antioxidants Article Changes in Phenolics and Fatty Acids Composition and Related Gene Expression during the Development from Seed to Leaves of Three Cultivated Cardoon Genotypes 1, , 2, 2 3 Giulia Graziani * y , Teresa Docimo y , Monica De Palma , Francesca Sparvoli , Luana Izzo 1, Marina Tucci 2,* and Alberto Ritieni 1,4 1 Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy;
[email protected] (L.I.);
[email protected] (A.R.) 2 Institute of Bioscience and Bioresources, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Università 133, 80055 Portici, Italy;
[email protected] (T.D.);
[email protected] (M.D.P.) 3 Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via E. Bassini 15, 20133 Milan, Italy;
[email protected] 4 Unesco Chair for Health Education and Sustainable Development, 80131 Naples, Italy * Correspondence:
[email protected] (G.G.);
[email protected] (M.T.) These authors contributed equally to this work. y Received: 19 October 2020; Accepted: 5 November 2020; Published: 8 November 2020 Abstract: Cultivated cardoon (Cynara cardunculus var. altilis) has long been used as a food and medicine remedy and nowadays is considered a functional food. Its leaf bioactive compounds are mostly represented by chlorogenic acids and coumaroyl derivatives, known for their nutritional value and bioactivity. Having antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties, these molecules are used for medicinal purposes. Apart from the phenolic compounds in green tissues, cultivated cardoon is also used for the seed oil, having a composition suitable for the human diet, but also valuable as feedstock for the production of biofuel and biodegradable bioplastics.