Plants are plastic living beings that present a large number of adaptations to the environment due to their inability to move. Ecological environments considered extreme (salt marshes, mines, metalliferous soils, thermal deposits) present a special flora and vegetation where the degree of adaptation to certain environmental variables acquires its maximum expression.

The study of plant species growing in these environments has allowed us to identify and describe some of these strategies (hyperaccumulation of metals, formation of biominerals in the tissues, biosynthesis and accumulation of organic compounds with different functions, etc.). The products of these strategies can be of pharmacological utility (use of plant extracts and organic compounds with bioactive properties) and biotechnological utility (use of plant species or parts thereof in phytoremediation processes, as a basis for the manufacture, design or synthesis of new materials, etc.)

The studies carried out on the vegetation of the salt marshes of the Iberian Peninsula demonstrate the specificity of this flora and its ecological interest and pharmacological-biotechnological potential. It has been observed that, at least in the crass halophytes, the inorganic composition varies in relation to climatic variables. In addition, the existence of internal bio-mineralization processes has been demonstrated, as a result of which different salts crystallize and become visible throughout the year.

In addition, several halophytes studied contain high concentrations of phenols in their extracts. These extracts show antioxidant and cytoprotective activities. We are currently continuing to test for potential activity against malaria, COVID-19 and multidrug-resistant bacteria.