Chemical Profiling and Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity of Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) Leaf By-Products’ Extracts Obtained with Green Extraction Techniques

What if the waste from artichoke leaves could be a treasure trove of antioxidants? Green extraction techniques are turning this by-product into a source of health-promoting compounds.

Artichoke leaves, often discarded as waste, hide a wealth of bioactive compounds. Scientists compared four green extraction techniques to unlock these hidden treasures. The methods—deep eutectic solvent extraction, supercritical CO2, subcritical water, and ultrasound-assisted extraction—each offered unique advantages. Subcritical water extraction (SWE) emerged as the star, yielding the highest total phenolic content (23.39 mg/g dry plant). It also produced extracts with the strongest antioxidant activity, as confirmed by both DPPH and FRAP assays. Meanwhile, supercritical CO2 proved highly selective for cynaropicrin, a compound with potential health benefits. The study identified key compounds like luteolin and chlorogenic acid, and used principal component analysis to reveal that SWE excels overall, while ultrasound and deep eutectic solvents show comparable results. This research highlights that choosing the right green technique can transform agricultural waste into valuable, antioxidant-rich extracts—a win for both health and sustainability.

Key Points

• Subcritical water extraction yields highest total phenolics (23.39 mg/g).
• Supercritical CO2 selectively recovers cynaropicrin (48.33 mg/g).
• PCA confirms SWE's strong antioxidant activity.