Spinach-strawberry (Chenopodium capitatum (L.) Asch.) as a functional food: leaves, fruits or both?

Spinach-strawberry (Chenopodium capitatum (L.) Asch.) is an interesting species for the edibility of both its leaves and fruits. No information is available about its cultivation and the nutraceutical value of plant organs. The present work evaluated plant growth and yield performances of this species grown in controlled environment, and, at the same time, the nutraceutical value of the edible organs (leaves and fruits) was assessed through the analysis of total phenolic, total flavonoid, total ascorbic and the main pigments content as well as the total antioxidant capacity. Fruits of spinach-strawberry plants are also rich in known pigments, namely betalains, whose nutraceutical value is well-defined, whilst their ecological role is still under debate. The total phenolic, total flavonoid, total ascorbic acid content and antioxidant activity in fruits and leaves resulted lower than those of other leafy vegetables as spinach, even though the growth and yield performances make this species promising in an urban agriculture context. However, the nutraceutical value of spinach-strawberry leaves and fruits may be enhanced through agronomic management, increasing value of this species as a "new" functional food.