Eldor Isomov 1, Aminjon Karabaev 2, Zebo Rasulova 3, Makhsuda Bekmuradova 2, Khudoyor Gafforov 2, Karim Gaziev 4, Khusniddin Kuvvatov 5, Feruz Kurbanov 5, Jasur Mahammadiev 1, Nodirjon Bobokandov 1* and Zebunisso Nomozova 3
1Samarkand Agroinnovations and Research University, Samarkand, Uzbekistan; 2Samarkand State Medical University, Samarkand, Uzbekistan; 3Sharof Rashidov Samarkand State University, Samarkand, Uzbekistan; 4Bukhara State Medical Institute, Bukhara, Uzbekistan; 5Samarkand State University of Veterinary Medicine, Livestock and Biotechnologies, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
*Corresponding author: nboboqandov@gmail.com
In recent decades, the rapid growth of the global population has led to a concomitant increase in the demand for both food and medicinal products. Meeting the full spectrum of human nutritional requirements depends not only on the quantity of food intake but also on the diet's diversity and nutritional quality. Consequently, the identification and introduction of novel forage or functional plants necessitate a comprehensive assessment of their chemical, nutritional, and functional properties. For a detailed evaluation, several parameters must be considered. These include the chemical composition of the fresh (wet) biomass, the nutritional value of organic constituents, digestibility metrics, and the potential for silage production or other processing methods. Such assessments provide crucial insights into the feasibility of incorporating a given plant species into animal feed systems or human dietary applications. Despite the economic and functional importance of Cynara scolymus (artichoke), studies evaluating its nutritional and forage potential remain limited. Existing literature indicates that the edible parts of the plant, particularly the flower heads (capitula), have a high water content of approximately 86.5%, with nitrogenous compounds accounting for 2.5% of the wet weight. The carbohydrate fraction is represented by 1% simple sugars and 2% dextrins, while dietary fiber constitutes 1.3%, and ash content 1.3%. Notably, the fleshy portion of the involucral leaves or “basket” accumulates approximately 2.2% sugar, indicating a moderate energy contribution from soluble carbohydrates. These compositional characteristics suggest that C. scolymus not only provides hydration through its high-water content but also contributes essential nutrients, including nitrogenous compounds and soluble sugars, which are vital for both metabolic and fermentative processes in animal digestion. Furthermore, the relatively balanced content of fiber and minerals indicates its potential suitability for silage preparation, providing an additional avenue for extending its utility in forage and nutritional applications. Given the limited data currently available, further systematic investigations are warranted to fully characterize the nutritive value, digestibility, and functional properties of C. scolymus, particularly under diverse cultivation and processing conditions. Such studies would facilitate evidence-based recommendations for integrating human nutrition and livestock feeding systems, ultimately enhancing dietary diversity and food security.