Green pies: The flavonoid rich Greek snack

Identification of the functional food potency of çalkama: A traditional recipe with edible Mediterranean wild greens from Turkish cuisine

BACKGROUND: The phytochemical contents of traditional foods are necessary to further elucidate the impacts of the Mediterranean diet on health. Çalkama is traditional food prepared by using wild green plants including chard (Beta vulgaris var.cicl), wild fennel (Foeniculum vulgare spp), common mellow (Malva sylvestris L), common poppy (Papaver rhoeas L), dock (Rumex spp), common nettle (Urtica dioica L), sow-thistle (Sonchus asper (L) Hill), common stork’s bill (Erodium circutarium (L)L Hér) and wild leek (Allium ampeloprasum L). OBJECTIVE: In this research, the antioxidant activity and the flavonoid and phenolic acid composition were separately analyzed for each plant and çalkama. METHODS: Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and total antioxidant capacity of each plant and çalkama were measured spectrophotometric assays. Ultra-fast liquid chromatography (UFLC) was performed to detect specific flavonoid groups. RESULTS: It was detected that one portion of çalkama (100 g) contained approximately 250 mg of flavonoids. Particularly, quercetin and apigenin contributed to the main flavonoid source and chlorogenic acid was the major phenolic acid in çalkama. CONCLUSIONS: According to our findings, this food can be considered as a good phenolic and flavonoid source which protects its high antioxidant capacity through preparation and cooking processes.

Extracts from the Mediterranean Food Plants Carthamus lanatus, Cichorium intybus, and Cichorium spinosum Enhanced GSH Levels and Increased Nrf2 Expression in Human Endothelial Cells

The Mediterranean diet is considered to prevent several diseases. In the present study, the antioxidant properties of six extracts from Mediterranean plant foods were assessed. The extracts' chemical composition analysis showed that the total polyphenolic content ranged from 56 to 408 GAE mg/g dw of extract. The major polyphenols identified in the extracts were quercetin, luteolin, caftaric acid, caffeoylquinic acid isomers, and cichoric acid. The extracts showed in vitro high scavenging potency against ABTS•+ and O2 •- radicals and reducing power activity. Also, the extracts inhibited peroxyl radical-induced cleavage of DNA plasmids. The three most potent extracts, Cichorium intybus, Carthamus lanatus, and Cichorium spinosum, inhibited OH•-induced mutations in Salmonella typhimurium TA102 cells. Moreover, C. intybus, C. lanatus, and C. spinosum extracts increased the antioxidant molecule glutathione (GSH) by 33.4, 21.5, and 10.5% at 50 μg/ml, respectively, in human endothelial EA.hy926 cells. C. intybus extract was also shown to induce in endothelial cells the transcriptional expression of Nrf2 (the major transcription factor of antioxidant genes), as well as of antioxidant genes GCLC, GSR, NQO1, and HMOX1. In conclusion, the results suggested that extracts from edible plants may prevent diseases associated especially with endothelium damage.

Phytochemical Composition of the Decoctions of Greek Edible Greens (Chórta) and Evaluation of Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Properties

Wild or semi-wild edible greens (chórta) are an integral part of the traditional Greek Mediterranean diet due to their nutritional value, containing various phytonutrients beneficial to human health. Water-based decoctions of chórta are widely consumed in Greek alternative medicine as health promoting agents. This study examined the chemical profile of the decoctions of eight edible plants, Cichorium intybus, C. endivia, C. spinosum, Crepis sancta, Sonchus asper, Carthamus lanatus, Centaurea raphanina, and Amaranthus blitum, by UPLC-ESI-HRMS and HRMS/MS analysis, to determine possibly bioactive constituents. The profiles of the plants from the Asteraceae family are dominated by the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoid derivatives, whereas the A. blitum decoction is rich in triterpene saponins. Interestingly, the Centaurea raphanina decoction was found to be extremely rich in flavanones, particularly in the aglycone pinocembrin. Further phytochemical investigation and fractionation of this extract resulted in the isolation and identification of five compounds: phlorin (1), syringin (2), pinocembrin (3), pinocembroside (4), and pinocembrin-7-O-neohesperidoside (5). The extracts were also tested for their antioxidant and differential cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. C. raphanina was found to be differentially toxic against metastatic tumor cells. In conclusion, we found that Greek edible greens are a rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites and their consumption could contribute to the maintenance of overall health.

Macronutrient content and food exchanges for 48 Greek Mediterranean dishes

AIM

The purpose of the present study was to facilitate the translation of traditional Greek Mediterranean recipes into food exchanges for diabetes. Moreover, it provides a useful food list for meal planning, which can be used by health professionals and nutritionists, as well as researchers and the public.

METHODS

A total of 48 traditional Greek Mediterranean dishes were selected in order to include appetisers, sauces, salads, pies, dishes with vegetables and legumes as well as egg, pasta, rice, meat, fish and poultry-based dishes. The macronutrient content of each recipe (carbohydrate, fat, protein and dietary fibre) was estimated with the use of the USDA database and Greek food composition tables. Then, in order to calculate the food exchanges per serve, an approximation method was followed as suggested in the literature.

RESULTS

The Mediterranean Greek dishes contain a considerable amount of vegetables and dietary fibre, and their energy content mainly derives from olive oil. For each serve, carbohydrate, non-starchy vegetable, protein (lean, medium or high fat), milk and fat exchanges are provided. Moreover, the type of fat that each recipe contains is reported.

CONCLUSIONS

The presented data offer a chance for health professionals to efficiently plan Mediterranean-type meals, ensuring more sophisticated dietetic advice, higher standards of medical nutrition therapy and greater patient self-efficacy.