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Leonti M, Cabras S, Castellanos Nueda ME, Casu L. Food drugs as drivers of therapeutic knowledge and the role of chemosensory qualities. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 328:118012. [PMID: 38447614 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Chemosensory qualities of botanical drugs are important cues for anticipating physiologic consequences. Whether a botanical drug is used for both, food and medicine, or only as medicine depends on taste preferences, nutritional content, cultural background, and the individual and overall epidemiological context. MATERIAL AND METHODS We subjected 540 botanical drugs described in De Materia Medica having at least one oral medical application to a tasting panel. The 540 drugs were grouped into those only used for medicine (388) and those also used for food (152). The associations with chemosensory qualities and therapeutic indications were compared across the two groups. We considered 22 experimentally assessed chemosensory qualities and 39 categories of therapeutic use groups. We wanted to know, 1): which chemosensory qualities increase the probability of an orally applied botanical drug to be also used for food ? 2): which chemosensory qualities augment the probability of an orally applied botanical drug to be only used for medicine? and 3): whether there are differences in therapeutic indications between orally applied botanical drugs also used for food (food drugs) and botanical drugs applied exclusively for medicinal purposes (non-food drugs) and, if yes, how the differences can be explained. RESULTS Chemosensory qualities augmenting the probability of an orally applied botanical drug to be also used for food were sweet, starchy, salty, burning/hot, fruity, nutty, and cooling. Therapeutics used for diarrhoea, as libido modulators, purgatives, laxatives, for expelling parasites, breast and lactation and increasing diuresis, were preferentially sourced from food drugs while drugs used for liver and jaundice, vaginal discharge and humoral management showed significant negative associations with food dugs in ancient Greek-Roman materia medica. CONCLUSION Therapeutics used for ailments of body organs involved in the digestion of food and the excretion of waste products showed a tendency to be sourced from food drugs. Arguably, the daily consumption of food offered the possibility for observing post-prandial physiologic and pharmacologic effects which led to a high therapeutic versatility of food drugs and the possibility to understand benefits of taste and flavour qualities. The difference in chemosensory qualities between food drugs and non-food drugs is demarcating the organoleptic requirements of food rather than that of medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Leonti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042, Monserrato, (CA), Italy.
| | - Stefano Cabras
- Department of Statistics, Carlos III University of Madrid, C/Madrid, 126, 28903, Getafe, (MA), Spain
| | | | - Laura Casu
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042, Monserrato, (CA), Italy
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Vitiello M, Pecoraro M, De Leo M, Camangi F, Parisi V, Donadio G, Braca A, Franceschelli S, De Tommasi N. Chemical Profiling, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Hyoseris radiata L., a Plant Used in the Phytoalimurgic Tradition. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:111. [PMID: 38247535 PMCID: PMC10812485 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13010111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Hyoseris radiata L. (Asteraceae), known as "wild chicory", is a perennial herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean region, North Africa, and West Asia. Collected from the wild, the plant is largely used in Italy for culinary purposes and in popular medicine, so that it can be included in the list of phytoalimurgic plants. The present study aimed to investigate for the first time the plant's chemical profile, through a combined UHPLC-HR-ESI-Orbitrap/MS and NMR approach, and its potential healthy properties, focusing on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The LC-MS/MS analysis and the isolation through chromatographic techniques of the plant's hydroalcoholic extract allowed the authors to identify 48 compounds, including hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids, megastigmane glucosides, coumarins, and lignans, together with several unsaturated fatty acids. The quantitative analysis highlighted a relevant amount of flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids, with a total of 12.9 ± 0.4 mg/g DW. NMR-based chemical profiling revealed the presence of a good amount of amino acids and monosaccharides, and chicoric and chlorogenic acids as the most representative polyphenols. Finally, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of H. radiata were investigated through cell-free and cell-based assays, showing a good antioxidant potential for the plant extract and a significant reduction in COX-2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vitiello
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (M.V.); (M.D.L.)
| | - Michela Pecoraro
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy; (M.P.); (V.P.); (G.D.); (S.F.); (N.D.T.)
| | - Marinella De Leo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (M.V.); (M.D.L.)
- Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood “Nutraceuticals and Food for Health”, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- CISUP, Centre for Instrumentation Sharing, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabiano Camangi
- CSRC, Crop Science Research Center, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56127 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Valentina Parisi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy; (M.P.); (V.P.); (G.D.); (S.F.); (N.D.T.)
| | - Giuliana Donadio
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy; (M.P.); (V.P.); (G.D.); (S.F.); (N.D.T.)
| | - Alessandra Braca
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (M.V.); (M.D.L.)
| | - Silvia Franceschelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy; (M.P.); (V.P.); (G.D.); (S.F.); (N.D.T.)
| | - Nunziatina De Tommasi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy; (M.P.); (V.P.); (G.D.); (S.F.); (N.D.T.)
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Pieroni A, Morini G, Piochi M, Sulaiman N, Kalle R, Haq SM, Devecchi A, Franceschini C, Zocchi DM, Migliavada R, Prakofjewa J, Sartori M, Krigas N, Ahmad M, Torri L, Sõukand R. Bitter Is Better: Wild Greens Used in the Blue Zone of Ikaria, Greece. Nutrients 2023; 15:3242. [PMID: 37513661 PMCID: PMC10385191 DOI: 10.3390/nu15143242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study reports an ethnobotanical field investigation of traditionally gathered and consumed wild greens (Chorta) in one of the five so-called Blue Zones in the world: Ikaria Isle, Greece. Through 31 semi-structured interviews, a total of 56 wild green plants were documented along with their culinary uses, linguistic labels, and locally perceived tastes. Most of the gathered greens were described as bitter and associated with members of Asteraceae and Brassicaceae botanical families (31%), while among the top-quoted wild greens, species belonging to these two plant families accounted for 50% of the wild vegetables, which were consumed mostly cooked. Cross-cultural comparison with foraging in other areas of the central-eastern Mediterranean and the Near East demonstrated a remarkable overlapping of Ikarian greens with Cretan and Sicilian, as well as in the prevalence of bitter-tasting botanical genera. Important differences with other wild greens-related food heritage were found, most notably with the Armenian and Kurdish ones, which do not commonly feature many bitter greens. The proven role of extra-oral bitter taste receptors in the modulation of gastric emptying, glucose absorption and crosstalk with microbiota opens new ways of looking at these differences, in particular with regard to possible health implications. The present study is also an important attempt to preserve and document the bio-cultural gastronomic heritage of Chorta as a quintessential part of the Mediterranean diet. The study recommends that nutritionists, food scientists, and historians, as well as policymakers and practitioners, pay the required attention to traditional rural dietary systems as models of sustainable health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pieroni
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
- Department of Medical Analysis, Tishk International University, Erbil 44001, Iraq
| | - Gabriella Morini
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
| | - Maria Piochi
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
| | - Naji Sulaiman
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
- Department of Ethnology, Charles University, 116 38 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Raivo Kalle
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
- Estonian Literary Museum, Vanemuise 42, 51003 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Shiekh Marifatul Haq
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, 0162 Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Andrea Devecchi
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
| | - Cinzia Franceschini
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
| | - Dauro M Zocchi
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
| | - Riccardo Migliavada
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
| | - Julia Prakofjewa
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia, Italy
| | - Matteo Sartori
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia, Italy
| | - Nikos Krigas
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Mushtaq Ahmad
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Luisa Torri
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
| | - Renata Sõukand
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia, Italy
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Branco S, Irimia RE, Montesinos D. The introduction of an invasive weed was not followed by the introduction of ethnobotanical knowledge: a review on the ethnobotany of Centaurea solstitialis L. (Asteraceae). PeerJ 2023; 11:e15489. [PMID: 37304862 PMCID: PMC10257394 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive plants are known for their impacts to ecosystems and societies, but their potential cultural use tend to be unexplored. One important mechanism of plant invasion is the use of "allelochemicals" or "novel weapons": chemical defenses which are new to their invaded habitats and that confer them competitive advantages. However, these chemicals are precisely what confers them ethnobotanical and medicinal properties. We reviewed the literature assessing the biogeography of the cultural uses of the model invasive plant yellow-starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.; Asteraceae), and assessed the extent to which the introduction of a weed native to Eurasia into several non-native world regions was paralleled by the spread of cultural uses from its native range. We found that the species was rich in pharmaceutically active compounds and that the species had been traditionally used for medicinal purposes, as raw material, and as food. However, ethnobotanical uses were reported almost exclusively in its native range, with no uses described for the non-native range, apart from honey production in California, Argentina, and Australia. Our study exemplifies how, when plant introductions are not paralleled synchronously by significant human migrations, cultural adoption can be extremely slow, even within the native range of the species. Invasive species can provide real-time insights into the cultural processes by which humans learn to use plants. This case study highlights how biological invasions and cultural expansions can be subjected to different constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soraia Branco
- Centre for Functional Ecology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ramona E. Irimia
- Centre for Functional Ecology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Daniel Montesinos
- Centre for Functional Ecology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
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Accogli R, Tomaselli V, Direnzo P, Perrino EV, Albanese G, Urbano M, Laghetti G. Edible Halophytes and Halo-Tolerant Species in Apulia Region (Southeastern Italy): Biogeography, Traditional Food Use and Potential Sustainable Crops. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:plants12030549. [PMID: 36771632 PMCID: PMC9921767 DOI: 10.3390/plants12030549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The Mediterranean basin is rich in wild edible species which have been used for food and medicinal purposes by humans throughout the centuries. Many of these species can be found near coastal areas and usually grow under saline conditions, while others can adapt in various harsh conditions including high salinity. Many of these species have a long history of gathering from the wild as a source of food. The aim of this contribution is an overview on the most important halophyte species (Salicornia sp. pl., Arthrocaulon macrostachyum (Moric.) Piirainen & G. Kadereit, Soda inermis Fourr., Cakile maritima Scop., Crithmum maritimum L., Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth., Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke subsp. tenoreana (Colla) Soldano & F. Conti, Allium commutatum Guss., Beta vulgaris L. subsp. maritima (L.) Arcang., Capparis spinosa L.) that traditionally have been gathered by rural communities in southern Italy, with special interest on their ecology and distribution, traditional uses, medicinal properties, marketing and early attempts of cultivation. It is worth noting that these species have an attractive new cash crop for marsh marginal lands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Accogli
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Salento University, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomaselli
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Paolo Direnzo
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Enrico Vito Perrino
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, Italy
- CIHEAM, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, Via Ceglie 9, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Albanese
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Marcella Urbano
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Gaetano Laghetti
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), 70126 Bari, Italy
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Baydoun S, Hani N, Nasser H, Ulian T, Arnold-Apostolides N. Wild leafy vegetables: A potential source for a traditional Mediterranean food from Lebanon. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.991979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionIn Lebanon, wild leafy vegetables (WLVs) continue to be an essential component of people's diet. Nevertheless, little ethnobotanical research has addressed this important potential source for food and nutrition.MethodsIn this study, an ethnobotanical survey was carried out between 2018 and 2022 across 21 villages/towns involving 151 local informants by semi-structured interviews.Results and discussionA list of 158 plant species which was still gathered and consumed by traditional Lebanese communities was compiled. The species belonged to 21 families and the most diverse families were Asteraceae (77 species), Brassicaceae (22), and Apiaceae (11). Native species accounted for 147 of the cited species, five of which were endemics to Lebanon and Syria. According to the Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) index, Anchusa azurea, Centaurea hyalolepis, Chondrilla juncea, Eruca vesicaria, Pseudopodospermum molle, Pseudopodospermum papposum, and Taraxacum sect. Taraxacum were reported for the first time among the top popular species. Basal rosettes were the main parts consumed both raw and/or cooked. Informants perceived a decline in availability primarily due to habitat loss and land degradation. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), six of cited species were classified as globally threatened (EN or VU), five of which were narrow endemics. These species scored substantial RFC values. Findings indicate that WEVs of Lebanon offer a promising potential to support food diversity and dietary quality of traditional communities and that threatened endemic species present a high conservation priority. Future research on nutritional contents of these species and highly rated WLVs is recommended.
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Bazzicalupo M, Calevo J, Smeriglio A, Cornara L. Traditional, Therapeutic Uses and Phytochemistry of Terrestrial European Orchids and Implications for Conservation. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:plants12020257. [PMID: 36678970 PMCID: PMC9863304 DOI: 10.3390/plants12020257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Orchidaceae family accounts for about 28,000 species, and most of them are mentioned in the folk medicine of nations around the world. The use of terrestrial orchids in European and Mediterranean regions has been reported since ancient times, but little information is available on their medicinal properties, as well as on their phytochemicals and biological activities. However, plant collection for human use is still listed as one of the main threats for terrestrial orchids, alongside other menacing factors such as wrong habitat management and disturbance to symbionts, such as pollinators and mycorrhizal fungi. Therefore, the primary aim of this review was to resume and discuss available information regarding the past and current popular uses of European orchids. We then grouped phytochemical data to evaluate the presence of bioactive compounds of pharmacological relevance, and we discussed whether these could support the therapeutic employment of the different organs. Finally, we briefly debated the sustainability of orchid utilizations, considering the different threatening factors and conservation actions including plant propagation methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Bazzicalupo
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
- CREA—Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 18038 Sanremo, Italy
| | - Jacopo Calevo
- Department of Ecosystem Stewardship, Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, KEW, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3DS, UK
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Antonella Smeriglio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Laura Cornara
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
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Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Commelina erecta: An Edible Wild Plant Consumed in Brazil. Foods 2023; 12:foods12010192. [PMID: 36613411 PMCID: PMC9818490 DOI: 10.3390/foods12010192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the interest in products of natural origin has boosted the exploitation and use of plants as food and sources of bioactive compounds, especially wild plants widely used in different cultures for several purposes. Commelina erecta is a wild edible plant (WEP) traditionally used as food and medicine, about which few studies exist. Thus, this study aimed at enhancing the knowledge about its nutritional, chemical and bioactive profile, considering different plant parts and development stages, in order to increase its inclusion in the diet of South American communities. The nutritional profile was found to be similar to other WEP frequently consumed in Brazil. Thirteen phenolic compounds (HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS) were tentatively identified, with apigenin, luteolin and quercetin derivatives being the most abundant. Fructose and oxalic acid were the major sugar and organic acid, respectively, in the aerial parts of C. erecta, and four isoforms of tocopherols were also identified. Regarding the plant's antioxidant activity, the EC50 values varied between 18.4 and 1060 µg/mL in the inhibition of lipid peroxidation assay (TBARS) and between 53 and 115 µg/mL in the oxidative haemolysis inhibition (OxHLIA) assay. The hydroethanolic extract obtained from stems at the flowering stage also presented anti-inflammatory activity. In general, all the extracts evidenced promising antimicrobial activity. Altogether, these results reinforce the traditional use of this plant species as food and medicine to support the diet of needier populations and also promote food sovereignty and sustainability.
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Encapsulating Calendula arvensis (Vaill.) L. Florets: UHPLC-HRMS Insights into Bioactive Compounds Preservation and Oral Bioaccessibility. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 28:molecules28010199. [PMID: 36615392 PMCID: PMC9822028 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28010199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Wild edible plants, once consumed in times of famine or for health purposes, today represent an interesting dietary supplement, aimed at enriching local dishes and/or formulating healthy nutraceutical products. In fact, the broad content of different, and diversely bioactive, specialized metabolites therein suggests new scenarios of use which, in order to be as functional as possible, must maximize the bioactivity of these compounds while preserving their chemistry. In this context, based on a recent investigation on the metabolic profile of the organs of Calendula arvensis that highlighted that florets are abundant in flavonol glycosides and triterpene saponins, the freeze-drying encapsulation of their alcoholic extract (FE) into maltodextrin (MD) was investigated. FE-MD chemical composition was evaluated using Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (FTIR), while ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS) techniques were employed to unravel FE compound preservation also during in vitro simulated digestion. The establishment of H-bonds between FE compounds and MD hydroxyl groups was in line with FE-MD biocompatibility in Caco-2 cells, while in vitro digestion mostly affected structural integrity and/or diversity. Flavonol compounds underwent deglycosylation and demethylation, while deacylation, beyond oxidation, involved triterpene saponins, which massively preserve their aglycone core.
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Pinke G, Kapcsándi V, Czúcz B. Iconic Arable Weeds: The Significance of Corn Poppy ( Papaver rhoeas), Cornflower ( Centaurea cyanus), and Field Larkspur ( Delphinium consolida) in Hungarian Ethnobotanical and Cultural Heritage. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:plants12010084. [PMID: 36616213 PMCID: PMC9824376 DOI: 10.3390/plants12010084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
There are an increasing number of initiatives that recognize arable weed species as an important component of agricultural biodiversity. Such initiatives often focus on declining species that were once abundant and are still well known, but the ethnographic relevance of such species receives little recognition. We carried out an extensive literature review on the medicinal, ornamental, and cultural applications of three selected species, Papaver rhoeas, Centaurea cyanus, and Delphinium consolida, in the relevant Hungarian literature published between 1578 and 2021. We found a great diversity of medicinal usages. While P. rhoeas stands out with its sedative influence, D. consolida was mainly employed to stop bleeding, and C. cyanus was most frequently used to cure eye inflammation. The buds of P. rhoeas were sporadically eaten and its petals were used as a food dye. All species fulfilled ornamental purposes, either as garden plants or gathered in the wild for bouquets. They were essential elements of harvest festivals and religious festivities, particularly in Corpus Christi processions. P. rhoeas was also a part of several children's games. These wildflowers were regularly depicted in traditional Hungarian folk art. In poetry, P. rhoeas was used as a symbol of burning love or impermanence; C. cyanus was frequently associated with tenderness and faithfulness; while D. consolida regularly emerged as a nostalgic remembrance of the disappearing rural lifestyle. These plants were also used as patriotic symbols in illustrations for faithfulness, loyalty, or homesickness. Our results highlight the deep and prevalent embeddedness of the three iconic weed species studied in the folk culture of the Carpathian Basin. The ethnobotanical and cultural embeddedness of arable weed species should also be considered when efforts and instruments for the conservation of arable weed communities are designed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyula Pinke
- Albert Kázmér Faculty of Mosomagyaróvár, Széchenyi István University, Vár 2., H-9200 Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary
| | - Viktória Kapcsándi
- Albert Kázmér Faculty of Mosomagyaróvár, Széchenyi István University, Vár 2., H-9200 Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary
| | - Bálint Czúcz
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy
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Carev I, Golemac A, Siljak-Yakovlev S, Pellay FX, Politeo O. Volatile Oil Chemical Composition of Wild, Edible Centaurea scabiosa L. and Its Cytotoxic Activity. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:3267. [PMID: 36501307 PMCID: PMC9736928 DOI: 10.3390/plants11233267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Centaurea species are well known as a source of phytopharmaceuticals having both beneficial and harmful influences on human health. Centaurea scabiosa L. is a wild edible plant used in Mediterranean cuisine in the Dalmatian region of Croatia. We have assessed the volatile oil's chemical composition using GC/MS chromatography and its cytotoxic activity on human fibroblasts using the MTT test. Data on chromosome number, obtained by classical karyological methods, and genome size, assessed by flow cytometry, of the same plant material of C. scabiosa, were also given. The major chemical compounds found in C. scabiosa volatile oil were heptacosane, caryophyllene oxide, alloaromadendrene epoxide, α-cyperone, and α-bisabolol. This volatile oil showed no cytotoxicity on human fibroblasts in a dose range of 0.01-1 g/L. The chromosome number of a C. scabiosa sample from Croatia showed 2n = 20 + 2B chromosomes. The total genome DNA amount of 2C = 3.3 ± 0.01 pg or 1 Cx = 1628 Mbp presents the first report on the genome size of this species from Croatia. The presented results support the idea of using this plant in the human diet. To our knowledge, this is the first report on edible C. scabiosa species in general and in particular from Croatia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Carev
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 35, 21000 Split, Croatia
- NAOS Institute of Life Science, 355, rue Pierre-Simon Laplace, 13290 Aix, France
- Mediterranean Institute for Life Science, Meštrovićevo šetalište 45, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Anja Golemac
- NAOS Institute of Life Science, 355, rue Pierre-Simon Laplace, 13290 Aix, France
- Mediterranean Institute for Life Science, Meštrovićevo šetalište 45, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Sonja Siljak-Yakovlev
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Francois Xavier Pellay
- NAOS Institute of Life Science, 355, rue Pierre-Simon Laplace, 13290 Aix, France
- Mediterranean Institute for Life Science, Meštrovićevo šetalište 45, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Olivera Politeo
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 35, 21000 Split, Croatia
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Motti R, Paura B, Cozzolino A, de Falco B. Edible Flowers Used in Some Countries of the Mediterranean Basin: An Ethnobotanical Overview. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11233272. [PMID: 36501312 PMCID: PMC9736219 DOI: 10.3390/plants11233272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Edible flowers are becoming an essential component of people's nutrition in the Mediterranean basin. In the last decades, many researchers also have focused their attention on the nutritional composition of the edible flowers, as well as their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, including studies on their safety issues. Despite the growing interest in the use of flowers in human nutrition, the ethnobotanical literature is lacking coverage of some important issues, particularly those which concern the use of flowers in the folk tradition. Only recently, a review regarding the contribution of 32 edible flowers to the Mediterranean diet was published. The aim of the present review is to document the plant lore regarding the wild and cultivated edible flowers consumed in the Mediterranean basin. Based on the 112 studies reviewed, we documented 251 taxa as being used in the Mediterranean basin as edible flowers. The plant species belong to 45 families and 141 genera. Asteraceae (54 taxa) is the most frequently cited family. Sambucus nigra L. is the most cited species. This study can be the basis for future research on the supposed bioactivity and toxicity of wild and cultivated flowers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Motti
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università, 100 Portici, 80055 Naples, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Bruno Paura
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Alessia Cozzolino
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università, 100 Portici, 80055 Naples, Italy
| | - Bruna de Falco
- Spanish Bank of Algae, Marine Biotechnology Center, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Muelle de Taliarte s/n, 35214 Telde, Spain
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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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Pieroni A, Sulaiman N, Sõukand R. Chorta (Wild Greens) in Central Crete: The Bio-Cultural Heritage of a Hidden and Resilient Ingredient of the Mediterranean Diet. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11050673. [PMID: 35625401 PMCID: PMC9138012 DOI: 10.3390/biology11050673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
An ethnobotanical field study focusing on traditional wild greens (WGs) was carried out in Central Crete, Greece. Through thirty-one semi-structured interviews, a total of fifty-five wild green plants and their culinary uses and linguistic labels were documented; they were mostly consumed boiled (vrasta) or fried (tsigariasta), as a filling for homemade pies. Comparison with some Greek historical data of the 19th and 20th centuries showed that WGs have remained resilient and are still present in the current Cretan diet. Cross-cultural comparison with the WGs gathered and consumed in other areas of the Central and Eastern Mediterranean demonstrated a remarkable diversity of Cretan WGs and important similarities with those consumed in Greek-speaking Cyprus, the Bodrum area of Turkey, coastal Syria, and Southern Italy. We discussed the cognitive categories linked to Chorta, as well as the possible origin of an original "bulk" of post-Neolithic food weeds that could have spread from the Fertile Crescent westwards across the Mediterranean basin over a few millennia. The current study represents a crucial effort to document and preserve the bio-cultural gastronomic heritage of Chorta and it is advisable that both biology and history scholars, as well as policy makers, pay needed attention to the WGs of the Cretan and Mediterranean diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pieroni
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
- Department of Medical Analysis, Tishk International University, Erbil 4401, Iraq
- Correspondence:
| | - Naji Sulaiman
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Campus Praha-Suchdol, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 16500 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Renata Sõukand
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, 30172 Venezia, Italy;
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Bučar M, Šegota V, Rimac A, Koletić N, Marić T, Alegro A. Green Christmas: bryophytes as ornamentals in Croatian traditional nativity scenes. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2022; 18:15. [PMID: 35272668 PMCID: PMC8908650 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-022-00516-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The bryophytes are a plant group that is smaller than and not as well known as the vascular plants. They are less used and are almost completely neglected in ethnobotanical studies. Traditional nativity scenes depicting the birth of Christ are commonly decorated with both vascular plants and bryophytes. The aim of this study was to document the diversity of decorative bryophytes sold during the Advent season at farmers' markets in Croatia (Southeastern Europe, Balkan Peninsula). METHODS Twenty-eight farmers' markets in the two largest Croatian cities (Zagreb in the continental part and Split in the Mediterranean part) were studied in the search for local vendors selling bryophytes during the pre-Christmas season. The bryophytes collected were identified and analysed with respect to families, growth type, life forms and threat status. RESULTS Among 275 collected specimens, 43 moss and four liverwort species were identified. The mean number of species per vendor was 3.5. The most frequent species were Hypnum cupressiforme, Homalothecium sericeum and Ctenidium molluscum. Mats, wefts and tufts were the most common life-forms, while pleurocarpous prevailed over acrocarpous mosses, as they are usually pinnately branched and form large carpets, suitable for decorations. The overall selection of bryophytes and the decorations made of them were more diverse and abundant in inland Croatia, where 49 vendors at 15 farmers' markets sold goods containing 43 species. In Mediterranean Croatia, at six farmers' markets only 29 vendors sold goods, which contained 18 species. A considerable number of species that are less attractive to harvesters were collected non-intentionally, entangled in carpets of other, more frequent species. Among them, Rhodobryum ontariense and Loeskeobryum brevirostre are rare and insufficiently recorded in Croatia so far. CONCLUSIONS The present study provided a first perspective on the use of bryophytes in traditional nativity scenes in Croatia and Southeastern Europe, contributing to scarce ethnobotanical documentation of the decorative use of bryophytes in Christmas festivities in Europe and globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Bučar
- Division of Botany, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Marulićev trg 20/II, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vedran Šegota
- Division of Botany, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Marulićev trg 20/II, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Anja Rimac
- Division of Botany, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Marulićev trg 20/II, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Nikola Koletić
- Division of Botany, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Marulićev trg 20/II, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tihana Marić
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Schrottova 39, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Antun Alegro
- Division of Botany, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Marulićev trg 20/II, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
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Paura B, Di Marzio P. Making a Virtue of Necessity: The Use of Wild Edible Plant Species (Also Toxic) in Bread Making in Times of Famine According to Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti (1766). BIOLOGY 2022; 11:285. [PMID: 35205151 PMCID: PMC8869735 DOI: 10.3390/biology11020285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
In 1766, the agricultural scientist Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti described for the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the wild and cultivated plant species that could be used, in times of famine, to increase the quantity of flour or vegetable mass in bread making. These wild plants can be defined as wild edible plants (WEPs) or "alimurgic species", a concept usually traced back to Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti himself. The 342 plant names mentioned in the text are in the Tuscan vernacular, so a research work was done on bibliographic sources from the 1800s in order to match them with their current nomenclature. This process led to an "alimurgic flora" repertoire based on the writing of Targioni Tozzetti; and a comparison with our AlimurgITA database of 1103 wild edible plants used in Italy. It is particularly interesting that in his short treatise, Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti identified eight toxic plants (corresponding to 14 species), indicating how to eliminate the poisonous substances from their useful roots. We treat them in detail, examining their current and past use, their geographical distribution in Italy, and their eventual toxicity. We obtained 343 matches, of which 198 were reliable (certain matches) and 145 possessed some degree of uncertainty (due to generic or collective vernacular names). Among the 198 certain identifications, 140 species are present in the AlimurgITA database (92 mentioned for Tuscany) and 58 are not; for bread-making there are only documentary traces of 53 species for Italy and 7 for Tuscany. Moreover, among the total 198 species, 84 showed some degree of hazard. Researching edible toxic spontaneous species allows: (1) investigation, from an unusual perspective, of a historical period in which the poor conditions of some social strata led to finding unusual solutions to food provision; (2) idea generation to re-enable potentially useful WEPs whose use has been lost. Making a virtue of necessity!
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Paura
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Piera Di Marzio
- Department of Bioscience and Territory, University of Molise, 86090 Pesche, Italy;
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17
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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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Vitasović-Kosić I, Kaligarič M, Juračak J. Divergence of Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Slovenians on the Edge of the Mediterranean as a Result of Historical, Geographical and Cultural Drivers. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10102087. [PMID: 34685896 PMCID: PMC8541409 DOI: 10.3390/plants10102087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
State boundaries limit human contacts in a homogenous context of a landscape and its natural features, including plants. After nine centuries of separation, finally the two territories in Slovenia share the same political history. In this paper we tried to answer the question to which extent the past political borders, geographical and cultural drivers affect today's traditional knowledge on wild plants use of Slovenians, living unified in the same political entity. Data were collected using 60 in-depth semi-structured interviews, from March to August 2019, in two municipalities: Komen at Karst and Izola in Istria concerning food, medicinal, economic use, and local customs. The results indicate a quite large divergence in ethnobotanical and ecological knowledge between the two studied areas. In the Komen area, many people still use wild plants daily for various purposes (Taraxacum officinale, Melissa officinalis, Urtica dioica, Cornus mas, and Sambucus nigra). In contrast, this is limited to fewer people in the Izola area and mainly to seasonal use of specific plants (Asparagus acutifolius, Rosa canina, Salvia officinalis, Foeniculum vulgare and Rubus caesius). Unusual for the Mediterranean is the use of young shoots of Clematis vitalba, in the Izola area prepared as omelettes. We can assume that these differences are partly due to minor differences in climatic conditions and partly due to the influence of different cultures and cuisines. In the first place, the impact of Austro-Hungarian eating habits and cuisine can be seen on the area around Komen. Moreover, temporal "layers of knowledge" across the time scale are additionally mixed by the immigration of people from other parts of Slovenia or abroad, or with the influence of local herbal specialists. At last, we conclude Komen area knowledge is alive and homogeneous, and more connected to their local identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Vitasović-Kosić
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Correspondence:
| | - Mitja Kaligarič
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Koroška cesta 160, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia;
| | - Josip Juračak
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
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La Rosa A, Cornara L, Saitta A, Salam AM, Grammatico S, Caputo M, La Mantia T, Quave CL. Ethnobotany of the Aegadian Islands: safeguarding biocultural refugia in the Mediterranean. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2021; 17:47. [PMID: 34321030 PMCID: PMC8320050 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-021-00470-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Aegadian Islands are located west of Trapani, Sicily. Once the site of bountiful tuna fisheries and fruit orchards (plums, peaches, apricots), grapevines, prickly pears, and grains, the local economy is now based on tourism, and many traditional agricultural and maritime practices have been abandoned. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the state of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) concerning the use of wild and cultivated plants and fungi for human health, food, maritime, and agricultural purposes on the islands of Levanzo, Favignana, and Marettimo and compare present-day practices with those documented in the past. METHODS In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in Italian with 48 participants with prior informed consent from May 2016 to July 2017 and October 2018. Herbarium voucher specimens of wild species were collected for herbarium deposit. A rigorous literature review of scientific and other local reports on TEK of wild flora and their application in food, health, and household applications was undertaken for the purpose of comparing findings from this field study with prior reports. RESULTS A total of 122 plant and five fungal taxa representing 54 families were cited for 355 uses. Among the most pervasive species in the landscape, Agave americana and A. sisalana had diverse applications in the past, which ranged from cordage for agricultural and maritime applications to tools for sewing, eating land snails, and constructing furniture. Fields of Ferula communis also dominate the landscape, and the dry stems were used extensively in furniture making; this species also serves as an environmental indicator for the location of the most preferred edible mushrooms, Pleurotus eryngii var. ferulae. Other important flora included topical medicinal applications of Glaucium flavum for hematomas and Artemisia arborescens for ritual bathing of newborns. CONCLUSION While many plant-based traditions have disappeared from daily practice, especially those related to traditional fishing and health practices, they remain in the memories of the eldest subset of the population. Documenting this knowledge before it disappears from oral history is a key factor in reducing loss of TEK and biocultural diversity, safeguarding the role of the Aegadian Islands as biocultural refugia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso La Rosa
- Cooperativa Silene, Via D'Ondes Reggio 8/A, 90100, Palermo, Italy
| | - Laura Cornara
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Saitta
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bld. 4, 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | - Akram M Salam
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Program, Emory University, 615 Michael St., Whitehead 115, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | | | - Marco Caputo
- Center for the Study of Human Health, Emory University, 1557 Dickey Dr, Anthropology 306, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Tommaso La Mantia
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bld. 4, 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | - Cassandra L Quave
- Center for the Study of Human Health, Emory University, 1557 Dickey Dr, Anthropology 306, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St., Whitehead 105L, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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20
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The Monumental Olive Trees as Biocultural Heritage of Mediterranean Landscapes: The Case Study of Sicily. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13126767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Monumental olive trees, with their longevity and their remarkable size, represent an important information source for the comprehension of the territory where they grow and the human societies that have kept them through time. Across the centuries, olive trees are the only cultivated plants that tell the story of Mediterranean landscapes. The same as stone monuments, these green monuments represent a real Mediterranean natural and cultural heritage. The aim of this paper is to discuss the value of monumental trees as “biocultural heritage” elements and the role they play in the interpretation of the historical stratification of the landscape. We present the results of a survey of the most significant olive trees growing in Sicily. The selection was based on the “monumentality” aspects of trees, taking into account dendrometric parameters and environmental contexts. The collected dataset constitutes a heterogeneous sample of 367 specimens of considerable size that, in some cases, reach a circumference of about 19 m. Starting from the data presented here, the whole Sicilian territory shows a historical relationship between human and olive. The presence of these plant monuments is, therefore, evidence of long-term, often centennial, landscapes as a result of sustainable use of the territory.
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Design a Database of Italian Vascular Alimurgic Flora (AlimurgITA): Preliminary Results. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10040743. [PMID: 33920234 PMCID: PMC8069721 DOI: 10.3390/plants10040743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Despite the large number of data published in Italy on WEPs, there is no database providing a complete knowledge framework. Hence the need to design a database of the Italian alimurgic flora: AlimurgITA. Only strictly alimurgic taxa were chosen, excluding casual alien and cultivated ones. The collected data come from an archive of 358 texts (books and scientific articles) from 1918 to date, chosen with appropriate criteria. For each taxon, the part of the plant used, the method of use, the chorotype, the biological form and the regional distribution in Italy were considered. The 1103 taxa of edible flora already entered in the database equal 13.09% of Italian flora. The most widespread family is that of the Asteraceae (20.22%); the most widely used taxa are Cichorium intybus and Borago officinalis. The not homogeneous regional distribution of WEPs (maximum in the south and minimum in the north) has been interpreted. Texts published reached its peak during the 2001–2010 decade. A database for Italian WEPs is important to have a synthesis and to represent the richness and complexity of this knowledge, also in light of its potential for cultural enhancement, as well as its applications for the agri-food system.
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Madia VN, De Vita D, Messore A, Toniolo C, Tudino V, De Leo A, Pindinello I, Ialongo D, Saccoliti F, D’Ursi AM, Grimaldi M, Ceccobelli P, Scipione L, Di Santo R, Costi R. Analytical Characterization of an Inulin-Type Fructooligosaccharide from Root-Tubers of Asphodelusramosus L. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14030278. [PMID: 33808608 PMCID: PMC8003451 DOI: 10.3390/ph14030278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant-based systems continue to play a pivotal role in healthcare, and their use has been extensively documented. Asphodelus L. is a genus comprising various herbaceous species, known by the trivial name Asphodelus. These plants have been known since antiquity for both food and therapeutic uses, especially for treating several diseases associated with inflammatory and infectious skin disorders. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of different constituents, mainly anthraquinones, triterpenoids, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. Although extensive literature has been published on these constituents, a paucity of information has been reported regarding the carbohydrate composition, such as fructans and fructan-like derivatives. The extraction of water-soluble neutral polysaccharides is commonly performed using water extraction, at times assisted by microwaves and ultrasounds. Herein, we reported the investigation of the alkaline extraction of root-tubers of Asphodelus ramosus L., analyzing the water-soluble polysaccharides obtained by precipitation from the alkaline extract and its subsequent purification by chromatography. A polysaccharide was isolated by alkaline extraction; the HPTLC study to determine its composition showed fructose as the main monosaccharide. FT-IR analysis showed the presence of an inulin-type structure, and NMR analyses allowed us to conclude that A. ramosus roots contain polysaccharide with an inulin-type fructooligosaccharide with a degree of polymerization of 7–8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Noemi Madia
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (V.N.M.); (V.T.); (A.D.L.); (I.P.); (D.I.); (L.S.); (R.D.S.); (R.C.)
| | - Daniela De Vita
- Department of Environmental Biology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (D.D.V.); (C.T.)
| | - Antonella Messore
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (V.N.M.); (V.T.); (A.D.L.); (I.P.); (D.I.); (L.S.); (R.D.S.); (R.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-4991-3965
| | - Chiara Toniolo
- Department of Environmental Biology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (D.D.V.); (C.T.)
| | - Valeria Tudino
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (V.N.M.); (V.T.); (A.D.L.); (I.P.); (D.I.); (L.S.); (R.D.S.); (R.C.)
| | - Alessandro De Leo
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (V.N.M.); (V.T.); (A.D.L.); (I.P.); (D.I.); (L.S.); (R.D.S.); (R.C.)
| | - Ivano Pindinello
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (V.N.M.); (V.T.); (A.D.L.); (I.P.); (D.I.); (L.S.); (R.D.S.); (R.C.)
| | - Davide Ialongo
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (V.N.M.); (V.T.); (A.D.L.); (I.P.); (D.I.); (L.S.); (R.D.S.); (R.C.)
| | - Francesco Saccoliti
- D3 PharmaChemistry, Italian Institute of Technology, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy;
| | - Anna Maria D’Ursi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, Fisciano, 84084 Salerno, Italy; (A.M.D.); (M.G.)
| | - Manuela Grimaldi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, Fisciano, 84084 Salerno, Italy; (A.M.D.); (M.G.)
| | | | - Luigi Scipione
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (V.N.M.); (V.T.); (A.D.L.); (I.P.); (D.I.); (L.S.); (R.D.S.); (R.C.)
| | - Roberto Di Santo
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (V.N.M.); (V.T.); (A.D.L.); (I.P.); (D.I.); (L.S.); (R.D.S.); (R.C.)
| | - Roberta Costi
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (V.N.M.); (V.T.); (A.D.L.); (I.P.); (D.I.); (L.S.); (R.D.S.); (R.C.)
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Sensory and Conceptual Aspects of Ingredients of Sustainable Sources-Finnish Consumers' Opinion. Foods 2020; 9:foods9111669. [PMID: 33203125 PMCID: PMC7697816 DOI: 10.3390/foods9111669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Sustainable strategies that enable development of alternative sustainable novel ingredients for food are needed to ensure adequate resources for food in the future. Determining consumer attitudes and acceptance of novel ingredients is essential for wider usage of products including these ingredients. The purpose of the study was to reveal consumers' perspectives on novel, and partly traditional but marginally utilized, ingredients to be used in regular cooking and their sensory characteristics and nutritional and environmental aspects. Consumer attitudes were obtained with two online consumer surveys. Consumer surveys revealed the most interesting ingredients. Plant-based ingredients are preferred over raw materials of animal or insect origin and these are also perceived as more pleasant. Plants were also regarded as credible, ecological, natural, healthy and nutrient-rich. Finnish consumers are not ready to adopt insects into their diet. Neither synthetic meat nor three-dimensional printed food have potential without further knowledge or experience of consumers. Findings of this research give baseline information on consumer attitudes towards novel ingredients. Further research is needed to investigate the perceived pleasantness when the potential ingredients are tasted.
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Wang HY, Zhang MZ, Han X, Cong J, Wang SQ, He SL, Wei DS, Zhang YB, Qin J, Sampietro DA. Insecticidal and repellent efficacy of the essential oil from Lobularia maritima and trans-3-pentenenitrile against insect pests of stored grains. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD PROPERTIES 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/10942912.2020.1778723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. Y. Wang
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - M. Z. Zhang
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - X. Han
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - J. Cong
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - S. Q. Wang
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - S. L. He
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - D. S. Wei
- Department of Biology, Centre for Wood Science, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Y. B. Zhang
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - Jianchun Qin
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - Diego A. Sampietro
- LABIFITO, Universidad Nacional De Tucuman, San Miguel De Tucuman, Argentina
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25
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Sikorska-Zimny K, Beneduce L. The glucosinolates and their bioactive derivatives in Brassica: a review on classification, biosynthesis and content in plant tissues, fate during and after processing, effect on the human organism and interaction with the gut microbiota. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2020; 61:2544-2571. [PMID: 32584172 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2020.1780193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The present study is a systematic review of the scientific literature reporting content, composition and biosynthesis of glucosinolates (GLS), and their derivative compounds in Brassica family. An amended classification of brassica species, varieties and their GLS content, organized for the different plant organs and in uniformed concentration measure unit, is here reported for the first time in a harmonized and comparative manner. In the last years, the studies carried out on the effect of processing on vegetables and the potential benefits for human health has increased rapidly and consistently the knowledge on the topic. Therefore, there was the need for an updated revision of the scientific literature of pre- and post-harvest modifications of GLS content, along with the role of gut microbiota in influencing their bioavailability once they are ingested. After analyzing and standardizing over 100 articles and the related data, the highest GLS content in Brassica, was declared in B. nigra (L.) W. D. J. Koch (201.95 ± 53.36 µmol g-1), followed by B. oleracea Alboglabra group (180.9 ± 70.3 µmol g-1). The authors also conclude that food processing can influence significantly the final content of GLS, considering the most popular methods: boiling, blanching, steaming, the latter can be considered as the most favorable to preserve highest level of GLS and their deriviatives. Therefore, a mild-processing strategic approach for GLS or their derivatives in food is recommended, in order to minimize the loss of actual bioactive impact. Finally, the human gut microbiota is influenced by Brassica-rich diet and can contribute in certain conditions to the increasing of GLS bioavailability but further studies are needed to assess the actual role of microbiomes in the bioavailability of healthy glucosinolate derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalina Sikorska-Zimny
- Fruit and Vegetables Storage and Processing Department, Storage and Postharvest Physiology of Fruit and Vegetables Laboratory, Research Institute of Horticulture, Skierniewice, Poland.,Stefan Batory State University, Skierniewice, Poland
| | - Luciano Beneduce
- Department of the Sciences of Agriculture, Food and Environment (SAFE), University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
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26
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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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Historical Suitability and Sustainability of Sicani Mountains Landscape (Western Sicily): An Integrated Approach of Phytosociology and Archaeobotany. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12083201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Since 2015, the ongoing project “Harvesting Memories” has been focused on long-term landscape dynamics in Sicani Mountains (Western Sicily). Archaeological excavations in the case study site of Contrada Castro (Corleone) have investigated a settlement which was mainly occupied during the Early Middle Ages (late 8th–11th century AD). This paper aims to understand the historical suitability and sustainability of this area analysing the correlation between the current dynamics of plant communities and the historical use of woods detected by the archaeobotanical record. An integrated approach between phytosociology and archaeobotany has been applied. The vegetation series of the study area has been used as a model to understand the ecological meaning and spatial distribution of archaeobotanical data on charcoals from the Medieval layers of the Contrada Castro site. The intersection between the frequency data of the archaeobotanical record and the phytosociological analysis have confirmed the maintenance of the same plant communities during the last millennium due to the sustainable exploitation of wood resources. An integrated comparison between the structure and composition of current phytocoenoses with archaeobotanical data allowed us to confirm that this landscape is High Nature Value (HNV) farmland and to interpret the historical vegetation dynamics linked to the activities and economy of a rural community.
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Marrelli M, Statti G, Conforti F. A Review of Biologically Active Natural Products from Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants: Benefits in the Treatment of Obesity and Its Related Disorders. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25030649. [PMID: 32028716 PMCID: PMC7036856 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25030649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Wild foods constitute an essential component of people’s diets around the world. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), over 100 million people in the EU consume wild foods, while 65 million collect some form of wild food themselves. The Mediterranean basin is a biodiversity hotspot of wild edible species. Nowadays, due to the renewed interest in alimurgic plants and the recent findings on the beneficial role of their phytochemical constituents, these species have been defined as “new functional foods”. Research on natural products has recently regained importance with the growing understanding of their biological significance. Botanical food supplements marketed for weight and fat loss in obese subjects will be one of the most important items in marketed nutraceuticals. The aim of this report was to review the phytochemical compounds of Mediterranean wild edible species and their therapeutic potential against obesity and its related disorders. Results on the in vitro and in vivo activity of the most interesting plant extracts and their bioactive components are presented and discussed. The most interesting discoveries on their mechanisms of action are reported as well. Overall, this contribution highlights the importance and beneficial health roles of wild edible species.
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Marrelli M, Argentieri MP, Avato P, Conforti F. Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. Aerial Parts Methanolic Extract: In Vitro Screening of Biological Activity. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 9:E89. [PMID: 31936818 PMCID: PMC7020505 DOI: 10.3390/plants9010089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. is a perennial herb growing wild in the Mediterranean basin. The aim of this work was to assess the fatty acid, terpene, phytosterol, and phenolic composition of the methanolic extract and its sub-fractions using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), High-Performance Liquid Chromathography with Dioide-Array Detector (HPLC-DAD), High-Performance Liquid Chromathography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS), and Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). The potential health benefits of this plant species have been investigated as well. The antioxidant activity was determined in vitro by means of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene bleaching tests. The inhibitory potential towards the production of the pro-inflammatory mediator nitric oxide was verified on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line. A remarkable inhibitory activity was observed for the dichloromethane fraction, with an IC50 value equal to 45.86 ± 1.05 μg/mL, a significant result if compared to indomethacin and the known nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), used as positive controls. Moreover, the ethyl acetate fraction proved to be effective in inhibiting pancreatic lipase, an enzyme that plays a pivotal role in the gastrointestinal digestion of dietary fat, suggesting that this species could potentially be a promising source of useful compounds for the treatment of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariangela Marrelli
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, I-87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Maria Pia Argentieri
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, I-70125 Bari, Italy; (M.P.A.); (P.A.)
| | - Pinarosa Avato
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, I-70125 Bari, Italy; (M.P.A.); (P.A.)
| | - Filomena Conforti
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, I-87036 Rende, Italy;
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Harumi Iyda J, Fernandes Â, Calhelha RC, Alves MJ, Ferreira FD, Barros L, Amaral JS, Ferreira IC. Nutritional composition and bioactivity of Umbilicus rupestris (Salisb.) Dandy: An underexploited edible wild plant. Food Chem 2019; 295:341-349. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.05.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Łuczaj Ł, Jug-Dujaković M, Dolina K, Jeričević M, Vitasović-Kosić I. The ethnobotany and biogeography of wild vegetables in the Adriatic islands. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2019; 15:18. [PMID: 30922334 PMCID: PMC6440087 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-019-0297-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Archipelagos of islands have played an important role in shaping some of the paradigms of biology, including the theory of the evolution of species. Later, their importance in biology was further emphasised by the theory of island biogeography, which contributed to a better understanding of the shaping of species richness not only on real islands, but on isolated habitat islands as well. Although ethnobotany is a well-established discipline, patterns of knowledge about plant uses in archipelagos have never been quantitatively analysed, and the whole concept has been only briefly mentioned in the ethnobiological context. The aim of our study was to record which taxa of wild vegetables have been consumed in the Adriatic islands and to establish if such variables as island size, population size, flora or its isolation are correlated with the number of wild vegetables used. METHODS We interviewed 225 people (15 from each island). RESULTS Altogether, the use of 89 species of wild vegetables has been recorded. The largest number of wild vegetables is eaten on the islands of Korčula, Vis and Šolta, and the lowest on Ugljan, Cres and Dugi Otok. The studied independent variables had a small and statistically not significant effect on the wild vegetable list length. The most visible effect was an increasing trend from north-west to south-east, overrunning the typical biogeographical island patterns. Moreover, one of the large and well-populated islands, Korčula, showed an 'unusually' high level of wild vegetable use. We hypothesise that the current use of so many species on this island has been maintained by the inhabitants' awareness that they are the holders of relic knowledge, an awareness reiterated by ethnographic and popular publications, as well as a strong history of famine. The most interesting edible species used in the Adriatic islands are Bunium alpinum, Cytinus hypocystis (both mainly on Pašman), Lotus edulis (on Vis) and Posidonia oceanica (on Vis and Korčula). CONCLUSIONS The recorded relationships between the demographic and geographical features of the islands were statistically not significant. We assume that cultural and historical factors diversifying the use of plants in particular islands are stronger than the above-mentioned measurable variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Łuczaj
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Rzeszów, ul. Pigonia 1, 35-310 Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Marija Jug-Dujaković
- Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation, Put Duilova 11, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Katija Dolina
- Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, University of Dubrovnik, Kneza Damjana Jude 12, PO Box 83, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
| | | | - Ivana Vitasović-Kosić
- Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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