Soilless Cultivated Halophyte Plants: Volatile, Nutritional, Phytochemical, and Biological Differences

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Science
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Halophyte plants present a sustainable solution for degraded soils, food security, and coastal utilization.
• They are explored as alternative crops in soilless cultivation systems (SCS) for resource management.
• Limited research exists on the nutraceutical value and health benefits of SCS-cultivated halophytes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and correlate the nutritional composition, volatile profile, phytochemical content, and biological activities of seven halophyte species.
• To assess the potential of these halophytes as sustainable food sources and health-promoting agents.

Main Methods:

• Seven halophyte species were cultivated using a soilless cultivation system (SCS).
• Nutritional composition (protein, ash, salt, chloride, minerals), volatile profile, phytochemical content (phenolics, flavonoids, phenolic acids), and biological activities (antioxidant, ACE-inhibitory) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• *Sarcocornia fruticosa* exhibited high protein, ash, salt, chloride, mineral content, total phenolics, and antioxidant activity.
• Flavonoids were predominant in *S. fruticosa* and *Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum*, while phenolic acids were higher in *Mesembryanthemum crystallinum*, *Crithmum maritimum*, and *Salicornia ramosissima*.
• *S. fruticosa*, *S. ramosissima*, *M. nodiflorum*, *M. crystallinum*, and *Inula crithmoides* displayed ACE-inhibitory activity, beneficial for hypertension control.

Conclusions:

• Cultivated halophytes in SCS possess significant nutritional and phytochemical profiles.
• These species demonstrate potential as healthy alternatives to conventional table salt, offering antioxidant and anti-hypertensive benefits.
• Halophytes represent a valuable resource for sustainable agriculture and human health.