A Phytochemical and Biological Characterization of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. subsp. <i>scolymus</i> Cultivar “Carciofo di Procida”, a Traditional Italian Agri-Food Product (PAT) of the Campania Region

The artichoke (<i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. subsp. <i>scolymus</i>) is an endemic perennial plant of the Mediterranean area commonly consumed as food. It is known since ancient times for its beneficial properties for human health, among which its antioxidant activity due to p...

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Main Authors: Giuseppina Tommonaro, Giulia De Simone, Carmine Iodice, Marco Allarà, Adele Cutignano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3285
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author Giuseppina Tommonaro
Giulia De Simone
Carmine Iodice
Marco Allarà
Adele Cutignano
author_facet Giuseppina Tommonaro
Giulia De Simone
Carmine Iodice
Marco Allarà
Adele Cutignano
author_sort Giuseppina Tommonaro
collection DOAJ
description The artichoke (<i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. subsp. <i>scolymus</i>) is an endemic perennial plant of the Mediterranean area commonly consumed as food. It is known since ancient times for its beneficial properties for human health, among which its antioxidant activity due to polyphenolics stands out. In the frame of our ongoing studies aiming to highlight the biodiversity and the chemodiversity of natural resources, we investigated the phenolic and saponin content of the cultivar “Carciofo di Procida” collected at Procida, an island of the Gulf of Naples (Italy). Along with the edible part of the immature flower, we included in our analyses the stem and the external bracts, generally discarded for food consuming or industrial preparations. The LCMS quali-quantitative profiling of polyphenols (including anthocyanins) and cynarasaponins of this cultivar is reported for the first time. In addition to antioxidant properties, we observed a significant cytotoxic activity due to extracts from external bracts against human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell lines with 43% of cell viability, after 24 h from the treatment (50 μg/mL), and less potent but appreciable effects also against human colorectal adenocarcinoma CaCo-2 cells. This suggests that the different metabolite composition may be responsible for the bioactivity of extracts obtained from specific parts of artichoke and foresees a possible exploitation of the discarded material as a source of beneficial compounds.
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spelling doaj-art-d79306a36c814f22b4d0d08ea0197ea82025-08-20T03:04:43ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-08-013015328510.3390/molecules30153285A Phytochemical and Biological Characterization of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. subsp. <i>scolymus</i> Cultivar “Carciofo di Procida”, a Traditional Italian Agri-Food Product (PAT) of the Campania RegionGiuseppina Tommonaro0Giulia De Simone1Carmine Iodice2Marco Allarà3Adele Cutignano4CNR-Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Naples, ItalyCNR-Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Naples, ItalyCNR-Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Naples, ItalyCNR-Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Naples, ItalyCNR-Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Naples, ItalyThe artichoke (<i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. subsp. <i>scolymus</i>) is an endemic perennial plant of the Mediterranean area commonly consumed as food. It is known since ancient times for its beneficial properties for human health, among which its antioxidant activity due to polyphenolics stands out. In the frame of our ongoing studies aiming to highlight the biodiversity and the chemodiversity of natural resources, we investigated the phenolic and saponin content of the cultivar “Carciofo di Procida” collected at Procida, an island of the Gulf of Naples (Italy). Along with the edible part of the immature flower, we included in our analyses the stem and the external bracts, generally discarded for food consuming or industrial preparations. The LCMS quali-quantitative profiling of polyphenols (including anthocyanins) and cynarasaponins of this cultivar is reported for the first time. In addition to antioxidant properties, we observed a significant cytotoxic activity due to extracts from external bracts against human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell lines with 43% of cell viability, after 24 h from the treatment (50 μg/mL), and less potent but appreciable effects also against human colorectal adenocarcinoma CaCo-2 cells. This suggests that the different metabolite composition may be responsible for the bioactivity of extracts obtained from specific parts of artichoke and foresees a possible exploitation of the discarded material as a source of beneficial compounds.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3285Romanesco globe artichokepolyphenolscynarasaponinsanthocyaninsUHPLC-HRESIMS/MSantioxidant activity
spellingShingle Giuseppina Tommonaro
Giulia De Simone
Carmine Iodice
Marco Allarà
Adele Cutignano
A Phytochemical and Biological Characterization of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. subsp. <i>scolymus</i> Cultivar “Carciofo di Procida”, a Traditional Italian Agri-Food Product (PAT) of the Campania Region
Molecules
Romanesco globe artichoke
polyphenols
cynarasaponins
anthocyanins
UHPLC-HRESIMS/MS
antioxidant activity
title A Phytochemical and Biological Characterization of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. subsp. <i>scolymus</i> Cultivar “Carciofo di Procida”, a Traditional Italian Agri-Food Product (PAT) of the Campania Region
title_full A Phytochemical and Biological Characterization of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. subsp. <i>scolymus</i> Cultivar “Carciofo di Procida”, a Traditional Italian Agri-Food Product (PAT) of the Campania Region
title_fullStr A Phytochemical and Biological Characterization of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. subsp. <i>scolymus</i> Cultivar “Carciofo di Procida”, a Traditional Italian Agri-Food Product (PAT) of the Campania Region
title_full_unstemmed A Phytochemical and Biological Characterization of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. subsp. <i>scolymus</i> Cultivar “Carciofo di Procida”, a Traditional Italian Agri-Food Product (PAT) of the Campania Region
title_short A Phytochemical and Biological Characterization of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. subsp. <i>scolymus</i> Cultivar “Carciofo di Procida”, a Traditional Italian Agri-Food Product (PAT) of the Campania Region
title_sort phytochemical and biological characterization of i cynara cardunculus i l subsp i scolymus i cultivar carciofo di procida a traditional italian agri food product pat of the campania region
topic Romanesco globe artichoke
polyphenols
cynarasaponins
anthocyanins
UHPLC-HRESIMS/MS
antioxidant activity
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3285
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