Perennial halophyte Salicornia neei Lag.: Cell wall composition and functional properties of its biopolymers

Salicornia neei halophyte extends in Argentina seashores. To envisage potential applications, cell wall sequential extraction performed on dry plant yielded 1.1, 2.4, 0.3 and 0.9% of pectin fractions respectively extracted by room temperature water, 90 °C-water, CDTA Na2CO3. They contained 21–33% uronic acids (UA) with low degree methylation 0.5–1.2 M ratios neutral sugars to UA. High arabinose level suggests that long arabinan side-chains maintain flexibility water deficit. Fractions also 10–36% proteins. The KOH-soluble (4.3%) were mainly arabinoxylans. At 2.0% w/v, developed “weak gel”-type networks Ca2+, while arabinoxylans generated “dilute solutions”. Cellulose (28%) lignin (45.1%) the main biopolymers final residue, which showed swelling capacity (3.6 mL/g) due lignin, increasing when present. Phenolics (9.8%) water-extractable. is a source antioxidants potentially useful for food applications.