## 3 Results and Discussion  
### Aqueous Extract from C. cardunculus Leaves: Compound Identification by LC-HRMS/MS  
The compounds present in the leaves decoction extract of _C. cardunculus_ (CL) are shown in Table 1.  
The results showed that this extract is composed mainly (52%) of chlorogenic acid and their derivatives, cynarin, and caffeoylquinic acids. The compound with a retention time of 5.1 min was identified as chlorogenic acid and showed the highest intensity (303, 408). Fifteen percent of flavonoid compounds are luteolin glycosylated compounds. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Retention Time (min)** & **Proposed** & **Molecular Form** & **MG-HJ–\#z** & **MS/MS Fragment Ions** & **Intensities** \\  & **Compound** & **(Error-ppm)** & **[M-HJ–\#z** & **[m/z (Intensity \%)]** & **Intensities** \\ \hline
1.8 & Isocitric acid & C\({}_{\text{C}}\)H\({}_{\text{O}}\)- & 191.0196 & 111.00 (44); 103.04 (3); 87.00 (100); & 153.408 \\  & & (-2.5) & 57.03 (22) & 25.04 (22) & 59.154 \\
2.0 & Methylmalonic acid & (-1.4) & 117.0195 & 73.02 (100); 95 (12); 56.02 (8) & 59.154 \\
3.9 & 4-caffeoylquinic acid & C\({}_{\text{Li}}\)H\({}_{\text{O}}\)- & 353.0873 & 191.05 (100); 179.03 (1); 161.02 (2); & 56.606 \\  & & (1.4) & 109.03 (2); 87.08 (2); 85.02 (8) & 56.606 \\
4.4 & 5-caffeoylquinic acid & C\({}_{\text{Ni}}\)H\({}_{\text{O}}\)- & 353.0878 & 191.05 (100); 179.06 (65); 135.04 & 247.994 \\
5.1 & 3-caffeoylquinic acid = Chlorogenic & C\({}_{\text{Ni}}\)H\({}_{\text{Ni}}\)- & 353.0880 & 191.05 (100); 85.02 (23) & 303.408 \\  & & (-0.6) & & 353.09 (5); 272.94 (5); 117.03 (4); & 28.042 \\
5.6 & Chlorogenic derivative & C\({}_{\text{Zn}}\)H\({}_{\text{O}}\)- & 471.1871 & 101.02 (22); 75.09 (5); 71.04 (44); & 28.042 \\  & & (0.2) & 59.01 (28) & 59.01 (28) & 118.826 \\
5.7 & Cynarin & C\({}_{\text{Ni}}\)H\({}_{\text{O}}\)- & 515.1195 & 353.08 (67); 191.05 (100); 179.05 & 118.826 \\  & & (0.0) & (63); 135.04 (74); 85.02 (10) & 85.02 (10) & \\
6.6 & Luteolin-7-O-glucose & C\({}_{\text{Li}}\)H\({}_{\text{O}}\)- & 447.0928 & 285.03 (20); 256.30 (13); 108.168 & 108.168 \\  & & (1.3) & 363.08 (89); 191.05 (50); 179.03 & & \\
6.7 & Cynarin isomer & C\({}_{\text{Si}}\)H\({}_{\text{O}}\)- & 515.1183 & 693; 173.04 (100); 135.04 (78); & 61.892 \\  & & (2.3) & & 161.26 (18) & 16.22 (18) & \\
7.0 & Luteolin-7-O-(6° malonylglucose) & C\({}_{\text{Si}}\)H\({}_{\text{O}}\)- & 533.0934 & 489.1 (100); 285.03 (42); 256.03 (5); & 109.720 \\  & & (0.5) & 151.00 (8) & 109.720 (11) & 109.719 (12); & \\
7.2 & Gibberellin A8 & C\({}_{\text{Ni}}\)H\({}_{\text{O}}\)- & 261.11 (11); 24.30 (11); 199.91 (12); & 117.618 \\  & & (0.1) & 363.1449 & 261.11 (11); 146.96 (11) & 116.496 (11) \\
7.6 & Coumaric acid-glycosidic & C\({}_{\text{Li}}\)H\({}_{\text{O}}\)- & 307.1184 & 200.12 (11); 161.10 (14); 146.96 (10) & 24,658 \\  & & (1.0) & & 44.99 (100) & \\
8.3 & Gibberellin A28 dehydrogenase & C\({}_{\text{Ni}}\)H\({}_{\text{O}}\)- & 391.1393 & 273.0192 (12); 2453.1028 (1); 218.98 & 195,196 \\  & & (1.4) & & 107.05 (11); 44.99 (100) & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Characterization of compounds present in leaves decoction extract of _C. cardunculus_ L. by HPLC-DAD-ESI (Negative mode) HRMS. Several studies [1; 13; 21] also reported the presence of these compounds in the leaves of _C. cardunculus_ L.  
Two hormones were also detected, gibberellin A8 and A28, which are endogenous hormone growth regulators [22]. Gibberellines mediate various plant developmental and growth processes, including seed germination, shoot elongation and flower initiation and development [23]. The high intensity of gibberellin detected in _C. cardunculus_ leaf extract is probably due to the growth stage in which the plant _C. cardunculus_ L was in. The chemical composition of _C. cardunculus_ leaf extract is similar to the chemical composition of inflorescence extract already reported in the literature.