Zanella Lorenzo, Vianello Fabio
Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy.
Foods. 2020 Oct 24;9(11):1533. doi: 10.3390/foods9111533.
Biodiversity is a reservoir of potential sources of novel food and feed ingredients with suitable compositions for the improvement of the diet and well-being of humans and farmed animals. The halophyte occurs in habitats that are exposed to seawater inundations, and shows biochemical adaptations to saline and oxidative stresses. Its composition includes long chain lipids, sterols, phenolic compounds, glutathione and carotenoids. These organic compounds and micronutrients, such as Fe, Zn, Co and Cu, make this plant suitable as an optimal functional food that is potentially able to reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory processes in humans and animals. Indeed, many of these compounds have a protective activity in humans against cardiovascular pathologies, cancer, and degenerative processes related to aging. The analysis of its history as food and forage, which dates back thousands of years, attests that it can be safely consumed. Here, the limits of its chemical and microbiological contamination are suggested in order to comply with the European regulations. The productivity of in natural environments, and its adaptability to non-saline soils, make it a potential crop of high economic interest.
生物多样性是新型食品和饲料成分潜在来源的宝库，其成分适合改善人类和养殖动物的饮食与健康状况。盐生植物生长在遭受海水淹没的栖息地，对盐分和氧化应激表现出生化适应性。其成分包括长链脂质、甾醇、酚类化合物、谷胱甘肽和类胡萝卜素。这些有机化合物以及铁、锌、钴和铜等微量营养素，使这种植物适合作为一种最佳功能性食品，有可能减轻人类和动物的氧化应激和炎症过程。事实上，这些化合物中的许多对人类预防心血管疾病、癌症以及与衰老相关的退行性过程具有保护作用。对其作为食物和饲料的历史分析可追溯到数千年前，证明它可以安全食用。在此，为符合欧洲法规，提出了其化学和微生物污染的限度。它在自然环境中的生产力及其对非盐渍土壤的适应性，使其成为具有高经济价值的潜在作物。
