@conference{
author = "Mandim, Filipa and Petropoulos, Spyridon A. and Pinela, José and Dias, Maria Inês and Kostić, Marina and Soković, Marina and Santos-Buelga, Celestino and Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R. and Barros, Lillian",
year = "2021",
abstract = "Cynara cardunculus L. (cardoon) is a typical Mediterranean species that comprises the ancestor wild
cardoon (var. sylvestris), the cultivated leafy cardoon (var. altilis) and globe artichoke (var. scolymus). It
can be found worldwide due to its high adaptability to diverse climate conditions (e.g., resistance to extreme
temperatures, water stress, and soils with variable pH) [1,2]. It is also considered a multipurpose crop due
to its nutritional, pharmacological and industrial applications [2]. Due to the increase of its commercial and
economic value, this study aimed to evaluate the polyphenolic composition and bioactive potential of
cardoon bracts in relation to plant growth cycle. Cardoon bracts were collected in central Greece at eight
different maturation stages (samples C1 – lower maturity to C8 – higher maturity). The phenolic profile was
determined by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS. The antioxidant activity was measured through two cell-based assays:
TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formation inhibition) and OxHLIA (oxidative hemolysis
inhibition). Cytotoxic effects were screened against four human tumor cell lines and hepatotoxicity against
a non-tumor cell line (PLP2) by the sulforhodamine B assay. The anti-inflammatory potential was tested
through the inhibition of NO production by a murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7). Finally, the
antibacterial and antifungal activities were evaluated by the broth microdilution method. Twelve phenolic
compounds were tentatively identified in the cardoon bract extracts and quantified in higher amounts in
immature samples. Immature bracts (C1) also revealed the highest cytotoxic (GI50 of 30 – 79 μg/mL) and
anti-inflammatory (IC50 = 72 μg/mL) activities, while they presented the highest capacity to efficiently
inhibit the formation of TBARS (IC50 = 26.8 μg/mL). In contrast, the extract with the higher maturity grade
(C7) revealed superior efficacy against oxidative hemolysis (IC50 of 38 and 75 μg/mL at Δt=60 min and 120
min, respectively). The highest antibacterial and antifungal activities were attributed to samples C1 and C6
and samples C2 and C4, respectively. The results obtained in this work could be helpful to choose the best
harvesting time of cardoon bracts, allowing obtaining a greater variety of phenolic compounds, and
consequently, a higher bioactive potential, and ultimately the most appropriate use of their constituents.
Nevertheless, further studies are needed to better understand the compounds responsible for the observed
activities, as well as to reveal the mechanisms involved in these activities.",
publisher = "Bragança: Instituto Politécnico de Bragança",
journal = "1st Congress of Natural products application: Health, Cosmetic and Food: Book of Abstracts; 2021 Feb 4-5; Online",
title = "Phenolic composition and bioactive properties of cardoon bracts: influence of the growth cycle",
pages = "47",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_4929"
}
