CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL COMPOUNDS IN CYNARA CARDUNCULUS BY HIGH RESOLUTION MASS SPECTROMETRY

Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis is a typical crops cultivated in Mediterranean areas with low environmental impact. C. cardunculus is a well-known edible plant which contains valuable bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, sesquiterpenes and lignans[1]. Therefore, cardoon has been used in food and medicine due to his nutritional and therapeutic properties as antibacterial, antioxidative, hepatoprotective and choleretic activities. Moreover, it is also able to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis and low density lipoprotein oxidation [2]. On the other hand, leaves, outer bracts, capitula and stems are the main postharvest residuals of this process. With the aim to evaluate the recovery and valorization of industrial processing waste of cardoon as a natural resource with high value-added products and low environmental impact, the objective of the present study was to investigate phytochemical composition of this residual plant material, analyzing biomass extracts by Liquid chromatography coupled to High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS), combined with NMR spectroscopy.