Abstract
Cynara cardunculus (artichoke) is a perennial plant of the Mediterranean basin, known since antiquity
as food and for its therapeutic properties. Cynara is a relatively small genus with two cultivated species and one wild one. Recently,
successful efforts have been made to cultivate wild cardoon and monetise it as a bioenergy
crop. In this study, the seeds of an established Greek cultivar of C. cardunculus, cultivated in the experimental field and used as biofuel, have been researched for
their chemical profile and nutritional value. According to the results, six lignans
were isolated [arctigenin, arctiin, trachelogenin, tracheloside, cynarinine, and ethylate
of trachelogenin (isolated for the first time from a natural source)] as well as the
most characteristic metabolites of the genus (linoleic acid, trilinolein, and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic
acid). Moreover, the total phenolic content (31.18 – 54.51 mg gallic acid equivalents/g
extract) and antioxidant
and enzyme inhibitory activities of the seeds have been evaluated and showed
strong antioxidant properties (44.42 – 516.81 mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract)
as well as satisfactory bleaching (enzyme tyrosinase, 16.95 – 23.80 mg kojic acid
equivalents/g extract), antidiabetic (enzymes a-amylase, a-glucosidase, 0.14 – 1.75 mmol
acarbose equivalents/g extract), and protective against neurodegenerative disease
(cholinesterase enzymes, 0.49 – 1.22 mg galanthamine equivalents/g extract) activities.
The nutritional evaluation of the seeds confirmed them as a rich source of unsaturated
fatty acids, dietary fibre (24.1%), and high protein content (19.3%). It is noteworthy
that such a neglected bioactive by-product, with essentially high nutritional value,
as the studied seeds could be investigated for its value-added applications towards
food and food supplements areas.
Key words
Cynara cardunculus Greek hybrid - Asteraceae - lignans - biological evaluation - nutritional value
