Comparative evaluation of several biologically active compounds content in Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. and Anthriscus cerefolium (L.) Hoffm

Relevance. A rare representative of the Apiaceae family the garden chervil is widely used abroad in nutrition and in folk and traditional medicine. Methods. Evaluation of nutritional potential of Anthriscus cerefolium (L.) Hoffm and Anthriscus sylvestris Hoffm grown in Moscow region is achieved using the parameters of ascorbic acid, polyphenols, flavonoids, total antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts. Results. Garden chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) was characterized by lower concentrations of ascorbic acid (1.6-1.8 times), phenolics (2.2-2.5 times), flavonoids (1.8 2.2 times), total antioxidant activity (1-1.54 times) and dry matter content (2.4-4.9 times) than wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris) but demonstrated significantly higher levels of total dissolved solids. Significantly higher content of dry matter in leaves and especially stems of wild chervil correlates with low nutritional value of stems despite large total mass of plants compared to garden chervil. Contrary to wild chervil, Anthriscus cerefolium recorded unusually high concentrations of carotene in leaves and significantly lower levels of chlorophyll b. Seeds of garden chervil were also characterized by low antioxidant status contrary to wild chervil and seeds of curly parsley. High yield and significant nutritional value of garden chervil indicate important prospects of its wide-scale cultivation in Russia while Anthriscus sylvestris plants seem to be important in breeding processes.