Tunisian <i>Silybum</i> Species: Important Sources of Polyphenols, Organic Acids, Minerals, and Proteins across Various Plant Organs
Samah Maaloul,
Maher Mahmoudi,
Hédi Mighri,
Imen Ghzaiel,
Talel Bouhamda,
Fayçal Boughalleb,
Adil El Midaoui,
Anne Vejux,
Gérard Lizard,
Raoudha Abdellaoui
Affiliations
Samah Maaloul
Laboratory of Rangeland Ecosystems and Valorization of Spontaneous Plants and Associated Microorganisms (LR16IRA03), Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabes, Medenine 4119, Tunisia
Maher Mahmoudi
Laboratory of Rangeland Ecosystems and Valorization of Spontaneous Plants and Associated Microorganisms (LR16IRA03), Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabes, Medenine 4119, Tunisia
Hédi Mighri
Laboratory of Rangeland Ecosystems and Valorization of Spontaneous Plants and Associated Microorganisms (LR16IRA03), Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabes, Medenine 4119, Tunisia
Imen Ghzaiel
Team ‘Biochemistry of the Peroxisome, Inflammation and Lipid Metabolism’ (EA7270), University of Bourgogne, 21000 Dijon, France
Talel Bouhamda
Advanced Analysis Platform, Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabes, Medenine 4119, Tunisia
Fayçal Boughalleb
Laboratory of Rangeland Ecosystems and Valorization of Spontaneous Plants and Associated Microorganisms (LR16IRA03), Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabes, Medenine 4119, Tunisia
Adil El Midaoui
Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
Anne Vejux
Team ‘Biochemistry of the Peroxisome, Inflammation and Lipid Metabolism’ (EA7270), University of Bourgogne, 21000 Dijon, France
Gérard Lizard
Team ‘Biochemistry of the Peroxisome, Inflammation and Lipid Metabolism’ (EA7270), University of Bourgogne, 21000 Dijon, France
Raoudha Abdellaoui
Laboratory of Rangeland Ecosystems and Valorization of Spontaneous Plants and Associated Microorganisms (LR16IRA03), Arid Regions Institute, University of Gabes, Medenine 4119, Tunisia
Silybum marianum and Silybum eburneum are wild edible Mediterranean plants used in the human diet. This study presents the initial findings on the phytochemical characterization of Tunisian S. marianum and S. eburneum organs. It examined their mineral, sugar, organic acid, polyphenolic, and seed storage protein contents, as well as their antioxidant potential. In S. marianum, stems had high sodium and potassium contents, while the immature and mature seeds were rich in calcium and magnesium. However, S. eburneum had high potassium levels in stems and high sodium and calcium levels in the flowers. S. marianum showed substantial fructose variation among its organs. Conversely, S. eburneum exhibited significant heterogeneity in glucose, sucrose, and maltose levels across its organs, with maltose exclusively detected in the immature seeds. A notable organ-dependent distribution of organic acids was observed among the two species. Higher levels of phenolic contents were detected in both mature and immature seeds in both species compared to the other plant parts. The seeds possessed higher antioxidant activities than other plant organs. In both S. marianum and S. eburneum seeds, albumins and globulins were the predominant protein fractions. This study brings evidence supporting the important potential of Silybum organs as sources of nutrients with antioxidant properties for producing functional food.
