Aldo Ranfa

The importance of traditional uses and nutraceutical aspects of some edible wild plants in human nutrition: the case of Umbria (central Italy)

This study aimed to show how the importance of edible wild plants regards not only a question of uses linked to folk traditions but also their value in human nutrition. Data on the use of 50 species were collected through informed consent semi-structured interviews with local informants. They were eaten raw in salads (43%), boiled (35%), as ravioli filling (10%), fried without or with eggs (8%) and in vegetable soup (4%). Furthermore, the nutraceutical analysis centred on four of the commonly used wild edible plants demonstrates how these species contain many of the so-called minor nutrients, such as antioxidising vitamins and polyphenols, which were highest in Sanguisorba minor L.

The role of environmental and socio-demographic indicators in the analysis of land use changes in a protected area of the Natura 2000 Network: the case study of Lake Trasimeno, Umbria, Central Italy

This article sets out to analyse how and to what degree land use is linked to the physical characteristics of the territory itself, and the way in which changes in land use are determined by agricultural and socio-demographic dynamics. The study was conducted within the territorial boundaries of five municipalities surrounding Lake Trasimeno and refers to the periods 1977–2000 for land use and 1971–2001 for socio-demography data. The use of environmental, social, economic and agricultural indicators demonstrates how a mix of various indicators are useful for monitoring the changes which took place. It also shows the powerful influence that socio-demographic factors exert upon land use and landscape change.

An Ethnobotanical investigation of traditional knowledge and uses of edible wild plants in the Umbria Region, Central Italy

These days edible wild plants (EWPs) play a fundamental role in the Mediterranean diet, thanks to their content of mineral elements and bioactive compounds with proven benefits for human health. The present study aims to document ethnobotanical knowledge and uses of EWPs in Central Italy so that this knowledge will not be lost. During various nature fairs and exhibitions in Umbria three hundred subjects were interviewed face-to-face between March and May 2013-2015. The participants provided information on local plant names, where and when the plants were collected, part(s) used, categories used, folk medicinal uses, taste perception and other uses. The results were analyzed using two ethnobotanical indices: the Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Relative Importance Index (RII). The 100 EWPs mentioned by the respondents belonged to 23 families, Asteraceae (33%), Brassicaceae (17%) and Lamiaceae (11%) being the most dominant. The part(s) used were leaves (49%), shoots (17%), flowers and inflorescences (10%). Fourteen food use categories were cited, of which boiled 31%, 28% raw, 12% in vegetable soups, 11% fried in fat, without or with beaten eggs. Twenty-seven plant species were also mentioned as having folk medicinal uses.

Bioactive compounds and antioxidant characterization of three edible wild plants traditionally consumed in the Umbria Region (Central Italy): Bunias erucago L. (corn rocket), Lactuca perennis L. (mountain lettuce) and Papaver rhoeas L. (poppy)

The leaves of three edible wild plants, Bunias erucago L. (Corn rocket), Lactuca perennis L. (Mountain lettuce) and Papaver rhoaes L. (Poppy) were analysed for their proximate composition, some nutraceutical components and total antioxidant capacity. The protein levels ranged from 2.7 to 4.1 g/100 g of the edible portion. The range of dietary fibre content was 3.8 to 6.4 g/100 g of the edible portion. The amount of ash, carbohydrate and lipid ranged from 1.7 to 1.9, 3.3 to 4.4 and 0.22to 0.45 g/100 g of the edible portion, respectively. Lipids consisted mainly of polyunsaturated fatty acids with the highest value for the Bunias erucago L. (71.8 % of total fatty acids) and Lactuca perennis L. (70.0 %). Potassium (374.0-521.0 mg/100 g) and calcium (204.8-331.8 mg/100 g) were the most representative macro-elements in the species studied. The values of vitamin E, b-carotene and total vitamin C are included in the range from 0.91 to 2.61 mg/100 g, from 1,957 to 2,631 mg/100 g and from 19.2 to 31.0 mg/100 g, respectively. Our results showed that the total antioxidant capacity performed by the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) method, which ranges from 27.2 to 63.7 μmol TE/g, is highly justifiable by the high content of phenolic compounds (159-246 mg GAE/100 g).

Ethnobotanical knowledge and nutritional properties of two edible wild plants from Central Italy: Tordylium apulum L. and Urospermum dalechampii (L.) F.W. Schmid

Edible wild plants have provided an important source of food since time immemorial and have continued to do so until the present day. The study aimed to evaluate ethnobotanical uses and nutraceutical properties of Tordylium apulum L. and Urospermum dalechampii (L.) F.W. Schmidt. The ethnobotanical data collected showed that knowledge of these two species was not limited to alimentary use, but also included folk medicinal properties. Data obtained by nutraceutical analysis demonstrated how these species contain many of the so-called minor nutrients, such as carotenoids, tocopherol, and polyphenols. Furthermore in a comparison with some cultivated species, these species showed higher calcium, iron, and phosphorus values. T. apulum also showed significant vitamin A, polyphenol and ORAC values.