Exploring the potential of underexplored Moroccan wild edible plants: Chemical composition, antioxidant properties, and toxicological evaluation

Although Morocco possesses extensive traditional knowledge about wild edible plants (WEPs), detailed scientific data remain limited. This study investigated the nutritional composition, phytochemical characteristics, and toxicological safety of Mercurialis annua, Foeniculum vulgare , and Papaver rhoeas . Nutritional composition was determined using AOAC standard analytical methods, while total phenolic and flavonoid contents were quantified using Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric assays, respectively. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Acute toxicity tests were also conducted to evaluate safety. The nutritional analysis revealed measurable levels of moisture (7.35-8.40%), ash (13.68-22.07%), protein (18.56-23.77%), fat (1.53-4.41%), carbohydrates (42.12-58.88%), and energy (277.33-323.53 kcal/100 g). These species were also rich in minerals such as potassium (80.70-347.19 mg/100 g), magnesium (29.94-61.42 mg/100 g), and iron (2.69-7.80 mg/100 g). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents ranged from 123.73 to 270.87 mg GAE/g and 28.47 to 239.40 mg QE/g, respectively. Antioxidant assays indicated strong free radical–scavenging potential, with DPPH IC50 values ranging from 13.30 to 43.72 µg/mL, ABTS IC₅₀ values from 259.7 to 809.3 µg/mL, and FRAP IC₅₀ values between 10.53 and 22.59 µg/mL, highlighting notable interspecific variability. Acute toxicity results confirmed the safety of all tested extracts, showing LD₅₀ values exceeding 5000 mg/kg. Overall, these findings demonstrate that Moroccan WEPs are valuable sources of nutrients and natural antioxidants, offering promising potential as sustainable, low-cost functional foods.