Chemical Composition of Cardoon (Cynara Cardunculus L.) Grown in South Bulgaria

Abstract

Comparative research has been conducted to allow us to determine the content of macro- and microelements in the vegetative and reproductive organs of Cynara cardunculus L. and quality of Cynara cardunculus L. oil. The experiment was performed on an agricultural field near Plovdiv (South Bulgaria). The contents of macro- and microelements in plant materials (roots, stems, leaves, seeds) and oils were determined. The oils were extracted using a Soxhlet apparatus from seeds of Cynara cardunculus L. The quantitative measurements were carried out with inductively-coupled plasma (ICP). Oil fatty acids characterization for unsaturated and saturated acids was performed by gas chromatography. The cardoon shows adaptability to local conditions and can be grown in southern Bulgaria and used for oil production. All plant parts of the cardoon are a rich source of macro and microelements and exhibit high nutritional value. The distribution of macro and microelements in the cardoon organs is selective, specific for the individual elements. Cd, Cu and Fe are accumulated in the roots, K - in the stems, Pb and Ca - in the leaves, and Zn, Mn, Mg and P - in the seeds. Cardoon seeds were a rich source of macro- and microelements (K, P, Mg, Ca, Fe, and Zn). Cardoon oil was abundant in unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic (61.67%%) and oleic acids (22.82%)), followed by palmitic acid (10.50%) and stearic acid (3.29%). Cardoon oil has a P/S index higher than 1 (4.2), which indicates that oil can have a good effect on human health and are oils suitable for consumption. Cardoon oil is a rich source of polyunsaturated linoleic fatty acid with potentially beneficial therapeutic activity.

Chemical and Biological Evaluation of the Oil and Seedcake from Seeds of a Greek Cardoon Cultivar as Potential Functional Vegetable Oil. Comparison with Sesame, Flaxseed and Extra Virgin Olive Oils

“…It is noteworthy that linoleic acid represented approximately 50% of the lipid content of the oils, followed by mono-unsaturated ω-9 oleic acid and saturated palmitic acid. The present results are in accordance with literature data on other cardoon seed oils from different countries, in which linoleic and oleic acids were the predominant acids [5,8,11,12,33]. In addition, stearic acid was detected in lesser amounts, while linolenic and behenic acids were identified only in the SE oil.…”

“…Having PUFA/SFA value (2.83 and 1.94 for SE and CPE oils, respectively) is an important advantage factor, as oils with an index higher than 1 are considered edible oils with high nutritional value for humans [5].…”

“…Sesame oil is characterized as a vegetable oil of the oleic-linoleic group (approximately 80% of the total unsaturated fatty acids) [35], while flaxseed oil is considered as the richest plant source of linoleic (18-24%) and linolenic (36-50%) acids [36]. The recent literature has reported that the distribution of fatty acids in Cynara seed oil was comparable also with other widely consumed oils such as corn, soybean, sunflower and canola oils [5,8].…”

“…Cynara cardunculus (Asteraceae) includes artichoke and cardoon, where cardoon includes two varieties, cultivated and wild [5]. It is a perennial plant species originating from the Mediterranean basin and gaining attention as a multipurpose crop [6].…”

“…In several studies, its anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, cardiotonic and cholesterol-lowering effects have been highlighted, while it is also referenced as an important source of bioactive compounds and nutrients [6,7]. Several studies have focused on the cultivation of C. cardunculus plants for industrial purposes, particularly as a bioenergy crop, due to its low cultivation requirements in terms of water and nutrients, and its high-biomass yield and calorific value [5,8]. According to the literature, cardoon seeds are considered a rich source of minerals, macroelements, lignans, sterols, fatty and phenolic acids, but also its seed oil is considered a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids [5,[8][9][10][11][12][13], of which ω-6 linoleic acid is most abundant (ranges between 56.7-64.8%), followed by monounsaturated oleic acid (21.11-28.4%) and saturated palmitic and stearic acids (9.37-11.1 and 2.78-3.7%, respectively), indicating that this oil could be suitable for consumption [5,14].…”