Phytochemical Composition of the Decoctions of Greek Edible Greens (Chórta) and Evaluation of Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Properties.

Eleni Mikropoulou,Joëlle Houriet,Ioannis Trougakos,Dimitrios Kouretas,Zoi Skaperda,Aimilia Sklirou,Konstantina Vougogiannopoulou,Jean-Luc Wolfender,Sofia Mitakou,Eleftherios Kalpoutzakis,Maria Halabalaki

doi:10.3390/molecules23071541

Abstract

Wild or semi-wild edible greens (chórta) are an integral part of the traditional Greek Mediterranean diet due to their nutritional value, containing various phytonutrients beneficial to human health. Water-based decoctions of chórta are widely consumed in Greek alternative medicine as health promoting agents. This study examined the chemical profile of the decoctions of eight edible plants, Cichorium intybus, C. endivia, C. spinosum, Crepis sancta, Sonchus asper, Carthamus lanatus, Centaurea raphanina, and Amaranthus blitum, by UPLC-ESI-HRMS and HRMS/MS analysis, to determine possibly bioactive constituents. The profiles of the plants from the Asteraceae family are dominated by the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoid derivatives, whereas the A. blitum decoction is rich in triterpene saponins. Interestingly, the Centaurea raphanina decoction was found to be extremely rich in flavanones, particularly in the aglycone pinocembrin. Further phytochemical investigation and fractionation of this extract resulted in the isolation and identification of five compounds: phlorin (1), syringin (2), pinocembrin (3), pinocembroside (4), and pinocembrin-7-O-neohesperidoside (5). The extracts were also tested for their antioxidant and differential cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. C. raphanina was found to be differentially toxic against metastatic tumor cells. In conclusion, we found that Greek edible greens are a rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites and their consumption could contribute to the maintenance of overall health.

Highlights

Greek diet and dietary habits constitute a branch of the Mediterranean diet renowned for its beneficial effects on human health, having been proven to contribute to decreased rates of heart disease, Molecules 2018, 23, 1541; doi:10.3390/molecules23071541 www.mdpi.com/journal/moleculesGreek diet and dietary habits constitute a branch of the Mediterranean diet renowned for its beneficial effects on human health, having been proven to contribute to decreased rates of heart disease, and neurodegenerative [1,2,3,4].andWild and semi-domesticated greens cancer, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseasesdiseases [1,2,3,4]
Even in times of famine, wild edible greens have been a nutritional source for the Greek population and the knowledge concerning their collection, preparation, and their medicinal properties has been passed from generation to generation
Eight chórta samples were purchased from local markets in Athens, Greece in the spring of 2015: Centaurea raphanina, Carthamus lanatus, Cichorium endivia, C. intybus, Crepis sancta, and Sonchus asper, and two were purchased in July of 2016: Cichorium spinosum, Amaranthus blitum

Summary

Introduction

Greek diet and dietary habits constitute a branch of the Mediterranean diet renowned for its beneficial effects on human health, having been proven to contribute to decreased rates of heart disease, Molecules 2018, 23, 1541; doi:10.3390/molecules23071541 www.mdpi.com/journal/moleculesGreek diet and dietary habits constitute a branch of the Mediterranean diet renowned for its beneficial effects on human health, having been proven to contribute to decreased rates of heart disease, and neurodegenerative [1,2,3,4].andWild and semi-domesticated greens (chórta) cancer, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseasesdiseases [1,2,3,4]. Greek diet and dietary habits constitute a branch of the Mediterranean diet renowned for its beneficial effects on human health, having been proven to contribute to decreased rates of heart disease, Molecules 2018, 23, 1541; doi:10.3390/molecules23071541 www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules. Greek diet and dietary habits constitute a branch of the Mediterranean diet renowned for its beneficial effects on human health, having been proven to contribute to decreased rates of heart disease, and neurodegenerative [1,2,3,4].and. Wild and semi-domesticated greens (chórta) cancer, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseasesdiseases [1,2,3,4]. Wild semi-domesticated greens (chórta) form an form an integral partGreek of thedietary. Certain qualities can be found texts of Theophrastus, Pliny, and Dioscoride. Chórta are a valuable nutritional source, being rich in and fiber,minerals, vitamins,such andas minerals, chórtaMoreover, are a valuable nutritional source, being rich in fiber, vitamins, iron and such iron and zinc [12,13,14]. zincas [12,13,14]

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