Abstract
The traditionally edible aerial parts of rock samphire (Crithmum maritimum L.) could be a valuable functional food or feed ingredient due to their high antioxidant capacity, ascorbic acid content, and rich content in secondary metabolites such as phenolics and flavonoids. The first objective of this study was to evaluate eighteen genotypes derived from different regions of Greece regarding the phytochemical contents of their soluble extracts in total phenolics, total flavonoids, and individual polyphenols as determined by LC-MS analysis, as well as ascorbic acid content and their antioxidant capacity as determined by different assays, including ABTS (2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity), and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assays. The second objective of the study was the molecular characterization of native Greek C. maritimum genotypes. Great variation among genotypes was observed in terms of the antioxidant capacity, ascorbic acid content, and phenolic compounds (total phenolic content and total flavonoid content), as well as in caffeolquinic acids and flavonoids. The principal component analysis highlighted genotypes with a higher potential in antioxidants and polyphenolics. The most promising genotypes were G9 from Kefalonia, followed by G4 from Ikaria, where both clearly exhibited a similar response with high values of evaluated traits. The molecular characterization of genotypes revealed low variability and low to moderate genetic diversity between populations. Our data indicated that the rock samphire germplasm collection from the Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia could serve as an important source of documented genetic material and, thus, it is suggested for further investigation to provide insight regarding cultivation and agro-processing aspects, artificial selection, or plant breeding aimed at developing C. maritimum genotypes of high-bioactive value.
Highlights
Crithmum maritimum L., known as rock samphire or sea fennel, is a native Greek, wild-growing plant of the Apiaceae family
Algeria was 17 mg/g dw, a value near the maximum of total flavonoid content (TFC) content that we found in G14, whereas another study [32] reported a content of 2.3 mg/g dw of TFC in aerial parts of rock samphire from the Croatian Adriatic coast, a value similar to the lower value found in two native Greek genotypes in the present study
The present work constitutes the first characterization of native Greek rock samphire germplasm in terms of metabolomic and molecular fingerprinting
Summary
Crithmum maritimum L., known as rock samphire or sea fennel, is a native Greek, wild-growing plant of the Apiaceae family. It is a perennial, medicinal-aromatic plant with fleshy leaves that are traditionally edible [1]. Rock samphire naturally thrives on rocky crevices as a chasmophyte (rock-dweller) and in sandy substrates as a halophyte [2]. At the beginning of the twentieth century, C. maritimum has been established as an alien plant along the coasts of Belgium and the Netherlands, mainly in disturbed man-made environments such as harbors and dikes [5]. Rock samphire attracts considerable scientific interest, mainly due to its properties
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