ValueFarm - Valorization of Mediterranean small-scale farms by cropping wild unexploited species

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Estudo integrado da influência do tipo de cultivo e irrigação nas propriedades bioativas de Cichorium spinosum L.

Publication . Paschoalinotto, B.H.; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.; Compocholi, Maria; Polyzos, Nikolaos; Pires, Tânia C.S.; Petropoulos, Spyridon Α.; Dias, Maria Inês; Barros, Lillian

Cichorium spinosum L. é uma planta silvestre comestível da bacia do Mediterrâneo, também conhecida como chicória espinhosa, utilizada em receitas e bebidas tradicionais da denominada “Dieta Mediterrânica”. A procura incessante por produtos naturais benéficos para a saúde renovaram/aumentaram o interesse por espécies de plantas não tão conhecidas e consumidas pelo consumidor, devido sobretudo ao seu perfil fitoquímico e propriedades bioativas de elevado interesse [1]. A par disto, técnicas alternativas de cultivo têm vindo a ser aplicadas para obtenção deste tipo de plantas, sob o estandarte da produtividade sustentável e ecológica, como sendo a hidroponia e a rotação de culturas. Estas práticas podem potencializar a gestão racional da água, a otimização dos regimes de fertilização e, sobretudo, aumentar a adaptabilidade destas plantas silvestres a sistemas controlados de produção [2]. Assim, o presente estudo objetivou a avaliação das propriedades antioxidante (ensaio de TBARS) e antibacteriana (ensaio colorimétrico, isolados clínicos) dos extratos hidroetanólicos das folhas de C. spinosum produzidas com irrigação completa ou deficit e com ou sem rotação com uma cultura de milho (CM). Foram ainda usados dois controlos usando água da chuva para irrigação e com e sem rotação com milho. Relativamente a atividade antioxidante, os extratos com deficit de irrigação combinado com rotação com CM destacaram-se pelo potencial de inibir a peroxidação lipídica, revelando os menores valores de IC50. Não houve diferenças significativas nos extratos com irrigação completa, e os valores menos promissores foram encontrados particularmente nas amostras controlo. Em geral, as bactérias Gram-positivas demonstraram maior sensibilidade aos extratos hidroetanólicos do controlo sem rotação com CM, seguido dos extratos oriundos da produção com deficit de irrigação e sem rotação de CM. Em particular, a estirpe bacteriana de Staphylococcus aureus demonstrou ser a mais sensível de todas as estudas, nomeadamente nas amostras irrigadas com água de chuva e sem rotação com CM (Concentração mínima inibitória de 2.5 mg/mL). Nenhuma das amostras revelou capacidade bactericida. O estudo integrado permitiu observar que a combinação da irrigação com rotação de cultura de milho afeta significativamente as propriedades bioativas da chicória. Estudos complementares serão necessários para identificar os compostos responsáveis pelas bioatividades assim como otimizar a produção das plantas para obtenção de maiores teores de moléculas de alto valor agregado.

2022Conference object

Open access

Nutritional value and chemical composition of purslane leaves in relation to harvest stage

Publication . Polyzos, Nikolaos; Fernandes, Ângela; Dias, Maria Inês; Petropoulos, Spyridon Α.; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Barros, Lillian

Purslane (Portulaca oleraceae L.) is an omnipresent weed, while it is also considered a common ingredient of the Mediterranean diet due to its high nutritional value with particular reference to omega-3 fatty acids content ln the present study, we evaluated the nutritional value and chemical composition of purslane leaves in relation to harvesting stage. Plants were harvested at three growth stages (29, 43 and 52 days a:fter sowing (DAS)), while leaves were separated from the aerial parts ofthe plant. Leaves contained high amounts of macronutrients, especially at 52 DAS. a-Tocopherol was the main isoform, which increased at 52 DAS, as well as the total tocopherols (values were in the ranges of 197-327 !J.g/l 00 g fresh weight (fw) and 302-481 !J.g/100 g fw, for a-tocopherol and total tocopherols, respectively). Glucose and fructose were the main detected free sugars, while total sugars content ranged between O. 160 g and 0.330 g/100 g fw). Oxalic and total organic acids content increased at late harvesting (52 DAS; 8.6 g and 30.3 g/ 100 g fw for oxalic acid and total organic acids, respectively). Regarding the fatty acids content, leaves were abundant in a-linolenic acid (35.4--54.92%), although a decreasing trend was observed with successive harvesting. Oleracein A and C were the major oleracein derivatives detected in leaves, regardless ofthe harvesting stage (values were in the ranges of8.2-103.0 mg and 21.2-143 mg/100 g dried weight (dw) for oleraceins A and C, respectively), while the highest content was recorded at 29 DAS for both compounds. Hepatotoxicity assays showed no toxicity with Gl50 values being higher than 400 !J.g/rnL for all the harvesting stages. ln conclusion, early harvesting could increase the nutritional value of the final product through increasing the content ofvaluable compounds, such as omega-3 fatty acids, phenolic compounds and oleracein derivatives, while at the sarne time, the contents of anti-nutritional compounds such as oxalic acid are reduced.

2021Conference object

Open access

Nutritional profile and mineral content of Sonchus asper: a wild edible plant from the Mediterranean area

Publication . Paschoalinotto, B.H.; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.; Compocholi, Maria; Polyzos, Nikolaos; Petropoulos, Spyridon Α.; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Dias, Maria Inês; Barros, Lillian

Agrobiodiversity as part of overall biodiversity can be defined as the variety of living forms within agricultural ecosystems and is strongly linked with diversity in food and agricultural production and, thus, with nutrition and human health. In addition to the diversity of common crop species, Mediterranean agrobiodiversity resources also include Wild Edible Plants (WEPs)1. Sonchus asper is considered a wild edible plant and is popularly known as spiny sow thistle. This species of European origin, but found on other continents, is traditionally harvested by local people from nature, to be consumed mainly sautéed with sauces and broths of the well-known Mediterranean diet2. The unrestrained collection of wild plants can cause serious environmental problems as well as health problems for the consumer, since these species grow spontaneously to maintain themselves and are not managed or cultivated, so there is no reproducibility in the nutritional contribution. Thus, the objective of the present study was to characterize the nutritional profile, mineral content, and energy of the leaves of two wild spiny sow thistle (SA1 and SA2), grown on different medium, using AOAC methods. The content of crude protein (AOAC, 991.02), total fat (AOAC, 989.05), total dietary fiber (AOAC, 991.43), ash (AOAC, 935.42) and carbohydrates (by difference) were evaluated. The mineral content was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and the energy was calculated according to the equation: energy (kcal per 100 g) = 4 x (g protein + g carbohydrate) + 2 x (g total dietary fiber) + 9 x (g fat). In all nutritional parameters, wild Sonchus asper samples showed different values. In total fat, SA1 presented the highest amount (5.6 g/100 g dw) while SA2 presented 2.8 g/100 g dw. In terms of carbohydrates, SA2 showed twice the concentration when compared to SA1. In terms of crude protein and total dietary fiber, SA1 shows promising concentrations (15.96 and 41.6 g/100 g dw, respectively), while SA2 contained namely 11.86 and 37.45 g/100 dw. Regarding ash, the leaves of SA2 showed values lower than SA1. Although SA1 presented the highest concentrations of total fat, crude protein, total dietary fiber, and ash, the SA2 sample presented the highest energy contribution (304.5 kcal/100 g), possibly due to the significant presence of carbohydrates. The mineral content also showed great differences between SA1 and SA2, mainly with regard to the concentration (mg/g of dw) of manganese, with the sample SA1 showing a content of 30% higher when compared to SA2. For potassium, copper, and zinc, the sample SA2 showed the highest concentrations, on the other hand, SA1 showed high concentrations in the content of sodium, calcium, magnesium, and iron (9.4, 10.5, 3.2, 0.2 mg/g of dw, respectively). This distinct nutritional profile of the two wild thistles is possibly caused by the quality of the soil, since the primary metabolism depends on the edaphoclimatic conditions in which the plant grows, namely light, salinity, and temperature3. The preliminary results obtained point out the great differences in the nutritional value of spiny sow thistle, highlighting the need to implement an adequate cultivation system that enhances this species functional macro and micronutrients.

2022Conference object

Open access

Tailor-made fertilization regimes as strategies to increase phenolic composition: the case study of pot grown Cichorium spinosum L

Publication . Dias, Maria Inês; Paschoalinotto, B.H.; Polyzos, Nikolaos; Petropoulos, Spyridon Α.; Barros, Lillian

Cichorium spinosum is a perennial halophyte of the Mediterranean basin, consumed for its fresh green leaves.1 It is normally handpicked from the wild, but the cultivated one allows its collection several times per year, resorting to the use of chemical fertilizers.2,3 Needless to say, that the switch to innovative and sustainable farming practices it is of the upmost importance in a world of climate crises, land degradation and, particularly, extreme drought, allowing the production of promising crops with low input requirements, sustainable footprint, and rich in high-added value compounds. In the present work, the individual phenolic profile was obtained by HPLC-DAD/ESI-MSn in the aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of pot grown C. spinosum plants, non-fertilized and fertilized with different concentrations (mg/mL) of N:P:K nutrient solutions. In both extracts, seven phenolic compounds were found, being p-coumaroylquinic acid and O-glycosylated isorhamnetin derivatives the most abundant. The most important result found was the effect of increasing the nutrients in the obtaining of higher amounts of phenolic acids; while higher amounts of flavonoids were found in more moderate concentrations of nutrients. Tailor-made fertilization regimes can, therefore, be used to implement a production strategy of innovative plants in order to obtain high quality final products.

2022Conference object

Open access

Functionality assessment of Scolymus hispanicus (golden thistle) for its daily-basis incorporation in the Mediterranean diet

Publication . Paschoalinotto, B.H.; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.; Compocholi, Maria; Polyzos, Nikolaos; Petropoulos, Spyridon Α.; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Dias, Maria Inês; Barros, Lillian

Golden thistle (Scolymus hispanicus L.) is naturally distributed in the Mediterranean region. Its roots and fresh rosettes are traditionally consumed in soups and special meals, and have been reintroduced in some European countries since the consumption of native species is an integral and crucial part of the so-called Mediterranean diet; long associated with several beneficial health effects against diseases spread worldwide1. Although most of these native species are traditionally collected in the wild by the local communities, the increasing demand for such edible plants has created a market niche for the commercial exploitation of Wild Edible Plants (WEPs). This practice may fulfill consumer demands for product availability throughout the year, as well it prevents the risk for genetic erosion due to irrational gathering. There are reports, available in the literature, for cultivation practices of native species and how these practices may affect its nutritional profile, chemical composition, and bioactive compounds content2. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of fertilization with nutrient solutions that contained different ratios of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) on the nutritional profile (AOAC methods) of S. hispanicus edible plant parts. The mineral content was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Energy was calculated according to the equation: energy (kcal per 100 g) = 4 x (g protein + g carbohydrate) + 2 x (g total dietary fiber) + 9 x (g fat). The sample fertilized with 200:200:200 ppm of N:P:K (S222) stood out for its fiber content (40.7±0.2 g/100 g dry weight), followed by the sample S211 (fertilized with 200:100:100 ppm of N:P:K) that also showed promising crude protein values (10.8±0.3 g/100 g of dw); however, the crude protein content showed no significant differences between this sample (S211) and samples fertilized with 100:100:100 N:P:K (S111) and S222, respectively. The total dietary fiber content was different among the seven experimental treatments, which suggests the influence of the nutrient solution on this parameter. Sample S111 showed similar fat content to the control sample. The control sample (without fertilization) showed the highest levels in the majority of the studied parameters, except for fiber content, carbohydrates, and energy. The sample fertilized with 300 ppm of nitrogen had the lowest values in relation to fat, crude protein, and fiber contents. The energy calculation ranged from 301 to 285 kcal/100g of dry weight, while the sample with the highest energy value had the highest carbohydrate content. Mineral composition was affected by fertilization treatments for most of the minerals evaluated in the present study. Sample S311 (fertilized with 300:100:100 ppm of N:P:K) showed the highest amount of sodium, calcium, and magnesium and the lowest content of potassium and zinc. On the other hand, the control sample had the lowest amounts of sodium, magnesium, manganese and copper and the highest levels of potassium, iron, and zinc. Iron and other micro minerals are an essential part of many compounds in the oxygen transport and storage system and function as cofactors for enzymes3. It was possible to verify that the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in nutrient solution may directly affect the nutritional value and mineral content of the plant under study, with high concentrations of nitrogen presenting a negative impact on the protein content, indicating the low response of the species to increasing nitrogen fertilization rates. With the results obtained, it is possible to select the appropriate nutrient solution to obtain golden thistle with a promising nutritional profile and high mineral contents, as well as to promote its incorporation into commercial farming systems and the exploitation in a more sustainable manner through tailor-made fertilization regimes.

2022Conference object

Open access