Antioxidant and anti-hemolytic activities of different parts (leaves, stems and heart) of the artichoke (Cynara scolymus L) cooked with different methods in west Algeria

This study was undertaken to estimate antioxidant and anti-hemolytic activi-ties of different parts (leaves, stem and heart) of the artichoke (Cynara scoly-mus L) cooked with different methods. The leaves, stems and hearts were used either raw or cooked according to four cooking methods: evaporated, boiled, oven-baked and sauteed. On the different extracts prepared from artichoke parts (raw or cooked), total polyphenols and flavonoids contents, anti-oxidant and anti-hemolytic activities were evaluated. According to the four cooking methods, the polyphenol and flavonoids contents of baked leaves were the highest. Polyphenol contents were higher in boiled stems while flavonoids contents were elevated in evaporated stems. Evaporated and boiled hearts exhibited the best polyphenols and flavonoids contents. The three parts of the artichoke had a scavenger effect against the DPPH radical and baked leaves showed the higher activity compared to raw leaves. The evaporated, sauteed and boiled cooking modes indicated reduced H2O2 entrapment activity by 41%, 42% and 37%, respectively compared to raw artichoke. In addition, cooked hearts had reduced H2O2 trapping activity compared to the raw heart. Compared to raw products, NO trapping activity increased in sauteed leaves and hearts while this activity was smaller in boiled leaves, stems and hearts. Boiled and sauteed leaves increased the percentage of inhibition of hemolysis of human erythrocyte by 68% and 65%, respectively, compared to raw leaves. The present results demonstrated that common cooking methods applied to artichoke have increased the nutrition-al quality of this vegetable and that effect depends upon the vegetable part.