Comparison of NaCl and D-Pinitol Content of Freeze-Dried Ice Plant, Natural and Purified Commercial Salts and their Radical Scavenging Activity

This study investigated the suitability of freeze-dried ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) as the source of an edible healthy salt alternative by examining the content of NaCl, D-pinitol, total phenols, total flavonoids, and DPPH radical scavenging activity compared with those of natural and purified salts. Our results showed that the NaCl content of freeze-dried ice plant, natural and purified salts was 19, 94 and 99%, respectively. The Dpinitol content of freeze-dried ice plant was 777 mg/100 g, whereas D-pinitol was not detected in either natural or purified salts. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of freeze-dried ice plant were 115 mg GAE/100 g and 985 mg RE/100 g, respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of freeze-dried ice plant was markedly higher than that of natural and purified salts. Altogether, these results show that freeze-dried ice plant contains both NaCl and bioactive compounds and can be used as a source of edible salt with positive health effects.