Bioactive Compounds from Cardoon and Metabolic Disorders: Comparison
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Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) is a Mediterranean plant and member of the Asteraceae family that includes three botanical taxa, the wild perennial cardoon (C. cardunculus L. var. sylvestris (Lamk) Fiori), globe artichoke (C. cardunculus L. var. scolymus L. Fiori), and domesticated cardoon (C. cardunculus L. var. altilis DC.). Cardoon has been widely used in the Mediterranean diet and folk medicine since ancient times. Today, cardoon is recognized as a plant with great industrial potential and is considered as a functional food, with important nutritional value, being an interesting source of bioactive compounds, such as phenolics, minerals, inulin, fiber, and sesquiterpene lactones. 

  • Cynara cardunculus L.
  • phytochemical composition
  • metabolic disorders
  • Mediterranean plant
  • biological activities

1. Cynara cardunculus L.

Cynara cardunculus L. belongs to the Asteraceae family, one of the largest families of the plant kingdom. Cynara is a relatively small genus, native to the Mediterranean basin [1]. Cynara cardunculus comprises three taxa: (i) the wild cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L. var. sylvestris), (ii) the domesticated cardoon (Cynara cardunculus var. altilis DC), and (iii) globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus L.) [2][3][4]. Studies on the morphology and phytogeography of the Cynara genus reported that the referred plants belong to a single species and should consequently be classified as subspecies [1]. With respect to cultivated cardoon, its production is more limited to southern Europe, namely, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Additionally, C. cardunculus L. is distributed across the Mediterranean basin, Macaronesia (Madeira and Canary Islands), North Africa, Cyprus, and Turkey, and it has also colonized Mexico, California, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Australia, China, and West Africa [1]. In these areas, cardoon has revealed its high adaptability to the climate conditions, i.e., a semiarid bioclimate, allowing its cultivation as a perennial crop in marginal lands with low moisture conditions (drylands). Cardoon is a perennial plant that can reach more than 2 m in height with a thick and rigid stem, often branched in the upper parts; it is longitudinally ribbed and covered in cotton down. This plant has an annual development cycle, which can start with seed germination in autumn or spring, being completed in summer. The above-plant portion of the plant dies down each year, but its large taproot regenerates each year, growing up to 1 m down [5][6]. The seeds are 6–8 mm long, four-sided, and smooth. Their color is light gray, brown, or black, sometimes with longitudinal streaks. A circle of feathery hairs is present at the top of each seed, 25–40 mm in length, that readily falls off. The leaves form a strong and large basal rosette and can be up to 120 by 30 cm. The upper leaves are comparatively smaller, 10–50 cm in length. Furthermore, they are grayish-green on the upper surface and slightly hairy. On the underside, they are covered in dense hair giving a white woolly appearance. Each leaf is deeply lobed, with each lobe often partly divided again. The tips of the leaves are spiked with yellowish/orange spines, 5–20 mm long [5][6][7]. The inflorescence can be called a capitula or head, and there are hermaphrodites and tubular flowers (florets). The inflorescence occurs singly at the top of a branch on a thick stalk, 1–6 cm long. The flower heads are almost round in shape and grow to be 4–5 cm across. They consist of blue, pink, or purple florets arranged on a fleshy receptacle, enclosed by several large bracts. The bracts are purplish in color and taper to the end in a flattened spine [5][6][7]. Globe artichoke is cultivated for its edible phyllary bases and receptacles of its floral heads. Leaf stalks and leaf bases can be eaten as a cooked vegetable (boiled, braised, or sautéed) and used in salads and soups; they have an artichoke-like flavor. Additionally, artichoke flower extract is used in the food industry as an additive to prevent oil autooxidation and rancidity [8]. On the other hand, cardoon stalks are eaten and their flowers are used as plant rennet for the manufacture of French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese cheeses; this is legally required for the production of protected designation of origin (PDO) cheeses from Spain and Portugal, due to their richness in different proteases [5][1][9][10][11]. Additionally, cardoon is utilized by the paper industry due to its high cellulose and hemicellulose contents. It is also applied for biomass and bioenergy production (biogases as bioethanol and biomethane), as it includes 2–3 t·ha−1 of seeds, which are a good source of proteins and edible oil [12][13][14][15][16], as well as a good source of oil for biodiesel production [17]. The seeds contain around 25% oil, with good alimentary quality. The seed pomace after the extraction can be used for animal feed [5]. Additionally, cardoon leaf extract proved to have a great inhibitory effect against seed germination from weeds, revealing its potential to be used as a bioherbicide [18]. In a similar line, Restuccia and colleagues [19] combined a biocontrol yeast W. anomalus BS91 and three extracts (aqueous, methanolic, and ethanolic) from C. cardunculus L. var. altilis DC. leaves, the results revealed stronger protection with a combination of the ethanolic extract against green mold decay on oranges and lemons than when used singularly. These results indicate that biocontrol agents and leaf extracts, used in combination, can provide a stronger protection than when used singularly. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of cardoon has been studied by several authors, reporting that cardoon does not present any toxicity toward noncancer cells; on the contrary, the cytotoxicity against cancer cells can depend on the plant part, maturity stage, and genetic background [20][21]. Cardoon produces a considerable amount of field residues; 590 days after planting, biomass accumulation may reach 3968 g·plant−1 [22]. Stalks, capitula, and leaves represent an average of 40%, 35%, and 25% of the aboveground biomass, respectively, and they possess a low moisture content (10–15%) [7][23], with a yield per hectare ranging from 3.64–38.38 t/year, with an average of 19.22 t/year during the first 3 years of production [24][25][26], supporting a good yield as a source of bioactive compounds [5][27][28].

2. Nutritional and Chemical Composition

The edible portion of the cardoon plant is the immature inflorescence (capitula or heads), including the inner bracts and the upper part of the receptacle, which can be eaten as fresh, canned, or frozen vegetal after minimal processing [3][29][30]. Cardoon is extremely nutritive, containing carbohydrates (inulin, sugars, and fiber), proteins and amino acids, fatty acids, organic acids, minerals, and vitamins. It is also an important source of bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical potential, including phenolic compounds, phytosterol, and volatiles [13][2][5][3][22][29][30][31]. The recognized high nutritive value of cardoon heads is attributed to the low content of lipids and high content of minerals, vitamins, and bioactive compounds, which are potent natural antioxidants substances [5][3]. The roots and rhizomes provide a source of inulin [22][31][32], an enhancer of the human intestinal flora, and the leaves provide a source of antioxidants, mainly dicaffeoylquinic acids and luteolin [2][3]. Furthermore, cardoon leaves are traditionally used in popular medicine as diuretics, hepatoprotectors, cholagogues, choleretics, and antidiabetics [33].
The chemical composition has been studied by various researchers in different biomass fractions: root [22][31]; stalks [34]; capitula fractions (receptacle, bracts, hairs, and pappi) [35]; heads [12]; leaves [25][36]; flowers [37]; seeds [12][38][39], as summarized in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9.
Table 1. Nutritional composition of raw cardoon [40]. Table 6. Organic acids composition of cardoon vegetal parts.
42
150–170
241–809
Mn 0.256 - 4.21–6.2
Fe 0.7 - 9.2–16
Zn 0.17 - 1.4–5.2
-, there are no data. A[40]; B[37]; C[39]. Table 8. Vitamin content of raw cardoon and raw artichoke.
Table 9. Volatile organic compounds found in vegetal parts of cardoon.
Nutrient (Unit) Raw
]; F[12]. Table 3. Fiber composition of cardoon vegetal parts.
Volatile Organic Compounds Vegetal Parts References
Aromatic compounds    
 Benzoic acid Stalks, receptacles and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Vanillin Stalks, receptacles and bracts, leaves [36]
 Syringaldehyde Stalks, receptacles and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 2,6-Dimethoxyhydroquinone Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets [36]
 3-Vanillylpropanol Stalks, florets, leaves [36]
 Vanillylpropanoic acid Florets [36]
 Scopolin Florets [36]
 Benzaldehyde Stalks, leaves [23][47]
 Furfural Leaves [23][47]
 (E)-2-Hexanal Leaves [47]
 1-Octen-3-one Leaves [47]
 6-Methyl-5-hepten-2-one Leaves [47]
 Octanal Leaves [47]
 Benzene acetaldehyde Leaves [47]
 (E)-2-Octenal Leaves [47]
 Acethophenone Leaves [47]
 (E,E)-3,5-Octadien-2-one

 Nonanal		 Leaves [47]
Leaves [47]
 (E)-6-Methyl-3,5-heptadien-2-one Leaves [47]
 Phenetyl alcohol Leaves [47]
 Isophorone Leaves [47]
 3-Nonen-2-one Leaves [47]
 (E,Z)-2,6-Nonadienal

 4-Methyl-Acephenone		 Leaves [47]
Leaves [47]
 Safranal Leaves [47]
 Decanal Leaves [47]
 β-Ciclocitral Leaves [47]
 Neral Leaves [47]
 β-Homocyclocitral Leaves [47]
 Geranial Leaves [47]
 p-Vinylguaiacol Leaves [23][47]
 Eugenol Leaves [23][47]
 γ-Nonalactone Leaves [47]
 (E)-β-Damascenone
Fiber (g/100 g d.w.) Raw A Stems B Stalks C Leaves D Flowers E
Hemicellulose 12.8–18.19 18.7–19.1 47.3–55.2 4.6–11.3 16.30–17.16
Cellulose 30.52–41.9 50.4–51.7 17.9–27.0 29.0–34.3 10.33–17.73
Lignin
A[41][43]; B[25]; C[5][42][44][45]; D[25]; E[37]. Table 4. Fatty-acid composition of cardoon vegetal parts.
Leaves
[
47
]
 Geranyl acetone
Leaves
[
47
]
 β-Ionone
Leaves
[
47
]
 Dicyclohexyl-methanone
Leaves
[
47
]
 Dihydroactinidiolide
Leaves
[
47]
 Phytone Leaves [47]
Fatty acids    
Saturated   [36]
 Tetradecanoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Pentadecanoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Hexadecanoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Heptadecanoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Octadecanoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Nonadecanoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Eicosanoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Heneicosanoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Docosanoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Tricosanoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Tetracosanoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Pentacosanoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets [36]
 Hexacosanoic acid Stalks, florets, leaves [36]
 Octacosanoic acid Stalks, florets, leaves [36]
Unsaturated    
 cis-9-Hexadecenoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 trans-9-Hexadecenoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 cis-9-Octadecenoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets [36]
 trans-9-Octadecenoic acid Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets [36]
 Hydroxy fatty acids Stalks, florets [36]
 2-Hydroxyheptanoic acid Stalks [36]
 2-Hydroxyundecanoic acid Florets [36]
Long-chain aliphatic alcohols    
 Hexadecanol-1-ol Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 cis-9-Octadecen-1-ol Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets [36]
 Octadecan-1-ol Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Eicosan-1-ol Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets [36]
 Docosan-1-ol Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Tetracosan-1-ol Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Hexacosan-1-ol Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Octocosan-1-ol Stalks, florets, leaves [36]
Sesquiterpene lactones    
 Grosheimin Stalks, leaves [36]
 Deacylcynaropicrin Stalks, receptacle and bracts, leaves [36]
 Cynaropicrin Stalks, receptacle and bracts, leaves [36]
Pentacyclic triterpenes    
 β-Amyrin Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 α-Amyrin Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 β-Amyrin-acetate Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 α-Amyrin acetate Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Lupenyl acetate Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Ψ -Taraxasterol Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Taraxasterol Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Ψ -Taraxasterol acetate Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 Taraxasteryl acetate Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
Others    
 Inositol Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 2,3-Dihydroxypropyl hexadecanoate Stalks, receptacle and bracts, florets, leaves [36]
 trans-Squalene Leaves [36]
Fatty Acid

(Relative Percentage, %)		 Raw A Flowers B Seeds C Bracts D Heads E
Basic chemical composition  
C6:0   n.d.–0.40 0.019–16.3 0.0094–0.05 0.082–3.710
Water (g/100 g) 94
C8:0   - 0.014–3.0 0.0086–0.0429 0.057–1.314 Energy (kcal/100 g) 17
14.21–18.9 10.7–11.9 13.3–28.8 8.7–12.5 7.60–10.73 Energy (kJ/100 g)
C10:0
  - 0.015–0.151 0.00122–0.044 0.186–0.473
71
C11:0   0.85–1.98 0.027–0.67 0.025–0.092 0.16–0.579
Organic Acid

(g/100 g d.w.)
Vitamins

(per 100 g Edible Portion)		Seeds A Bracts B Heads C
Cardoon Raw Artichoke Raw
Macronutrients
C12:0 
  - 0.015–0.18 0.0073–0.2502 0.326–2.57 Total protein (g/100 g) 0.7
C13:0   1.05–1.17 - n.d.–0.0105 0.0–0.084 Total lipids (g/100 g) 0.1
C14:0
Vitamin C (mg) 2.0 11.7
Thiamin (mg) 0.02 0.07
Riboflavin (mg) 0.03 0.07
0.11
1.08–1.15
0.103–0.59 0.037–0.335 0.58–2.69
Fatty acids, total saturated (g/100 g)
Niacin (mg) 0.3C14:10.011
  - - n.d.–0.0083 0.0–0.54 SFA 16:0 (g/100 g) 0.009
C15:0   - SFA 18:0 (g/100 g) 0.002
0.9
Pantothenic acid (mg) 0.338 0.34
Vitamin B6 (mg) 0.116 0.12
Total folate (µg) 68.0 68.0 Fatty acids, total monounsaturated (g/100 g) 0.018
Vitamin A µg) 0 0.032–0.125 0.016–0.092 0.0–0.48
C15:1   - - 0.0026–1.5197 0.0–1.36
C16:0 0.009–10.8 40.87–45.45 11–55.948 0.0367–6.183 14.62–43.8 MUFA 16:1 (g/100 g) 0
8.0 C16:1 n.d.–0.02 n.d.–1.46 0.02–0.78 0.0076–0.039 0.317–12.76 MUFA 18:1 (g/100 g)
C20:0 0.37 3.10–3.76 0.112–1.8 0.0049–0.3693 0.377–3.225
C20:1 0 - 0.08–0.49 0.0042–0.032 0.0–4.52
C20:2   - 0.18–0.24 n.d.–0.022 0.0–0.31
C21:0   - 0.064–0.079 n.d.–0.07 0.070–0.324
0.199–0.66
n.d.–0.128
0.0–7.411
Total variation          
SFA 0.861–15.27
C[12][38][39]; D[35]; E[12]. Table 5. Phytosterol and tocopherol composition of cardoon vegetal parts.
Tocopherols

(mg/100 g d.w.)		 Stalks A Leaves B Flowers C Seeds D Bracts and

Receptacle E		 Heads F
α-Tocopherol n.d. 39.9–100.7 n.d. 1.210–29.620 n.d.–0.062 0.25–0.619
Oxalic 0.079–0.304 0.093–9.5 0.324–12.1
γ-Tocopherol - - - n.d. n.d.–0.120 n.d.
Cholesterol 1.0–1.3 27.6 - - n.d. -
24-Methylenecholesterol 0.7–1.7 n.d.-19.3 - 5.4–6.5 n.d. -
Campesterol 2.6–5.6 15.1–24.8 - 15.0–17.0 8.1–11.7
C20:3n6
 
-
0.012–0.015
n.d.–0.1018
0.0–8.6
-
C20:3n3
 
- - n.d.–0.156 0.0–1.38
C22:0 0.12 - - 0.063–0.447 0.0–2.6365
C22:1 0.15 - 0.103–0.19 0.0036–0.032 0.12–4.9505
C20:5n3   - - 0.0039–0.06 0.0–0.6285
Stigmasterol 12.9–32.4
0.89–15.7
d.w., dry weight; tr, traces; n.d., not detected. A[38][39]; B[35]; C[12]. Table 7. Mineral composition of cardoon vegetal parts.
Minerals (mg/100 g d.w.) Raw A Flowers B Seeds C
K 400 1600–1710 493–880
Quinic tr–0.07 tr–4.82 0.017–3.3
Na 170 200–300 12–24 Malic tr–0.086 tr–1.87 n.d.–2.31
Ca 70 580–1010 734–1583 Citric n.d.–0.33 n.d.–1.9 n.d.–0.86
Fumaric tr n.d.–0.0076 n.d.–0.054233.8–58.8 45.9–46.1 - 52.3–54.2 -
β-Sitosterol 13.1–25.7 63.9–171.6 49.8–70.8 -
39.2–63.7 -
β-Sitostanol 2.5–4.0 n.d. n.d. - nd-10.6 -
Δ5-Avenasterol n.d. 20.0–32.5 23.9–28.0 -
C17:00.018
n.d. 0.06 - 0.062–0.33 0.0184–0.0915 0.313–0.779 MUFA 20:1 (g/100 g) 0
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated (g/100 g) 0.041
PUFA 18:2 (g/100 g) 0.041
Carbohydrates (g/100 g) (by difference) 4.07
C18:0 Total ash (g/100 g) 1.13
Total dietary fiber (g/100 g) 1.6
Total sugars (g/100 g) 4.07
0.002–3.6 4.83–6.28 3.289–16.39 0.209–1.775 2.687–6.0
C18:1n9c Micronutrients  
0.018–27.3 Minerals  
Calcium, Ca (mg/100 g) 70
Iron, Fe (mg/100 g) 0.7
-2.09–3.33 0.58–3.77 0.195–0.903 4.48–46.6
C18:2n6c 0.041–56.8 25.10–29.91 1.7–83.3 0.054–2.208 0.748–30.6
C18:3n6 0.17 3.67–7.12 60.15–70.41 - Magnesium, Mg (mg/100 g) 42
0.0–0.176
C18:3n3   - 0.037–4.060 0.0076–0.543 Phosphorus, P (mg/100 g) 23
0.3675–7.5 Potassium, K (mg/100 g) 400
Sodium, Na (mg/100 g) 170
C22:2   1.58–2.88 - n.d.–0.669 0.0–0.30 Zinc, Zn (mg/100 g) 0.17
C23:0   1.32–1.77 0.17–1.51 n.d.–0.06 0.26–1.61 Cooper, Cu (mg/100 g) 0.23
C24:0 0.19 - Manganese, Mn (mg/100 g) 0.256
Fluoride, F (µg/100 g) 0.2
57.07–64.99 15.5–95.5 1.074–9.167 22.9–61.9 Vitamins  
MUFA 0.168–27.47 3.33–3.55 0.84–19.39 0.242–2.034 5.61–52.1 Vitamin C (mg/100 g) 2
PUFA 0.211–56.8 31.66–38.61 1.9–83.7 0.076–2.955 1.895–47.7 Thiamin (mg/100 g) 0.02
Riboflavin (mg/100 g) 0.03
Niacin (mg/100 g) 0.3
Pantothenic acid (mg/100 g) 0.338
Vitamin B6 (mg/100 g) 0.116
Folate, total (µg/100 g) 68
Folate, DFE (µg/100 g) 68
Folate, food (µg/100 g) 68
Vitamin A, RAE (µg/100 g) 0
Vitamin A, IU (IU/100 g) 0
Vitamin B12 (µg/100 g) 0
Vitamin D (D2 + D3) IU (IU/100 g) 0
Vitamin D (D2 + D3) (µg/100 g) 0
Table 2. Free sugar composition of cardoon vegetal parts.
Free Sugars

(g/100 g d.w.)		 Raw A Roots B Flowers C Seeds D Bracts E Heads F
Fructose - 0.1–6.47 - n.d.–1.94 0.14–1.41 0.013–0.51
Glucose - 0.07–4.54 2.47–4.69 n.d.–0.78 0.10–0.557 0.0–2.02
Sucrose - 0.16–4.39 - 0.30–8.77 0.12–4.970 n.d.–2.39
Trehalose - - - 0.16–36.44 0.24–1.16 0.23–0.98
Raffinose - - - n.d-1.31 n.d.–2.13 0.0–2.62
Rhamnose 0.75–1.1 - 1.10–1.19 - - -
Arabinose 1.17–2.7 - 4.23–6.03 - - -
Xylose 21.49–27.0 - 2.12–2.61 - - -
Mannose 1.1–1.8 - 0.44–0.52 - - -
Galactose 1.35–2.5 - 1.27–1.82 - - -
Inulin - 22.4–49.6 * - - - -
n.d., not detected; * values for roots with 2 years; -, there are no data. A[41][42]; B[22][31]; C[37]; D[12][38][39]; E[35 Fatty acids are expressed as a relative percentage of each fatty acid. n.d.—not detected; C6:0—caproic acid; C8:0—caprylic acid; C10:0—capric acid; C11:0—undecanoic acid; C12:0—lauric acid; C13:0—tridecanoic acid; C14:0—myristic acid; C14:1—tetradecanoic acid; C15:0—pentadecanoic acid; C15:1—pentadecanoic acid; C16:0—palmitic acid; C16:1—palmitoleic acid; C17:0—heptadecanoic acid; C18:0—stearic acid; C18:1n9—oleic acid; C18:2n6c—linoleic acid; C18:3n6-gamma-linolenic acid; C18:3n3—alpha-linolenic acid; C20:0—arachidic acid; C20:1—gondoic acid; C20:2—eicosadienoic acid; C21:0—heneicosanoic acid; C20:3n6—eicosatrienoic acid; C20:3n3—11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid; C22:0—behenic acid; C22:1—erucic acid; C20:5n3—eicosapentaenoic acid; C22:2—docosadienoic acid; C23:0—tricosanoic acid; C24:0—lignoceric acid; SFA—saturated fatty acid; MUFA—monounsaturated fatty acid; PUFA—polyunsaturated fatty acid; n-6/n-3: ratio of omega 6/omega 3 fatty acids. -, There is no data. A[40][46]; B[37];
n.d., not detected; -, there are no data. A[36];B[36]; C[36]; D[38][39];E[35][36]; F[12].
Total variation
0.03–6.54
1.96–15.6
Mg
Vitamin E (mg)
- 0.19
Data adapted from [40]. -, There is no data.

3. Cynara cardunculus and Its Effect on Metabolic Disorders

3.1. Hepatoprotective Activity

The in vitro hepatoprotective activity of C. scolymus on a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2 cells) was demonstrated by Youssef and colleagues [48], with the synergic activity resulting from the combination of three extracts (C. cardunculus L. var. scolymus L. Fiori, Ficus carica L. (fig), and Morus nigra L. (blackberry)) which were able to normalize the enzyme levels in the cells after the induction of hepatoxicity using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), which caused an increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and a reduction in glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD).
Furthermore, El Morsy and collaborators [49] studied the potential protective effect of artichoke leaf extract (ALE) against hepatotoxicity triggered by paracetamol overdose in rats. The authors observed that rats pretreated with ALE had lower values of serum ALT and AST, which were previously raised by paracetamol. Furthermore, hepatotoxicity due to paracetamol also causes oxidative damage. For this reason, the ALE effect on enzymatic antioxidants was also studied, and the authors found that ALE increased hepatic GSH, which reversed oxidative stress parameters, DNA damage, and necrosis. Moreover, it is important to emphasize that ALE had a higher impact on the restoration of GSH, nitric oxide, and antioxidant enzyme levels compared to N-acetylcysteine, a reference drug for the treatment of paracetamol overdose [49].
On the other hand, Tang and colleagues evaluated the effect of ALE on the alcoholic liver disease animal model; results showed that the levels of hepatic enzymes were reduced, and there was a suppression of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, which ultimately mitigated the oxidative stress and the inflammatory pathway [50].
Additionally, the hepatoprotective effect of bergamont polyphenolic fraction (Citrus bergamia) and C. cardunculus var. scolymus L. Fiori extract was also studied in a clinical trial conducted by Musolino and collaborators. After 16 weeks of supplementation, both extracts alone (300 mg/daily) and in combination (150 mg/kg of each extract) demonstrated the potential to decrease serum ALT and AST; nevertheless, the combination of both extracts exhibited better results [51].

3.2. Hypolipidemic Activity

Ben Salem and collaborators demonstrated the effect of ALE on the lipidic profile, cardiac markers, and antioxidant levels in obese rats [52]. As a result of supplementation of rats with ALE (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg), there was an improvement in the lipidic profile due to the decrease in TC, TG, and LDL-c levels and increase in HDL-c levels. In addition, ALE supplementation also reduced the cardiac markers and increased the antioxidant enzyme SOD, GPx, and GSH activities [52]. The effect of artichoke extracts on liver phosphatide phosphohydrolase and lipid profile in hyperlipidemic rats was also evaluated by Heidarian and colleagues. The supplementation with a mix of 10% artichoke in rat pellets for 60 days resulted in a decrease in the lipids in the serum and the phosphatide phosphohydrolase activity, which consequently decreased the levels of TG [53]. Furthermore, Oppedisano and collaborators showed the effect of C. cardunculus var. sylvestris (Lank) Fiori leaf extract in rats fed an HFD. In the animals fed an HFD and supplemented with 10 or 20 mg/kg of C. cardunculus, there was a dose-dependent reduction in TC, TG, and malondialdehyde levels compared with the group that was not supplemented with C. cardunculus var. sylvestris (Lank) Fiori [54]. Furthermore, TC, LDL-c/HDL-c and TC/HDL-c ratio levels suffered a significant reduction in subjects with primary mild hypercholesterolemia and after 8 weeks of supplementation with ALE (2 daily doses of 250 mg). There was a significant increase in HDL-c, which plays an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases [55].

3.3. Antidiabetic Activity

Ben Salem and colleagues studied the in vitro capacity of different extracts (butanolic, ethanolic, and aqueous) of C. cardunculus var. scolymus L. Fiori to inhibit the activity of α-amylase; the results showed that the ethanolic extract exhibited an IC50 value of 72.22 μg/mL (compared to acarbose specific inhibitor (IC50 = 14.83 μg/mL)). Furthermore, the authors investigated the possible anti-diabetic effect of the ethanol leaf extract of C. cardunculus var. scolymus L. Fiori in alloxan-induced stress oxidant Wistar rats. The Wistar rats were supplemented with two daily doses of the ALE extract (200 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg) for 28 days. After the supplementation, ALE decreased the α-amylase levels in the serum of diabetic rats, which consequently lowered the blood glucose rate. Additionally, the administration of ALE also affected the lipidic profile and antioxidative activity in the liver, kidney, and pancreas of diabetic rats [56]. In addition, the antidiabetic activity of infusions (200 mg/L) of Agrimonia eupatoria L. and C. altilis L. was evaluated by Kuczmannová et al., by monitoring the inhibitory effect of α-glucosidase, serum glucose levels, formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), and the activity of butyrylcholinesterase. The artichoke extract did not affect the activity of α-glucosidase, but induced a reduction in the glucose levels and inhibited the formation of AGEs [57]. Similarly, the treatment with an oral administration of ALE (200 and 400 mg/kg) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats resulted in a significant decrease in serum glucose, TG, and TC levels [58]. In a clinical trial conducted by Ebrahimi-Mameghani and collaborators, the authors examined the effects of supplementation with ALE (1800 mg/daily) in patients with metabolic syndrome for 12 weeks. After the supplementation with ALE, there was a decrease in insulin and in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values [59].

54. Conclusions

Cardoon is a plant used in the Mediterranean diet and traditional medicine, composed of several bioactive compounds, such as dietary fibers, sesquiterpenes lactones, and phenolic compounds. C. cardunculus L. is one of the most promising Mediterranean plants, due to its therapeutic potential and industrial applications. Several studies have demonstrated that cardoon has the capacity to act as an anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, lipid-lowering, antimicrobial, and antitumoral agent due to its phytochemical composition. It is important to exploit cardoon’s capacity to be applied as an adjuvant in therapies to prevent or diminish the occurrence of diabetes, as well as cholesterol-related diseases. This yields new insights into the advantages of employing other processing and formulation technologies, such as nanoparticles, microencapsulation, and nanoemulsions, to improve their functionality and to increase the use of nutraceutical products, food supplements, and pharmaceutical formulations. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to fully comprehend the mechanism of action of cardoon metabolites underlying the biological activities stated in this review. It is imperative to conduct more clinical trials to clarify the dose and duration of the therapeutics.

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