Biochemical characterization of wild and cultivated cardoon accessions

Two accessions of cultivated cardoon ('Nizza' and 'Madrid 1') and three wild cardoon ('Siena', Belgio' and 'Madrid 2') were field grown in Policoro (Matera, Southern Italy). For the biochemical analyses, leaves and buds were picked on March and May, respectively. On both leaves and buds, polyphenols (mono- and di-caffeoylquinic acids, apigenin and luteolin derived flavonoids), glucose, fructose, sucrose and inulin were determined by HPLC. Chlorogenic acid, dicaffeoylquinic acids, apigenin-7-glucoside and two luteolin glycosides (cynaroside and, probably, scolimoside) were found in the leaves. Cynaroside was also found in appreciable concentration in the buds. The presence of three other unknown caffeic acid derivatives was found in the buds of 'Siena'. Buds are rich in sucrose, while midribs are rich in glucose and poor in sucrose. The inulin bud content ranged from 3300 in Nizza' to 6100 mg 100g-1 f.w. in'Madrid 2'. The results of this study contribute to the better knowledge of biochemical composition of the underutilized cardoons.