Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. leaves - source of nutrients, antioxidant and antibacterial potentials.

Background: The diet of most of the population is limited to a reduced number of plants, even in areas that have a varied and extensive diversity, such as Brazil. Unconventional Food Plants (UFPs) are plants considered exotic, native, and wild that grow naturally and can be used as food. Among these is Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn., which is widespread throughout Brazil and can be a potential source of nutrients. Due to the potential of utilization of UFPs in human food and the lack of studies regarding the composition of T. paniculatum, this study aimed to assess the nutritional value of T. paniculatum leaves, their antioxidant capacity, and their antimicrobial activity for possible use in food.

Methods: The characterization of the leaves of T. paniculatum was carried out through analyses of proximal composition, color, ascorbic acid, mineral profile, and antinutritional factors showing the presence of condensed and hydrolysable tannins and nitrates in low concentrations. Solvents of water, ethanol, ethanol/water, methanol, methanol/water, methanol/acetic acid and acetone/water/acetic acid were used to evaluate the extraction yield of phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, and antibacterial activity of the extracts.

Results: High contents of protein (18.61 g 100 g-1), insoluble dietary fiber (34.75 g 100 g-1), ascorbic acid (81.03 mg 100 g-1), magnesium, potassium, and calcium (649.600, 411.520 and 228.117 mg 100 g-1, respectively) were observed. Extraction using the mixture of solvents of methanol/acetic acid showed the highest yield of phenolic compounds (432.73 mg EAG 100 g-1) and antioxidant capacity using the DPPH assay (3144.92 mg 100 g-1). Bacillus cereus growth was inhibited by the T. paniculatum extracts.

Conclusions: T. paniculatum leaves are a source of nutrients and their extracts have antioxidant and antibacterial potentials which can be used as supplements in food to improve one's health.