Biological Characterization of Cynara cardunculus L. Methanolic Extracts: Antioxidant, Anti-proliferative, Anti-migratory and Anti-angiogenic Activities

Zélia Velez,Ângela Guerra,Laura García,Maria Duarte,Marco Campinho,Patricia Ramos,Fernando Schmitt,Laura Felício,Olinda Guerreiro

doi:10.3390/agriculture2040472

Abstract

Cynara cardunculus (Cc) is a multipurpose species; beyond its use in southwestern European cuisine, it is also used for the production of solid biofuel, seed oil, biodiesel, paper pulp and cheese, as well as animal feed. In addition, Cc has a long tradition of use in folk medicine as a diuretic and liver protector. The value of this species as a source of bioactive compounds is known; however, pharmacological use would further increase its cultivation. The main goal of the current work was to evaluate the potential of Cc as source of anti-carcinogenic phytochemicals. Different methanolic extracts obtained from wild and cultivated plants were tested for antioxidant activity and effect on breast tumor cell viability. The most effective extract, both as antioxidant and inhibition of tumor cell viability, was tested for effects on angiogenesis and tumor cell migration capacity. All the extracts tested had high antioxidant activity; however, only green leaves and dry head extracts exhibit anti-proliferative activity. Green cultivated leaves (GCL) were the most effective extract both as antioxidant and inhibiting the proliferation of tumor cells; it is equally active inhibiting tumor cell migration and in vivo angiogenesis. GCL extract is an effective inhibitor of several key points in tumor development and thus a promising source of anti-carcinogenic phytochemicals.

Highlights

Cynara cardunculus (Cc) is a Mediterranean halophyte, belonging to the Asteraceae family [1,2]
There was no difference (P = 0.611) between the mean values of different harvest time over levels of botanical variety. These results suggest that, regardless the harvest time, the phenolic content of leaf extracts obtained from cultivated cardoons are different from those obtained from the wild variety (Figure 1)
The highest phenolic contents were found in leaf extracts with a concentration range of 5.22 ± 0.1 and

Summary

Introduction

Cynara cardunculus (Cc) is a Mediterranean halophyte, belonging to the Asteraceae family [1,2] It comprises three taxa: two domesticated forms, globe artichoke Recent studies showed that wild cardoon is the ancestor of both cultivated forms [5]. Despite its use in folk medicine, the therapeutic potential of Cc is poorly studied and its putative application as source of bioactive compounds is completely unexplored. The use of this crop as source of pharmacological bioactive compounds would add even more value to its cultivation. The well known application of cardoon in folk medicine together with the previously described bioactivity of some phenols known to be present in Cc extracts; makes this plant a good candidate as source of bioactive compounds with anti-carcinogenic activity

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Conclusion