Comprehensive chemical profiling of eco-sustainable Eextracts from “Cavolfiore della Piana del Sele” PGI (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) inner leaves by LC-HRMS- and NMR Metabolomics

Cauliflower ( Brassica oleracea var. botrytis), a member of the Brassicaceae family, is cultivated worldwide for its edible head, which consists of undeveloped flower buds. In Italy, cauliflower is extensively grown, and some regions have specific varieties recognized for their unique qualities [ 1 ]. Recently, Cavolfiore (cauliflower) della Piana del Sele has been registered by the European Union with the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) quality label [ 2 ]. The inner and outer leaves are a significant byproduct during the processing of cauliflower, typically accounting for around 40-50% of the total plant biomass [ 3 ]. In the frame of a project aimed at investigating plant wastes as source of bioactives in a circular economy perspective, a study was conducted on the inner leaves of Cavolfiore della Piana del Sele PGI. An unconventional method, Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE), was chosen to prepare eco-sustainable extracts using EtOH and a 1:1 EtOH:H 2 O mixture as solvents. To obtain comprehensive information on the primary and specialized metabolites of the cauliflower leaves, a combined LC-ESI/HRMS and 1 H NMR metabolomics approach was developed. The LC-ESI/HRMS profile allowed the identification of primary metabolites belonging to various classes of polar lipids, as well as specialized metabolites including glucosinolates, flavonoids, and phenylpropanoids. Additionally, 1 H NMR spectra of the extracts revealed the presence of organic acids, sugars, and amino acids. The relative concentration of metabolites identified by 1 H NMR was determined in comparison with the known concentration of the internal standard (TSP), using Chenomx software, which enables the quantification of individual components in NMR spectra. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany