Propriedades bioativas de talinum paniculatum: composição fitoquímica e perspectivas para aplicação na indústria alimentícia

Abstract

Talinum paniculatum (Major-Gomes), a non-conventional food plant (Panc), presents high functional and nutritional potential, with possible applications in food supplementation, pharmacognosy, and sustainability. For this study, we aimed to characterize its leaves morphoanatomically, evaluate the centesimal composition, identify bioactive compounds, and investigate its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Histological analysis revealed adaptive structures typical of tropical environments, such as dorsiventral mesophyll and unistratified epidermis, and the presence of druse idioblasts, indicating good water resistance and ecological versatility. The centesimal composition demonstrated that the dehydration of the leaves concentrates nutrients with high levels of proteins, fibers, and lipids. We identified compounds such as flavonoids (28.6 ± 2.44 mg QE g⁻¹), total phenolics (0.387 ± 0.007 mg EAG g⁻¹), and significant antioxidant activity (68.79 ± 0.79 mg ET g⁻¹). Furthermore, we identified compounds such as flavonoids (28.6 ± 2.44 mg QE g⁻¹), total phenolics (0.387 ± 0.007 mg EAG g⁻¹), and significant antioxidant activity (68.79 ± 0.79 mg ET g⁻¹) with flavonoids being the main contributors to this action. The antimicrobial activity was selective, with inhibition of the yeast Candida krusei. Qualitative phytochemistry confirmed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and steroids, with hydroalcoholic extracts (methanol:water, 1:9, v/v) performing better. In contrast, the hexane extract was effective only for lipophilic compounds, with no significant antioxidant or antimicrobial activity. Although the tests had limitations against other strains.