Journal
ANTIOXIDANTS
Volume 8, Issue 8, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/antiox8080293
Keywords
alpha-linolenic acid; fatty acids; hepatotoxicity; omega-3 fatty acids; Portulaca oleraceae; phenolic compounds; oleracein derivatives; purslane; tocopherols
Funding
- Foundation for Science and Technology FCT, Portugal [UID/AGR/00690/2019]
- FEDER under Programme PT2020 [UID/AGR/00690/2019]
- FCT
- FEDER-Interreg Espana-Portugal program [0377_Iberphenol_6_E]
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Purslane (Portulaca oleraceae L.) is a widespread weed, which is highly appreciated for its high nutritional value with particular reference to the content in omega-3 fatty acids. In the present study, the nutritional value and chemical composition of purslane plants in relation to plant part and harvesting stage were evaluated. Plants were harvested at three growth stages (29, 43 and 52 days after sowing (DAS)), while the edible aerial parts were separated into stems and leaves. Leaves contained higher amounts of macronutrients than stems, especially at 52 DAS. alpha-tocopherol was the main isoform, which increased at 52 DAS, as well total tocopherols (values were in the ranges of 197-327 mu g/100 g fresh weight (fw) and 302-481 mu g/100 g fw, for alpha-tocopherol and total tocopherols, respectively). Glucose and fructose were the main free sugars in stems and leaves, respectively, whereas stems contained higher amounts of total sugars (values were ranged between 0.83 g and 1.28 g/100 g fw). Oxalic and total organic acid content was higher in leaves, especially at the last harvesting stage (52 DAS; 8.6 g and 30.3 g/100 g fw for oxalic acid and total organic acids, respectively). Regarding the fatty acid content, stems contained mainly palmitic (20.2-21.8%) and linoleic acid (23.02-27.11%), while leaves were abundant in alpha-linolenic acid (35.4-54.92%). Oleracein A and C were the major oleracein derivatives in leaves, regardless of the harvesting stage (values were in the ranges of 8.2-103.0 mg and 21.2-143 mg/100 g dried weight (dw) for oleraceins A and C, respectively). Cytotoxicity assays showed no hepatotoxicity, with GI(50) values being higher than 400 mu g/mL for all the harvesting stages and plant parts. In conclusion, early harvesting and the separation of plant parts could increase the nutritional value of the final product through increasing the content of valuable compounds, such as omega-3 fatty acids, phenolic compounds and oleracein derivatives, while at the same time, the contents of anti-nutritional compounds such as oxalic acid are reduced.
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