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Phytochemical and functional traits of Suaeda monoica

display an alternate arrangement, featuring a cylindrical extracts and to assess the phytoremediation potential of
form and frequently containing succulent traits. The the plant parts from these locations.
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flowers of S. monoica are small and inconspicuous,
usually exhibiting a greenish or reddish coloration. 2. Materials and methods
Significantly, S. monoica is a monoecious species with
male and female flowers on the same plant. 4 2.1. Study area
S. monoica is adapted to thrive in saline and coastal In the present study, root and leaf samples of the
habitats characterized by high salinity levels, limited S. monoica plant and soil samples were collected from
freshwater availability, and tidal influences. S. monoica three distinct localities across Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
has developed mechanisms to tolerate challenging The collection was performed during the summer (July)
conditions through its succulent leaves and stems. This of 2023. The geographical coordinates of the collection
versatility enables it to thrive and prevail in regions sites are depicted in the provided map (Figure 1). These
where plant species find it challenging to survive, in sites are designated as S1 (21.384489N, 39.198132E),
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addition to its role in the protection of shorelines from S2 (21.240190N, 39.1441230E), and S3 (21.4972650N,
erosion. The distribution of S. monoica spans across 39.2196770E) (Figure 1). The weather data of the
different regions of the world. It is primarily found collection sites are provided in Table 1.
in coastal areas of Asian countries, including Saudi
Arabia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. In 2.2. Plant and soil sample collection
addition, it is also present in certain parts of Africa, such Soil samples (collected from a depth of 0 – 30 cm) and
as Tunisia, Egypt, and Sudan. 6,7 samples of S. monoica roots and leaves (at the pre-
S. monoica has been reported to have potential flowering stage) were procured from each study site
applications in the field of phytoremediation. It can (15 plant samples per site) during the summer of 2023
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tolerate high levels of toxic heavy metals, such as (July–August). A voucher sample of S. monocia at each
chromium, lead, nickel, copper, iron, and manganese, 8-10 site was deposited at the Herbarium of the College of
thereby improving soil quality for subsequent Sciences, King Abdulaziz University. The soil samples
agricultural activities. In addition, S. monoica was used to were taken using a hand auger as the designated sampling
manufacture papers in India. Apart from its ecological tool, dehydrated at 105°C for 3 days, and sieved through
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significance, S. monoica also exhibits promising a 22 mm sieve. The samples were stored in paper bags
medicinal properties, in which various parts of the plant, until further analysis. The root and leaf samples were
including leaves, stems, and seeds, are used in traditional collected manually and kept in an icebox before being
remedies for treating ailments such as rheumatism, transferred to the laboratory. Subsequently, the plant
inflammation, paralysis, asthma, snake bites, skin samples were meticulously rinsed with distilled water
diseases, ulcers, and gastrointestinal disorders. The to remove any remaining contaminants. After cleansing,
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plant extracts have shown antimicrobial, antioxidant, a part of the leaf samples was immediately measured for
antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, insecticidal, leaf photosynthetic pigments. The residual leaf and root
hepatoprotective, and wound healing properties, samples were air-dried in a shaded area for 5 days and
highlighting their potential for the development of new subjected to a final drying procedure in an air-drying
pharmaceuticals. 13-15 The medicinal significance of oven at 60°C until a stable weight was attained. The
S. monoica is attributed to its diverse array of naturally dried root and leaf samples were then finely ground
occurring components, including proteins, phenols, into a powder and sieved through a 2 mm mesh to
tannins, resins, terpenoids, glycosides, flavonoids, fatty ensure uniform particle size and the removal of any
acids, sterols, and alkaloids. 7,16,17 larger debris or undesirable substances. To maintain the
The primary objective of this study was to compare quality and integrity of the samples, they were securely
the levels of photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars stored in paper bags until further analysis.
(SSs), proteins, and various secondary metabolites,
including phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, and 2.3. Soil characterization analysis
alkaloids, in extracts from the leaves and roots of The physical and chemical characteristics of the soil
S. monoica collected from three different localities in samples collected from the study locations were
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In addition, the research aimed to determined following the procedures outlined in the
investigate how variations in collection sites influence Association of Official Analytical Chemists guidelines.
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the photochemical composition of the leaf ethanolic The analyzed soil characteristics encompassed pH

Volume 22 Issue 3 (2025) 47 doi: 10.36922/ajwep.8523