## 4 Discussion  
The prospection of plants intended for nutraceutical uses must first focus on gathering nutritional evidence [15; 38]. Crude protein values are often a decisive factor in establishing the nutritional quality of botanical resources, since they influence biomass intake and rumen function, and a sharp decline occurs when their levels are below 70 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM [7]. Figure 7: Peak chromatograms of _P. lentiiscus, H. italicum picardii, C. mariscus, P. coronopus_, and _L. monopetalum_ with selected 80% acetone extracts using HPLC-DAD. Peaks are numbered according to their retention time (Rt). \(\dagger\): Data published in [25]. In this work, protein levels were frequently low in the dry periods (Su/Au), and this is possibly linked to phenological or environmental aspects, with most species barely reaching the 70 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM mark, consistent with other non-traditional salt-tolerant fodder species of the Mediterranean basin [39; 40]. Whilst most samples sustain animal maintenance, higher values would be required for the growing or lactating stages of animal production systems (140-180 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM) [7]. Still, further work on their amino acid profile may unravel the additional biochemical assets of these plants for exploitation, as some essential and non-essential amino acids are often found in high amounts in this plant group (e.g., leucine, valine, glycine, proline, alanine, glutamic, and aspartic acids), which is associated with their defensive role in salt stress [41; 42]. Considering the importance of protein on animal growth, reproduction, and lactation [32], the low values reported for dry periods (average for Su = 65 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM and Au = 61.7 g kg\({}^{-1}\) DM) may constrain its use in times when there is a manifest need for alternatives. Furthermore, the anticipated climate shifts in the Mediterranean region, characterized by prolonged droughts, higher temperatures, and shorter rainfall periods, will likely extend the duration of the dry season [43; 44]. It is crucial to acknowledge that while local flora is adapted to such conditions, these environmental changes may still influence their growth cycles and, by extension, their nutritional profiles during what are currently considered wetter seasons. Despite these challenges, the scarcity of plants that can thrive in these increasingly arid conditions underscores the invaluable role of salt-tolerant species, either as a feed complement or as a source of specific nutrients [45]. A constraint often mentioned as a limiting factor for haplotypes and salt-tolerant species' feeding value is their high ash content [7; 45; 46]. Although it has no energy value, minerals are essential for ruminant health, productivity, and performance, and many pastures fail to provide enough amounts to sustain high levels of animal productivity year-round [13]. While all species demonstrated adequate macromineral levels for maintenance purposes, most proved to be rich sources of microminerals throughout the year, capable of supporting various levels of production (Figure 3). Copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), and sulfur (S) are particularly valuable due to their roles in antioxidant defense mechanisms [12], and significant positive correlations between these elements were identified. Trace minerals like Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn, alongside bioactive molecules such as phenolics, offer added value by mitigating oxidative stress-related disorders commonly experienced during ruminant production, such as reproduction, lactation, heat stress, and gastrointestinal parasitic infections [39; 47]. These benefits extend to enhancing the quality of meat and dairy products [12; 19; 48], positioning these salt-tolerant species as functional resources for improved nutrition and production sustainability. As a main point, this study underscores the opportunity to exploit these plants as dietary supplements or nutraceutical products, addressing mineral imbalances across seasons.