Phenolic Composition and Biological Properties of Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis Petioles: Influence of the Maturity Stage

Filipa Mandim,José Pinela,Lillian Barros,Marina Soković,Maria Inês Dias,Marina Kostić,Isabel C F R Ferreira,Spyridon A Petropoulos,Celestino Santos-Buelga

doi:10.3390/antiox10121907

Abstract

Hydroethanolic extracts of cardoon petioles collected at sixteen growth stages (P1–P16) were characterized in terms of their phenolic composition and bioactive potential (antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities). Fifteen phenolic compounds were tentatively identified (i.e., ten phenolic acids and five flavonoid glycosides); the main compounds were 5-O-caffeoylquinic and 1,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acids. Samples collected at early maturity (P1–P4) presented a weak positive correlation between the higher content in polyphenols (P3: 101-mg/g extract) and better inhibition capacity against thiobarbituric acid reactive substance formation (TBARS; P3: IC50 = 5.0 µg/mL). Samples at intermediate maturation stages (P9) presented higher cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory potential. Moreover, immature petioles showed greater antihemolytic (OxHLIA; P4: IC50 = 65 and 180 µg/mL for Δt of 60 and 120 min, respectively) and antibacterial activity. The antifungal activity varied depending on the maturation stage and the fungi strain. In conclusion, the maturation stage may greatly affect the polyphenols composition and content and the bioactive potential of cardoon petioles.

Highlights

Plant species, including those of the Asteraceae family, contain a massive variety of compounds with high bioactive potential, being considered as the principal sources of new healing agents [1,2]
The phenolic compounds were tentatively identified according to their retention time (Rt), the wavelength of maximum absorbance, deprotonated ion ([M-H]− ), and fragmentation pattern (MS2 )
A total of fifteen compounds were tentatively identified in cardoon petioles, including ten phenolic acid derivatives and five flavonoid glycosides

Summary

Introduction

Plant species, including those of the Asteraceae family, contain a massive variety of compounds with high bioactive potential, being considered as the principal sources of new healing agents [1,2]. Despite the significant contributions that compounds of natural origin have made to the discovery of potent drugs, with enormous structural complexity and diversity, their isolation and identification remain an important and rewarding area of study, as new compounds continue to be identified. Plant species remain an excellent source for the discovery of biomolecules with high pharmacological potential [4,5,6]. Plant secondary metabolites show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and hepatotoxic, and antimicrobial activities, and several studies are developing nowadays due to a huge plant biodiversity and their secondary metabolites [7,8].

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