Biodiversity of globe artichoke in the Mediterranean area: metabolomic characterization of landraces by means of non-targeted NMR spectroscopy analysis
Blanco E, Musio B, Todisco S, Mastrorilli P, Gallo V, Sonnante G
XI International Symposium on artichoke, cardoon and their wild relavives, Sala Finocchiaro" c/o Fabbrica di San Domenico, Via S. Domenico, 70056 Molfetta BA, 19-21/04/2023 (2023)
The globe artichoke is widely used in the Mediterranean diet. Its edible immature flower head is recognized as a valuable nutrient food, being rich in bioactive compounds and nutraceuticals. Both inner bracts and receptacles contain high levels of polyphenols (hydroxycinnamic acids in particular), inulin, fibers, and minerals, known to provide health benefits. Artichoke is widely cultivated in Italy, especially in the Apulia region, with a wide range of local varieties (landraces). Most of this genetic material is endangered and its metabolic profile is not yet characterized. NMR-based profiling of plant metabolomics is now emerging as a new strategy to characterize different genotypes and plant parts. With the aim to valorize artichoke local varieties for their peculiar nutritional quality towards a sustainable healthy food production, we used a non-targeted NMR approach to define the metabolic profile of 16 local varieties, some of which are at a high risk of extinction. This study led to the identification of a pool of water-soluble metabolites characteristic for each landrace and it was possible to reveal the small variations in the metabolic composition of both the edible hearts and the discarded outer bracts of the artichoke flower heads from the different landraces analysed. A possible correlation was also attempted between the bioactive compounds content and the flower head colour. Specifically, our analyses showed that the hearts of the deep purple-colored "Nero del Salento" are rich in both mono- and dicaffeoylquinic acids along with inulin, while the hearts of the green "Bianco di Taranto" and "Centofoglie di Rutigliano" are characterized by a relatively higher content of dicaffeoylquinic acids. This study provides valuable information on the high biodiversity of the genetic resources of the artichoke, correlated to factors of quality, nutritional value, and health benefits, helping to forster endangered local varieties for production and commercialization. - Keywords: Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus, NMR, Nutraceuticals, Caffeoylquinic acids, Inulin, Flower head color, Mediterranean biodiversity, Multivariate data analysis, Fingerprinting
