## 3 Results and Discussion
### Chemical Investigation  
#### 3.3.1 Characterization and Quantification of Phenolic Compounds by HPLC-DAD  
In the analyzed tissues from the three genotypes, nine hydroxycinnamate and flavone compounds, along with one sesquiterpene lactone (cyanopicrin), were identified based on chromatographic retention times and UV spectrum profiles (Table 3). In all analyzed samples, caffeoylquinic acids were the predominant phenolic compounds, with the greatest contribution attributed to 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid) and 3,5- and 1,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acids, which were consistently detected in the highest concentrations across genotypes and plant tissues (Table 3). In contrast, extremely small quantities of flavonoids, represented by apigenin and its glycosylated form, apigenin 7-O-glucose, were detected in only some of the analyzed samples (Table 3). Although the qualitative phenolic profile was similar across all samples, the total phenolic content, calculated as the sum of individual phenolic compounds, varied significantly between genotypes and plant parts (Table 3). Among the genotypes studied, Orte 2 F7 P2 exhibited the highest total phenolic content in both the stem and SFH (87,849.52 and 55,951.70 mg/kg DW, respectively), followed by Orte 1 F4 P10, which contained a similar total polyphenol content in both the stem (28,571.68 mg/kg DW) and SFH (26,117.05 mg/kg DW). In contrast, Grato 1 displayed the lowest values in both plant tissues (24,125.88 mg/kg DW in the stem and 14,637.16 mg/kg DW in the SFH). These differences can be attributed primarily to the significantly higher amounts of di-O-caffeoylquinic acids, particularly 1,5- and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acids, detected in the two plant tissues of Orte 2 F7 P2 compared to the other genotypes. Notably, the levels of these two di-O-caffeoylquinic acids were approximately four and three to seven times higher in the stem and SFH of Orte 2 F7 P2, respectively, compared to the same tissues in the other two genotypes. Minimal quantities of 1,3-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (cyanrin) were detected in all samples, with an apparent absence in the SFH of Grato 1 (Table 3). In contrast to the accumulation of di-Ocaffeoylquinic acids, the levels of mono-O-caffeoylquinic acids, particularly chlorogenic acid and caffe acid, exhibited an opposite trend across the three genotypes. Generally, higher amounts were detected in both the stem and SFH of Orte 1 F4 P10, followed by the reference genotype Grato 1, while Orte 2 F7 P2 showed the lowest quantities in both tissues (Table 17). Among flavonoids, apigenin 7-O-glucose was detected in minimal amounts in the SFH of Orte 1 F4 P10 (166.17 mg/kg DW) and Orte 2 F7 P2 (90.38 mg/kg DW), but not in the stems of either genotype. This apigenin derivative was completely absent in Grato 1. Moreover, extremely small quantities of apigenin were recorded only in the SFH of Orte 2 F7 P2 (44.48 mg/kg DW) (Table 17). Finally, regarding cynaropicrin, its concentrations varied significantly among genotypes and tissues (Table 17). Orte 2 F7 P2 showed a significantly higher level of this sesquiterpene lactone in the stem (2254.58 mg/kg DW), followed by the secondary flower head (976.85 mg/kg DW), while lower amounts were detected in both tissues of Orte 1 F4 P10 (740.99 mg/kg DW in SFH and 283.97 mg/kg DW in the stem, respectively). In contrast, Grato 1 showed no detectable cynaropicrin in either tissue (Table 17). The quantitative and qualitative profiles of polyphenols in various artichoke plant parts are well documented in the literature, revealing that these profiles are influenced by multiple factors. These include the methodologies employed for extraction and analysis, the genotype of the plant, environmental conditions, agronomic practices, and the specific physiological stage of the plant material under investigation [27 27 27 27 ]. In this study, the total phenolic content, calculated as the sum of individual phenolic compounds, differed significantly among the three analyzed genotypes across the two tissues examined.