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Milani F, Bottoni M, Bardelli L, Colombo L, Colombo PS, Bruschi P, Giuliani C, Fico G. Remnants from the Past: From an 18th Century Manuscript to 21st Century Ethnobotany in Valle Imagna (Bergamo, Italy). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2748. [PMID: 37514363 PMCID: PMC10386062 DOI: 10.3390/plants12142748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This project originated from the study of an 18th century manuscript found in Valle Imagna (Bergamo, Italy) which contains 200 plant-based medicinal remedies. A first comparison with published books concerning 20th century folk medicine in the Valley led to the designing of an ethnobotanical investigation, aimed at making a thorough comparison between past and current phytotherapy knowledge in this territory. METHODS The field investigation was conducted through semi-structured interviews. All data collected was entered in a database and subsequently processed. A diachronic comparison between the field results, the manuscript, and a 20th century book was then performed. RESULTS A total of 109 interviews were conducted and the use of 103 medicinal plants, belonging to 46 families, was noted. A decrease in number of plant taxa and uses was observed over time, with only 42 taxa and 34 uses reported in the manuscript being currently known by the people of the valley. A thorough comparison with the remedies in the manuscript highlighted similar recipes for 12 species. Specifically, the use of agrimony in Valle Imagna for the treatment of deep wounds calls back to an ancient remedy against leg ulcers based on this species. CONCLUSIONS The preliminary results of this study allow us to outline the partial passage through time fragments of ancient plant-based remedies once used in the investigated area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizia Milani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Ghirardi Botanic Garden, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Martina Bottoni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Ghirardi Botanic Garden, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Laura Bardelli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Ghirardi Botanic Garden, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Colombo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Ghirardi Botanic Garden, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Paola Sira Colombo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Ghirardi Botanic Garden, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Piero Bruschi
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental, Food and Forestry Science and Technology, University of Florence, 50144 Florence, Italy
| | - Claudia Giuliani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Ghirardi Botanic Garden, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Gelsomina Fico
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Ghirardi Botanic Garden, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
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Sun M, Ye H. Natural Foods for the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. J Med Food 2023; 26:1-13. [PMID: 36579939 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2022.k.0052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases worldwide. The etiology of NAFLD is highly heterogeneous, which occurs and develops under the joint action of metabolism, inflammation, genetics, environment, and gut microbiota. At present, the principal therapeutic modalities targeting NAFLD are lifestyle interventions such as weight loss through diet and exercise. At present, there is no established therapy for the treatment of NAFLD, and many therapies are associated with a variety of side effects. A great number of in vitro and in vivo experiments have indicated that there are many natural foods that have therapeutic potential for NAFLD. This review summarizes the natural foods and their mechanisms that were found in recent years, furthermore, provides further information relevant to the treatment of NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxia Sun
- The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Hua Ye
- The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
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Do porcupines self-medicate? The seasonal consumption of plants with antiparasitic properties coincides with that of parasite infections in Hystrix cristata of Central Italy. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-022-01620-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Bakku RK, Gupta R, Min CW, Kim ST, Takahashi G, Shibato J, Shioda S, Takenoya F, Agrawal GK, Rakwal R. Unravelling the Helianthus tuberosus L. (Jerusalem Artichoke, Kiku-Imo) Tuber Proteome by Label-Free Quantitative Proteomics. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27031111. [PMID: 35164374 PMCID: PMC8840128 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27031111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The present research investigates the tuber proteome of the ‘medicinal’ plant Jerusalem artichoke (abbreviated as JA) (Helianthus tuberosus L.) using a high-throughput proteomics technique. Although JA has been historically known to the Native Americans, it was introduced to Europe in the late 19th century and later spread to Japan (referred to as ‘kiku-imo’) as a folk remedy for diabetes. Genboku Takahashi research group has been working on the cultivation and utilization of kiku-imo tuber as a traditional/alternative medicine in daily life and researched on the lowering of blood sugar level, HbA1c, etc., in human subjects (unpublished data). Understanding the protein components of the tuber may shed light on its healing properties, especially related to diabetes. Using three commercially processed JA tuber products (dried powder and dried chips) we performed total protein extraction on the powdered samples using a label-free quantitate proteomic approach (mass spectrometry) and catalogued for the first time a comprehensive protein list for the JA tuber. A total of 2967 protein groups were identified, statistically analyzed, and further categorized into different protein classes using bioinformatics techniques. We discussed the association of these proteins to health and disease regulatory metabolism. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD030744.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjith Kumar Bakku
- Faculty of Engineering Information and Systems, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tenodai, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan;
| | - Ravi Gupta
- College of General Education, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Korea;
| | - Cheol-Woo Min
- Department of Plant Bioscience, Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea;
| | - Sun-Tae Kim
- Department of Plant Bioscience, Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea;
- Correspondence: (S.-T.K.); or (R.R.); Tel.: +81-90-1853-7875 (R.R.)
| | - Genboku Takahashi
- Zen-Yoga Institute, 3916 Okusa, Nakagawa-mura, Kamiina-gun, Nagano 399-3801, Japan;
| | - Junko Shibato
- Department of Functional Morphology, Shonan University Medical Sciences, 16-48 Kamishinano, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama 244-0806, Japan; (J.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Seiji Shioda
- Department of Functional Morphology, Shonan University Medical Sciences, 16-48 Kamishinano, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama 244-0806, Japan; (J.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Fumiko Takenoya
- Department of Physiology and Molecular Sciences, Hoshi University, 4-41 Ebara 2-chome, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan;
| | - Ganesh Kumar Agrawal
- Research Laboratory for Biotechnology and Biochemistry (RLABB), GPO 13265, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal;
| | - Randeep Rakwal
- Research Laboratory for Biotechnology and Biochemistry (RLABB), GPO 13265, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal;
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8574, Japan
- Correspondence: (S.-T.K.); or (R.R.); Tel.: +81-90-1853-7875 (R.R.)
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Saiki P, Yoshihara M, Kawano Y, Miyazaki H, Miyazaki K. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Heliangin from Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) Leaves Might Prevent Atherosclerosis. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12010091. [PMID: 35053238 PMCID: PMC8774036 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is considered the major cause of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, which are the leading causes of death worldwide. Excessive nitric oxide production and inflammation result in dysfunctional vascular endothelial cells, which are critically involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to identify a bioactive compound from Jerusalem artichoke leaves with anti-inflammatory activity that might prevent atherosclerosis. We isolated bioactive heliangin that inhibited NO production in LPS-induced macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cells. Heliangin suppressed ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, and MCP-1 expression, as well as NF-κB and IκBα phosphorylation, in vascular endothelial cells stimulated with TNF-α. These results suggested that heliangin suppresses inflammation by inhibiting excessive NO production in macrophages and the expression of the factors leading to the development of atherosclerosis via the NF-κB signaling pathway in vascular endothelial cells. Therefore, heliangin in Jerusalem artichoke leaves could function in the prevention of atherosclerosis that is associated with heart attacks and strokes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Papawee Saiki
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advance Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba 305-8566, Japan; (Y.K.); (K.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-29-861-4304
| | - Mizuki Yoshihara
- Graduate School of Life and Environment Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan; (M.Y.); (H.M.)
| | - Yasuhiro Kawano
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advance Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba 305-8566, Japan; (Y.K.); (K.M.)
| | - Hitoshi Miyazaki
- Graduate School of Life and Environment Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan; (M.Y.); (H.M.)
| | - Koyomi Miyazaki
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advance Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba 305-8566, Japan; (Y.K.); (K.M.)
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