Abstract
Biodiversity is a reservoir of potential sources of novel food and feed ingredients with suitable compositions for the improvement of the diet and well-being of humans and farmed animals. The halophyte Atriplex portulacoides occurs in habitats that are exposed to seawater inundations, and shows biochemical adaptations to saline and oxidative stresses. Its composition includes long chain lipids, sterols, phenolic compounds, glutathione and carotenoids. These organic compounds and micronutrients, such as Fe, Zn, Co and Cu, make this plant suitable as an optimal functional food that is potentially able to reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory processes in humans and animals. Indeed, many of these compounds have a protective activity in humans against cardiovascular pathologies, cancer, and degenerative processes related to aging. The analysis of its history as food and forage, which dates back thousands of years, attests that it can be safely consumed. Here, the limits of its chemical and microbiological contamination are suggested in order to comply with the European regulations. The productivity of A. portulacoides in natural environments, and its adaptability to non-saline soils, make it a potential crop of high economic interest.
Highlights
Brackish wetlands and salt marshes are endangered habitats of great ecological interest, and have been identified as special protection areas pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, known as the Habitats Directive
As evidenced bydiscovery the discovery of A. portulacoides ancient charred remains of food in northern. These findings show that this halophyte amongst ancient charred remains of food in northern Holland [20]
The assumption of the minerals provided by 100 g fresh weigh (FW) of A. portulacoides were estimated from the averages of the intervals shown in Table 4, assuming a dry weight equal to 12.5% of the fresh biomass: contributions that are ≥ 40% RDA are highlighted in dark grey; those that are ≥ 10% are highlighted in light grey
Summary
Brackish wetlands and salt marshes are endangered habitats of great ecological interest, and have been identified as special protection areas pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, known as the Habitats Directive. Thisplant plant has beenconsumed consumed bysome some populations sinceancient ancient times,as functional food This has been by populations since times, itit the composition productivity of A. portulacoides, in order to point out its potential exploitation is not currently included in any official list of species intended for human consumption, and falls is not currently included in any official list of species intended for human consumption, and falls functional food. Portulacoides, in order to point out its potential exploitation is not currently included in any official list of species intended for human consumption, and falls is not currently included in any official list of species intended for human consumption, and falls functional food This plant has been consumed by some populations since ancient times, it is within novelincluded foods according according to European.
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