Nutrients and Bioactive Molecules of the <i>Early</i> and <i>Late</i> Cultivars of the Treviso Red Chicory (<i>Cichorium intybus</i> L.)

Abstract

The study provides original data o n the compositional profile (macronutrients, dietary fiber, mineral and trace elements, bioactive molecules) of an Italian typical plant foods, <i> Treviso Red Cichory </i> , studying the two cultivars ( <i> Early, Late </i> ) grown following two different traditional cultivation systems . For two consecutive years plants from three growing areas, were studied. Major, significant differences, between <i> Early </i> and <i> Late </i> cultivars, were observed in minerals (Ca, Mg, P), trace elements (Fe, Zn) and bioactive molecules content. The <i> Late </i> cv. was found the richest in minerals and trace elements content than the <i> Early </i> cv., but for Ca. <i> Treviso Red Cichory </i> was found a valuable source of bioactive molecules such as ascorbic acid, anthocyanins and total polyphenols. The <i> Early </i> cv. showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) ascorbic acid and total anthocyanins content (8.63 and 92.15 mg/100g, respectively) than the <i> Late </i> cv. (6.15 and 24.38 mg/100g, respectively), by contrast total polyphenols content was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the <i> Late </i> cv. A marked variability in bioactive molecules content among the growing areas was found only for the <i> Late </i> cv. The observed differences between the <i> Early </i> and <i> Late </i> cultivars could be strictly related to the traditional growing systems applied during plant’s growth .