A Review on <i>Sarcocornia</i> Species: Ethnopharmacology, Nutritional Properties, Phytochemistry, Biological Activities and Propagation
Luísa Custódio,
Maria João Rodrigues,
Catarina G. Pereira,
Viana Castañeda-Loaiza,
Eliana Fernandes,
Dominic Standing,
Amir Neori,
Muki Shpigel,
Moshe Sagi
Affiliations
Luísa Custódio
Centre of Marine Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Maria João Rodrigues
Centre of Marine Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Catarina G. Pereira
Centre of Marine Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Viana Castañeda-Loaiza
Centre of Marine Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Eliana Fernandes
Centre of Marine Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Dominic Standing
French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Sde Boker Campus, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba 849900, Israel
Amir Neori
Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Muki Shpigel
Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Moshe Sagi
The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, The Albert Katz Department of Dryland Biotechnologies, Ben-Gurion University, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
Sarcocornia A. J. Scott is a halophytic edible succulent plant belonging to the Amaranthaceae family. To date, the genus includes 28 species distributed worldwide in saline environments, usually salt marshes. Sarcocornia (Scott) is similar to Salicornia (L.), which has a recognized commercial value in morphological and taxonomical traits. Species of both genera are commonly named samphire or glassworts in Europe, and their fleshy shoots are commercialized under their traditional names. Due to their nutritional, organoleptic and medicinal properties, Sarcocornia species have a high economic potential in various biotechnology sectors. Being highly tolerant to salt, they can be cultivated in saline conditions, and dissimilar to Salicornia, they are perennial, i.e., they can be harvested year-round. Therefore, Sarcocornia species are considered promising gourmet vegetables to be explored in the context of climate change, soil and water salinization and eco-sustainability. We hereby put together and reviewed the most relevant information on Sarcocornia taxonomy, morphology, nutritional and pharmacological properties, uses in ethnomedicine, potential applications in biotechnology, and propagation strategies.
