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Pereskia aculeata, commonly known as ora-pro-nóbis, is a Non-Conventional Food Plant (PANC) from the cactus family, originating from the Caribbean and native throughout Latin America. Its use is widespread in Brazilian cuisine, given its nutritional aspects, particularly the high content of proteins and minerals in its composition. In Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), hyperkalemia is a frequent finding, and one of the management strategies, when present, involves controlling the intake of potassium (K)-rich foods. Since the consumption of this PANC has gained popularity, the aim was to determine the concentration of K in ora-pro-nóbis cultivated in Porto Alegre/RS/Brazil.
A descriptive study was conducted after analyzing the K concentration in ora-pro-nóbis cultivated on a local property in Porto Alegre/RS/Brazil. The K determination analysis was performed in triplicate using flame photometry in the Biophysics Laboratory. The findings were presented in mg/g of leaf, classifying a food as rich in K when the concentration exceeded 195mg/100g.
The K concentration in the analyzed sample was 449.6 mg/g, equivalent to 44.9g/100g of food or about 4.5g per 10g portion of leaves (portion consumed in a salad plate of the plant).
Ora-pro-nóbis leaves are classified as a food with a very high potassium content, warranting caution in recommending them for individuals with CKD, especially those with hypercalcemia.