Comparison of Different Extraction Methods for the Determination of the Antioxidant and Antifungal Activity of Cynara scolymus and C. cardunculus Extracts and Infusions.

Extracts and infusions of wild artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L.) and globe artichoke (C. scolymus L.) (heads, bracts and stems) were examined for their total phenolic content (TPC) and their antioxidant activity after performing Classical Extraction (CE) and Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE). UAE proved to be more effective, since extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activity and TPC values than CE extracts and infusions. Moreover C. cardunculus heads extract using UAE, displayed the maximum TPC values (1.57 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) g⁻¹ fresh weight (fw)), the highest DPPH· scavenging activity (IC₅₀; 0.91mg mL⁻¹) and the highest ABTS·+ radical scavenging capacity (2.08 mg Trolox Equivalents (TE) g⁻¹ fw). Moreover, the effect of different concentrations of C. cardunculus head extracts (showing the highest TPC and antioxidant activity) on Aspergillus parasiticus growth was estimated in AFPA medium. The maximum inhibition was found to be 42.1% in comparison with the control.