###### Abstract  
_Carpobrotus edulis_ (chorao-da-praia) is an edible and medicinal plant native to South Africa, currently distributed worldwide. Due to the urge for novel foods, invasive species can be considered valuable food supplies to accomplish the current goals of the 2030 Agenda. In this study, _C. edulis_ fruits harvested in northern Portugal's Atlantic coast were evaluated for proximate analysis (AOAC methods), mineral contents (ICP-MS), and fatty acid composition (GC-FID). Total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP assays) were carried out by colorimetric methods. The fruits exhibited high amounts of carbohydrates (60.5%), ash (10.9%), and total crude protein (22.8%). A low content of total fat (4.5%) was observed. Linoleic acid (C18:2n6c) was the predominant unsaturated fatty acid (52.08%) among the 11 identified fatty acids. The highest amounts of total phenolics (311.7 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (50.43 mg CE/g) contents were observed in hydroalcoholic fruit extracts. The high concentration of bioactive compounds in the _C. edulis_ fig is directly reflected in its antioxidant properties, enhancing the usefulness of this invasive species in food and pharmaceutical industries.  
invasive plant; chorao-da-praia; hottentof fig; nutrients; bioactive compounds; antioxidant activity; sustainable economy +
Footnote †: journal: Applied sciences  
0000-0002-0002-0000-0002-0000-00002-00002-00002-00002-00002-00002-00002-00002-0002  
_C. edulis_ is widely recognized as a culinary and medicinal plant [3; 4]. This species has traditionally been regarded as an edible plant [5], consumed either raw or as processed food, like jams and jellies. Also, its leaves are used as a vegetable, and its sweet and peppery fruits are also consumed. Other applications of _C. edulis_ have been described, such as natural additives (to add flavor) or as food preservatives [3; 6]. Also, several studies have shown that _C. edulis_ possesses various bioactive compounds that perform a range of biological functions, including antioxidant, enzymatic inhibition [7], antibacterial and antifungal [8; 9], antiproliferative [10], anti-HIV [11], and neuroprotective properties [12]. Flavonoids like catechin, epicatechin, rutin, and luteolin and phenolic acids such as chlorogenic and sinapic acids are the most common phytoconstituents described in this species, followed by procyanidins, coumaris, terpenoids (amyrin, oleanolic acid, and uvaol), and alkaloids [2; 13]. These compounds have great importance in the food industry, such as vanillin, a flavoring with relevant bioactive properties (antioxidant, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective) [7]; uvaol, which has antitumoral activities that can enhance its use as a nutraceutical [14]; tannins, thanks to their antiseptic, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and antiinflammatory properties, which make them suitable for use as nutraceuticals and as food preservatives [15]; and procyanidins, which can be used as natural food dyes, being at the same time intestinal epithelial cell protectors, among other important bioactivities [16]. In addition to these examples, it should be noted that many of these compounds are tyrosinase inhibitors, which makes them have great potential in industrial applications, thanks to their ability to prevent food enzymatic browning, thus avoiding nutritional and economic losses during the storage period [7].  
As such, the study of the potential applications of this plant in the food industry, particularly in the composition of supplements, is of great relevance. The leaves of _C. edulis_ have been the subject of more studies compared to the fruits. In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate the proximate composition, as well as the fatty acid profile, mineral content, phenolic and flavonoid concentration, and antioxidant properties of _C. edulis_ fruits, also named Hottentot f figs, grown on the west coast of northern Portugal.