Effect of extraction methodologies and solvent selection upon cynaropicrin extraction from Cynara cardunculus leaves

A systematic review on Cynara cardunculus L.: bioactive compounds, nutritional properties and food-industry applications of a sustainable food

The cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.), is a perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, and its cultivated species are widely used in the Mediterranean diet. This review provides an overview of cardoons' chemical composition, bioactive properties and multiple industrial and food applications. Thanks to its nutritional composition, the use of cardoon has increased in food, cosmetic and industrial sectors, such as the energy industry or in the production of paper pulp or bio-packaging. An application in the food industry has involved using of cardoon as a vegetable coagulant for gourmet cheeses-making, as the flowers are rich in aspartic proteases. Cardoon by-products are also rich in bioactive compounds with important health benefits. Most of these nutritional activities are due to the presence of phenolic compounds, minerals, inulin, fibre and sesquiterpene lactones with interesting antioxidant and antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, lipid-lowering, cytotoxic and anti-diabetic activities.

A literature review of bioactive substances for the treatment of periodontitis: In vitro, in vivo and clinical studies

Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the tooth that involves a complex interaction of microorganisms and various cell lines around the infected site. To prevent and treat this disease, several options are available, such as scaling, root planning, antibiotic treatment, and dental surgeries, depending on the stage of the disease. However, these treatments can have various side effects, including additional inflammatory responses, chronic wounds, and the need for secondary surgery. Consequently, numerous studies have focused on developing new therapeutic agents for more effective periodontitis treatment. This review explores the latest trends in bioactive substances with therapeutic effects for periodontitis using various search engines. Therefore, this study aimed to suggest effective directions for therapeutic approaches. Additionally, we provide a summary of the current applications and underlying mechanisms of bioactive substances, which can serve as a reference for the development of periodontitis treatments.

Hansen Solubility Parameters Applied to the Extraction of Phytochemicals

In many analytical chemical procedures, organic solvents are required to favour a better global yield upon the separation, extraction, or isolation of the target phytochemical analyte. The selection of extraction solvents is generally based on the solubility difference between target analytes and the undesired matrix components, as well as the overall extraction procedure cost and safety. Hansen Solubility Parameters are typically used for this purpose. They are based on the product of three coordinated forces (hydrogen bonds, dispersion, and dipolar forces) calculated for any substance to predict the miscibility of a compound in a pure solvent, in a mixture of solvents, or in non-solvent compounds, saving time and costs on method development based on a scientific understanding of chemical composition and intermolecular interactions. This review summarises how Hansen Solubility Parameters have been incorporated into the classical and emerging (or greener) extraction techniques of phytochemicals as an alternative to trial-and-error approaches, avoiding impractical experimental conditions and resulting in, for example, saving resources and avoiding unnecessary solvent wasting.

The wide spectrum of industrial applications for cultivated cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L. var. Altilis DC.): A review

Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis DC. belongs to the Asteraceae family and is widely used. This species is integrated into the Mediterranean diet and has broad applicability due to its rich chemical composition. Its flowers, used as a vegetable coagulant for gourmet cheese production, are rich in aspartic proteases. Leaves are rich in sesquiterpene lactones, the most abundant being cynaropicrin, while stems present a higher abundance of hydroxycinnamic acids. Both classes of compounds exhibit a wide range of bioactive properties. Its chemical composition makes it applicable in other industrial sectors, such as energy (e.g., manufacturing of biodiesel and biofuel) or paper pulp production, among other biotechnological applications. In the last decade, cardoon has been identified as a competitive energy crop, constituting an opportunity for the economic recovery and development of the rural areas of the Mediterranean basin. This article reviews the chemical composition, bioactive properties, and multifaceted industrial applications of cardoon.

Effect of Blanching and Boiling on the Secondary Metabolism of Cultivated Cardoon Stalks: A Case Study of the Tuscany Region (Italy)

Cardoon (C. cardunculus var. altilis DC) is commonly cultivated in the Mediterranean area to produce stalks that are consumed once cooked. Before cooking, stalks are usually subjected to blanching, which means they are exposed to darkness for a few weeks. The present work analyzed the effect of field blanching carried out for 40 days in different ways (burying the stalks under soil or covering them with plastic sheet) on the total phenolic content (TPC), phenolic profile, cynaropicrin content (a bitter compound), and antioxidant activity (AA) of two cardoon cultivars. The nutraceutical quality of blanched cardoons was also investigated following boiling. The phenolic profile revealed a higher number of compounds in blanched stalks than in raw ones. The cynaropicrin content decreased in both cultivars after blanching, indicating a sensitivity to dark conditions and the effectiveness of blanching method in reducing its bitterness. The data presented contribute to improving the knowledge about the effect of blanching and boiling on the quality of cardoon stalks.

Integrating diverse plant bioactive ingredients with cyclodextrins to fabricate functional films for food application: a critical review

The popularity of plant bioactive ingredients has become increasingly apparent in the food industry. However, these plant bioactive ingredients have many deficiencies, including low water solubility, poor stability, and unacceptable odor. Cyclodextrins (CDs), as cyclic molecules, have been extensively studied as superb vehicles of plant bioactive ingredients. These CD inclusion compounds could be added into various film matrices to fabricate bioactive food packaging materials. Therefore, in the present review, we summarized the extraction methods of plant bioactive ingredients, the addition of these CD inclusion compounds into thin-film materials, and their applications in food packaging. Furthermore, the release model and mechanism of active film materials based on various plant bioactive ingredients with CDs were highlighted. Finally, the current challenges and new opportunities based on these film materials have been discussed.

Bioactive Compounds from Cardoon as Health Promoters in Metabolic Disorders

Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) is a Mediterranean plant and member of the Asteraceae family that includes three botanical taxa, the wild perennial cardoon (C. cardunculus L. var. sylvestris (Lamk) Fiori), globe artichoke (C. cardunculus L. var. scolymus L. Fiori), and domesticated cardoon (C. cardunculus L. var. altilis DC.). Cardoon has been widely used in the Mediterranean diet and folk medicine since ancient times. Today, cardoon is recognized as a plant with great industrial potential and is considered as a functional food, with important nutritional value, being an interesting source of bioactive compounds, such as phenolics, minerals, inulin, fiber, and sesquiterpene lactones. These bioactive compounds have been vastly described in the literature, exhibiting a wide range of beneficial effects, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, lipid-lowering, cytotoxic, antidiabetic, antihemorrhoidal, cardiotonic, and choleretic activity. In this review, an overview of the cardoon nutritional and phytochemical composition, as well as its biological potential, is provided, highlighting the main therapeutic effects of the different parts of the cardoon plant on metabolic disorders, specifically associated with hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, and antidiabetic activity.

Genetic diversity and population structure of Cynara cardunculus L. in southern Portugal

Cynara cardunculus L. is a cardoon species native to the Mediterranean region, which is composed of three botanical taxa, each having distinct biological characteristics. The aim of this study was to examine wild populations of C. cardunculus established in Portugal, in order to determine their genetic diversity, geographic distribution, and population structure. Based on SSR markers, 121 individuals of C. cardunculus from 17 wild populations of the Portuguese Alentejo region were identified and analysed. Ten SSRs were found to be efficient markers in the genetic diversity analysis. The total number of alleles ranged from 9 to 17 per locus. The expected and observed means in heterozygosity, by population analysed, were 0.591 and 0.577, respectively. The wild population exhibited a high level of genetic diversity at the species level. The highest proportion of genetic variation was identified within a geographic group, while variation was lower among groups. Geographic areas having highest genetic diversity were identified in Alvito, Herdade da Abóboda, Herdade da Revilheira and Herdade de São Romão populations. Moreover, significant genetic differentiation existed between wild populations from North-Alentejo geographic locations (Arraiolos, Évora, Monte da Chaminé) and Centro Hortofrutícola, compared with other populations. This study reports genetic diversity among a representative number of wild populations and genotypes of C. cardunculus from Portugal. These results will provide valuable information towards future management of C. cardunculus germplasm.

Applications of Sesquiterpene Lactones: A Review of Some Potential Success Cases

Sesquiterpene lactones, a vast range of terpenoids isolated from Asteraceae species, exhibit a broad spectrum of biological effects and several of them are already commercially available, such as artemisinin. Here the most recent and impactful results of in vivo, preclinical and clinical studies involving a selection of ten sesquiterpene lactones (alantolactone, arglabin, costunolide, cynaropicrin, helenalin, inuviscolide, lactucin, parthenolide, thapsigargin and tomentosin) are presented and discussed, along with some of their derivatives. In the authors’ opinion, these compounds have been neglected compared to others, although they could be of great use in developing important new pharmaceutical products. The selected sesquiterpenes show promising anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects, acting on various targets. Moreover, they exhibit antifungal, anxiolytic, analgesic, and antitrypanosomal activities. Several studies discussed here clearly show the potential that some of them have in combination therapy, as sensitizing agents to facilitate and enhance the action of drugs in clinical use. The derivatives show greater pharmacological value since they have better pharmacokinetics, stability, potency, and/or selectivity. All these natural terpenoids and their derivatives exhibit properties that invite further research by the scientific community.