Artichoke Research Articles

Cropping practices of globe artichoke: a bibliometric study

Globe artichoke is a food plant that is gaining increasing interest due to its commercial, nutritional and therapeutic value; research and development in the field of agriculture for this crop encompasses several key areas to enhance cultivation, productivity, and overall sustainability. In this study a bibliometric analysis of literature has been carried out in order to identify research areas and research gaps in cropping management of globe artichoke under field conditions, and to identify new research opportunities. The analysis revealed that published articles on the agronomic practices of globe artichoke under field conditions, is concentrated in Europe (70.56%), followed by North America (10%) and South America (7.22%). On the vastly arid Australian continent, there is a dearth of such studies. Italy, Spain and USA, were the most productive countries in the globe artichoke research field. The analysed papers have also shown that agronomic practices such as irrigation (wastewater and brackish water), fertilization, diseases management and plant breeding are the most studied cropping practices that affect artichoke yield and head quality. Finally, this study highlights the importance of integrating innovative methods like meta-analysis to gain a more holistic comprehension of how agricultural practices impact globe artichoke and to lays the groundwork for future research endeavours.

Using Mannitol as Drought Stress Agent on Globe Artichoke [Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (L.) Fiori

The globe artichoke [Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (L.) Fiori], one of the special members of the Asteraceae family, has been consumed by people for their culinary and health advantages since ancient times. Global agricultural output and production efficiency are both hampered by adverse environmental conditions, notably drought. In order to promote breeding studies, it is crucial to use plants that are adaptable to drought stress, which negatively impacts plant productivity. It is crucial to understand the changes taking place in plants under drought stress. In the present study, artichoke seeds were initially kept in mannitol, which is a commonly used drought stress agent, in three different concentrations (50, 100, and 250 mg L-1) for 8 hours and later on obtained seedlings were subjected to same mannitol concentrations with 15 days intervals. Later on some seed germination and vegetative growth parameters, such as number of leaves, root length, stem height, plant height, chlorophyll, proline, leaf-related water contents, and total phenol-antioxidant contents in three globe artichoke cultivars (Sakız OP, Bayrampaşa OP, and Olympus F1) were investigated under drought stress. Results revealed that the impact of drought stress on artichoke seeds and seedlings varied depending on cultivars and pre-treatment and treatment concentrations.

Streptomyces cynarae sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from the leaves of Cynara scolymus L.

Strain HUAS 13-4T, a novel endophytic actinobacterium, was isolated from the leaves of Cynara scolymus L. collected from Changde City in China and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain HUAS 13-4T shared the highest sequence similarities to Streptomyces leeuwenhoekii C34T (98.90%), Streptomyces harenosi PRKS01-65T (98.83%) and Streptomyces glomeratus LMG 19903T (98.76%). Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain HUAS 13-4T was clustered together with Streptomyces bluensis ISP 5564T and Streptomyces cavernae SYSU K10008T. Phylogenomic analysis revealed that strain HUAS 13-4T was most closely related to S. glomeratus JCM 9091T. However, the average nucleotide identity and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between them were less than 96.7% and 70% cut-off points recommended for delineating species. Based on a comprehensive comparison of the genome sequences and phenotypic characteristics between strain HUAS 13-4T and its relative, strain HUAS 13-4T (= MCCC 1K08364T = JCM 35919T) should evidently represent a novel Streptomyces species, and the name Streptomyces cynarae sp. nov. is proposed.

Natural angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors: A safeguard against hypertension, respiratory distress syndrome, and chronic kidney diseases.

Hypertension is a serious concern as it is one of the causes of kideny failure and pulmonary fibrosis. An important therapeutic strategy for treating chronic hypertension is to inhibit the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). ACE inhibition reduces kidney damage, pulmonary artery pressure, and high blood pressure. Due to their high efficacy and low risk of side effects, natural renin-angiotensin system inhibitors have drawn increasing attention over the past decades. Alkaloids, amino acids, anthocyanidins, flavonoids, glucosinolates, isoflavonoids, phenolic acids, polyphenolics, and triterpenoids are among the bioactive metabolites pocessing an impressive ACE inhibitory activity. Many herbs including Rosmarinus officinalis, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Curcuma longa, Rauwolfia serpentina, Emblica officinalis, Cynara scolymus, Punica granatum, Mucuna pruriens, Capsicum annuum, and Moringa olifera were found having ACE inhibitory activities comparable to captopril and enalpril. These enticing natural ACE inhibitors deserve to be a safeguard medicine against hypertension, respiratory distress syndrome, and chronic kidney diseases. More clinical trials are required before new natural compounds and herbs can be used to treat chronic hypertension and its ramifications, such as respiratory distress syndrome and kidney failure.

First record of Cladosporium species causing leaf spots on globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus)

First record of Cladosporium species causing leaf spots on globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus)

Improved micropropagation efficiency of purple artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) plantlets

Improved micropropagation efficiency of purple artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) plantlets

In vivo polyamine applications to globe artichoke: Effects on plant growth-development and some bioactive components

The globe artichoke, Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (L.), is an important member of the Asteraceae family, being used as a food and due to it has certain health-improving qualities in the treatment of various disorders since ancient times. Low molecular weight organic compounds with a role in several crucial cellular and physiological processes of plants are known as polyamines. They participate in processes such as cell division, differentiation, and growth, the sprouting of seeds, root formation, and flower and fruit development. They have been identified as particularly efficient against biotic and abiotic stress factors. The present research aimed that the evaluation of effects of various polyamine (PA) types and concentrations on three different artichoke cultivars by biometric measurements and biochemical analyses. For this purpose, seedlings of three artichoke cultivars (‘Sakız OP’, ‘Bayrampaşa OP’, and ‘Olympus F1’) were sprayed with various concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 250 mg L-1) of three distinct types of significant polyamines, including putrescine, spermidine, and spermine. Several growth parameters were examined in the current research. The effects on the total phenol and antioxidant capacities, as well as changes in the amounts of cynarin and 1,5-O-dicafeoylquinic acid, were also evaluated. The results revealed that there were statistically differences based on cultivars and treatment concentrations. Among the three forms of PA spermine was potent at increasing total phenolic content, while putrescine was effective at increasing total antioxidant content. On the other hand, putrescine, spermine and, spermidine had no positive effects on cynarin and 1,5-O-dicaffeoyquinic acid levels. Results clearly revealed that each biometric data and biochemical content could not be determined by a single polyamine type and concentration. It can be concluded that to improve the biometric values and biochemical content are depending on cultivar and dosage of various PAs.

Effect of adding Cynara scolymus L. (artichoke) extract to water or diet on the productive performance of broilers

The experiment was carried out in the poultry field of the Department of Animal Production/College of Agriculture/the University of Diyala from 4/9/2021 to 10/14/2021 to study the effect of adding Cynara scolymus L. )artichoke( extract to the diet of broilers. It was used as an antioxidant to show its effect on birds' productive, physiological and immune performance. In this experiment, 225 unsexed Ross 308 hybrid broiler chicks were used (one day age), with an initial weight of 44.36 g/chick. These chicks were randomly distributed from the first day of receiving them to five experimental treatments with three replicates for each treatment (15 birds/repeat). The experimental treatments were: T1 = (control treatment) provided a standard diet free of additives, T2 = Standard ration plus 75 mg/L artichoke extract, T3 = a standard diet supplemented with 150 mg/L artichoke extract, T4 = Standard ration to which 2 g/kg of artichoke extract is added, and T5 = Standard ration to which 3 g/kg of artichoke extract is added. The experiment results indicated a significant effect on product traits when adding different artichoke leaf extract powder levels to Ross 308 broiler water and diet (1-42 days). Generally, treatment T3 was significantly (P<0.05) superior in the fourth week in recording the highest average live body weight of 3170.90 g, and treatment T4 was significantly (P<0.05) in the fourth week and recorded the highest rate of weight gain. Also, treatment T1 in the first week recorded the highest rate of feed consumption, treatment T2 in the first week recorded the highest efficiency of food conversion, and treatment T3 significantly (P<0.05) and recorded the highest rate of productive evidence. Keywords: broiler, artichoke leaf extract, productive traits

Future Perspective and Technological Innovation in Cheese Making Using Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) as Vegetable Rennet: A Review.

Milk coagulation is a process used for the formulation of different dairy products such as cheese. In this process, milk undergoes changes in its chemical stability thanks to acidification or enzymatic reactions. Traditionally, milk coagulation has been carried out with rennet of animal origin, but recently, the research of new types of rennet such as microbial rennet and vegetable rennet has increased. This study aims to present an organized review of the most relevant information on lactic coagulation, its relationship with vegetable rennets, and the importance of the botanical genus Cynara in the extraction of vegetable rennets, focusing on the coagulant potential of artichoke (Cynara scolymus). We conducted this literature review and found that lactic coagulation and vegetable rennets are linked through the enzymatic activity of the latter. The results of the main studies demonstrated a strong relationship between vegetable rennets and protease enzymes as well as the presence of these enzymes in extracts of cardoon (Cynara scolymus) and artichoke (Cynara scolymus). In addition, studies highlight the presence of thistle extracts in artisanal cheese preparations in the Iberian Peninsula. Based on the results of the studies, a comparison between cheeses made with vegetable rennet and those made with traditional rennet was also carried out. Although the results show that the use of vegetable rennet in the manufacture of cheese can confer undesirable characteristics, the use of extracts from Cynara plants demonstrates that vegetable rennets have an industrial potential, especially the one obtained from artichoke (Cynara scolymus) due to its high availability. Nevertheless, specific studies are required for a better understanding and application of this rennet.

Cynaropicrin- and chlorogenic acid-rich extracts easily prepared from Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus: Antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties

Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus, commonly known as globe artichoke, is known for its medicinal and culinary properties since ancient times. Nowadays, with the increasing demand for healthier foods artichoke has been valorized and worldwide production has increased to meet the increasing demand in consumption of the flower and infusion from leaves. The aim of this work was to characterize the main bioactive compounds obtained from artichoke leaf extracts using simple and sustainable techniques. Among different extraction procedures tested, decoction in water gave extracts particularly rich in chlorogenic acid (1) and cynaropicrin (2) as demonstrated by the NMR spectroscopy analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 were efficiently separated by liquid-liquid extraction, as 1 was only found in the aqueous (Aq) fraction and 2 was selectively isolated in the organic (O) fraction. While both fractions showed in vitro antioxidant activity by scavenging activity, only the O fraction was able to protect Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells from oxidative stress. Interestingly, the O fraction was much more antigenotoxic than Aq fraction, suggesting a highly efficient hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Besides being simple and avoiding organic solvents, decoction in water provides maximal extraction of 1 and 2 and, presumably, maximal bioactivities.

Structural and expression analysis of polyphenol oxidases potentially involved in globe artichoke (C. cardunculus var. scolymus L.) tissue browning

Globe artichoke capitula are susceptible to browning due to oxidation of phenols caused by the activity of polyphenol oxidases (PPOs), this reduces their suitability for fresh or processed uses. A genome-wide analysis of the globe artichoke PPO gene family was performed. Bioinformatics analyses identified eleven PPOs and their genomic and amino acidic features were annotated. Cis-acting element analysis identified a gene regulatory and functional profile associated to plant growth and development as well as stress response. For some PPOs, phylogenetic analyses revealed a structural and functional conservation with different Asteraceae PPOs, while the allelic variants of the eleven PPOs investigated across four globe artichoke varietal types identified several SNP/Indel variants, some of which having impact on gene translation. By RTqPCR were assessed the expression patterns of PPOs in plant tissues and in vitro calli characterized by different morphologies. Heterogeneous PPO expression profiles were observed and three of them (PPO6, 7 and 11) showed a significant increase of transcripts in capitula tissues after cutting. Analogously, the same three PPOs were significantly up-regulated in calli showing a brown phenotype due to oxidation of phenols. Our results lay the foundations for a future application of gene editing aimed at disabling the three PPOs putatively involved in capitula browning.

Variation, during Shelf Life, of Functional Properties of Biscuits Enriched with Fibers Extracted from Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.).

To boost revaluation of industrial by-products of artichoke, this research tries to determine the stability throughout storage of phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activity in biscuits enriched with fiber-rich powders extracted from b y-products of artichokes (FRPA). To determine the most stable extraction method, biscuits were formulated with FRPA extracted by two different environmentally friendly extraction solvents: water (W) and a solution of 1% CaCl2∙5H2O (CA) and compared with biscuits made with pea fiber (P) and control biscuits (B) without fiber added. Initially and during storage, the biscuits enriched with FRPA (W, CA) showed a higher content of bioavailable polyphenols and antioxidant activity compared to the control biscuits (B) and the reference fiber (P, pea fiber). In conclusion, FRPA are an excellent source of bioavailable fiber with antioxidant activity, but especially the FRPA extracted with 1% CaCl2∙5H2O (CA), and they could present a good alternative to the use of pea fiber.

Green recovery optimization of phenolic compounds from “Spinoso sardo” globe artichoke by-products using response surface methodology

The reuse and valorization of agri-food by-products is a pivotal activity in the pursuit of a circular model that can improve sustainability and efficiency of agri-food production. During artichoke processing, 60–80% of the biomass produced by the plant consists of inedible fractions, which nevertheless represent a natural source of high value-added compounds, such as phenolics. In this study, response surface methodology was applied to investigate and optimize the amount of ethanol and the reduction of extraction time to achieve the maximum yield of polyphenols and flavonoids from artichoke stems, leaves, and bracts, by using two extraction methods, namely maceration and ultrasound-assisted extraction. Overall, phenolic compounds were most concentrated in extracts obtained from the stems, followed by those derived from the bracts and leaves, with the percentage of ethanol being the most influential factor. After applying the optimization criteria, the best factor setting to achieve maximum extraction yields and strong antioxidant capacities was: 53% ethanol for stems, 45% for leaves, and 50% for bracts and 60 min for all by-products in the case of maceration; 10 min for stems and leaves with 42 and 20% of ethanol, respectively, and 41 min and 64% ethanol for bracts in the case of ultrasound-assisted extraction. Comparison between the two techniques evidenced that maceration was significantly more efficient, but similar recoveries were obtained with ultrasound-assisted extraction in shorter extraction time and lower ethanol consumption. Therefore, using this unconventional method to convert Spinoso Sardo artichoke by-products into bioactive ingredients with interesting industrial applications could be a viable strategy to reduce food losses and mitigate related environmental impacts.

Investigation of Bioactive Complexes of Chitosan and Green Coffee Bean or Artichoke Extracts.

The formation of water-insoluble complexes between chitosan (ChS) and caffeoylquinic acid (CQ) derivatives present in artichoke (AE) and green coffee bean (GCBE) extracts was investigated by the equilibrium adsorption method. The UPLC/HPLC analysis revealed that the phenolic compounds accounted for 8.1% and 74.6% of AE and GCBE respectively, and CQ derivatives were the predominant compounds. According to the applied Langmuir adsorption model, anionic compounds present in natural extracts were adsorbed onto the active centers of ChS, i.e., primary amino groups. The driving forces of adsorption were electrostatic interactions between cationic groups of ChS and anionic compounds of natural extracts. Chromatographic analysis revealed that not only CQ derivatives, but also other phenolic compounds of natural extracts were attached to ChS. The release of adsorbed compounds into different media as well as the bioactive properties of complexes were also studied. With the immobilization of bioactives onto ChS, increased and prolonged ABTS•+ radical scavenging activity and decreased antifungal activity against Fusarium graminearum and Botrytis cinerea were observed compared to those of ChS. The findings of the current study highlight that the adsorption approach could be used to successfully prepare water-insoluble complexes of ChS and components of natural extracts with prolonged antioxidant activity.

Characterization of Targeted Phenolic Compounds in Globe Artichoke Heads and Waste from Vegetatively and "Seed"-Propagated Genotypes.

In the globe artichoke, both the edible portion and the waste biomass are recognized as valuable sources of bioactive compounds. For this study, heads with 30 cm-long floral stems including two to three leaves were harvested from five genotypes, which included two traditional vegetative-propagated varietal types ("Brindisino" and "Violetto di Foggia") and three "seed"-propagated hybrids ("Tempo", "Opal", and "Madrigal"). The study aimed to determine the total and individual polyphenolic concentrations (measured spectrophotometrically and using HPLC) and antioxidant activity (AA) in different artichoke parts, namely the "hearts" (H), head waste (HW), stem waste (SW), and leaf waste (LW). "Brindisino" SW exhibited the highest accumulation of luteolin (26,317 mg kg-1 F.W.), while "Tempo" H displayed the highest cynarin content (190 mg kg-1 F.W.). "Tempo" HW and H showed the highest levels of apigenin (640 mg kg-1 F.W.), and the greatest source of chlorogenic acid was found in the HW of "Opal" and the H of "Brindisino" (4300 mg kg-1 F.W.). The hybrids generally exhibited lower total polyphenolic concentrations than the traditional genotypes, particularly evident in the LW. The SW demonstrated the highest concentration of total polyphenols (18,000 mg kg-1 F.W.), followed by the edible H and non-edible HW (12,000 mg kg-1 F.W.), while the LW exhibited the lowest concentration (2000 mg kg-1 F.W.). Interestingly, the AA did not precisely align with the total polyphenolic concentration, showing slight variations between the examined parts and genotypes.

Organic versus conventional globe artichoke: Influence of cropping system and harvest date on physiological activity, physicochemical parameters, and bioactive compounds

The aim of this study was to compare the impact of an organic cropping system (ORG) and a conventional one (CONV) on ‘Spinoso Sardo’ artichoke heads quality over the whole crop cycle. Respiratory activity, texture properties, fibres content, sucrose, glucose, fructose, bioactive compounds, total phenols, and antioxidant activity were measured. The results showed that respiratory activity determined at 5 °C or at 20 °C was similar in artichoke heads of both cropping systems, but changed as the harvesting season progressed, with higher rates in samples collected in November and April and lower ones in those collected in January and February. Similarly, the textural parameters and sugar content of the two cropping systems were quite similar, but both parameters changed significantly over the harvesting season. In contrast, phenolic profile, total phenolics and antioxidant activity were significantly affected by the two cropping systems as well as by harvest time. Artichoke heads from ORG had higher levels of chlorogenic acid and total phenols alongside with a higher antioxidant capacity compared to CONV heads. It can be concluded that while the postharvest behaviour and several quality traits of ORG and CONV samples did not differ significantly, others such as the phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity, were higher in ORG artichokes. As a result, the consumption of ORG artichokes may be more beneficial for human health than CONV one.

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Methylene Blue Adsorption on a New Raw Material, Cynara scolymus—A Statistical Physics Assessment

Methylene blue (MB) adsorption was performed on a natural material powder of Cynara scolymus as a new inexpensive adsorbent identified by Cs. To analyze the Cs material, FTIR, SEM, isoelectric point (pHpzc) analysis, TGA, and DRX were used. The maximum experimental adsorption capacity of the Cs material was 203.333, 192.187, and 179.380 mg•g−1 at 298, 303, and 313 K, respectively. The correlation coefficients (R2) and average percentage errors APE (%) values for the kinetic and isotherms models indicated that the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-nth order model and that the traditional isotherm model Redlich–Peterson (R–P) correctly described the experimental data obtained at 298, 303, and 313 K, respectively. The steric, energetic, and thermodynamic characteristics of the most relevant advanced model (double-energy single-layer model (AM 2)) were analyzed in detail. The number of active sites for the first receptors (n1) was determined to be 0.129, 0.610, and 6.833, whereas the number of second active sites (n2) was determined to be 1.444, 1.675, and 2.036 at 298, 303, and 313 K, respectively. This indicated the presence of both multi–docking and multimolecular modes for the first style of MB ions (n1), while only a multimolecular mode for the second style of MB ions (n2). Thermodynamic characteristics demonstrated that MB adsorption onto the Cs adsorbent is spontaneous and feasible.

Response Surface Methodology as an Experimental Strategy for Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Artichoke Heads.

The accurate quantification of phenolic compounds (PCs) in foods has become mandatory for a reliable estimation of PCs dietary intake. However, the extraction step of these molecules from the food matrix is a challenging and complex task. To manage the current lack of an official or generally accepted procedure for the recovery of phenolics, the application of statistical and mathematical tools, such as the response surface methodology (RSM), that allow the optimization of extraction parameters and the acquisition of the best output, has become the analytical approach of choice. The aim of this study was to apply an RSM-optimized ultrasound-assisted procedure to extract phenolic compounds from artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus (L.) Hegi, cultivar "Campagnano") heads. The effect of extraction time, temperature, and solvent-to-sample ratio on the profile and content of phenolic acids and flavonoids was investigated. The total phenolic content was 488.13 ± 0.56 mg GAE 100 g-1 dry matter (dm) and total flavonoid content was 375.03 ± 1.49 mg CATeq 100 g-1 dm when the optimum extraction conditions were set. The HPLC analysis showed that caffeoylquinic acid derivatives (i.e., cynarin and 1,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid) were the main compounds in globe artichokes. Caffeic and p-coumaric acids were also identified. In regard to flavonoids, only the flavone luteolin-7-O-glucoside was identified.

Use of Cynara scolymus as Green Corrosion Inhibitor for Carbon Steel in Sulfuric Acid

Use of Cynara scolymus as Green Corrosion Inhibitor for Carbon Steel in Sulfuric Acid

EXTRACTION, FRACTIONATION, AND SEPERATIONE OF CYNAROSIDE AND SCOLYMOSIDE FROM Cynara scolymus L. GROWN IN IRAQ

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is a nutritious vegetable that grown all over the world. It is a promising herbal plant, rich in bioactive components. It is considered as medicinal plant due to its nutritional and phytochemical composition, especially high proportion of phenolic compounds. The primary aim of this study was to achieve chemical profile analyses of artichoke for different phytochemcials, especially Scolymoside and Cynaroside. Methanolic crude was extracted from Artichoke leaves by rotary evaporator and separated by column chromatography. The fractions monitored by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), and identified in High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Two important compounds, Scolymoside and Cynaroside were separated and identified. In overall, Artichoke could be regarded as a rich source of biologically active compounds and considered as bio-functional with putative antioxidant effects.