Metabolite Profiling of “Carciofo di Paestum” PGI and “Bianco di Pertosa” (Cynara cardunculus subsp. scolymus) leaves by 1H NMR and HRMS-Based Metabolomics

The globe artichoke ( Cynara cardunculus subsp. scolymus, Asteraceae) is a perennial plant native to the Mediterranean. It is traditionally cultivated for its large, immature flower heads (capitula), used as a vegetable in Mediterranean dishes. These heads are consumed fresh or processed into frozen, cooked, canned, or oil-preserved products. The artichoke is a functional food due to its high content of minerals, bioactive phenolic compounds, and inulin [ 1 ]. Artichoke cultivation and processing generate significant waste (80%-85% of total biomass), mainly leaves. This study evaluates the potential of artichoke leaves from two Campania varieties, ‘Bianco di Pertosa’ and ‘Carciofo di Paestum’ PGI, focusing on bioactive compounds [ 2 ]. LC-ESI/HRMSMS analysis of hydralcholic extract (EtOH:H2O 75:25) of “Bianco di Pertosa” and “Carciofo di Paestum” leaves revealed the occurrence of compounds including sesquiterpenes, megastigmanes, quinic acid derivatives, flavonoids, lignans, triterpenoid saponins, and polar lipids. The structures of these compounds were determined using 1D- and 2D-NMR analysis. In particular from the leaves of “Bianco di Pertosa” cv. an unreported sesquiterpene lactone belonging to the class of guaianolides was isolated. Quantitative determination of caffeoyl- and dicaffeoyl-quinic acid derivatives was done using LC-ESI/QTrap/MS/MS, revealing 5-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid) as the most abundant compound in both extracts. Furthermore, 1 H NMR spectra of the extracts revealed the presence of organic acids, sugars, and amino acids. The relative concentrations of the metabolites identified by 1 H NMR were determined by comparing them to 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