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Phytochemicals accumulation and antioxidant activity in callus and suspension cultures of Cynara scolymus L.

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Abstract

The antioxidative phytochemicals in globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) have received increasing attention for their health-promoting properties related to the high levels of caffeoylquinic acids and flavones in capitula and leaves. Since phytochemicals in plants vary in relation to both biotic and abiotic factors, we explored the possibility to use in vitro-derived materials as a source of antioxidant compounds. Two suspension cultures, an anthocyanin-producing and not-producing cultures, and the sourced callus were evaluated in terms of their total polyphenol (TP) content and qualitative profile, total anthocyanin (TA) content and antioxidant activity (AA). TP and TA content were quantified by spectrophotometric assays, while the polyphenol profile was estimated by HPLC analysis. AA was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Growth kinetics and polyphenol accumulation were investigated for 25 days in red suspension cultures. The latter accumulated a higher TP and TA content (25.7 and 2.61 g kg−1 of DM, respectively) than calluses and green suspension cultures. During cell growth, the TA content in red suspension cultures ranged from 1.43 to 2.41 g kg−1 of DM. Optimum production of polyphenols was achieved on day 25 of culture; a positive correlation existed between TP and both DPPH (r = 0.84) and FRAP (r = 0.85). The 1,5–O-dicaffeoylquinic acid and cyanidin malonylglucoside (21.18 and 1.24 g kg−1 of DM, respectively) were the primary compounds. The results of this investigation indicate that cell suspension of globe artichoke could represent a potential source of bioactive compounds with high antioxidant properties for industrial applications.

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Abbreviations

NAA:

α-Naphthalene acetic acid

BAP:

6-Benzylaminopurine

MS:

Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium

B5:

Gamborg et al. (1968) medium

FW:

Fresh weight

DM:

Dry matter

CVS:

Cell volume after sedimentation

HPLC:

High-performance liquid chromatography

FRAP:

Ferric reducing-antioxidant power

DPPH:

2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl

TP:

Total polyphenol

TA:

Total anthocyanin

AA:

Antioxidant activity

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123, Catania, Italy

    Gaetano Pandino, Sara Lombardo & Giovanni Mauromicale

  2. Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Casaccia Research Center, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy

    Massimiliano Meneghini & Raffaela Tavazza

Authors
  1. Gaetano Pandino
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  2. Massimiliano Meneghini
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  3. Raffaela Tavazza
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  4. Sara Lombardo
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  5. Giovanni Mauromicale
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Correspondence to Raffaela Tavazza.

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Pandino, G., Meneghini, M., Tavazza, R. et al. Phytochemicals accumulation and antioxidant activity in callus and suspension cultures of Cynara scolymus L.. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 128, 223–230 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-016-1102-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-016-1102-6

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