Valentina Savo

Ethnobotanical investigation on wild medicinal plants in the Monti Sicani Regional Park (Sicily, Italy)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCEnThe area of the Monte Sicani Regional Park (Central Western Sicily, southern Italy) has been quantitatively and extensively investigated in an ethnobotanical study for the first time. A total of 108 wild species are used for medicinal purposes, while, according to our study, the uses of 9 species have not previously been reported in ethnobotanical studies in Italy (e.g., the use of Kickxia elatine (L.) Dumort. for the treatment of hyperhydrosis of the feet, the use of Lavatera agrigentina Tineo for cough and bronchitis).nnnAIM OF THE STUDYnThe aim of this paper is to analyze, through quantitative indicators, the extent of the current knowledge on medicinal uses of plants in the area, evaluating also the features of uniqueness and commonality of this knowledge in comparison with other Italian and Mediterranean areas.nnnMETHODOLOGYnSemi-structured interviews were carried out in the local communities between 2009 and 2010 within the Monti Sicani Regional Park with local people retained experts in rural traditions. A total of 230 people were interviewed about their knowledge on medicinal plant uses. Local plant uses were evaluated using ethnobotanical indices (e.g., cultural importance index, ethnobotanicity index, informant consensus factor) and then compared with uses in other localities in Sicily, Italy and the Mediterranean basin.nnnRESULTSnLocal communities currently use a total number of 108 wild species (43 families) as remedies for human and livestock ailments. The majority of plants are used in the treatment of articular, skin and gastrointestinal problems. The use of some species is limited to Sicily (e.g., Rhus coriaria L., Athamanta sicula L., Senecio delphinifolius Vahl).nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe research shows an ongoing process of cultural erosion in an advanced stage, but results still highlight an interesting cultural identity as regards the local folk medicine.

Wild food plants used in traditional vegetable mixtures in Italy.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCEnMixtures of wild food plants, part of the Mediterranean diet, have potential benefits for their content in bioactive compounds, minerals and fibers. In Italy, wild plants are still consumed in various ways, for their taste, effects on health and nutritional value. In this paper, we provide a list of wild plants used in vegetable mixtures, indicating their phytochemical and nutritional profile, highlighting those not yet studied.nnnAIM OF THE STUDYnWe provide a first complete review of traditional uses of wild food plants used as vegetables and their preparations (e.g., salads, soups, rustic pies). We also highlight their phytochemical constituents.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnWe carried out an extensive literature review of ethnobotanical publications from 1894 to date for finding plants used in traditional vegetable mixtures. We also performed an online search for scientific papers providing the phytochemical profile of plants that were cited at least twice in recipes found in the literature.nnnRESULTSnWe list a total of 276 wild taxa used in traditional vegetable mixtures, belonging to 40 families. Among these, the most represented are Asteraceae (88), Brassicaceae (33), Apiaceae (21), Amaranthaceae (12). Many plants are cited in many recipes across several Italian regions. Among the most cited plant we note: Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth, Sanguisorba minor Scop., Taraxacum campylodes G. E. Haglund, Urtica dioica L. Tuscany is the region with the highest number of food recipes that incorporate wild plants used as vegetables. We also list the phytochemical constituents and some pharmacological activities of the plants cited at least twice. Finally, we discuss topics such as the taste of plants used in the recipes.nnnCONCLUSIONSnNineteen edible wild plants, such as Asparagus albus L., Campanula trachelium L., Hypochaeris laevigata (L.) Benth. & Hook f., Phyteuma spicatum L., Scolymus grandiflorus Desf., are not yet studied as regards their phytochemical and nutritional profile. Some plants should be avoided due to the presence of toxic compounds such as Adenostyles alliariae (Gouan) A. Kern or Ranunculus repens L.

Combining Environmental Factors and Agriculturalists’ Observations of Environmental Changes in the Traditional Terrace System of the Amalfi Coast (Southern Italy)

Terraces are traditional engineered ecosystems that affect the hydro-geological equilibrium, slope stability, and local communities. The aims of this paper are (i) identifying environmental factors that affect terrace stability in the Amalfi Coast, (ii) defining agriculturalists’ observations on environmental changes within that system and (iii) exploring potentiality of these observations to better define conservation strategies. All available data on physical and ecological factors recognized to affect the terrace system were collected and analyzed. Interviews were conducted with agriculturalists to obtain long-term observations on environmental factors that interact with this system. Landslides are more frequent where rainfall is high and during winter. Fires have an uneven annual distribution, with higher frequency during summers. Agriculturalists detailed complex interactions among environmental factors, economic elements, and terraces. These observations represent a valuable resource for defining causes and effects of abandonment and for better addressing conservation strategies.

Ethnobotanical study of Loloh: Traditional herbal drinks from Bali (Indonesia).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCEnLoloh are herbal drinks produced and consumed exclusively in Bali (Indonesia) to prevent and treat different ailments. This is the first study to document plants species used as Loloh, reporting the phytochemical components and pharmacological properties of the most cited plants. Documenting the plants used in herbal drinks in Bali by local communities to treat various ailments (providing some information on phytochemistry and pharmacology of the most interesting plants).nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnEthnobotanical data were obtained through semi-structured interviews (individual and group discussions) and questionnaires. Plant specimens were collected, identified and made into herbarium vouchers.nnnRESULTSnA total of 51 plants species (belonging to 32 families) have been documented for their use in the various preparation of Loloh. Different plants and plant parts are used to prepare Loloh to treat heartburn, fever, diarrhea, hypertension, aphthous stomatitis (canker sores), and other minor health problems. These plants are mainly prepared as decoctions, are juiced or simply added to the preparation. The most cited plants (>30 informants) are Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br., Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC., Cinnamomum burmanni Nees ex Bl., and Piper betle L. These plants are well studied with multiple demonstrated pharmacological activities (e.g., antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic).nnnCONCLUSIONnThe Balinese communities still preserve a rich ethnobotanical knowledge. Several species are well known for their pharmacological properties, but some [such as Pneumatopteris callosa (Blume) Nakai and Dendrocnide stimulans (L. f.) Chew] are understudied and could be promising candidates for further research.

Plants used in artisanal fisheries on the Western Mediterranean coasts of Italy

BackgroundArtisanal fisheries in the Mediterranean, especially in Italy, have been poorly investigated. There is a long history of fishing in this region, and it remains an important economic activity in many localities. Our research entails both a comprehensive review of the relevant literature and 58 field interviews with practitioners on plants used in fishing activities along the Western Mediterranean Italian coastal regions. The aims were to record traditional knowledge on plants used in fishery in these regions and to define selection criteria for plant species used in artisanal fisheries, considering ecology and intrinsic properties of plants, and to discuss the pattern of diffusion of shared uses in these areas.MethodsInformation was gathered both from a general review of ethnobotanical literature and from original data. A total of 58 semi-structured interviews were carried out in Liguria, Latium, Campania and Sicily (Italy). Information on plant uses related to fisheries were collected and analyzed through a chi-square residual analysis and the correspondence analysis in relation to habitat, life form and chorology.ResultsA total of 60 plants were discussed as being utilized in the fisheries of the Western Italian Mediterranean coastal regions, with 141 different uses mentioned. Of these 141 different uses, 32 are shared among different localities. A multivariate statistical analysis was performed on the entire dataset, resulting in details about specific selection criteria for the different usage categories (plants have different uses that can be classified into 11 main categories). In some uses, species are selected for their features (e.g., woody), or habitat (e.g., riverine), etc. The majority of uses were found to be obsolete (42%) and interviews show that traditional fishery knowledge is in decline. There are several reasons for this, such as climatic change, costs, reduction of fish stocks, etc.ConclusionsOur research correlates functional characteristics of the plants used in artisanal fishery and habitats, and discusses the distribution of these uses. This research is the first comprehensive outline of plant role in artisanal fisheries and traditional fishery knowledge in the Mediterranean, specifically in Italy.

Plant selection for ethnobotanical uses on the Amalfi Coast (Southern Italy)

BackgroundMany ethnobotanical studies have investigated selection criteria for medicinal and non-medicinal plants. In this paper we test several statistical methods using different ethnobotanical datasets in order to 1) define to which extent the nature of the datasets can affect the interpretation of results; 2) determine if the selection for different plant uses is based on phylogeny, or other selection criteria.MethodsWe considered three different ethnobotanical datasets: two datasets of medicinal plants and a dataset of non-medicinal plants (handicraft production, domestic and agro-pastoral practices) and two floras of the Amalfi Coast. We performed residual analysis from linear regression, the binomial test and the Bayesian approach for calculating under-used and over-used plant families within ethnobotanical datasets. Percentages of agreement were calculated to compare the results of the analyses. We also analyzed the relationship between plant selection and phylogeny, chorology, life form and habitat using the chi-square test. Pearson’s residuals for each of the significant chi-square analyses were examined for investigating alternative hypotheses of plant selection criteria.ResultsThe three statistical analysis methods differed within the same dataset, and between different datasets and floras, but with some similarities. In the two medicinal datasets, only Lamiaceae was identified in both floras as an over-used family by all three statistical methods. All statistical methods in one flora agreed that Malvaceae was over-used and Poaceae under-used, but this was not found to be consistent with results of the second flora in which one statistical result was non-significant. All other families had some discrepancy in significance across methods, or floras. Significant over- or under-use was observed in only a minority of cases. The chi-square analyses were significant for phylogeny, life form and habitat. Pearson’s residuals indicated a non-random selection of woody species for non-medicinal uses and an under-use of plants of temperate forests for medicinal uses.ConclusionsOur study showed that selection criteria for plant uses (including medicinal) are not always based on phylogeny. The comparison of different statistical methods (regression, binomial and Bayesian) under different conditions led to the conclusion that the most conservative results are obtained using regression analysis.

Land-cover changes and sustainable development in a rural cultural landscape of central Italy: classical trends and counter-intuitive results

ABSTRACT Defining and understanding the long-term social and ecological evolution of rural cultural landscapes can provide insights into complex dynamics of landscape and environment changes. Land cover changes (LCCs) in Mediterranean-type ecosystems are mainly due to human-induced landscape transformations. Multi-scale spatial analysis can provide useful information in the interpretation of LCCs data and contribute to identifying underlying drivers of landscape change. In the present study, we analyze eight diachronic land cover maps and perform statistical data assessments of human pressure in the Tolfa–Cerite district (Northern Latium, central Italy) to investigate potential changes in the cultural landscape. The Tolfa–Cerite district is a generally dry area with subhumid–humid sites and an interesting mosaic of Mediterranean-temperate vegetation, agricultural and pastoral land, and a millenarian human presence. LCCs were assessed over a period of 57 years (1949–2006) using maps at both low-resolution (1:100.000) and high-resolution (1:25.000) with different class nomenclature systems. Three primary land cover changes have been observed during the investigated period: (i) urbanization, (ii) land abandonment, and (iii) deforestation. While the former two classes of landscape change are particularly common in the northern Mediterranean region, forest conversion to pastures and shrub lands due to intensive grazing, fires, climate aridity, and increasing human pressure is, nowadays, rarely observed in Italy. Better understanding the influence of population dynamics at the local scale and other drivers of LCCs can help fine-tuning conservation policies looking at landscape quality, diversity, and fragmentation.

Big Messages in Small Details: Nature in Roman Archaeology

Understanding human–nature relationships of the past is an important step in reconstructing how those relationships have evolved. Roman archaeological remains, especially those of the Hellenistic– Alexandrine style (influenced by the Greek and Egyptian cultures), contain several realistic details of plants and plant parts that can provide insights about human–nature relationships. Ancient scriptures suggest that plants were used beyond decorative aims to provide symbolic messages. The Ara Pacis Augustae in Rome (Italy) represents an outstanding example of such messages displayed in a substantially figurative, unwritten language. Plants and plant structures were selected for the monument based on their metaphorical relationships with specific ideas (e.g., life, rebirth, fertility) (Caneva 2010). In this paper, we provide data supporting the idea that ancient Romans were aware of even small–scale natural phenomena, which they used in artistic details to express ideas through symbolism. Humans have always felt compelled to explain nature and its manifestations. In antiquity, but still now in some cultures, this need has led to the interpretation of natural phenomena through the production of myths, gods, and heroes. Nature was the “Life” and the “Mother,” and in many cultures, nature represented the divinity in its various forms and expressions. As a consequence, for ancient people, natural phenomena were the result of divine expression, especially in relation to their influence and effects on human life (Caneva 2010; De Cleen and Lejeune, 2003; Dierbach 1833; Ducourthial 2003; Folkard 1894; Frazer 1890; Janick et al. 2007; Kandeler and Ullrich 2009; Kumbaric et al. 2012). The result of this association between nature and divinity was common; in several Mediterranean cultures, myth–based symbols became ubiquitous and their meanings well known. In ancient Rome, for example, Horace (Odes– I century B.C.E.), Ovid (Metamorphoses– I century C.E.), and Pliny the Elder (Naturalis historia– I century C.E.) describe the representation and interpretation of natural processes, plants, and animals through well–defined forms, symbols, signs, and events (Castriota 1995; Zanker 1990). The meaning of such symbols was clear not only to the educated, but also to common, illiterate people. For example, symbols for natural elements were often expressed artistically in architecture. While many of these designs would be considered merely ornamental today, for people of the past they were indicative of a deep connection with the transcendent world via nature (Vitruvius, De Architectura, Book I, 5th paragraph). Where they were used, these images were intended to show people a world where nature was full of significance, and to reinforce that life processes were strictly governed by the divine (Baumann 1993; Caneva et al. 2005; Dierbach 1833; Ducourthial 2003). Artistic representations of natural elements are common in archaeological remains and artifacts in the Mediterranean region, such as friezes, capitals, and columns. Many archaeological monuments were influenced by the ancient Hellenistic and Alexandrine culture and several contain varied representations (and specific details) of plants, animals, and natural elements. The Ara

In-between soil erosion and sustainable land management: climate aridity and vegetation in a traditional agro-forest system (Costiera Amalfitana, southern Italy)

ABSTRACT The delineation of bioclimatic areas is a key tool in informing sustainable land management strategies, especially in the light of climate change. It requires an in-depth analysis of climate data but also of the physical and biological factors that affect the distribution of natural vegetation. The present study applies an exploratory data analysis aimed at defining bioclimatic conditions in an area characterized by steep slopes and prone to soil erosion (Amalfi Coast, southern Italy). To this end, we analyzed long-term (1959–1999) monthly rainfall and temperature data measured at 28 gauging stations within the study area using a geographic information system and multivariate statistical tools. Then, we analyzed how the spatial distribution of rainfall and temperature data relates to topography, vegetation cover, and soil erosion. We also derived bioclimatic indicators from the geostatistical analysis. We then identify and comment on drawbacks found in the procedure used in the present study, discussing possible solutions to overcome such problems. We finally discuss the potential contribution of this study to the development of sustainable land management policies for socio-ecological systems with complex topography.

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) Symbolism in the Ancient Euro-Mediterranean Cultures

Interpreting plant symbolism in archaeological artifacts can help us better understand humanenvironment relationships (Caneva et al. 2014; Day 2013). In the past, representations of plants and, more generally, natural elements were not only decorative or chosen for aesthetic reasons, but they often had a precise symbolic aim. We argue that in the past people were able to understand these symbolic meanings thanks to their deep connection to and understanding of their environments (Caneva 2010; Caneva et al. 2014). The grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is a cultural keystone species in many Euro-Mediterranean cultures (McGovern 2003). This species was associated with divinities, connected to specific rituals, and frequently represented in artifacts in many ancient cultures (e.g., Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures) (Kumbaric and Caneva 2014). In this paper, we explore interpretations of the grapevine symbol in Euro-Mediterranean artifacts to understand better how people in the past see and relate to nature. Here we show that both shape and uses of the grapevine are key to interpreting its symbolism. The ritual and religious uses of the grapes can be connected with its symbolic interpretation as the blood of the earth and life force. The wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera L., Vitaceae) is a liana. Its natural habitats include riverbanks, deciduous, and semi-deciduous forests (Arroyo-Garcia et al. 2006; Terral et al. 2010; Zohary and Hopf 2000). There are about 60 interfertile wild Vitis species, and their distribution includes Asia, North America, and Europe (Terral et al. 2010; This et al. 2006; Wan et al. 2013). The grapevine is also cultivated, and to date, research has established that there are approximately 10,000 grapevine cultivars (This et al. 2006). Numerous paleo-botanical, taxonomical, and agronomical studies show that even in the past there were different morphotypes/ varieties (Arroyo-Garcia et al. 2006; Manen et al. 2003; Núñez and Walker 1989). Since ancient times, people have cultivated and expanded the natural geographical distribution of Vitis vinifera (Figueiral et al. 2010; Núñez and Walker 1989). In the Caucasian region, which is probably the area of origin of the plant (Jackson 2000; McGovern 2003; Myles et al. 2011), it was likely cultivated and domesticated for the first time about seven to nine millennia ago (McGovern et al. 1996a, b; Myles et al. 2011; Zohary and Hopf 2000). From that region, ancient civilizations have spread grapevines to the Euro-Mediterranean and other Euro-Asiatic regions (Terral et al. 2010; Unwin 1991). In those regions, many cultures learned about its cultivation or winemaking (Branigan 1970; Guasch-Jane et al. 2006; Janick 2007; McGovern 2003; McGovern et al. 1996a). Grape and grapevine are widely represented in mural paintings, mosaics, and sculptures (Gago et al. 2009; Kumbaric and Caneva 2014). In this paper, we explore the potential explanations and interpretations of the grapevine symbol in EuroMediterranean artifacts to better understand planthuman relationships in the past. The aim of this paper is to explore how the morphological features and uses of grape, grapevine, and wine within ancient cultures, through the representation of this plant, could explain the meaning of the grapevine as a symbol and its frequent appearances in historical artifacts. The interpretation of the grapevine symbolism is possible because the representation