Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and Milk-Clotting Activity of Aqueous Extracts from Leaves, Stems, and Flowers of Three Tunisian Ecotypes of Spontaneous and Cultivated <i>Onopordum nervosum</i> ssp. <i>platylepis</i> Murb.: A Potential Novel Vegetable Rennet Option
Rania Kouki,
Ismahen Essaidi,
Khouloud Annabi,
Najla Dhen,
Faouzi Haouala,
Abdulrahman M. Alhudhaibi,
Hassan A. Alrudayni,
Samra Akef Bziouech,
Olfa Ayari,
Bouthaina Al Mohandes Dridi
Affiliations
Rania Kouki
Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir (ISBM), University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Ismahen Essaidi
Laboratory of Agrobiodiversity and Ecotoxicology LR21AGR02, High Agronomic Institute of Chott Mariem, University of Sousse, Sousse 4042, Tunisia
Khouloud Annabi
Laboratory of Agrobiodiversity and Ecotoxicology LR21AGR02, High Agronomic Institute of Chott Mariem, University of Sousse, Sousse 4042, Tunisia
Najla Dhen
Laboratory of Agrobiodiversity and Ecotoxicology LR21AGR02, High Agronomic Institute of Chott Mariem, University of Sousse, Sousse 4042, Tunisia
Faouzi Haouala
Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
Abdulrahman M. Alhudhaibi
Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
Hassan A. Alrudayni
Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
Samra Akef Bziouech
Laboratory of Agrobiodiversity and Ecotoxicology LR21AGR02, High Agronomic Institute of Chott Mariem, University of Sousse, Sousse 4042, Tunisia
Olfa Ayari
Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir (ISBM), University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Bouthaina Al Mohandes Dridi
Laboratory of Agrobiodiversity and Ecotoxicology LR21AGR02, High Agronomic Institute of Chott Mariem, University of Sousse, Sousse 4042, Tunisia
This study aimed to compare the chemical composition of aqueous extracts from different aerial plant parts (leaves, stems, and flowers) of Onopordum nervosum ssp. platylepis growing in different regions (Sousse, Kairouan, and Nabeul) in Tunisia, as well as their antioxidant and milk-clotting properties for both spontaneously grown and cultivated plants. Results showed that phenolic composition varies significantly among ecotypes and plant organs (p O. platylepis aqueous extracts is significantly affected by the organ and genotype (p < 0.05). NA genotype revealed the highest potency in inhibiting free radicals, with flowers having the lowest IC50s values in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) tests, registering 0.13 ± 0.02 and 0.14 ± 0.01 mg/mL, respectively. Milk-clotting activity was limited to flowers of this thistle. Moreover, SO and NA genotypes were identified as the most potent populations to coagulate milk in spontaneous and cultivated plants. The principal component analysis confirms the organ and genotype variability in this thistle, with the first two axes explaining 64.15% of the variance and highlighting a distinct flower group. The obtained results suggest that the domestication of this thistle could be useful for the conservation of biodiversity and the promotion of genotypes with potential technological properties.
