Flaxleaf Fleabane Leaves (Conyza bonariensis), A New Functional Nonconventional Edible Plant?

Abstract

This work aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition, nutritional value, antioxidant, antihemolytic, antihyperglycemic, and antiproliferative activities of flaxleaf fleabane (Conyza bonariensis) leaves. Different concentrations of water and ethanol (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0 v/v) were used in the extraction process and results showed that the hydroalcoholic extract (50:50 v/v) presented the highest total phenolics, ortho-diphenolics, Folin-Ciocalteu reducing capacity, FRAP, and Fe 2+ chelating ability values. Flaxleaf fleabane leaves (FFL) contained 19.6 g/100 g of fibers and 26 g/100 g of proteins. Ellagic acid, procyanidin A2, caffeic, rosmarinic, gallic, and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acids were the main phenolics. This phenolic-rich extract inhibited the lipid oxidation of Wistar rat brain (IC 50 = 863.0 mg GAE/L), inhibited α-glucosidase activity (IC 50 = 435.4 µg/mL), protected human erythrocytes against mechanical hemolysis at different osmolarity conditions, and showed cytotoxic/antiproliferative effects against human ileocecal adenocarcinoma cells (HCT8; IC 50 = 552.6 µg/mL) but no cytotoxicity toward noncancerous human lung fibroblast (IMR90). Overall, FFL showed potential to be explored by food companies to be a source of proteins, natural color substances, and phenolic compounds.Practical Application: Flaxleaf fleabane leaves (FFL) are usually burnt or partially given to cattle, without a proper utilization as a source of nutrients for human nutrition. Here, we studied the nutritional composition, phenolic composition, and toxicological aspects of FFL using different biological protocols. FFL was proven to be a rich source of proteins and dietary fibers and showed antioxidant activity measured by chemical and in vitro biological assays. Additionally, as it did protected human red cells and did not show cytotoxicity, we assume FFL has relative safety to be consumed as a nonconventional edible plant.

Response surface optimization of phenolic compounds extraction from camu‐camu (Myrciaria dubia) seed coat based on chemical properties and bioactivity

“…Significant ( P ≤ 0.05) correlation coefficients were obtained between the chemical antioxidant activity and the TPC ( r FCRC = 0.731; r DPPH = 0.895; r FRAP = 0.790) and CT ( r FCRC = 0.694; r DPPH = 0.688; r FRAP = 0.781). Significant correlation coefficients between TPC, CT, and antioxidant activity measured by different analytical methods are already known (Fidelis, do Carmo et al., 2020; Santos et al., 2018; Schechtel et al., 2019).…”

“…The antimicrobial activity of OLE in relation to Pseudomonas aeruginosa IAL 1853 , Salmonella Enteritidis S2887 , Salmonella Typhimurium IAL 2431 , Escherichia coli IAL 2064, Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 13565, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC 1006 was performed by the plate‐cavity agar diffusion method (Schechtel et al., 2019) at a concentration of 2 mg/well. Ampicillin (10 µg) was used as a positive control, except for S. cerevisiae , in which cycloheximide (1 µg) was used.…”

Avaliação medicinal e nutricional de três espécies de Plantas Alimentícias Não convencionais (PANCs): Uma revisão de literatura

“…A espécie Conyza bonariensis, também conhecida popularmente no Brasil como buva, voadeira, margaridinha-docampo, rabo-de-foguete, arnicão, entre outros, pode ser identificada também pelos nomes Erigeron linifolium Willd., Erigeron bonariensis L., Erigeron crispus Pourret e Flaxleaf fleabane fora do país (Barbora et al, 2005;Mabrouk et al, 2011;Schechtel et al, 2019). A planta pertence à família Asteraceae e ao gênero Conyza, que possui 17 espécies entre ervas perenes, bienais e anuais, além de possuir usos medicinais conhecidos em casos para tratamento de malária e feridas, além de ação antiinflamatória, analgésica, antiviral e antidiarreica (Mabrouk et al, 2011;Araujo et al, 2013).…”

“…Essa erva daninha perene, nativa da América do Sul, pode ser encontrada em diferentes locais do mundo, como na América do Norte, Europa, regiões montanhosas e em países de clima temperado, tropical e subtropical (Mabrouk et al, 2011;Araujo et al, 2013;Bukhari et al, 2013;Thabit et al, 2015;Schechtel et al, 2019).…”

“…A ação antioxidante da C. bonariensis tem sido foco de estudos devido à sua rica composição em fenólicos e flavonoides, que são um indicativo para bons resultados antioxidantes (Thabit et al, 2015). Os extratos etanólico, hidroalcoólico e metanólico mostraram efeitos promissores (Thabit et al, 2015;Potbhare et al, 2019;Schechtel et al, 2019), e as frações de acetato de etila e butanol, por serem ricos em fenólicos, demonstraram ótima atividade antioxidante (Favila, 2006). Usos nutricionais Schechtel et al (2019) apontam para a utilização tradicional da C. bonariensis na alimentação, sendo comum a preparação de saladas cruas e também como molho para salada devido à sua rica composição.…”