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

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 61; no. 35; pp. 8420 - 8429
• Main Authors: Ramos, Patrícia A. B, Guerra, Ângela R, Guerreiro, Olinda, Freire, Carmen S. R, Silva, Artur M. S, Duarte, Maria F, Silvestre, Armando J. D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 04-09-2013
• Subjects: acetates; aromatic compounds; beta-sitosterol; bioactive properties; Biological and medical sciences; campesterol; Cynara - chemistry; Cynara cardunculus; fatty acid esters; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gas chromatography; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Lactones - analysis; mass spectrometry; palmitic acid; Phytosterols - analysis; Plant Components, Aerial - chemistry; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Portugal; Sesquiterpenes - analysis; sesquiterpenoid lactones; stigmasterol; Terpenes - analysis; Triterpenes - analysis; triterpenoids; Portugal; pentacyclic triterpenes; cultivated cardoon; lipophilic extracts; GC−MS analysis; sesquiterpene lactones; Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis (DC); Cardoon; Lactone; Extract; Compositae; Cynara cardunculus; Dicotyledones; Sesquiterpenes; Angiospermae; Triterpene; Spermatophyta; GC―MS analysis
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf402253a

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 Δ5-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).