The economic potential of beach-cast seagrass - Cymodocea nodosa: A promising renewable source of chicoric acid

Abstract

Detrital and fresh specimens of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa (Cymodoceaceae) from the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea were screened for their phenolic content. For the first time, the major polyphenol was identified as chicoric acid (CA) by means of nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet spectra, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, and comparison with standards. The CA content of the crude extracts was determined by quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography. The values found in the leaves ranged from 8.13 to 27.44 mg g-1 dw. The concentration was smaller in the rhizomes, with 0.31-3.70 mg g-1 dw. The phenolic profile was found to be similar whatever the geographical location in the Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea. Considering the demonstrated therapeutic applications of CA, its high value on the nutraceutical market, and its rare occurrence in the plant kingdom, the high content found in C. nodosa detrital leaves makes this abundant biomass of interest for dietary and pharmaceutical applications.