Lipophilic Extracts of Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis (DC): A Source of Valuable Bioactive Terpenic Compounds

Abstract

Lipophilic extracts of Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis (DC) from the south of Portugal (Baixo Alentejo) were studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. One sesquiterpene lactone, four pentacyclic triterpenes, and four sterols were reported for the first time as cultivated cardoon components, namely, deacylcynaropicrin, β- and α-amyrin, lupenyl and ψ-taraxasteryl acetates, stigmasterol, 24-methylenecholesterol, campesterol, and Δ(5)-avenasterol. In addition, other new compounds were identified: ten fatty acids, eight long-chain aliphatic alcohols, and six aromatic compounds. Four triterpenyl fatty acid esters were also detected. Sesquiterpene lactones and pentacyclic triterpenes were the major lipophilic families, representing respectively 2-46% and 10-89% of the detected compounds. Cynaropicrin was the most abundant sesquiterpene lactone, while taraxasteryl acetate was the main pentacyclic triterpene. Fatty acids and sterols, mainly hexadecanoic acid and β-sitosterol, were present at lower amounts (1-20% and 1-11% of the detected compounds). Long-chain aliphatic alcohols and aromatic compounds were detected at reduced abundances (1-6% of the detected compounds).

Isolation and Structural Characterization of Lignin from Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) Stalks

“…The extractives [22]. The high extractive content in cardoon stalks was mainly due to polar compounds (3.9 % of ethanol solubles and 4.3 % of water solubles), while the lipophilic compounds represented only a minor fraction (0.7 %), near to the range (1 to 2 %) previously reported [29]. The total lignin content in cardoon stalks was 19.2 %, a value slightly higher than the 17.0 % reported by Pereira et al [5], or the 16.4 % reported by Ballesteros et al [27].…”

Artichoke: botanical, agronomical, phytochemical, and pharmacological overview

“…Recently, Ramos et al (2013) also reported for the first time in C. cardunculus L. var. altilis (DC) the presence of the following components: deacylcynaropicrin, lupenyl acetate and w-taraxasteryl acetate, the latter triterpene being the most abundant one.…”

“…6) were found to be the major class of lipophilic components of cultivated cardoon (Table 3). Sesquiterpenes are mainly concentrated in the leaves and present in low amounts in the stalks and capitula, in contrast triterpenes are present at lower amounts in the leaves (Ramos et al 2013). The authors also identified cynaropicrin as predominant sesquiterpene in the leaves.…”

“…Many of the 26 studies reported experiments on different plant parts (e.g. Ramos et al 2013) and/or class of compounds (e.g. Farag et al, 2013), so that a total of 104 reports of artichoke and cardoon metabolites were reviewed.…”

Antitumoral and antioxidant activities of lipophilic and phenolic extracts from Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis (DC)

“…Moreover, the extraction of bioactive compounds could also be considered for an integrated valorization of Cca. Sesquiterpene lactones (SL) and pentacyclic triterpenes, the major constituents of Cca leaves and capitula lipophilic fractions [2] showed lower tryglyceride levels in rat serum [3] and anti-inflammatory [4] actions, respectively. Besides, cardoon extracts displayed antioxidant [5] and antitumor properties [6,7], mainly due to hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives.…”