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The Renaissance of Wild Food Plants: Insights from Tuscany (Italy). Foods 2022; 11:foods11030300. [PMID: 35159452 PMCID: PMC8834290 DOI: 10.3390/foods11030300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper provides an overview of wild food plants traditionally used in the gastronomy of Tuscany, an Italian region with high biological diversity and whose cultural heritage is well known. Forty-nine bibliographic sources, including five unpublished studies, were reviewed. A list of species with ecological characteristics, plant parts used, use category (food, liquor, or seasoning), methods of preparation (raw or cooked), and recipes is presented. The use of 357 taxa (3711 use reports, URs), was recorded, belonging to 215 genera and 72 botanical families. Over the total taxa, 12 are new for Tuscany, 52 seem not to be present in other Italian regions, and 54 were not detected in the consulted European ethnobotanical literature. Of these taxa, 324 (3117 URs) were used as food, while 49 (178 URs) and 81 (416 URs) were used for liquor and seasoning, respectively. Of the 17 different food recipes, cooked vegetables constituted the largest group, followed by salads, omelets, snacks, and fillings. The chemical composition of the recorded food plants and the possible safety risks associated to their consumption, as well as their traditional medicinal use, are also shown. This review highlights the richness of ethnobotanical knowledge in Tuscany. Such biocultural heritage can be a “source of inspiration” for agriculture. As a reservoir of potential new crops, wild edible flora may contribute to the development of emerging horticultural sectors such as vertical farming and microgreens production. Moreover, the nutrient content and healthy properties of many wild food plants reported in this study has the ability to meet consumer demand for functional foods.
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Pachura N, Kupczyński R, Sycz J, Kuklińska A, Zwyrzykowska-Wodzińska A, Wińska K, Owczarek A, Kuropka P, Nowaczyk R, Bąbelewski P, Szumny A. Biological Potential and Chemical Profile of European Varieties of Ilex. Foods 2021; 11:foods11010047. [PMID: 35010173 PMCID: PMC8750822 DOI: 10.3390/foods11010047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants of the genus Ilex are widespread throughout the world, with its best-known representative being Ilex paraguraiensis from South America. The European species Ilex aquifolium shows similarities in its terpenoid, sugar and phenolic acid profiles. Using aqueous extracts of Ilex aquifolium as a supplement in Wistar rats showed that, despite the lack of caffeine, it had strong hypocholesterolemic effects. In addition, a reduction in oxidative lipid degradation and a decrease in hepatic steatosis in histopathological studies were observed. The results of this study suggest that extracts from the European species Ilex aquifolium may have potential as an alternative treatment for hyperlipidemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Pachura
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland; (J.S.); (K.W.); (A.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Robert Kupczyński
- Department of Environment, Animal Hygiene and Welfare, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 38C, 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland; (R.K.); (A.K.); (A.Z.-W.)
| | - Jordan Sycz
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland; (J.S.); (K.W.); (A.S.)
| | - Agata Kuklińska
- Department of Environment, Animal Hygiene and Welfare, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 38C, 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland; (R.K.); (A.K.); (A.Z.-W.)
| | - Anna Zwyrzykowska-Wodzińska
- Department of Environment, Animal Hygiene and Welfare, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 38C, 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland; (R.K.); (A.K.); (A.Z.-W.)
| | - Katarzyna Wińska
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland; (J.S.); (K.W.); (A.S.)
| | - Aleksandra Owczarek
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lódź, Muszyńskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, Poland;
| | - Piotr Kuropka
- Department of Animal Physiology and Biostructure, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 31, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland; (P.K.); (R.N.)
| | - Renata Nowaczyk
- Department of Animal Physiology and Biostructure, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 31, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland; (P.K.); (R.N.)
| | - Przemysław Bąbelewski
- Department of Horticulture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Square 24A, 50-363 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Antoni Szumny
- Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland; (J.S.); (K.W.); (A.S.)
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Paluch E, Okińczyc P, Zwyrzykowska-Wodzińska A, Szperlik J, Żarowska B, Duda-Madej A, Bąbelewski P, Włodarczyk M, Wojtasik W, Kupczyński R, Szumny A. Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Ilex Leaves Water Extracts. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26247442. [PMID: 34946528 PMCID: PMC8707412 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26247442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants from the Ilex genus are known for properties such as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity, can act as antiobesity agents and thus can be helpful in medicine. Some holly species, such as Ilex paraguariensis (widely known in the form of popular beverage: yerba mate), have been investigated, while others have been partially researched or remain unknown. Therefore, we performed qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses and screened antimicrobial properties of lesser-studied species (I. aquifolium L., I. aquifolium ‘Argentea Marginata’ and I. × meserveae ‘Blue Angel’). I. paraguariensis was used as a standard species for comparison purposes. Investigations were performed on water extracts due to their expected activity and composition. Antimicrobial research included evaluating minimal inhibitory, bactericidal (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and fungicidal concentration (Candida albicans, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, and Aspergillus niger) of extracts. The influence of the extracts on the production, eradication, and viability of bacterial biofilms was also analysed. It was established that Ilex paraguariensis possesses the richest profile of hydroxycinnamic acids derivatives in terms of component concentration and diversity. Ilex spp., especially I. × meserveae, contain a slightly higher amount of flavonoids and more different flavonoid derivatives than I. paraguariensis. However, the strongest antibacterial activity was shown by I. aquifolium L. and its cultivar ‘Argentea Marginata’ in terms of minimal inhibitory, bactericidal and fungicidal concentration, and biofilm assays. Extracts from both species significantly reduced the biofilm viability of S. aureus as well, which may be of use in the production of multicomponent lavaseptics, antiseptics, diuretics (supporting urinary tract infection therapy) and, due to their action on fungi, additives to growth media for specific fungi. The significant content of saponins enables Ilex extracts to be used as natural emulsifiers, for example, in cosmetics. Moreover, relatively high chlorogenic acid and rutin content may suggest use of Ilex spp. to treat obesity, digestive problems, in chemoprevention, and as preservatives in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil Paluch
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Chałubińskiego 4, 50-376 Wrocław, Poland; (E.P.); (A.D.-M.)
| | - Piotr Okińczyc
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicines, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211a, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland;
- Correspondence: (P.O.); (P.B.); Tel.: +48-71-784-02-16 (P.O.)
| | - Anna Zwyrzykowska-Wodzińska
- Department of Environment Hygiene and Animal Welfare, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 38C, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland; (A.Z.-W.); (R.K.)
| | - Jakub Szperlik
- Laboratory of Tissue Culture, Botanical Garden, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Sienkiewicza 23, 50-525 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Barbara Żarowska
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Anna Duda-Madej
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Chałubińskiego 4, 50-376 Wrocław, Poland; (E.P.); (A.D.-M.)
| | - Przemysław Bąbelewski
- Department of Horticulture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki 24A, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
- Correspondence: (P.O.); (P.B.); Tel.: +48-71-784-02-16 (P.O.)
| | - Maciej Włodarczyk
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicines, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211a, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Wioleta Wojtasik
- Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Robert Kupczyński
- Department of Environment Hygiene and Animal Welfare, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 38C, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland; (A.Z.-W.); (R.K.)
| | - Antoni Szumny
- Department of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland;
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Comparative Survey of Morphological Variations and Plastid Genome Sequencing Reveals Phylogenetic Divergence between Four Endemic Ilex Species. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f11090964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Holly (Ilex L.), from the monogeneric Aquifoliaceae, is a woody dioecious genus cultivated as pharmaceutical and culinary plants, ornamentals, and industrial materials. With distinctive leaf morphology and growth habitats, but uniform reproductive organs (flowers and fruits), the evolutionary relationships of Ilex remain an enigma. To date, few contrast analyses have been conducted on morphology and molecular patterns in Ilex. Here, the different phenotypic traits of four endemic Ilex species (I. latifolia, I. suaveolens, I. viridis, and I. micrococca) on Mount Huangshan, China, were surveyed through an anatomic assay and DNA image cytometry, showing the unspecified link between the examined morphology and the estimated nuclear genome size. Concurrently, the newly-assembled plastid genomes in four Ilex have lengths ranging from 157,601 bp to 157,857 bp, containing a large single-copy (LSC, 87,020–87,255 bp), a small single-copy (SSC, 18,394–18,434 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs, 26,065–26,102 bp) regions. The plastid genome annotation suggested the presence of numerable protein-encoding genes (89–95), transfer RNA (tRNA) genes (37–40), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes (8). A comprehensive comparison of plastomes within eight Ilex implicated the conserved features in coding regions, but variability in the junctions of IRs/SSC and the divergent hotspot regions potentially used as the DNA marker. The Ilex topology of phylogenies revealed the incongruence with the traditional taxonomy, whereas it informed a strong association between clades and geographic distribution. Our work herein provided novel insight into the variations in the morphology and phylogeography in Aquifoliaceae. These data contribute to the understanding of genetic diversity and conservation in the medicinal Ilex of Mount Huangshan.
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Beckstead R, Blankenagel B, Noconi C, Winkelman M. The entheogenic origins of Mormonism: A working hypothesis. JOURNAL OF PSYCHEDELIC STUDIES 2019. [DOI: 10.1556/2054.2019.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Historical documents relating to early Mormonism suggest that Joseph Smith (1805–1844) employed entheogen-infused sacraments to fulfill his promise that every Mormon convert would experience visions of God and spiritual ecstasies. Early Mormon scriptures and Smith’s teachings contain descriptions consistent with using entheogenic material. Compiled descriptions of Joseph Smith’s earliest visions and early Mormon convert visions reveal the internal symptomology and outward bodily manifestations consistent with using an anticholinergic entheogen. Due to embarrassing symptomology associated with these manifestations, Smith sought for psychoactives with fewer associated outward manifestations. The visionary period of early Mormonism fueled by entheogens played a significant role in the spectacular rise of this American-born religion. The death of Joseph Smith marked the end of visionary Mormonism and the failure or refusal of his successor to utilize entheogens as a part of religious worship. The implications of an entheogenic origin of Mormonism may contribute to the broader discussion of the major world religions with evidence of entheogen use at their foundation and illustrate the value of entheogens in religious experience.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Michael Winkelman
- 4 Retired, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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Lim CS, Chhabra N, Leikin S, Fischbein C, Mueller GM, Nelson ME. Atlas of select poisonous plants and mushrooms. Dis Mon 2016; 62:41-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2015.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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