Bioactive properties and phenolic composition of Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis: influence of the plant part collected at the same maturity stage
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The planet’s resources are increasingly scarce, a reason why their most efficient use is gaining more atten- tion. Several studies have shown the influence of genetic background, environmental conditions, and different plant tissues on the polyphenolic composition and consequently on its bioactive potential, leading to different industrial applications.1 Cynara cardunculus L. (Asteraceae), commonly known as cardoon, is a Mediterranean herbaceous plant with important economic value as a result of its diversified industrial applications (i.e. pro- duction of biomass, bioenergy, paper pulp, pharmaceutics and cosmetics).1,2 The present work aims to valorize underused parts of cardoon by evaluating the phenolic profile and bioactive properties of different plant tissues. Petioles, blades, heads, bracts, and seeds from a Greek cardoon genotype were collected at different growth stages throughout the growing season depending on the plant part, e.g. petioles and blades were col- lected throughout the growing season, heads and bracts during the flowering stage and seeds after seed for- mation and until the seed ripening stage. The phenolic profile was determined by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS and the antioxidant activity were measured through cell-based assays, namely TBARS and OxHLIA. Cytotoxic effects were screened in four human tumor cell lines and hepatotoxicity in a non-tumor cell line (PLP2) by the sul- forhodamine B assay. Anti-inflammatory potential was tested through the inhibition of NO production. Finally, the antibacterial and antifungal activities were evaluated by the broth microdilution method. The blades of car- doon presented the highest bioactive activity and variety in phenolic compounds. Considering the maturation stage, the bracts stand out at the intermediate stage, showing a higher antioxidant potential for TBARS assay, and the petioles a higher anti-inflammatory activity. In turn, at the most advanced stage of maturity, the seeds presented lower EC50 values in the OxHLIA assay. More immature plant tissues presented a higher content in phenolic compounds, and as expected, higher antioxidant activity in the OxHLIA assay. The most advanced states of maturation also presented highest cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activity. For the antibacterial and antifungal activities, the results obtained were not affected by different plant parts or by the maturation stages studied. The results obtained in the present work, allows us to choose the best harvesting time of cardoon, allowing achieving a greater variety of phenolic compounds, and consequently, a highest bioactive potential, and ultimately the most appropriate use of their constituents. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to better understand the compounds responsible for the observed activities.
