Edible Halophytes with Functional Properties: In Vitro Protein Digestibility and Bioaccessibility and Intestinal Absorption of Minerals and Trace Elements from Australian Indigenous Halophytes
Sukirtha Srivarathan,
Rama Addepalli,
Oladipupo Qudus Adiamo,
Gethmini Kavindya Kodagoda,
Anh Dao Thi Phan,
Olivia Renee Louise Wright,
Yasmina Sultanbawa,
Simone Osborne,
Michael Erich Netzel
Affiliations
Sukirtha Srivarathan
ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Indooroopilly, QLD 4068, Australia
Rama Addepalli
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Agriculture and Food, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
Oladipupo Qudus Adiamo
ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Indooroopilly, QLD 4068, Australia
Gethmini Kavindya Kodagoda
ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Indooroopilly, QLD 4068, Australia
Anh Dao Thi Phan
ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Indooroopilly, QLD 4068, Australia
Olivia Renee Louise Wright
ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Indooroopilly, QLD 4068, Australia
Yasmina Sultanbawa
ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Indooroopilly, QLD 4068, Australia
Simone Osborne
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Agriculture and Food, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
Michael Erich Netzel
ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Indooroopilly, QLD 4068, Australia
Halophytes are considered emerging functional foods as they are high in protein, minerals, and trace elements, although studies investigating halophyte digestibility, bioaccessibility, and intestinal absorption are limited. Therefore, this study investigated the in vitro protein digestibility, bioaccessibility and intestinal absorption of minerals and trace elements in saltbush and samphire, two important Australian indigenous halophytes. The total amino acid contents of samphire and saltbush were 42.5 and 87.3 mg/g DW, and even though saltbush had a higher total protein content overall, the in vitro digestibility of samphire protein was higher than the saltbush protein. The in vitro bioaccessibility of Mg, Fe, and Zn was higher in freeze-dried halophyte powder compared to the halophyte test food, suggesting that the food matrix has a significant impact on mineral and trace element bioaccessibility. However, the samphire test food digesta had the highest intestinal Fe absorption rate, whereas the saltbush digesta exhibited the lowest (37.7 vs. 8.9 ng/mL ferritin). The present study provides crucial data about the digestive “fate” of halophyte protein, minerals, and trace elements and increases the understanding of these underutilized indigenous edible plants as future functional foods.
