Chemical composition, bioactive compounds, biological activity, and applications of ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia spp.): A...

Although in the literature it is referred to as a Non-Conventional Food Plant, ora-pro-nóbis is a traditional food plant that has been incorporated into the diet and culture of various communities in different regions of the planet. Their leaves have a high protein content and contain high levels of amino acids, dietary fiber, minerals, fatty acids, volatile compounds, and bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and carotenoids. This study aims to provide a systematic review of the literature on ora-pro-nóbis, addressing its chemical composition, bioactive compounds, biological activities, and its applications in different areas, carried out with the aid of bibliometric tools to identify influential publications and research trends in this field. Using different bibliometric tools, it was possible to observe that studies on ora-pro-nóbis showed an increase, highlighting the importance of this topic in the food and pharmaceutical industry. The bibliometric analysis showed that studies involving the leaves of ora-pro-nóbis focus on the evaluation of chemical composition, including proximal composition, phenolic and flavonoid compounds, and applications with biological activity, including antioxidant activity. Research trends highlight studies evaluating the extraction of ora-pro-nóbis mucilage in the development of new materials carrying bioactive compounds, such as films, hydrogels, and microcapsules. The article highlights the importance of the application of ora-pro-nóbis in different industry segments, especially in the areas of food science and technology, and pharmaceuticals.