In semiarid regions of Mexico, it is common to use the floristic richness of wild plants as food ingredients. Hence, flowers of Agave salmiana, Aloe vera , Erythrina americana , and Myrtillocactus geometrizans , which are typical and traditionally consumed flowers, were analyzed. The physicochemical properties; proximate composition; the contents of minerals, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, phenols, and total flavonoids; the quantification of phenolic compounds by HPLC; and the antioxidant activity in vitro were determined. The flowers were high in carbohydrates, proteins and minerals, mainly K and N in flowers from E. americana and M. geometrizans , respectively. The highest concentration of carotenoids was detected in red flowers ( E. americana ). Total phenols ranged from 4.73 to 72.40 mg of gallic acid equivalents per gram of dry weight (GAE/g DW). However, the highest value of antioxidant activity was 819.80 μmol of Trolox equivalents per gram of dry weight (TE/g DW). The highest values of phenolic compounds content and antioxidant activity were found in the flowers of M. geometrizans . The antioxidant activity of flowers was mainly related to phenolic compounds. The main phenolic compounds detected in flowers were rutin and phloridzin. The edible flowers analyzed in this study are a potential source of compounds with high biological activity.

中文翻译：

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墨西哥半干旱地区食用野生食用花卉的营养成分、生物活性化合物和抗氧化活性

在墨西哥的半干旱地区，通常使用丰富的野生植物作为食物成分。因此，分析了龙舌兰、芦荟、美洲刺桐和桃金娘属植物的花，这些花是典型的和传统上食用的花。理化性质；近似组成；矿物质、类胡萝卜素、抗坏血酸、酚类和总黄酮的含量；酚类化合物的 HPLC 定量；并测定了体外抗氧化活性。这些花的碳水化合物、蛋白质和矿物质含量很高，主要是分别来自 E. americana 和 M. geometrizans 的花中的 K 和 N。在红色花朵（E. americana）中检测到最高浓度的类胡萝卜素。总酚的范围为每克干重 4.73 至 72.40 毫克没食子酸当量 (GAE/g DW)。然而，抗氧化活性的最高值是每克干重 819.80 μmol 的 Trolox 当量 (TE/g DW)。在M. geometrizans 的花中发现酚类化合物含量和抗氧化活性的最高值。花卉的抗氧化活性主要与酚类化合物有关。在花中检测到的主要酚类化合物是芦丁和根皮苷。本研究中分析的可食用花卉是具有高生物活性的化合物的潜在来源。在花中检测到的主要酚类化合物是芦丁和根皮苷。本研究中分析的可食用花卉是具有高生物活性的化合物的潜在来源。在花中检测到的主要酚类化合物是芦丁和根皮苷。本研究中分析的可食用花卉是具有高生物活性的化合物的潜在来源。