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Motti R, Marotta M, Bonanomi G, Cozzolino S, Di Palma A. Ethnobotanical Documentation of the Uses of Wild and Cultivated Plants in the Ansanto Valley (Avellino Province, Southern Italy). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3690. [PMID: 37960047 PMCID: PMC10649993 DOI: 10.3390/plants12213690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
With approximately 2800 species, the Campania region has the richest vascular flora in southern Italy and the highest number of medicinal species reported in the Italian folk traditions. The study area is inserted in a wide rural landscape, still retaining a high degree of naturalness and is studied for the first time from an ethnobotanical point of view. By analyzing local traditional uses of wild plants in the Ansanto Valley area, the present study aims to contribute to the implementation of ethnobotanical knowledge concerning southern Italy. To gather ethnobotanical knowledge related to the Ansanto Valley, 69 semi-structured interviews were carried out through a snowball sampling approach, starting from locals with experience in traditional plant uses (key informants). A number of 117 plant species (96 genera and 46 families) were documented for traditional use from a total of 928 reports, of which 544 were about medicinal plants. New use reports on the utilization of plants for medicinal (5) and veterinary applications (8) in the Campania region and the whole Italian territory were outlined from our investigations. Sedum cepaea is reported as a medicinal plant for the first time in Italy and in the whole Mediterranean basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Motti
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy; (M.M.); (G.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Marco Marotta
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy; (M.M.); (G.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Giuliano Bonanomi
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy; (M.M.); (G.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Stefania Cozzolino
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy; (M.M.); (G.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Anna Di Palma
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council (IRET-CNR), 00015 Monterotondo Scalo, Italy;
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Sala G, Pasta S, Maggio A, La Mantia T. Sambucus nigra L. (fam. Viburnaceae) in Sicily: Distribution, Ecology, Traditional Use and Therapeutic Properties. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3457. [PMID: 37836198 PMCID: PMC10575429 DOI: 10.3390/plants12193457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Sambucus nigra, the elderberry, has long been used for its medicinal properties in treating numerous diseases. Based on this traditional knowledge, its different pharmacological activities have been the focus of active research. All parts of the tree have long been used in traditional medicine, that is, the bark, the leaves, the flowers and the fruit. This study, carried out in Sicily (Italy), concerns the traditional uses of elder against human diseases. In order to trace the history of man's interaction with elder on the island, multidisciplinary research was carried out, aiming at (1) presenting a comprehensive overview of elderberry's applications and activities and (2) bridging traditional knowledge (uses and beliefs) with modern science, i.e., the most recent scientific findings in the biomedical and pharmacological fields. A rigorous literature review of scientific (and other local) reports on the elderberry tree and its application in food, health and household applications was undertaken. This article also provides a synthetic and updated picture of the ecology and distribution of S. nigra in Sicily. The elderberry is quite widespread in Sicily, yet its distribution is discontinuous. It prefers hedges, riparian woodlands, forest margins and clearings and is rather common along the watercourses flowing in the canyons of the Hyblaean Plateau, in the Madonie Mts. and in Enna province. Indeed, many old plants are often found near sacred places and rural houses, suggesting that in the past, it was extensively planted on purpose for its multiple uses. The complementary data obtained from multidisciplinary research confirm the usefulness of this approach in building a comprehensive and correct picture of the distribution of the most common woody species, for which the available knowledge is often fragmentary and imprecise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Sala
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed.4, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Salvatore Pasta
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Italian National Research Council, via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Antonella Maggio
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), Section of Chemistry, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Tommaso La Mantia
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed.4, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, Italy
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Ethnobotanical Review and Dataset Compiling on Wild and Cultivated Plants Traditionally Used as Medicinal Remedies in Italy. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11152041. [PMID: 35956518 PMCID: PMC9370752 DOI: 10.3390/plants11152041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Over the centuries, wild plants have constituted the main food ingredients and traditional medicine in rural communities. In the last decades, thousands of ethnobotanical studies have been conducted, with the aim of documenting the traditional knowledge on wild and cultivated plants both for food and therapeutic purposes. In the present work, 75 published papers related to Italian ethnobotanical knowledge on wild and cultivated plants traditionally used for medical purposes were analyzed and data on 1117 different species organized in the first dataset to target medicinal applications only. For each plant species, the Italian region of use, plant organs, mode of preparation, specific pathological group of application, citation index, and use index were listed. The different therapeutic applications were subdivided into nine main pathological groups according to the targeted human apparatus. Overall, the cited species with highest number of uses were related to the treatment of the digestive system and skin-ears-eyes-hair diseases, followed by diseases of the genito-urinary and respiratory systems. The 13 most relevant species were identified on the basis of their citation and use indexes. The present review on Italian medicinal flora aims to provide valuable information on wild and cultivated species, which are potential sources of plant-based therapeutic remedies, to preserve and reevaluate endangered traditional folk knowledge.
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Traditional Herbal Remedies Used for Managing Anxiety and Insomnia in Italy: An Ethnopharmacological Overview. HORTICULTURAE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae7120523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety and insomnia are among the most common mental health disorders and are a major cause of disability around the world. Traditional herbal medicines are receiving significant attention in global health debates. Several Italian regions maintain rural traditions and are among the most extensively studied areas of Europe regarding medicinal plant uses. The present overview aims to highlight the use of wild and cultivated plants, specifically as sedatives and for insomnia treatment in Italy, and to collect, analyze, and summarize the available literature about their pharmacological activity as well as clinical and pre-clinical studies concerning the most cited plants. In total, 106 wild taxa are used in Italy for sedative purposes. The plant species belong to 76 genera and 32 families, of which the most cited are Asteraceae (24.2%) and Lamiaceae (21.1%). Leaves (29%) and flowers (27%) are the plant parts mostly used as infusion (70%) and decoction (25%). Out of 106 taxa documented, only the most cited are analyzed in this overview (A. arvensis L., C. nepeta L., C. monogyna Jacq., H. lupulus L., L. nobilis L., L. angustifolia Mill., M. sylvestris L., M. chamomilla L., M. officinalis L., O. basilicum L., P. rhoeas L., P. somniferum L., R. officinalis L., T. platyphyllus Scop., and V. officinalis L.). Among the fifteen species selected, only seven have been studied for their pharmacological activity as hypnotic-sedatives. Future pre-clinical and clinical studies are needed to better clarify the mechanism of action of bioactive compounds and confirm the potential of these alternative therapies.
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Candela RG, Rosselli S, Bruno M, Fontana G. A Review of the Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses and Biological Activities of the Essential Oils of Genus Teucrium. PLANTA MEDICA 2021; 87:432-479. [PMID: 33296939 DOI: 10.1055/a-1293-5768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The genus Teucrium is a large and polymorphic genus of the Lamiaceae family distributed in mild climate zones, particularly in the Mediterranean basin and Central Asia. Studies of nonvolatile constituents of Teucrium species showed that they are a rich source of neo-clerodane diterpenoids, considered as chemotaxonomic markers of the genus. In addition to the nonvolatile metabolites, there has been a large interest in the essential oils of this genus. In this review, a complete survey of the chemical composition and biological properties of the essential oils isolated from Teucrium taxa is provided. In traditional medicine, since ancient times, species of this genus have been widely implemented for their biological properties, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, insecticidal, anti-malaria, etc. Therefore, a complete review of all of the traditional uses of Teucrium taxa are also reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Gagliano Candela
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Sergio Rosselli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca "Riutilizzo bio-based degli scarti da matrici agroalimentari" (RIVIVE), Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maurizio Bruno
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca "Riutilizzo bio-based degli scarti da matrici agroalimentari" (RIVIVE), Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Fontana
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Das G, Lim KJ, Tantengco OAG, Carag HM, Gonçalves S, Romano A, Das SK, Coy-Barrera E, Shin HS, Gutiérrez-Grijalva EP, Heredia JB, Patra JK. Cactus: Chemical, nutraceutical composition and potential bio-pharmacological properties. Phytother Res 2020; 35:1248-1283. [PMID: 33025610 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Cactus species are plants that grow in the arid and semiarid regions of the world. They have long fascinated the attention of the scientific community due to their unusual biology. Cactus species are used for a variety of purposes, such as food, fodder, ornamental, and as medicinal plants. In the last regard, they have been used in traditional medicine for eras by the ancient people to cure several diseases. Recent scientific investigations suggest that cactus materials may be used as a source of naturally-occurring products, such as mucilage, fiber, pigments, and antioxidants. For this reason, numerous species under this family are becoming endangered and extinct. This review provides an overview of the habitat, classification, phytochemistry, chemical constituents, extraction and isolation of bioactive compounds, nutritional and pharmacological potential with pre-clinical and clinical studies of different Cactus species. Furthermore, conservation strategies for the ornamental and endangered species have also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gitishree Das
- Research Institute of Biotechnology & Medical Converged Science, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyangsi, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Jik Lim
- Department of Food Science & Biotechnology, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyangsi, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Harold M Carag
- Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Sandra Gonçalves
- MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Universidade do Algarve, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
| | - Anabela Romano
- MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Universidade do Algarve, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
| | - Swagat Kumar Das
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Engineering and Technology, Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Kalinga Nagar, Ghatikia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Ericsson Coy-Barrera
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Cajicá, Colombia
| | - Han-Seung Shin
- Department of Food Science & Biotechnology, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyangsi, Republic of Korea
| | - Erick Paul Gutiérrez-Grijalva
- Department of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, Cátedras CONACYT-Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, Culiacán, Mexico
| | - J Basilio Heredia
- Department of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, Culiacán, Mexico
| | - Jayanta Kumar Patra
- Research Institute of Biotechnology & Medical Converged Science, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyangsi, Republic of Korea
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Pasta S, La Rosa A, Garfì G, Marcenò C, Gristina AS, Carimi F, Guarino R. An Updated Checklist of the Sicilian Native Edible Plants: Preserving the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Century-Old Agro-Pastoral Landscapes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:388. [PMID: 32411152 PMCID: PMC7201097 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The traditional use of native wild food plants (NWFP) may represent a valuable supplementary food source for the present and future generations. In Sicily, the use of wild plants in the human diet dates back to very ancient times and still plays an important role in some rural communities. Moreover, in this regard, the natural and cultural inheritance of this island is wealthy and diversified for several reasons. First, Sicily hosts a rich vascular flora, with 3,000 native and 350 endemic plants. Second, due to its central position in the Mediterranean, the island has acted as a veritable melting pot for the ethnobotanical knowledge of the rural communities of the entire basin. We reviewed all the available literature and, starting from such omnicomprehensive checklist, partially improved thanks to the data issuing from recent field investigations, we critically revised the whole species list, basing our review on field data issuing from interviews and on our expert knowledge. As a result, we provide a substantially updated list of 292 NWFP growing on the island. Further 34 species, reported as NWFP on previous papers were discarded because they are not native to Sicily, while 45 species were listed separately because their identity, occurrence and local use as food is doubtful and needs to be further investigated. Moreover, we tried to shed light on the ecology (growth form and preferential habitat) of the Sicilian NWFP, with special focus on crop wild relatives (CWR). Our preliminary ecological analyses point out that a high percentage of these plants are linked with the so-called 'cultural' landscapes, patchy semi-natural environments rich in ecotones, leading to the conclusion that the maintenance of century-old agro-pastoral practices may represent an effective way to preserve the local heritage of edible plants. Our study allowed to identify as much as 102 taxa of agronomic interest which could be tested as novel crops in order to face ongoing global changes and to comply with sustainable agriculture policies. Among them, 39 taxa show promising traits in terms of tolerance to one or more environmental stress factors, while 55 more are considered CWR and/or can be easily cultivated and/or show high productivity/yield potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Pasta
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Garfì
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Corrado Marcenò
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | | | - Francesco Carimi
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Riccardo Guarino
- Dipartimento STeBiCeF, Sezione Botanica, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Gagliano Candela R, Ilardi V, Badalamenti N, Bruno M, Rosselli S, Maggi F. Essential oil compositions of Teucrium fruticans, T. scordium subsp. scordioides and T. siculum growing in Sicily and Malta. Nat Prod Res 2020; 35:3460-3469. [PMID: 32159394 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2019.1709193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, the chemical composition of the essential oils from the aerial parts of Teucrium fruticans L. collected in Sicily and Malta, Teucrium scordium subsp. scordioides (Schreb.) Arcang. and Teucrium siculum (Raf.) Guss., collected in Sicily, were evaluated by GC-MS. The main volatile components of both T. fruticans collections were germacrene D (29.4% and 50.0%), (E)-β-caryophyllene (19.6% and 21.9%), and 1-octen-3-ol (19.7% and 7.4%); T. scordium subsp. scordioides essential oil was rich in caryophyllene oxide (25.8%), α-pinene (19.4%) and β-pinene (8.5%); T. siculum essential oil was rich in (E)-β-caryophyllene (30.9%), 1-octen-3-ol (9.0%), α-humulene (8.6%) and germacrene D (8.0%). The chemotaxonomic relationship with other members of the respective botanical sections was discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Gagliano Candela
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Ilardi
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DISTeM), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Natale Badalamenti
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maurizio Bruno
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Sergio Rosselli
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (SAF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Filippo Maggi
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
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Zengin G, Locatelli M, Ferrante C, Menghini L, Orlando G, Brunetti L, Recinella L, Chiavaroli A, Leone S, Leporini L, Aumeeruddy MZ, Mahomoodally MF. New pharmacological targets of three Asphodeline species using in vitro and ex vivo models of inflammation and oxidative stress. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2019; 29:520-530. [PMID: 30514101 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2018.1552930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This study explored the efficacy of the methanolic extract of three Asphodeline species (A. damascena subsp. rugosa, A. tenuior subsp. tenuiflora var. tenuiflora, and A. cilicica) to protect against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in HCT116 cells, and also any protective effects against lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced nitrite levels, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) levels, 5HIAA/5-HT ratio, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 gene expression in rat colon specimens. Interestingly, A. tenuior extract was most effective in improving the tested biomarkers, by reducing LDH activity and nitrite level. On the other hand, A. damascena was the only species able to blunt LPS-induced TNF-α gene expression in rat colon specimens. The present findings highlighted the protective effects of Asphodeline extracts via in vitro and ex vivo models of inflammation and oxidative stress, adding new insights to the pharmacological actions of these medicinal plant species. Abbreviations: IBD: inflammatory bowel disease; LPS: lipopolysaccharide; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; 5HIAA: 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid; 5-HT: 5-hydroxytryptamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gokhan Zengin
- a Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Selcuk University , Konya , Turkey
| | - Marcello Locatelli
- b Department of Pharmacy, G. d'Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara , Chieti , Italy
| | - Claudio Ferrante
- b Department of Pharmacy, G. d'Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara , Chieti , Italy
| | - Luigi Menghini
- b Department of Pharmacy, G. d'Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara , Chieti , Italy
| | - Giustino Orlando
- b Department of Pharmacy, G. d'Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara , Chieti , Italy
| | - Luigi Brunetti
- b Department of Pharmacy, G. d'Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara , Chieti , Italy
| | - Lucia Recinella
- b Department of Pharmacy, G. d'Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara , Chieti , Italy
| | - Annalisa Chiavaroli
- b Department of Pharmacy, G. d'Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara , Chieti , Italy
| | - Sheila Leone
- b Department of Pharmacy, G. d'Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara , Chieti , Italy
| | - Lidia Leporini
- b Department of Pharmacy, G. d'Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara , Chieti , Italy
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Lucchetti L, Zitti S, Taffetani F. Ethnobotanical uses in the Ancona district (Marche region, Central Italy). JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2019; 15:9. [PMID: 30722788 PMCID: PMC6364442 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-019-0288-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study is a survey of the traditional uses of plants in the Ancona district, in the Marche region, Central Italy. METHODS The information derives from ethnobotanical investigations conducted with an open questionnaire among the rural population in three areas of the Ancona district that are representative of the socio-economic and environmental assets of the entire district: the Mount Conero area on the Adriatic coast; the municipality of Osimo, as an inland hilly area; and the 'Gola della Rossa-Frasassi' area, in the Apennines. RESULTS A total of 120 informants cited 195 species. The ethnobotanical data concern medicinal (122 species), food (119), veterinary (53), superstitious/religious (61), cosmetic (30), domestic (27), dyeing (17), recreational (17), repellent (15), craft (10), and miscellaneous (29) uses, along with inclusion in local sayings and proverbs (25). The species with the greatest number of categories of use here was Sambucus nigra L. Among the other species with the greatest numbers of categories of use, there were Matricharia chamomilla L., Salvia officinalis L., Urtica dioica L., Papaver roheas L., and Rosa canina L. For each use, comparisons with national and regional literature were made. CONCLUSIONS Some uses are commonly known across the three areas; others are sectoral and are new for the Marche region. The survey increases our present-day knowledge of the traditional local uses of plants in the Marche region, in terms of medicinal and food uses, and of ethnobotanical aspects as a whole, which will allow many of these uses to be preserved in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Lucchetti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Silvia Zitti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Fabio Taffetani
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
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Peron G, Baldan V, Sut S, Faggian M, Roccabruna L, Zanini D, Manzini P, Maggi F, Dall’Acqua S. Phytochemical investigations on Artemisia alba Turra growing in the North-East of Italy. Nat Prod Res 2016; 31:1861-1868. [DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2016.1263845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gregorio Peron
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Valeria Baldan
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefania Sut
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Marta Faggian
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Roccabruna
- Orto Botanico del Monte Baldo “V. Pellegrini”. Comune di Ferrara di Monte Baldo, Verona, Italy
| | - Daniele Zanini
- Orto Botanico del Monte Baldo “V. Pellegrini”. Comune di Ferrara di Monte Baldo, Verona, Italy
| | - Paolo Manzini
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Filippo Maggi
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Stefano Dall’Acqua
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Menale B, De Castro O, Cascone C, Muoio R. Ethnobotanical investigation on medicinal plants in the Vesuvio National Park (Campania, Southern Italy). JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2016; 192:320-349. [PMID: 27457693 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.07.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/16/2016] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE This paper illustrates the results of an ethnobotanical study carried out in the Vesuvio National Park (VNP) (Campania, Southern Italy). It describes the medicinal uses of the plants in an ancient area rich in ethnobiodiversity investigated for the first time. AIM FOR THE STUDY The main aim of the study was to understand at what extent current knowledge on medicinal plant uses is still alive in VNP. MATERIALS AND METHODS The informations were collected using semi-structured and unstructured interviews performed on 136 persons living in the investigated area from March to November 2014 and from April to October 2015. The age of the informants ranged from 47 to 85 years old; more than half of the informants aged between 61 and 70. Local plant uses were listed and analyzed in a table and compared with uses in other localities in Italy and in other regions of the Mediterranean basin. RESULTS In VNP were recorded a total number of 132 plant species, belonging to 110 genera and 51 families mentioned for medicinal purposes. Among the recorded 132 plant species, 70 are spontaneous or subspontaneous and 62 are cultivated above all in the kitchen gardens or in the apartments, as food or as ornamental. Herbs represent the majority, followed by trees and shrubs or subshrubs. The investigated plants were used to cure 116 different human health diseases and 4 veterinary problems. The majority of plants are used in the treatment of gastrointestinal, skin and respiratory problems. CONCLUSION The number of medicinal plants reported in this paper reflects a well-preserved traditional popular knowledge (TPK) of the elderly people living in the rural areas and in the small villages of VNP. The conservation of TPK is owed to the persistence of an oral tradition that safeguard the use of plants as herbal medicine. We realized that while the use of some wild plants is decreasing, people continue to gather some cultivated and invasive plants for preparing remedies. Researches like this are necessary to protect ancient memories, to promote the transfer of information to the younger generations, to preserve ethno-biodiversity and to provide a starting point fur further biochemical investigations on medicinal entities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Menale
- University of Naples Federico II, Department of Biology, Via Foria 223, 80139 Napoli (I), Italy.
| | - Olga De Castro
- University of Naples Federico II, Department of Biology, Via Foria 223, 80139 Napoli (I), Italy.
| | - Ciro Cascone
- University of Naples Federico II, Department of Biology, Via Foria 223, 80139 Napoli (I), Italy.
| | - Rosa Muoio
- University of Naples Federico II, Botanical Garden of Naples, Via Foria 223, 80139 Napoli (I), Italy.
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Licata M, Tuttolomondo T, Leto C, Virga G, Bonsangue G, Cammalleri I, Gennaro MC, La Bella S. A survey of wild plant species for food use in Sicily (Italy) - results of a 3-year study in four Regional Parks. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2016; 12:12. [PMID: 26860327 PMCID: PMC4748641 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-015-0074-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This paper illustrates the results of a study carried out in four Regional Parks of Sicily (Italy), concerning traditional knowledge on food use of wild plant species. The main aims of the paper were: (i) to verify which wild plant species are used for food purpose in the local culture based on information provided by elderly inhabitants (ii) to verify the presence of wild plant species which have not been cited for food use in previous studies in the Mediterranean area (iii) to determine how many of the most frequently cited wild plant species are cultivated by the local population in the four Sicilian Parks. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were carried out in the local communities of the four Regional Parks between 2007 and 2010. A total of 802 people over the age of 60 were interviewed. Cultural Importance Index was used to evaluate the level of importance given to any wild plant species as a food in the local culture. The level of appreciation of the wild plant species and the possible effects of wild plants on human health were also investigated. RESULTS Local communities currently use a total number of 119 wild species for food purposes. Asteraceae and Brassicaceae were the most represented botanical families. In each of the four Sicilian Parks, Cichorium intybus L. and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. obtained the highest Cultural Importance Index values. Sixty-four species were indicated as also having medicinal properties. Leaves and other aerial plant parts were the parts most-used for the preparation of traditional recipes. CONCLUSIONS The research shows that the level of traditional knowledge on the food uses of wild plant species in the study area is poor. The food uses of plants which are most likely to survive over time are those at the interface of food and medicine. Further agronomic studies are needed for a number of species with a view to introducing them as a crop into non-intensive agricultural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Licata
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Teresa Tuttolomondo
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Claudio Leto
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Virga
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Bonsangue
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Ignazio Cammalleri
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Maria Cristina Gennaro
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Salvatore La Bella
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
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Jarić S, Mačukanović-Jocić M, Djurdjević L, Mitrović M, Kostić O, Karadžić B, Pavlović P. An ethnobotanical survey of traditionally used plants on Suva planina mountain (south-eastern Serbia). JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2015; 175:93-108. [PMID: 26375774 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Revised: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE This study documents the ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal importance of plants in the Suva planina mountain region (south-eastern Serbia). It is reflected in their high diversity and their wide range of uses in the treatment of the local population. The aim of this study was a comparative analysis of data collected in the Suva planina region with relevant data from the Western Balkans, which included identifying the 'most popular' plants, as well as those species which are used specifically for treatment solely in the research area. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ethnobotanical research was carried out between 2012 and 2014 and data was collected through both open and semi-structured interviews with locals. A total of 66 people were interviewed (37 women and 29 men), aged between 49 and 90 (with a mean age of 71). RESULTS This study identified 128 plants and 2 fungi which are used in ethnomedicine, 5 plant species used in ethnoveterinary medicine, and 16 plants used for 'other' purposes. Lamiaceae (20), Asteraceae (17), Rosaceae (16), Brassicaceae (5), Alliaceae (4) and Apiaceae (4) have the greatest diversity of species. Results showed that Achillea mellefolium, Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi, Gentiana lutea, Hypericum perforatum, Juglans regia, Matricaria chamomilla, Mentha piperita, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Salvia officinalis, Sempervivum tectorum, Tilia cordata and Thymus sepyllum are the 'most popular' medicinal plants (UV=1). Those plants with the most phytotherapeutic uses are Gentiana cruciata (14), H. perforatum (11) and A. sativum (10), while the most common conditions treated with medicinal plants are respiratory (79), urogenital (53), gastrointestinal (51), skin (43) and those relating to the circulatory system (35). A comparative analysis of the data collected in the research area and that from other parts of the Western Balkans showed that there are great similarities within Serbia between Suva planina and the Zlatibor region (37.2%) and Kopaonik Mt. (32.3%), while further afield it is most similar to Bosnia and Herzegovina (40.9%) and Bulgaria (40.6%). Moreover, it was established that 14 plant species and 2 fungi are used only in the Suva planina region, which points to the specificity of the diversity and the sound knowledge of medicinal plants in this region. CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm that medicinal plants are an invaluable resource of the research area and need to be protected as they contribute to an improvement in living standards and the survival of people threatened by unfavourable demographic trends. However, due to over-exploitation, some plants have become exceptionally rare and are under threat, leading to the need for their rational use and protection so as to ensure they are still around for future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snežana Jarić
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković', University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | | | - Lola Djurdjević
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković', University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Miroslava Mitrović
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković', University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Olga Kostić
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković', University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Branko Karadžić
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković', University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Pavle Pavlović
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković', University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
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Benarba B, Belabid L, Righi K, Bekkar AA, Elouissi M, Khaldi A, Hamimed A. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by traditional healers in Mascara (North West of Algeria). JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2015; 175:626-37. [PMID: 26440857 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Medicinal plants are considered as a rich source of bioactive compounds. The present study aimed to document the local knowledge of medicinal plants' use by traditional healers in Mascara, North-west Algeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was carried out in Mascara (North West of Algeria). Ethnobotanical data were recorded from 43 traditional healers practicing in Mascara. Data collected was analysed using quantitative indices such as the use value (UV), fidelity level (FL) and Informant Consensus Factor (FIC). RESULTS Traditional healers reported 141 medicinal plant species belonging to 54 families and 125 genera for the treatment of different ailments grouped into 14 ailments categories. Lamiaceae were the most represented family with 19 species (13.57%) followed by Asteracea, Apiaceae and Fabaceae. Thymus vulgaris L. was the most frequently used by local informants, with the highest UV of 0.883 (38 use reports). Our findings revealed that 39 species have not been previously reported as medicinal plants in the region. Furthermore, we report for the first time a total of 100 new therapeutic uses for 37 known plant species. FIC values ranged from 0.125 to 0.658. Gastro-intestinal diseases had the highest FIC (0.658) with 60 species and 261 use reports. CONCLUSION The present study revealed the important local knowledge as showed by the variety of species used to treat several ailments. Recorded species with high UV should be subjects of further pharmacological studies to validate their popular use and to isolate the bioactive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bachir Benarba
- Laboratory Research on Biological Systems and Geomatics, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Mascara, Algeria; Department of Biology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Mascara, Algeria.
| | - Lakhdar Belabid
- Laboratory Research on Biological Systems and Geomatics, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Mascara, Algeria
| | - Kada Righi
- Laboratory Research on Biological Systems and Geomatics, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Mascara, Algeria
| | - Ahmed Amine Bekkar
- Laboratory Research on Biological Systems and Geomatics, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Mascara, Algeria
| | - Mouffok Elouissi
- Laboratory Research on Biological Systems and Geomatics, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Mascara, Algeria
| | - Abdelkader Khaldi
- Laboratory Research on Biological Systems and Geomatics, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Mascara, Algeria
| | - Abderrahmane Hamimed
- Laboratory Research on Biological Systems and Geomatics, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Mascara, Algeria
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Živković J, Stojković D, Petrović J, Zdunić G, Glamočlija J, Soković M. Rosa canina L. – new possibilities for an old medicinal herb. Food Funct 2015; 6:3687-92. [DOI: 10.1039/c5fo00820d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Health beneficial properties ofRosa caninaspecies are mainly attributed to rose hips, while the leaves are usually discarded as waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Živković
- Institute for Medicinal Plant Research “Dr. Josif Pančić”
- 11000 Belgrade
- Serbia
| | - Dejan Stojković
- Department of Plant Physiology
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”
- University of Belgrade
- 11000 Belgrade
- Serbia
| | - Jovana Petrović
- Department of Plant Physiology
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”
- University of Belgrade
- 11000 Belgrade
- Serbia
| | - Gordana Zdunić
- Institute for Medicinal Plant Research “Dr. Josif Pančić”
- 11000 Belgrade
- Serbia
| | - Jasna Glamočlija
- Department of Plant Physiology
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”
- University of Belgrade
- 11000 Belgrade
- Serbia
| | - Marina Soković
- Department of Plant Physiology
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”
- University of Belgrade
- 11000 Belgrade
- Serbia
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17
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Tuttolomondo T, Licata M, Leto C, Bonsangue G, Letizia Gargano M, Venturella G, La Bella S. Popular uses of wild plant species for medicinal purposes in the Nebrodi Regional Park (North-Eastern Sicily, Italy). JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2014; 157:21-37. [PMID: 25239832 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Revised: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The area of the Nebrodi Regional Park (North-Eastern Sicily, Italy) has been quantitatively investigated in an ethnobotanical study for the first time. A total of 90 wild species are used for medicinal purposes and the uses of 5 species have not previously been reported in ethnobotanical studies in Italy (e.g., the use of Arisarum vulgare O. Targ. Tozz. for the treatment of rheumatic pains, the use of Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke for the treatment of liver diseases). The aim of this paper was to understand to what extent current knowledge on the medicinal use of plants is still an element of the culture within the rural populations of the Nebrodi Park. Materials and methods Semi-structured interviews were carried out in the local communities within the Nebrodi Regional Park with local people retained experts in rural traditions. A total of 226 people over the age of 60 were interviewed. Local plant uses were evaluated using ethnobotanical indices (e.g., cultural importance index, index of ethnobotanical diversity, informant consensus factor) and then compared with uses in other localities in Sicily, Italy and the Mediterranean area. Results Local communities use a total number of 90 wild species belonging to 44 plant families as medicinal remedies. The majority of the species are used as treatments against gastrointestinal system. The cultural importance index showed that Malva sylvestris (1.31) and Clinopodium nepeta (0.86) are the most important species to the Nebrodi area in terms of medicinal use. The use of Brassica rupestris Raf. for therapeutic purposes is limited to Sicily and it is an innovative finding of this study. CONCLUSIONS The research shows an ongoing process of cultural erosion in an advanced stage, but quantitative indices still highlight only for those species was a natural remedy deemed highly effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Tuttolomondo
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Mario Licata
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Claudio Leto
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Bonsangue
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Maria Letizia Gargano
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Venturella
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Salvatore La Bella
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
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