Preliminary study on the aerial parts and roots of Limbarda crithmoides L., a Mediterranean halophyte

Limbarda crithmoides L. is a common but still largely uninvestigated edible halophyte of the Asteraceae family, spontaneous in the Mediterranean region. In the Middle East, the decoction obtained from its roots is regarded as a remedy for gastrointestinal and hepatic ailments [ 1 ]. Given the increasing scientific interest in recent years due to halophytes’ favourable adaptation to the changing climate, the purpose of this work was to investigate the phytochemical composition of both aerial (LICA) and underground (LICR) parts of this species. Additionally, the bioactivity and bioaccessibility of the phytocomplex was assessed. Extracts obtained from the dried plant materials with different solvents and preparations were screened through colorimetric assays to highlight the main chemical differences. As expected, polysaccharides represented a high percentage of the plant material, reaching 35.7±0.51% (w/w as saccarose equivalents) in LICA EtOH 25% v/v, while triterpenes were more abundant in LICA decoction (3.60±0.02% w/w as β-sitosterol equivalents). Total phenols peaked in LICR EtOH 75% v/v, 4.10±0.05% (w/w as gallic acid equivalents), in agreement with the most potent DPPH-radical scavenging activity measured for this extract (IC 50 =0.125±0.003 mg/mL). Moreover, the HPLCDAD analyses highlighted abundant hydroxycinnamic derivatives, such as chlorogenic acid, in both plant parts. Thus, an in-vitro simulated digestion model was set up, allowing us to appreciate how the total hydroxicinammic derivatives, despite some modifications, could be recovered after the process both in LICA and LICR (Table). Therefore, this preliminary study paves the way for future bioactivity and phytochemical studies on L. crithmoides L. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany