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A Fish-feeding Laboratory Bioassay to Assess the Antipredatory Activity of Secondary Metabolites from the Tissues of Marine Organisms
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Functional Food from Endangered Ecosystems: Atriplex portulacoides as a Case Study
Lorenzo Zanella1, Fabio Vianello1
1Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy.
Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 29, 2020
Summary
Discover the nutritional benefits of *Atriplex portulacoides*, a halophyte rich in lipids, sterols, and antioxidants. This plant shows potential as a functional food to combat oxidative stress and inflammation in humans and animals.
Area of Science:
- Marine botany
- Nutritional science
- Food technology
Background:
- Biodiversity offers novel food and feed ingredients for improved human and animal well-being.
- Halophytes like *Atriplex portulacoides* possess biochemical adaptations to saline and oxidative stresses.
- *A. portulacoides* contains valuable compounds such as long-chain lipids, sterols, phenolic compounds, glutathione, and carotenoids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate *Atriplex portulacoides* as a functional food ingredient.
- To explore its potential in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.
- To assess its suitability for human and animal consumption based on nutritional composition and safety.
Main Methods:
- Compositional analysis of *A. portulacoides* for lipids, sterols, phenolics, glutathione, carotenoids, and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Co, Cu).
- Review of historical consumption data for safety assessment.
- Proposal of chemical and microbiological contamination limits aligned with European regulations.
Main Results:
- *A. portulacoides* is rich in beneficial organic compounds and micronutrients.
- These compounds exhibit protective activities against cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and aging-related degeneration.
- Historical data confirms safe consumption, with suggested regulatory limits for contaminants.
Conclusions:
- *Atriplex portulacoides* is a promising functional food with potential health benefits.
- Its adaptability and productivity suggest significant economic interest as a potential crop.
- Compliance with European regulations is feasible for its integration into food and feed supply chains.
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