Proximate composition and secondary metabolites of Reichardia tingitana (L.) Roth under coastal and desert habitats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt

2 Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University

Abstract

Reichardia tingitana (L.) Roth is a wild edible and medicinal plant widely distributed across coastal and arid regions of North Africa and the Mediterranean basin. This study investigated and compared the proximate composition and secondary metabolite profiles of R. tingitana collected from coastal and desert habitats to assess its ecological adaptability and bioactive potential. Coastal specimens exhibited significantly higher moisture (10.15%), ash (6.88%), fibers (22.19%), protein (16.44%), and lipid content (3.5%) compared to desert plants, which showed elevated carbohydrate levels (55.1%), reflecting physiological adjustments to arid conditions. Phytochemical analysis revealed that coastal plants had greater concentrations of total phenolics (135.23 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (56.14 mg CE/g), whereas desert samples accumulated more alkaloids (15.36%) and tannins (4.8 mg TAE/g). Saponin levels were relatively consistent across both habitats. These findings highlight the species’ biochemical plasticity in response to environmental stress and underline its potential value as a source of nutraceutical and therapeutic compounds. The study supports the ecological significance and pharmacological promise of R. tingitana across contrasting habitats.

Keywords

Mansoura Journal of Biology
Volume 72, Issue 3
September 2025
Pages 12-15

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