The content of some important bioactive compounds in selected species of edible weeds from genus bittercress (Cardamine spp.), was analysed in this study. Plants were harvested in spring. Hairy bittercress (C. hirsuta L.) was collected in six different timespans, whereas the other selected species of bittercress were collected in a single timespan. We analysed the chlorophylls, carotenoids, tocopherols and phenolic compounds. Regarding lipophilic antioxidants, hairy bittercress was the richest in the phase of forming inflorescence, when the highest values of carotenoids (1,94 mg/g SM), chlorophylls (5,07 mg/g SM) and tocopherols (200 µg/g SM) was measured; however, the difference was not statistically significant compared to the first sampling phase of leaf rosette and blooming faze. The highest contents of total phenolic compounds were determined in hairy bittercress samples collected in the phase of early blooming (15,55 mg GAE/g), during blooming (16,87 mg GAE/g) and in the phase of developing fruit (15,68 mg GAE/g). Considering the contents of antioxidants, hairy bittercress is most suitable for collecting in the blooming time. Individual species of bittercress did not significantly differ in their bioactive compounds content. An exception was the meadow bittercress (C. pratensis L.), which had the highest levels of total tocopherols and phenols. Compared to selected cultivated vegetables from other studies, the coralroot (C. bulbifera L.), hairy bittercress, meadow bittercress and large bittercress have proven to be very good sources of bioactive compounds.
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