Gelsomina Fico

Traditional knowledge on medicinal and food plants used in Val San Giacomo (Sondrio, Italy)—An alpine ethnobotanical study

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE This work increases the ethnobotanical data from Northern Italy and, in particular, the Lombardy region, till now poorly documented, safeguarding the local folk knowledge, and provides information on new or scarcely reported properties of medicinal plants, whose traditional use needs to be validated experimentally. AIM OF THE STUDY The present study aimed to gather, analyse and evaluate the ethnobotanical information on the species used for medicinal and food purposes by the native people of Val San Giacomo. MATERIALS AND METHODS The plant use was documented by speaking with more than 100 people, mainly over 60 years old, born and resident in Val San Giacomo. Information was collected using semi-structured interviews and then analysed by indices such as Ethnophytonomic Index (EPI), Ethnobotanicity Index (EI), relative frequency of citation (RFC), use value (UV), relative importance (RI) and factor informant consensus (FIC). RESULTS Information on 66 plants belonging to 35 families (Asteraceae, Rosaceae and Lamiaceae, mainly) was gathered. The preference ranking placed Achillea moschata Wulfen at first place, both for the citation number and for RFC and UV. Arnica montana L., Thymus pulegioides L. and Artemisia genipi Stechm. were also in relevant use. Sixty species were wild and six were cultivated. Leaves, flowers, complete aerial parts and fruits were the plant parts most commonly used for remedy preparation (infusion, especially). The interviewees collected local flora for medicinal purposes, specifically. About 51.5% of the plant species were used to treat gastrointestinal tract of humans as digestive, depurative, appetiser, laxative, astringent and carminative remedies. About 56% of the plants were used in cookery, 24.2% in veterinary field, and 3% as cosmetics. The calculated indices demonstrated that in the studied area there is a small retention of plant knowledge. Only 6.2% of the autochthonous plants proved useful in folk tradition. Despite this, the uses of Sempervivum montanum L., Rhododendron ferrugineum L. and Panicum miliaceum L. were never documented by other ethnobotanical investigations conducted in the alpine area. CONCLUSIONS This survey was an extension of the ethnobotanical investigations performed in the Italian Alps. A study like this, though performed in a small area with a reduced traditional knowledge, could be the basis for subsequent research on the species that are interesting from a phytochemical point of view and on the potential use of their active metabolites.

Melatonin, melatonin isomers and stilbenes in Italian traditional grape products and their antiradical capacity

Although polyphenols represent the paradigm of the health‐promoting effects ascribed to grape products, recently, attention has been paid to dietary melatonin, significantly present in Mediterranean foods. In this work, we measured melatonin, its isomers, stilbenes (trans‐ and cis‐resveratrol and their glucosides, piceids) and total polyphenols in some different grape products (red, white and dessert wines, grape juices and Modena balsamic vinegars) of distinct Italian areas. We also evaluated their antiradical activity by DPPH· and ABTS·+ assays. For indoleamine analysis, the separation was carried out on a 1.7‐μm C18 BEH column and the detection performed by means of mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization in positive ion mode with multiple reaction monitoring. The confirmation of the peak identity was accomplished by injection into the high‐resolution system (Orbitrap) using accurate mass measurements (error below 1.0 ppm). Mass spectrometry analyses revealed, for the first time, the presence of melatonin in dessert wines and balsamic vinegars, as well as the occurrence of three different melatonin isomers in grape products.

Neuroprotective herbs and foods from different traditional medicines and diets.

Plant secondary metabolites include an array of bioactive constituents form both medicinal and food plants able to improve human health. The exposure to these phytochemicals, including phenylpropanoids, isoprenoids and alkaloids, through correct dietary habits, may promote health benefits, protecting against the chronic degenerative disorders mainly seen in Western industrialized countries, such as cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we briefly deal with some plant foods and herbs of traditional medicines and diets, focusing on their neuroprotective active components. Because oxidative stress and neuroinflammation resulting from neuroglial activation, at the level of neurons, microglial cells and astrocytes, are key factors in the etiopathogenesis of both neurodegenerative and neurological diseases, emphasis will be placed on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity exerted by specific molecules present in food plants or in remedies prescribed by herbal medicines.

From vineyard to glass : agrochemicals enhance the melatonin and total polyphenol contents and antiradical activity of red wines

Abstract:  Resistance inducers are a class of agrochemicals, including benzothiadiazole and chitosan, which activate the plant own defence mechanisms. In this work, open‐field treatments with plant activators were performed on two red grape (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties cultivated in different localities, Groppello (Brescia, Lombardia, Italy) and Merlot (Treviso, Veneto, Italy). Treatments were carried out every 10 days until the véraison and, after harvesting, experimental wines (microvinificates) were prepared. In general, both melatonin and total polyphenol content, determined by mass spectrometry and Folin‐Ciocalteu assay, respectively, were higher in wines produced from grapes treated with resistance inducers than in those obtained from untreated control and conventional fungicide‐treated grapes. Accordingly, antiradical power of wines derived from plant activator‐treated grapes, measured by both DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) and the ABTS [(2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid)] radical–scavenging assay, was higher than in their counterparts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the effects of agrochemicals on the melatonin content of red wine.

The presence of melatonin in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) berry tissues

Abstract:  Melatonin has been reported in a variety of food plants and, consequently, in a number of plant‐derived foodstuffs. In grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) products, it was found in berry exocarp (skin) of different cultivars and monovarietal wines. Herein, we assessed, by means of mass spectrometry, the occurrence of melatonin in all berry tissues (skin, flesh, and seed) at two different phenological stages, pre‐véraison and véraison. We detected the highest melatonin content in skin, at pre‐véraison, whereas, at véraison, the highest levels were reported in the seed. Furthermore, during ripening, melatonin decreased in skin, while increasing in both seed and flesh. The relative concentrations of melatonin in diverse berry tissues were somewhat different from those of total polyphenols (TP), the latter measured by the Folin‐Ciocalteau assay, and more abundant in seed at pre‐véraison and in exocarp at véraison. The highest antiradical activity, determined by both DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐pycryl hydrazyl) and ABTS [(2,2′‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid)] radical‐scavenging assay, was reported at pre‐veráison in seed. To the best of our knowledge, we reported, for the first time, the occurrence of melatonin in grape seeds.

Flavonoid characterization and in vitro antioxidant activity of Aconitum anthora L. (Ranunculaceae)

In this paper, we report studies on morphological, phytochemical, and biological aspects of a population belonging to Aconitum anthora L. Two compounds, quercetin 3-O-((beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-(4-O-(E-p-coumaroyl))-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-galactopyranoside))-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (1) and kaempferol 3-O-((beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-(4-O-(E-p-coumaroyl))-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-galactopyranoside))-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (2), together with two known flavonol glycosides (3-4) were isolated and identified from A. anthora. The antioxidant activity of the four identified flavonoids was screened by three in vitro tests.

Identification of Minor Secondary Metabolites from the Latex of Croton lechleri (Muell-Arg) and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activity

Dragon’s blood (Sangre de drago), a viscous red sap derived from Croton lechleri Muell-Arg (Euphorbiaceae), is extensively used by indigenous cultures of the Amazonian basin for its wound healing properties. The aim of this study was to identify the minor secondary metabolites and test the antioxidant activity of this sustance. A bio-guided fractionation of the n-hexane, chloroform, n-butanol, and aqueous extracts led to the isolation of 15 compounds: three megastigmanes, four flavan-3-ols, three phenylpropanoids, three lignans, a clerodane, and the alkaloid taspine. In addition to these known molecules, six compounds were isolated and identified for the first time in the latex: blumenol B, blumenol C, 4,5-dihydroblumenol A, erythro-guaiacyl-glyceryl-β-O-4’-dihydroconiferyl ether, 2-[4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-methoxyphenoxy]-propane-1,3-diol and floribundic acid glucoside. Combinations of spectroscopic methods (1H-, 13C- NMR and 2D-NMR experiments), ESI-MS, and literature comparisons were used for compound identification. In vitro antioxidant activities were assessed by DPPH, total antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation assays. Flavan-3-ols derivatives (as major phenolic compounds in the latex) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity.

Flavonoid distribution in Pyracantha coccinea plants at different growth phases

Flavonoid composition during the ontogenetic cycle was examined in Pyracantha coccinea. The flavonoid profiles of plants at different ages showed marked differences in aerial and hypogeal parts. In the vegetative phase there are flavonoids (flavanones, flavones, and flavonols) only in the aerial parts and they appear gradually during the plant life. These secondary metabolites are detectable in the roots exclusively in the reproductive phase.

Nutritional Characterization and Phenolic Profiling of Moringa oleifera Leaves Grown in Chad, Sahrawi Refugee Camps, and Haiti

Moringa oleifera is a plant that grows in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Its leaves are rich of nutrients and bioactive compounds. However, several differences are reported in the literature. In this article we performed a nutritional characterization and a phenolic profiling of M. oleifera leaves grown in Chad, Sahrawi refugee camps, and Haiti. In addition, we investigated the presence of salicylic and ferulic acids, two phenolic acids with pharmacological activity, whose presence in M. oleifera leaves has been scarcely investigated so far. Several differences were observed among the samples. Nevertheless, the leaves were rich in protein, minerals, and β-carotene. Quercetin and kaempferol glycosides were the main phenolic compounds identified in the methanolic extracts. Finally, salicylic and ferulic acids were found in a concentration range of 0.14–0.33 and 6.61–9.69 mg/100 g, respectively. In conclusion, we observed some differences in terms of nutrients and phenolic compounds in M. oleifera leaves grown in different countries. Nevertheless, these leaves are a good and economical source of nutrients for tropical and sub-tropical countries. Furthermore, M. oleifera leaves are a source of flavonoids and phenolic acids, among which salicylic and ferulic acids, and therefore they could be used as nutraceutical and functional ingredients.

RAPD analysis and flavonoid composition of Aconitum as an aid for taxonomic discrimination

Abstract The RAPD technique and phytochemical analysis, based on the investigation of flavonoid composition, were used to study Aconitum vulparia , A. paniculatum , A. napellus subsp. tauricum (from two different localities), and A. napellus subsp. neomontanum . Twenty primers were screened for the genetic analysis and 14 were selected providing 51 polymorphic bands. The phenogram based on UPGMA clustering of Jaccard coefficient revealed a clear division between yellowish and blue Aconitum plants and inside this second group A. paniculatum is clearly separated from all populations belonging to A. napellus group. Also the flavonoid profile well characterise all species and subspecies under study.