{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,3]],"date-time":"2026-06-03T01:11:23Z","timestamp":1780449083272,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,3]],"date-time":"2025-06-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1748908800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d from Timisoara\u201d","award":["e-MS: RORS 365"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["e-MS: RORS 365"]}]},{"name":"Despina-Maria Bordean","award":["e-MS: RORS 365"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["e-MS: RORS 365"]}]},{"name":"Interdisciplinary Research Platform belonging to the University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d from Timisoara","award":["e-MS: RORS 365"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["e-MS: RORS 365"]}]},{"name":"National Institute of Research-Development for Machines and Installations designed for Agriculture and Food Industry-INMA","award":["e-MS: RORS 365"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["e-MS: RORS 365"]}]},{"name":"Interreg\u2013IPA Cross\u2013border Cooperation Romania\u2013Serbia Program","award":["e-MS: RORS 365"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["e-MS: RORS 365"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sustainability"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Amaranthus\u00a0retroflexus L. is widely regarded as one of the world\u2019s most invasive weeds, often linked to significant agricultural losses due to its resilience and herbicide resistance. However, unlike other amaranth species already recognized for their health benefits, A. retroflexus remains largely overlooked as a potential nutritional and pharmacological resource. This study investigates whether this abundantly growing plant could be repurposed as sustainable food. We focused on three main questions: Can weed be transformed into a food source? Does A. retroflexus offer comparable nutritional value as its relatives? And how can it be harvested safely for human use? Mineral content, total antioxidant capacity, and polyphenol content were analyzed across different plant parts. Results revealed high levels of essential minerals, antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds, suggesting strong potential as a nutrient-dense food. However, traces of heavy metals\u2014such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic\u2014were detected in some samples, emphasizing the need for controlled cultivation. Overall, the findings support the safe and sustainable valorization of A. retroflexus in food and pharmaceutical applications.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/su17115141","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,4]],"date-time":"2025-06-04T03:57:34Z","timestamp":1749009454000},"page":"5141","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Nutrient Status and Antioxidant Activity of the Invasive Amaranthus retroflexus L."],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-6397-4853","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mihaela","family":"Lacatus","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d from Timisoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Patricia","family":"Tarkanyi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d from Timisoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Luminita","family":"Pirvulescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Management and Rural Tourism, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d from Timisoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tiberiu","family":"Iancu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Management and Rural Tourism, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d from Timisoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7429-1806","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ioan Ladislau","family":"Caba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute of Research-Development for Machines and Installations Designed to Agriculture and Food Industry-INMA, 013813 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2226-4141","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nicolae-Valentin","family":"Vl\u0103du\u021b","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute of Research-Development for Machines and Installations Designed to Agriculture and Food Industry-INMA, 013813 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aurica Breica","family":"Borozan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Engineering and Applied Technologies, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d from Timisoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Simion","family":"Alda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Engineering and Applied Technologies, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d from Timisoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1647-7992","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Despina-Maria","family":"Bordean","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Mihai I\u201d from Timisoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Gardenista (2025, February 27). 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