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Vitalini S, Rubin B, Monticelli H, Barollo S, Redaelli M, Bertazza L, Mian C, Zorzan M, Garzoli S, Iriti M, Pezzani R. Biological activities of the aerial and undergound parts of Gymnadenia nigra Rchb.f. (syn. Nigritella nigra (L.) Rchb. f.) from the Italian Alps. Nat Prod Res 2024; 38:3687-3692. [PMID: 37732610 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2258437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the bioactivity of both aerial (GNAR) and underground (GNUG) parts of Gymnadenia nigra Rchb.f. (syn. Nigritella nigra (L.) Rchb. f.) (Orchidaceae). The obtained data proved interesting when the samples were tested in two adrenocortical cancer cell lines (SW13 and H295R). In particular, the GNAR 80% methanol extract distinctly inhibited their viability after 24 h at a concentration of 1 µg/µL by MTT assay and trypan blue dye exclusion method. Cell morphology evaluation by means Wright's staining also showed significant results, particularly in SW13 cells under the effect of both extracts. GNAR extract was able to scavenge the DPPH radical better than GNUG extract. It also was more active in albumin denaturation (a maximum % denaturation equal to 463.0 ± 8.3 vs 77.3 ± 13.3) and protease inhibition (a maximum % inhibition equal to 138.5 ± 7.0 vs 2.1 ± 2.0) tests. The results highlighted an important antitumor activity of G. nigra in vitro that deserves to be further studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Vitalini
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Beatrice Rubin
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Halenya Monticelli
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Susi Barollo
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Redaelli
- Merieux Nutrisciences Italia, Resana, Italy
- AIROB, Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca Oncologica di Base, Padova, Italy
| | - Loris Bertazza
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Caterina Mian
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Maira Zorzan
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefania Garzoli
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Iriti
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Raffaele Pezzani
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- AIROB, Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca Oncologica di Base, Padova, Italy
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Milani F, Bottoni M, Colombo L, Colombo PS, Bruschi P, Giuliani C, Fico G. Beyond the border: comparative ethnobotany in Valmalenco (SO, Italy) and Valposchiavo (Canton of Grisons, Switzerland). JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2024; 20:74. [PMID: 39113078 PMCID: PMC11304819 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-024-00718-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ethnobotanical analysis of two bordering areas allows for the in-depth understanding of the dynamics of Local Ecological Knowledge, which mirrors the naturalistic, historical, and sociopolitical features of each area. As part of the Interreg Italy-Switzerland B-ICE&Heritage and GEMME projects, this work is an ethnobotanical comparative study of two neighboring Alpine territories: Valmalenco (Italy) and Valposchiavo (Switzerland). METHODS A total of 471 informants were interviewed on different fields of use (medicinal, food, veterinary, etc.). All data were organized in Excel™ spreadsheets. Informant Consensus Factor was calculated for the pathologies reported. Jaccard's similarity indices were calculated to compare the Valmalenco and Valposchiavo areas. Subsequently, another comparison between Valmalenco/Valposchiavo and Italian/Swiss Alpine neighboring areas was carried out. RESULTS The number of taxa for Valmalenco was 227 (77 families) and 226 in Valposchiavo (65). Out of the 10 most cited species, 7 were mentioned in both. Arnica montana L. was the most cited in Valmalenco, and Sambucus nigra L. in Valposchiavo. The 5 most cited families were the same. Regarding the medicinal and food fields, the similarity indices were fairly low (0.31 and 0.34 for the species; 0.22 and 0.31 for the uses). Concerning the comparison with Italian and Swiss Alps, similarity values were slightly higher with Italy (Valmalenco food species: 0.38 with Italy and 0.26 with Switzerland, medicinal: 0.26 IT and 0.14 SW; Valposchiavo food species: 0.36 with IT and 0.26 with SW, medicinal: 0.21 IT and 0.14 SW). CONCLUSION Although Valmalenco and Valposchiavo partly share natural environment, language, history, and culture, they had low similarity indices. They both seemed to have more similarities with Italy than Switzerland, maintaining low values with the surrounding territories too. They showed a common core of Local Ecological Knowledge with several divergent branches possibly due to pivotal historical happenings, as well as more modern external influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizia Milani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Botanical Garden G.E. Ghirardi, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088, Toscolano Maderno, BS, Italy
| | - Martina Bottoni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Botanical Garden G.E. Ghirardi, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088, Toscolano Maderno, BS, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Colombo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Botanical Garden G.E. Ghirardi, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088, Toscolano Maderno, BS, Italy
| | - Paola Sira Colombo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Botanical Garden G.E. Ghirardi, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088, Toscolano Maderno, BS, Italy
| | - Piero Bruschi
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental, Food and Forestry Science and Technology, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144, Florence, Italy.
| | - Claudia Giuliani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Botanical Garden G.E. Ghirardi, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088, Toscolano Maderno, BS, Italy
| | - Gelsomina Fico
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Botanical Garden G.E. Ghirardi, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088, Toscolano Maderno, BS, Italy
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Jarić S, Kostić O, Miletić Z, Marković M, Sekulić D, Mitrović M, Pavlović P. Ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal research into medicinal plants in the Mt Stara Planina region (south-eastern Serbia, Western Balkans). JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2024; 20:7. [PMID: 38200599 PMCID: PMC10782642 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-024-00647-2] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ethnobotanical research in Southeast Europe-one of the most important European hotspots for biocultural diversity-is significant for the acquisition of Traditional Ecological Knowledge related to plants as well as for encouraging the development of local environments. The current ethnobotanical research was conducted in the region of Mt Stara Planina (south-eastern Serbia), which is characterised by rich phytodiversity with a large number of endemic and relict plant species. The aim of the study was to document the diversity of uses of medicinal plants and of traditional knowledge on their therapeutic uses. METHODS Ethnobotanical data was collected through both open and semi-structured interviews with locals. Fifty-one inhabitants were interviewed (26 men and 25 women), aged 30-91, and data was analysed by means of use reports, citation frequency, use values (UV), and the informant consensus factor (ICF). RESULTS The study identified 136 vascular medicinal plant taxa and one lichen species belonging to 53 families and 116 genera. Lamiaceae (19), Rosaceae (18), and Asteraceae (17) had the highest species diversity. The plant parts most commonly used to make a variety of herbal preparations were the aerial parts (54 citations), leaves (35 citations), fruits (20 citations), flowers (18 citations), and roots (16 citations), while the most common forms of preparation were teas (60.78%), consumption of fresh tubers, leaves, roots, and fructus (6.86%), compresses (5.88%), juices (5.39%), decoctions (3.92%), 'travarica' brandy (3.92%), and syrups (2.45%). Of the recorded species, 102 were administered orally, 17 topically, and 18 both orally and topically. The plants with a maximum use value (UV = 1) were Allium sativum, Allium ursinum, Gentiana asclepiadea, Gentiana cruciata, Gentiana lutea, Hypericum perforatum, Thymus serpyllum and Urtica dioica. The highest ICF value (ICF = 0.95) was recorded in the categories of Skin and Blood, Blood Forming Organs, and Immune Mechanism. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that medicinal plants in the research area are an extremely important natural resource for the local population as they are an important component of their health culture and provide a better standard of living.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snežana Jarić
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković' - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Olga Kostić
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković' - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zorana Miletić
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković' - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milica Marković
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković' - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dimitrije Sekulić
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković' - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Miroslava Mitrović
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković' - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Pavle Pavlović
- Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković' - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108, Belgrade, Serbia
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Motti R, Marotta M, Bonanomi G, Cozzolino S, Di Palma A. Ethnobotanical Documentation of the Uses of Wild and Cultivated Plants in the Ansanto Valley (Avellino Province, Southern Italy). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3690. [PMID: 37960047 PMCID: PMC10649993 DOI: 10.3390/plants12213690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
With approximately 2800 species, the Campania region has the richest vascular flora in southern Italy and the highest number of medicinal species reported in the Italian folk traditions. The study area is inserted in a wide rural landscape, still retaining a high degree of naturalness and is studied for the first time from an ethnobotanical point of view. By analyzing local traditional uses of wild plants in the Ansanto Valley area, the present study aims to contribute to the implementation of ethnobotanical knowledge concerning southern Italy. To gather ethnobotanical knowledge related to the Ansanto Valley, 69 semi-structured interviews were carried out through a snowball sampling approach, starting from locals with experience in traditional plant uses (key informants). A number of 117 plant species (96 genera and 46 families) were documented for traditional use from a total of 928 reports, of which 544 were about medicinal plants. New use reports on the utilization of plants for medicinal (5) and veterinary applications (8) in the Campania region and the whole Italian territory were outlined from our investigations. Sedum cepaea is reported as a medicinal plant for the first time in Italy and in the whole Mediterranean basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Motti
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy; (M.M.); (G.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Marco Marotta
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy; (M.M.); (G.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Giuliano Bonanomi
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy; (M.M.); (G.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Stefania Cozzolino
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy; (M.M.); (G.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Anna Di Palma
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council (IRET-CNR), 00015 Monterotondo Scalo, Italy;
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Tsioutsiou EE, Cheilari A, Aligiannis N. Ethnopharmacological study of medicinal plants used against skin ailments on Mount Pelion, central Greece. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1225580. [PMID: 37583900 PMCID: PMC10424924 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1225580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout centuries, traditional herbal medicine and the employment of medicinal plants have constituted an important tool for the treatment and prevention of numerous diseases. The present study focuses on the collection of ethnopharmacological data regarding the uses of medicinal plants for the treatment of dermatological ailments in various villages of Mount Pelion, Greece. More specifically, the study area is represented by the city of Volos and villages located in Central West Pelion and has not been investigated up to now. The information on the medicinal uses of the various species was obtained through extensive semi-structured interviews or the completion of specific questionnaires by the informants. Although the Covid-19 pandemic caused difficulties and obstacles in carrying out this research procedure, 60 informants were recruited and interviewed (36 women and 24 men). Their age range was between 31 and 97 years and their educational level was characterized by great diversity (primary, secondary, and higher education). The elaboration of the gathered information included the calculation of some quantitative indices, such as Fidelity Level (FL), and Informant Consensus Factor (FIC). Moreover, the relative importance of each reported species was identified by calculating the Use Value (UV). The interviews revealed 38 plant taxa belonging to 27 plant families reported to be used in the study area exclusively against skin diseases. The plant family mostly mentioned by the informants was Hypericaceae, followed by Plantaginaceae and Amaryllidaceae, while among the most popular methods of application are cataplasms, compresses, and topical application of decoction or raw plant material. Some of the most cited species are Hypericum perforatum L., Quercus coccifera L., and Plantago sp., traditionally used to treat skin problems such as eczema, wounds, and insect stings. The present ethnopharmacological study is the first documentation of ethnobotanical knowledge of this area that points out the traditional uses of medicinal plants against skin ailments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efthymia Eleni Tsioutsiou
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Zografou, Greece
| | - Antigoni Cheilari
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Zografou, Greece
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Mattalia G, Graetz F, Harms M, Segor A, Tomarelli A, Kieser V, Zerbe S, Pieroni A. Temporal Changes in the Use of Wild Medicinal Plants in Trentino-South Tyrol, Northern Italy. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2372. [PMID: 37375997 DOI: 10.3390/plants12122372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Mountain regions are fragile ecosystems and often host remarkably rich biodiversity, and thus they are especially under threat from ongoing global changes. Located in the Eastern Alps, Trentino-South Tyrol is bioculturally diverse but an understudied region from an ethnobotanical perspective. We explored the ethnomedicinal knowledge of the area from a cross-cultural and diachronic perspective by conducting semi-structured interviews with 22 local inhabitants from Val di Sole (Trentino) and 30 from Überetsch-Unterland (South Tyrol). Additionally, we compared the results with ethnobotanical studies conducted in Trentino and South Tyrol over 25 years ago. The historical comparison revealed that about 75% of the plants currently in use were also used in the past in each study region. We argue that the adoption of "new" medicinal species could have occurred through printed and social media and other bibliographical sources but may also be due to limitations in conducting the comparison (i.e., different taxonomic levels and different methodologies). The inhabitants of Val di Sole and Überetsch-Unterland have shared most medicinal plants over the past few decades, yet the most used species diverge (perhaps due to differences in local landscapes), and in South Tyrol, people appear to use a higher number of medicinal plants, possibly because of the borderland nature of the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Mattalia
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnología Ambientals (ICTA-UAB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- New York Botanical Garden, New York, NY 14058, USA
| | - Felina Graetz
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
| | - Matthes Harms
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
| | - Anna Segor
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
| | | | | | - Stefan Zerbe
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano-Bozen, Italy
| | - Andrea Pieroni
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy
- Department of Medical Analysis, Faculty of Applied Science, Tishk International University, Erbil 44001, Iraq
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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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Khatib S, Sobeh M, Faraloni C, Bouissane L. Tanacetum species: Bridging empirical knowledge, phytochemistry, nutritional value, health benefits and clinical evidence. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1169629. [PMID: 37153781 PMCID: PMC10157496 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1169629] [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: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The Tanacetum genus consists of 160 accepted flowering species thriving throughout temperate regions, mainly in the Mediterranean Basin, Northern America, and southwestern and eastern Asia. Tanacetum species bear a long-standing record of use in the folk medicine of indigenous tribes and communities worldwide, along with multitudinous applications in traditional cuisines, cosmeceuticals, and agricultural fields. Methods: Up-to-date data related to traditional uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, toxicity and clinical trials of the genus Tanacetum were systematically reviewed from several online scientific engines, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SciFinder, Wiley Online, Science Direct, and Cochrane library. Results and discussion: Over the past three decades, 241 metabolites have been isolated from nearly twenty species, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, coumarins, fatty acids and alkanes, aldehydes, volatile compounds, and naphthoquinones. Some unique metabolites have also been identified, such as the ceramides tanacetamide (A-D) from T. artemisioides, pyrethrins from T. cinerariifolium, and sesquiterpene lactones from several species. However, these secondary metabolites are still poorly studied despite in vitro clues highlighting their colossal pharmacological properties, especially as hypotensive, neuroprotective, anticancer, and antimicrobial agents. Scientific studies have validated some traditional claims of the plant, such as antidiabetic, anticancer, anthelmintic, insecticide, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective activities, as well as against festering wounds, skin ulcers, urinary tract infections, and sexually transmitted diseases. Other ethnomedicinal uses for arthritis, gout, rheumatism, anemia, and as a litholytic, antivenom and diaphoretic have not yet been supported and would constitute the subject of further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohaib Khatib
- Molecular Chemistry, Materials and Catalysis Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni-Mellal, Morocco
- AgroBioSciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Mansour Sobeh
- AgroBioSciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir, Morocco
- *Correspondence: Latifa Bouissane, ; Mansour Sobeh,
| | - Cecilia Faraloni
- Institute of BioEconomy, IBE, National Research Council, Florence, Italy
| | - Latifa Bouissane
- Molecular Chemistry, Materials and Catalysis Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni-Mellal, Morocco
- *Correspondence: Latifa Bouissane, ; Mansour Sobeh,
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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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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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Walking around the Autonomous Province of Trento (Italy): An Ethnobotanical Investigation. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11172246. [PMID: 36079629 PMCID: PMC9460053 DOI: 10.3390/plants11172246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Trentino-South Tyrol region is a special statute region of northeastern Italy. This territory is of particular interest for its morphology, flourishing vegetation, and history, having been a meeting area among different civilizations. Hence, Trentino is characterized by an ethnic plurality and a rich ethnobotanical knowledge, even if the available information is fragmentary, widely dispersed, and often guarded in oral popular culture. To fill this gap, in the present work 200 subjects were interviewed using an ethnobotanical survey. The resulting 817 citations referred to 64 native species, used either for human or animal health or for domestic purposes. As a second step, for each plant exploited for medicinal purposes, local importance was evaluated by calculating their relative frequency of citation. Moreover, the main traditional preparations were discussed. Among them, the most cited and exploited ones are Achillea millefolium, Arnica montana, Hypericum perforatum, Malva sylvestris, Pinus mugo, and Satureja montana, for which a deeper analysis has been performed. Lastly, the ethnobotanical knowledge of the plants growing in this territory will add a piece to the mosaic of traditional medicine in Italy and may lay the foundation for a nature-aided drug discovery process.
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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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Anti-Inflammatory and Wound Healing Properties of Leaf and Rhizome Extracts from the Medicinal Plant Peucedanum ostruthium (L.) W. D. J. Koch. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27134271. [PMID: 35807516 PMCID: PMC9268734 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27134271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Peucedanum ostruthium (L.) W. D. J. Koch (Apiaceae) is a worldwide perennial herb native to the mountains of central Southern Europe. The rhizome has a long tradition in popular medicine, while ethnobotanical surveys have revealed local uses of leaves for superficial injuries. To experimentally validate these uses, plant material was collected in the Gran Paradiso National Park, Aosta Valley, Italy, and the rhizome and leaves were micromorphologically and phytochemically characterized. Polyphenol-enriched hydroalcoholic rhizome and leaf extracts, used in cell-free assays, showed strong and concentration-dependent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In vitro tests revealed cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibition by the leaf extract, while the rhizome extract induced only lipoxygenase inhibition. MTT assays on HaCaT keratinocytes and L929 fibroblasts showed low cytotoxicity of extracts. In vitro scratch wound test on HaCaT resulted in a strong induction of wound closure with the leaf extract, while the effect of the rhizome extract was lower. The same test on L929 cells showed similar wound closure induction with both extracts. The results confirmed the traditional medicinal uses of the rhizome as an anti-inflammatory and wound healing remedy for superficial injuries but also highlighted that the leaves can be exploited for these purposes with equal or superior effectiveness.
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