Evaluation of Pigments, Phenolic and Volatile Compounds, and Antioxidant Activity of a Spontaneous Population of Portulaca oleracea L. Grown in Tunisia

Samia Dabbou,Gaetano Pandino,Sara Lombardo,Karima Lahbib,Sihem Dabbou

doi:10.3390/agriculture10080353

Abstract

Portulaca oleracea L., commonly known as purslane, is a weed with worldwide distribution and considerable medicinal uses due to its high levels of phytochemical compounds. However, until now, few studies have been conducted on the biochemical characterization of P. oleracea grown in Tunisia, a possible area of its origin as other North African countries. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential of leaves and stems from a Tunisian spontaneous population of purslane. Particularly, samples were analyzed for their proximate composition, pigments, and volatiles, whereas ethanolic and aqueous extracts were evaluated for their composition in phenolic compounds and in vitro antioxidant activities. Stems showed higher content of moisture (89.9%) and anthocyanins (4.61 µg g−1 dry matter, DM), whereas leaves revealed higher chlorophyll concentrations (7.42 mg g−1 DM). Significantly higher levels of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities (p < 0.05) were obtained in ethanolic extracts, compared with water extracts, irrespective of the analyzed plant part. A high antioxidant activity of stems was obtained, especially when extracted with ethanol. Headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses revealed six volatile classes with monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes, and non-terpene derivatives as the highly represented compounds. Limonene (17.3–32.2%), carvone (38–46%), 2,6-dimethylcyclohexanol (2.2–6.4%), and nonanal (3.4–3.8%) were the most abundant volatiles. Based on the results of the present study, Tunisian purslane should deserve major consideration as an edible vegetable due to its richness in phytochemical compounds and, hence, for its potential health effects.

Highlights

Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is best known as an invasive weed in the MediterraneanBasin [1,2], its succulent leaves and stems are completely edible
In the present study, we aimed to characterize the phytochemical compounds present in leaves and stems of a spontaneous population of P. oleracea grown in Tunisia, as well as to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of their ethanolic and aqueous extracts
Total flavonoid contents found in the ethanolic extract of Tunisian P. oleracea leaves were higher than those reported by Santiago-Saenz et al [75]. These findings proved that flavonoid contents varied with plant parts and solvents used for their extraction

Summary

Introduction

Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is best known as an invasive weed in the MediterraneanBasin [1,2], its succulent leaves and stems are completely edible. Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is best known as an invasive weed in the Mediterranean. Purslane belongs to the Portulacaceae family containing more than 120 species of succulent herbs and shrubs, and it is ranked among the top eight common plants in the world [3]. It is well known as a cosmopolitan species under the term of ‘Global Panacea’ [4] and listed by the World Health Organization as one of the most used medicinal plants. Other studies showed the importance of purslane consumption in the reduction of the occurrence of many diseases such as cancer [21,22]

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Conclusion