Bioactivity and nutritional profiling of underexplored unconventional food plants with potential for applications as functional foods

This study evaluated the bioactive and nutritional properties of six Amazonian unconventional food plants: Piper peltatum , Mansoa alliacea , Leuenbergeria bleo , Bidens bipinnata , Costus spiralis , and Urera caracasana . The phenolic compounds were identified and quantified using LC–ESI–MS/MS, whereas carotenoids were analyzed by HPLC–DAD. C. spiralis and B. bipinnata exhibited the highest total phenolic contents and antioxidant capacities, as determined by ABTS, FRAP, and ORAC assays. Chlorogenic acid was the predominant phenolic compound (in B. bipinnata ), followed by rutin (in C. spiralis ). C. spiralis showed weak cytostatic effects on HaCaT cells, whereas B. bipinnata partially stimulated keratinocyte migration. All species presented high levels of (all-E)-lutein (2.72–5.65 mg·100 g⁻ 1 DW) and (all-E)-β-carotene (1.67–3.28 mg·100 g⁻ 1 DW), while U. caracasana exhibited the highest ascorbic acid content (101.43 mg·100 g⁻ 1 FW). Additionally, all plants were rich in dietary fiber, with M. alliacea showing the highest content (18.3% FW). Regarding mineral composition, L. bleo presented the highest concentrations of calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, and sodium. Overall, the results demonstrate that these Amazonian species are rich sources of bioactive compounds and essential nutrients, highlighting their potential application as functional food ingredients and contributors to dietary nutrient supplementation.