| Summary: | The use of halophyte plants appears as a potential solution for degraded soil, food safety, freshwater scarcity, and coastal area utilization. These plants have been considered an alternative crop soilless agriculture for sustainable use of natural resources. There are few studies carried out with cultivated halophytes using a soilless cultivation system (SCS) that report their nutraceutical value, as well as their benefits on human health. The objective of this study was to evaluate and correlate the nutritional composition, volatile profile, phytochemical content, and biological activities of seven halophyte species cultivated using a SCS (<i>Disphyma crassifolium</i> L., <i>Crithmum maritimum</i> L., <i>Inula crithmoides</i> L., <i>Mesembryanthemum crystallinum</i> L., <i>Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum</i> L., <i>Salicornia ramosissima</i> J. Woods, and <i>Sarcocornia fruticosa</i> (Mill.) A. J. Scott.). Among these species, results showed that <i>S. fruticosa</i> had a higher content in protein (4.44 g/100 g FW), ash (5.70 g/100 g FW), salt (2.80 g/100 g FW), chloride (4.84 g/100 g FW), minerals (Na, K, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu), total phenolics (0.33 mg GAE/g FW), and antioxidant activity (8.17 µmol TEAC/g FW). Regarding the phenolic classes, <i>S. fruticosa</i> and <i>M. nodiflorum</i> were predominant in the flavonoids, while <i>M. crystallinum</i>, <i>C. maritimum,</i> and <i>S. ramosissima</i> were in the phenolic acids. Moreover, <i>S. fruticosa, S. ramosissima, M. nodiflorum</i>, <i>M. crystallinum,</i> and <i>I. crithmoides</i> showed ACE-inhibitory activity, an important target control for hypertension. Concerning the volatile profile, <i>C. maritimum</i>, <i>I. crithmoides,</i> and <i>D. crassifolium</i> were abundant in terpenes and esters, while <i>M. nodiflorum</i>, <i>S. fruticosa,</i> and <i>M. crystallinum</i> were richer in alcohols and aldehydes, and <i>S. ramosissima</i> was richer in aldehydes. Considering the environmental and sustainable roles of cultivated halophytes using a SCS, these results indicate that these species could be considered an alternative to conventional table salt, due to their added nutritional and phytochemical composition, with potential contribution for the antioxidant and anti-hypertensive effects.
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