## 3 Results and Discussion
### Nutritional Characterization
However, according to European Regulation (EC) N\({}^{\circ}\) 1924/2006 (European Parliament & Council of the European Union, 2006) [45], the claim \"source of dietary fibre\" may be used for these halophytes when their content in total dietary fibre (TDF) is higher than 3 g/100 g FW. According to this claim, _C. maritiumum_ (4.40 g/100 g FW) can be considered a source of dietary fibre. Table 2 shows the fatty acids profile of the halophytes; these plants are sources of essential fatty acids [46; 47; 48; 49; 50; 51]. Results indicate that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are predominant, making up more than 50% of the total fatty acids in all plants, ranging from 52.80% in _C. maritium_ to 63.10% in S. _ramossissima_. Palmitic, linoleic, and linoleic acids were the main fatty acids present in halophyte plants. Linoleic and linelonic acids present several physiological functions, such as intervention in blood coagulation and in inflammatory and immunological responses [52]. _C. maritium_ (28.7%) and _I. crithmoides_ (30.5%) contain a higher content of linoleic acid, while _M. crystallinum_, _S. ramossissima_, and _M. nodiforum_ display a higher content of linelonic acid. Regarding linelonic acid, \(\alpha\)-linolenic acid displayed values between 23.5% and 48%: (_M. crystallinum_\(>\)_S. ramossissima_\(>\)_M. nodiforum_\(>\)_D. crassidium_\(>\)_S. friticosa_\(>\)_I. crithmoides_\(>\)_C. maritium_). Linoleic acid displayed a value between 11.3% and 30.5%: (_I. crithmoides_\(>\)_C. maritium_\(>\)_S. friticosa_\(>\)_D. crassidium_\(>\)_S. ramossissima_\(>\)_M. crystallinum_\(>\)_M. nodiforum_). The amount of saturated fatty acid (SFA) varied from 27.90% in _M. nodiforum_ to 36.30% in S. _friticosa_. The mineral composition of halophyte plants is summarized in Table 3. Storage and distribution of minerals in halophytes are strongly influenced by environmental conditions (e.g., water and soil characteristics, pollutants, and climate) and can also be affected by some characteristics such as the plant maturation stage and part of the plant under study [5; 41; 53]. As previously described, _S. friticosa_ is the halophyte with the highest NaCl content and, consequently, has the highest sodium content (1120 mg/100 g FW) compared to other species. On the other quantified minerals, _I. crithmoides_ and _S. friticosa_ showed the highest content in calcium and potassium, while _S. ramossissima_ contained the highest content in magnesium, copper, and manganese. Previous studies support the potential use of halophytes as natural salt substitutes due to their mineral composition, mainly as sources of potassium and magnesium, which contribute to vascular protection [54; 55]. Hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in societies are associated with a high sodium content, as well as a low potassium and magnesium in human diets [56; 57]. The interdependency of sodium and potassium in the pathogenesis of hypertension indicates that sodium restriction and increased potassium intake are important strategies for the primary prevention and treatment of hypertension and its cardiovascular consequences [58]. Furthermore, the risk factors for hypertension include, but are not limited to, age, race, family history, obesity, physical inactivity, and tobacco use [59]. In general, the nutritional parameters of halophyte species determined in this study are in accordance with data already reported in the literature [7; 11; 38; 43; 60; 61].