Articles
The cultivation of Cynara cardunculus L. as fresh and medicinal plant in central Europe
Article number
1424_2
Pages
13 – 24
Language
English
Abstract
Cynara cardunculus includes globe artichoke and two cardoon forms, which are important vegetables from the Mediterranean Basin.
The plant is world widely used as food and non conventional uses.
The modern breeding and propagation technologies for the production of new globe artichoke and cardoon forms cultivars that grow at higher latitudes allowed to spread these crops also in Central Europe.
In this area their cultivation is primarly focussed on the plant as a medicinal herb, due to its high content of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, inulin, anthocyanins, fibre, and essential minerals, to which the therapeutic properties of the species have been ascribe.
For this reason, the cultivation is adopted to obtain mainly leaf biomass for pharmaceutical applications.
Nevertheless, some growers have started to produce globe artichoke for vegetable markets and food industry.
This review starts with a brief historical background on C. cardunculus on Central Europe, followed by information on the cultivation systems applied and importance in the culinary, medicinal and ornamental roles of these crops in Central Europe.
The main focus of this review is the use of globe artichoke and cardoon forms as medicinal plant for their bioactive compounds.
Other potential uses, as rennet substitute to make cheese or as energy crop, were also explorated with promising results to widespread these crops in North and East Europe.
The plant is world widely used as food and non conventional uses.
The modern breeding and propagation technologies for the production of new globe artichoke and cardoon forms cultivars that grow at higher latitudes allowed to spread these crops also in Central Europe.
In this area their cultivation is primarly focussed on the plant as a medicinal herb, due to its high content of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, inulin, anthocyanins, fibre, and essential minerals, to which the therapeutic properties of the species have been ascribe.
For this reason, the cultivation is adopted to obtain mainly leaf biomass for pharmaceutical applications.
Nevertheless, some growers have started to produce globe artichoke for vegetable markets and food industry.
This review starts with a brief historical background on C. cardunculus on Central Europe, followed by information on the cultivation systems applied and importance in the culinary, medicinal and ornamental roles of these crops in Central Europe.
The main focus of this review is the use of globe artichoke and cardoon forms as medicinal plant for their bioactive compounds.
Other potential uses, as rennet substitute to make cheese or as energy crop, were also explorated with promising results to widespread these crops in North and East Europe.
Authors
A. Sałata, G. Pandino
Keywords
globe artichoke, cultivated cardoon, biomas yield, polyphenols, nutritional value, therapeutic properties
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