Neglected Potential of Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum L.)—Specialized Metabolites Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Wild Populations in Relation to Location and Plant Phenophase

Abstract

Wild garlic (Allium ursinum L.) is one of the species widely distributed in Europe and Asia and is often nutritionally neglected, characterized by a high content of various phytochemicals with high therapeutic potential and a range of biological activities. The aim of this study was to determine the content of bioactive compounds in the leaves of wild garlic populations collected from different micro-locations, and to determine the differences in the content of phytochemicals in the vegetative and generative phases. A significant content of different specialized metabolites was detected in all analyzed leaves of wild garlic populations regardless of the different factors (location and phenophase): vitamin C content with the highest determined value of 63.31 mg/100 g fw; total phenolic content with the highest determined value of 186.18 mg GAE/100 g fw (according to gallic acid in fresh sample); and antioxidant capacity with the highest determined value of 2230.66 µmol TE/L (according to Trolox). Significant differences in all the phytochemicals analyzed were observed depending on both the location and phenophase of the plants, with the most pronounced differences depending on the phenophase. Thus, lower levels of polyphenolic compounds and vitamin C were generally observed before the flowering phase, while the trend toward higher levels of pigment compounds was observed during the flowering phase of the plants. The results suggest that the leaves of wild garlic can be considered a valuable source of a variety of specialized metabolites with high antioxidant capacity, and thus have high production potential for various functional products and food supplements of natural origin, which are important for the promotion of human health.

Energy vs. Nutritional Potential of Virginia Mallow (Sida hermaphrodita L.) and Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.)

“…Some studies have also found an increase in the TPC from the budding to flowering stages, which was also observed in this study, wherein the cup plants showed a value of 65%. The reason for the increase in the total phenol content may be the plant’s response to the failed redistribution of phenol in the developing plant parts or part of a defense mechanism against senescence with which the plant responds by producing more phenol [ 36 ].…”

Edible Flower Species as a Promising Source of Specialized Metabolites

“…It is important to note that AsA biosynthesis in plants is strongly influenced by different factors such as photosynthesis rate, genetic predisposition [ 59 ], stress exposure [ 60 , 61 ], phenophase, etc. AsA is also involved in a number of important metabolic functions in the plant organism, including detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and is a cofactor for the biosynthesis of some plant hormones (ethylene, gibberellic acid and abscisic acid), which affect the regulation of developmental processes, including senescence and flower formation [ 62 ].…”

“…Some studies indicate the significant increase in TPC from the bud to the senescent stage [ 69 ]. The increase of total phenols at the flowering phase may be due to the failure of redistribution of the phenols to the developing parts or by the increased synthesis of phenols toward senescence as part of the defense mechanism [ 62 ], thus mature flowers are possibly a desirable source of these compounds.…”

Allium Species in the Balkan Region—Major Metabolites, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties

“…are market favorites in the form of processed products. Moreover, numerous wild species are used as food or remedy, mostly as common alliums [20].…”