Effect of Harvesting Time on the Chemical Composition of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. var. <i>altilis</i> Blades
In the present study, the fluctuations in fatty acids, tocopherols, organic acids, and free sugars content of cardoon blades collected at sixteen harvest dates (samples B1–B16, corresponding to principal growth stages (PGS) between 1 and 9) were evaluated. A total of 26 fatty acids were identified,...
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/7/1705 |
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| author | Filipa Mandim Spyridon A. Petropoulos Celestino Santos-Buelga Isabel C. F. R. Ferreira Lillian Barros |
| author_facet | Filipa Mandim Spyridon A. Petropoulos Celestino Santos-Buelga Isabel C. F. R. Ferreira Lillian Barros |
| author_sort | Filipa Mandim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the present study, the fluctuations in fatty acids, tocopherols, organic acids, and free sugars content of cardoon blades collected at sixteen harvest dates (samples B1–B16, corresponding to principal growth stages (PGS) between 1 and 9) were evaluated. A total of 26 fatty acids were identified, with palmitic (C16:0, 19.9–40.13%), α-linolenic (C18:3n3, 6.39–33.2%), and linoleic (C18:2n6c, 9–34.8%) acids being present in higher relative abundances in most of the samples, while lipid content was the highest in samples of late (B15) and intermediate (B8–B10) stages of maturity. The α- and γ-tocopherols were the only detected vitamin E isoforms, while α-isoform presented the highest concentration (80–8567 µg/100 g dw) in all the studied samples, except for samples B9–B11, for which the γ-tocopherol was detected in higher concentrations. Moreover, samples B1 and B14 showed the highest content of total tocopherols (8352 and 10,197 µg/100 g dw, respectively). The identified organic acids were oxalic, quinic, malic, citric, and fumaric. Malic acid was present in higher concentrations in almost all the samples analyzed, except for samples B3 and B15, in which the presence of oxalic acid stood out. Regarding the free sugar’s composition, fructose, glucose, sucrose, trehalose, and raffinose were the only detected compounds, with sucrose being present in higher concentrations in almost all the samples (1.662–10.8 g/100 g dw), while samples at younger maturation stages, namely samples B4 and B5, presented the highest concentrations of total sugars. In conclusion, the obtained results demonstrate the influence that the growth cycle may have on the chemical composition of this tissue (blades) of the species. Moreover, having a more complete knowledge regarding its composition and identifying the stage of maturation which is most appropriate for obtaining a greater amount of certain bioactive compounds will help to increase the added value of this multi-purpose crop. |
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| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:21:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-97778bb2a47a49d6997cce5f0c6cf06c2023-11-30T22:39:21ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-07-01127170510.3390/agronomy12071705Effect of Harvesting Time on the Chemical Composition of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. var. <i>altilis</i> BladesFilipa Mandim0Spyridon A. Petropoulos1Celestino Santos-Buelga2Isabel C. F. R. Ferreira3Lillian Barros4Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, PortugalDepartment of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, GreeceGrupo de Investigación en Polifenoles (GIP-USAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n, 37002 Salamanca, SpainCentro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, PortugalCentro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, PortugalIn the present study, the fluctuations in fatty acids, tocopherols, organic acids, and free sugars content of cardoon blades collected at sixteen harvest dates (samples B1–B16, corresponding to principal growth stages (PGS) between 1 and 9) were evaluated. A total of 26 fatty acids were identified, with palmitic (C16:0, 19.9–40.13%), α-linolenic (C18:3n3, 6.39–33.2%), and linoleic (C18:2n6c, 9–34.8%) acids being present in higher relative abundances in most of the samples, while lipid content was the highest in samples of late (B15) and intermediate (B8–B10) stages of maturity. The α- and γ-tocopherols were the only detected vitamin E isoforms, while α-isoform presented the highest concentration (80–8567 µg/100 g dw) in all the studied samples, except for samples B9–B11, for which the γ-tocopherol was detected in higher concentrations. Moreover, samples B1 and B14 showed the highest content of total tocopherols (8352 and 10,197 µg/100 g dw, respectively). The identified organic acids were oxalic, quinic, malic, citric, and fumaric. Malic acid was present in higher concentrations in almost all the samples analyzed, except for samples B3 and B15, in which the presence of oxalic acid stood out. Regarding the free sugar’s composition, fructose, glucose, sucrose, trehalose, and raffinose were the only detected compounds, with sucrose being present in higher concentrations in almost all the samples (1.662–10.8 g/100 g dw), while samples at younger maturation stages, namely samples B4 and B5, presented the highest concentrations of total sugars. In conclusion, the obtained results demonstrate the influence that the growth cycle may have on the chemical composition of this tissue (blades) of the species. Moreover, having a more complete knowledge regarding its composition and identifying the stage of maturation which is most appropriate for obtaining a greater amount of certain bioactive compounds will help to increase the added value of this multi-purpose crop.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/7/1705<i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L.harvest timegrowing cycleprincipal growth stagesorganic acidsfatty acids |
| spellingShingle | Filipa Mandim Spyridon A. Petropoulos Celestino Santos-Buelga Isabel C. F. R. Ferreira Lillian Barros Effect of Harvesting Time on the Chemical Composition of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. var. <i>altilis</i> Blades Agronomy <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. harvest time growing cycle principal growth stages organic acids fatty acids |
| title | Effect of Harvesting Time on the Chemical Composition of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. var. <i>altilis</i> Blades |
| title_full | Effect of Harvesting Time on the Chemical Composition of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. var. <i>altilis</i> Blades |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Harvesting Time on the Chemical Composition of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. var. <i>altilis</i> Blades |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Harvesting Time on the Chemical Composition of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. var. <i>altilis</i> Blades |
| title_short | Effect of Harvesting Time on the Chemical Composition of <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. var. <i>altilis</i> Blades |
| title_sort | effect of harvesting time on the chemical composition of i cynara cardunculus i l var i altilis i blades |
| topic | <i>Cynara cardunculus</i> L. harvest time growing cycle principal growth stages organic acids fatty acids |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/7/1705 |
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