PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SOME COMMON COASTAL HALOPHYTES OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Iwona Cybulska; Grzegorz Brudecki; Ayah Alassali; Mette Alassali; J. Jed Brown

doi:10.9755/ejfa.v26i12.19104

Authors

Iwona Cybulska Institute Center for Energy, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 54224, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Grzegorz Brudecki Institute Center for Energy, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 54224, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 2Center for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, P. O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
Ayah Alassali Institute Center for Energy, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 54224, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 2Center for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, P. O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
Mette Alassali Institute Center for Energy, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 54224, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 2Center for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, P. O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
J. Jed Brown 1Institute Center for Energy, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 54224, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 2Center for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, P. O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9755/ejfa.v26i12.19104

Keywords:

Halophytes, Phytochemicals, Biorefining

Abstract

Halophyte species of United Arab Emirates are a source of unique active phytochemicals, potentially due to the extreme environmental conditions under which the plants grow in the UAE. These phytochemicals make the native halophytes possibly interesting crops for biorefining, where biofuel production is combined with the production of value added chemicals, improving the economic feasibility of both process. Phytochemicals found in these species are widely recognized and researched as potential pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. We reviewed the literature for secondary metabolites from species from the following halophyte families: Aizoaceae, Amaranthaceae (incl. Chenopodiaceae), Avicenniaceae, Zygophyllaceae. The review revealed that plant species belonging to these families contain valuable phytochemicals, such as fatty acids, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, tannins, saponins, quinones and coumarins, many of which have been reported to have therapeutic effects in humans.