amylase inhibition was observed, and no toxic metals (Pb and Cd) and phytic acid were detected. The ethanol and the hydroethanolic extracts had the highest capacity to scavenge free radicals, to chelate iron and copper and to inhibit lipid peroxidation. The same samples were also the most active towards oxidative haemolysis. These extracts contained high total phenolic and flavonoid contents. HPLC analysis, performed on ethanolic extracts identified 58 individual compounds known for their high antioxidant actvitiy including hydroxybenzoic acids (gallic, syringic acids), hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic, coumaric, ferulic acids) and flavonoids (catechin, epigallocatechin gallate and naringin).In conclusion, the leaves of Tunisian accession of L. spathulatum were good source of minerals and fibers useful in the human diet for attaining nutritional sufficiency. The high in vitro and ex vitro antioxidant activities associated with high favonoids contents and compounds suggest the possibility to use the extracts of L. spathulatum in herbal products with the aim of improving general health and well-being, and/or as food additives for preventing lipid oxidation of lipid-rich foods.

Nutritional and Phyto-Therapeutic Value of the Halophyte Cladium mariscus L. (Pohl.): A Special Focus on Seeds

This work searched for the phyto-therapeutic potential and nutritional value of seeds from the halophyte Cladium mariscus L. (Pohl.), aiming at its use as a source of bioactive ingredients for the food industry. Hence, the nutritional profile, including minerals, of seeds biomass was determined; food-grade samples were prepared, and their phytochemical fingerprinting assessed. Extracts were evaluated for in vitro antioxidant potential, inhibitory capacity towards enzymes related to neuroprotection, diabetes, and hyperpigmentation, and anti-inflammatory properties, along with a toxicological assessment. Sawgrass seeds can be considered a proper nutritional source with a good supply of minerals. All extracts had a high level of total phenolics (65.3−394.4 mg GAE/g DW) and showed a chemically rich and diverse profile of metabolites that have several biological properties described (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory). Extracts had no significant toxicity (cell viabilities > 80%) and were overall strong antioxidants (particularly at radical scavenging and reducing iron), effective tyrosinase inhibitors (55−71 mg KAE/g DW), showed anti-inflammatory properties (30−60% NO decrease), and had moderate capacity to inhibit enzymes related to neuroprotection (AChE 3.7−4.2, BChE 4.3−6.0 mg GALE/g DW) and diabetes (α-glucosidase 1.0−1.1, α-amylase 0.8−1.1 mmol ACAE/g). Altogether, results suggest that sawgrass seeds have the potential to be exploited as a new food product and are a reservoir of bioactive molecules with prospective applications as ingredients for value-added, functional, and/or preservative food products.

Chemical Profiling of Limonium vulgare Mill. Using UHPLC-DAD-ESI/MS2 and GC-MS Analysis

Limonium vulgare Mill. is a plant growing widely in harsh environments, such as salt marshes, for which a chemical profile is still unknown, although some interesting bioactivities were already reported. So, this halophyte chemical profile must be established to find the possible bioactive compounds, valorize the species, and contribute to the salt marsh’s exploitation. This work set the chemical profile of L. vulgare’s aerial parts (leaves and inflorescences) using UHPLC-DAD-ESI/MS2 and GC-MS analysis. The lipophilic profile showed a richness in fatty acids, alkanes, and terpenoids, β-sitosterol being the major compound in inflorescences in the fruiting stage (0.822 ± 0.015 mg/g of the dry plant) and leaves (0.534 ± 0.017 mg/g of the dry plant). In contrast, in the inflorescences in the flowering stage, the major compound is nonacosane (0.228 ± 0.001 mg/g of the dry plant). The polyphenolic profile demonstrates that L. vulgare produces several flavonoids from which quercetin and myricetin can be highlighted; in particular, myricetin derivatives are prevalent in all extracts. Amongst the flavonoids, myricetin 3-rhamnoside is the most abundant in the inflorescences in the flowering stage (6.35 ± 0.05 mg/g of the dry plant), myricetin in leaves (9.69 ± 0.11 mg/g of the dry plant), and in the inflorescences in the fruiting stage baicalin presents the highest amount (5.15 ± 0.07 mg/g of the dry plant). This is the first report on L. vulgare’s chemical profile and the results indicate that this species is an exciting source of bioactive compounds, suggesting it has a use to produce nutraceuticals and/or pharmaceuticals.