Hyoseris radiata L.: valorization of a wild edible plant used in the phytoalimurgic tradition through a chemical and biological study

Today wild edible plants (WEPs), once pivotal during war and famine, have regained interest as a food in both the local and haute cuisine of many countries, also for their beneficial properties [1]. Hyoseris radiata L. (Asteraceae), known as “wild chicory,” is a perennial herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean region, North Africa, and West Asia. It flowers all year round and it can be found in pastures, uncultivated fields, on roadsides, and between the stones of dry walls [2]. Its traditional use is well known in Italy, especially in Liguria, Tuscany, Puglia, Calabria, and Sardinia eaten raw in salad or boiled, alone or together with other wild herbs [3]. Despite its widespread use in popular culinary recipes, H. radiata is an unexplored WEP. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate for the first time the phytochemical profile of H. radiata leaves hydroalcoholic extract collected in Tuscany and its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. A combined UHPLC-HR-ESI- Orbitrap/MS and NMR approach was used to identify the specialized and primary small metabolites. The LC-MS/MS analysis and the isolation through chromatographic techniques allowed the identification of 48 compounds, mostly phenols belonging to different subclasses, and several unsaturated fatty acids. The quantitative analysis highlighted a relevant amount of flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids, with a total of 12.9 ± 0.4 mg/g dry weight. In addition, NMR-based chemical profiling revealed the presence of a good amount of primary metabolites such as amino acids and monosaccharides, and chicoric acid as the most representative polyphenol according to LC-MS analysis. Cell-free (ABTS and DPPH tests) assays were implemented in order to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the plant extract. Additionally, the antioxidant and the anti-inflammatory efficacy of the extract were demonstrated by monitoring its ability to reduce reactive oxygen species and cytokine secretion, respectively, on LPS-stimulated alveolar adenocarcinoma (A549) and epidermal keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells [4]. As a result, the polyphenols-rich extract showed a good antioxidant activity in both cell-free and cell-based assays, along with a significant reduction in COX-2 expression. According with these data, H. radiata can be considered a valuable product in the agri-food sector for its health and nutritional potential. References [1] Łuczaj, Ł.; Pieroni, A.; Tardío, J.; Pardo-de-Santayana, M.; Sõukand, R.; Svanberg, I.; Kalle, R. Wild food plant use in 21st century Europe: the disappearance of old traditions and the search for new cuisines involving wild edibles. Acta Soc. Bot. Pol. 2012, 81, 359-370. [2] Pignatti, S. Flora d’Italia. Edagricole: Bologna, Italy, 2018; Vol. 4; pp. 1043-1044. [3] Guarrera, P.M., Savo, V. Wild food plants used in traditional vegetable mixtures in Italy. J. Ethnopharmacol. 2016, 185, 202–234.