Phytochemicals constitute a vast group of compounds of natural origin present in the human diet in appreciable quantities in fruits and vegetables, displaying a wide range of biological functions. The Portuguese coastline is rich in many halophytic and other maritime plants, whose physicochemical and biological characteristics are still underexploited at the scientific level.

The proposed project seeks to fill this gap by examining the biological profile of fresh and/or dehydrated halophytes and other maritime plants from extracts (aqueous and essential oils), allowing the use of these endogenous natural resources through the development of novel functional food ingredients.