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Review
. 2023 Jun 13;28(12):4741.
doi: 10.3390/molecules28124741.

Sea Fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) as an Emerging Crop for the Manufacturing of Innovative Foods and Nutraceuticals

Maryem Kraouia  1 , Ancuta Nartea  1 , Antonietta Maoloni  1 , Andrea Osimani  1 , Cristiana Garofalo  1 , Benedetta Fanesi  1 , Lama Ismaiel  1 , Lucia Aquilanti  1 , Deborah Pacetti  1
Affiliations
Review

Sea Fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) as an Emerging Crop for the Manufacturing of Innovative Foods and Nutraceuticals

Maryem Kraouia et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) is a perennial, strongly aromatic herb that has been used since ancient times in cuisine and folk medicine due to its renowned properties. Recently described as a "cash" crop, sea fennel is an ideal candidate for the promotion of halophyte agriculture in the Mediterranean basin due to its acknowledged adaptation to the Mediterranean climate, its resilience to risks/shocks related to climate changes, and its exploitability in food and non-food applications, which generates an alternative source of employment in rural areas. The present review provides insight into the nutritional and functional traits of this new crop as well as its exploitation in innovative food and nutraceutical applications. Various previous studies have fully demonstrated the high biological and nutritional potential of sea fennel, highlighting its high content of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, carotenoids, ω-3 and ω-6 essential fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, and essential oils. Moreover, in previous studies, this aromatic halophyte showed good potential for application in the manufacturing of high-value foods, including both fermented and unfermented preserves, sauces, powders, and spices, herbal infusions and decoctions, and even edible films, as well as nutraceuticals. Further research efforts are needed to fully disclose the potential of this halophyte in view of its full exploitation by the food and nutraceutical industries.

Keywords: bioactive compounds; edible film; essential oils; functional food ingredients; functional foods; halophyte; nutraceuticals.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Wild populations of Crithmum maritimum L. grown on cliffs (Apulia, Italy).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sea fennel leaves.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Laboratory-scale prototype of fermented sea fennel preserve.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Laboratory-scale prototypes of sea fennel sprouts co-fermented with green olives (Olea europaea L. cv. Ascolana tenera) according to two recipes [(A): 10% sea fennel and 90% green olives; (B): 60% sea fennel and 40% green olives].
Figure 5
Figure 5
Shelf-stable sea fennel sauces.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Sea fennel powder.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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