Planta Med 2016; 82(11/12): 1070-1078
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-107472
Natural Product Chemistry and Analytical Studies
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Potential of the Phytonutrient-Rich Decoction of Cichorium spinosum and C. intybus [*]

Vincent Brieudes**
1   Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
,
Apostolis Angelis**
1   Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
,
Konstantina Vougogiannopoulou
1   Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
,
Harris Pratsinis
2   Laboratory of Cell Proliferation & Ageing, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research-Demokritos, Athens, Greece
,
Dimitris Kletsas
2   Laboratory of Cell Proliferation & Ageing, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research-Demokritos, Athens, Greece
,
Sofia Mitakou
1   Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
,
Maria Halabalaki
1   Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
,
Leandros A. Skaltsounis
1   Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens, Greece
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 29 February 2016
revised 15 April 2016

accepted 15 April 2016

Publication Date:
24 May 2016 (online)

Abstract

The Cretan diet, as the basis of the Mediterranean diet, has provided traditional remedies for the general well being of people through the long-established consumption of cooked wild greens and vegetables. The intake of the water decoctions of Cichorium spinosum and Cichorium intybus in the context of the daily dietary regime in Greece has been long associated with “liver detoxifying” properties. In the current study, we performed an in-depth investigation of the water decoctions traditionally prepared from C. spinosum and C. intybus through qualitative UHPLC-HRMS profiling and direct quantification of cichoric and caftaric acid as major antioxidant components of the decoction. In addition, we developed a one-step countercurrent chromatography method for the isolation of the two phenolic acids, along with a sulfoconjugate sesquiterpene lactone present only in the Cretan C. spinosum. All water decoctions were found not to be cytotoxic in human fibroblasts, whereas they all significantly reduced the intracellular reactive oxygen species, which is consistent with the major presence of strong antioxidant compounds such as cichoric acid. This work demonstrates that the intake of these decoctions in doses suggested by Greek traditional use is comparable to the ingestion of a phytomedical preparation of antioxidants. These results contribute to our current knowledge on the beneficial health effect of the Cretan diet.

* Dedicated to Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Kurt Hostettmann in recognition of his outstanding contribution to natural product research.


** These authors contributed equally to this work.


Supporting Information

 
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