scholarly journals Opportunities of spontaneous edible plants collected in southern Italy (Campania Region) as functional food

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 248-258
Author(s):  
Enrica De Falco ◽  
Rossana Zanti ◽  
Antonello Senatore ◽  
Antonella Vitti
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Phenolic Content ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Edible Plants ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Campania Region ◽  
Rubus Ulmifolius

In most countries the historical-cultural heritage also refers to the foods traditionally consumed. Southern Italy maintains a strong tradition of dishes based on wild plants, considered an important dietary foundation. Despite this, the nutritional properties and nutraceutical value of some of these plants are little known and, therefore, need to be investigated. Sixteen spontaneous species, traditionally used as food plants, were collected from their natural habitat in four different areas of Campania Region, and their phenolic content and nutritional value were determined according to European model of food labelling. The species analysed resulted quite homogeneous regarding the nutritional value, as demonstrated by cluster analyses. Energy values were always low. Minerals content (especially calcium and potassium) and phenols differed among the species, the sodium-potassium ratio was almost always <0.49, and phenolic content was very high for Rubus ulmifolius. Many of the wild edible plants under study may be considered a good source to dietary intakes of minerals. The species examined showed contents of nutrition values and total phenols useful for preparing mixed soups or salads in order to gain a balanced nourishment. The wild species under study can become a source of new quality horticultural products due to their nutritional and nutraceutical components.

scholarly journals Ethnobotanical research in Cava de’ Tirreni area, Southern Italy

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattia Mautone ◽  
Laura De Martino ◽  
Vincenzo De Feo
Keyword(s):  
Southern Italy ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Ethnobotanical Study ◽  
Ethnobotanical Knowledge ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Campania Region ◽  
Plant Knowledge ◽  
Italian Regions ◽  
Traditional Ethnobotanical Knowledge ◽  
Medicinal Food

Abstract Background To best of our knowledge, this is the first quantitative ethnobotanical study with the aim of documenting the local knowledge and practices of using plants for curing diseases in the Cava de’ Tirreni area, Salerno Province, Campania Region, Italy. The present ethnobotanical field study, carried out during 2016–2017, documents the local uses of 119 plant species for medicinal, food and domestic purposes. Methods Ethnobotanical data were documented from 70 informants: field data were collected and information on the uses of plants was gathered through semi-structured and structured interviews with persons who still retain traditional ethnobotanical knowledge. Documented data were evaluated using the quantitative ethnobotanical index of use value (UV). Results Overall, the informants native of the area were interviewed and 277 use-reports have been recorded. The scientific names, local names, plant part used, preparation and administration processes are reported and compared with practices in other Southern Italian regions. In total, 101 species are documented as medicinal, 36 as food or food aromatizer, 29 for domestic and handicraft uses, 10 in veterinary medicine. More or less 64% of all species have more uses and over half of the food plants (23 species) are also used for medicinal purposes. Conclusions The comparison of the documented species and their uses with ethnobotanical literature of other Italian regions reveals that the traditional plant knowledge in this area shows strong similarities with adjacent Southern Italian areas. Some of the recorded species and administration processes however seem to be unique for the zone.

Culinary and nutritional value of edible wild plants from northern Spain rich in phenolic compounds with potential health benefits

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 8493-8515
Author(s):  
A. G. Pereira ◽  
M. Fraga-Corral ◽  
P. García-Oliveira ◽  
C. Jimenez-Lopez ◽  
C. Lourenço-Lopes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenolic Compounds ◽  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Edible Plants ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Edible Wild Plants ◽  
Bioactive Properties ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
Northwest Region

Wild edible plants (WEP) have been consumed since ancient times. A review of ten WEPs from the northwest region of Spain has been carried out on their bioactive properties, their use and their incorporation into the diet as a new food.

scholarly journals Conservation of Wild Food Plants and Their Potential for Combatting Food Insecurity in Kenya as Exemplified by the Drylands of Kitui County

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredrick Munyao Mutie ◽  
Peninah Cheptoo Rono ◽  
Vivian Kathambi ◽  
Guang-Wan Hu ◽  
Qing-Feng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Life Forms ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Wild Edible Plants ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Wild Food ◽  
Wild Food Plants ◽  
Edible Plants ◽  
East African ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
The Common

Wild food plants are important resources for people living in dry areas of Kenya. A botanical inventory of vascular plants of Kitui county was compiled from specimens collected during field investigations in Kitui county, at the East African (EA) herbarium and from literature reporting on plants of Kitui county. To obtain an inventory of wild edible plants found in Kitui county, literature reporting on wild edible plants of Kenya were searched and combined with the use reports obtained from field surveys in Kitui county. A total of 199 wild plants found in Kitui county have the potential of being utilized as foods in different ways. Plant species growing either as trees or shrubs (83 species) and herbs (36 species) are the dominant life forms while the best represented plant families are Leguminosae (25 species) and Malvaceae (17 species). Fruits (124 reports) and leaves (56 reports) are the common plant parts collected for food. Fruits (120 species) and vegetables (44 species) are the common wild food types in Kitui county. Further studies on species distribution are necessary to address conservation concerns that may threaten such plants.

scholarly journals use of wild plants for food: a national scale analysis for Burkina Faso (West Africa)

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 25-33
Author(s):  
Karen Hahn ◽  
Marco Schmidt ◽  
Adjima Thiombiano
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Wild Plant ◽  
Wild Food ◽  
Edible Plants ◽  
National Scale ◽  
Edible Plant ◽  
Plant Parts

Edible wild plants are an important supplement to the diets and livelihoods of rural households in West Africa. Despite their role in improving diets, mitigating famine periods and generating income there is a lack of extensive information on their uses for broader areas. Based on ethnobotanical records, we investigated wild food plants on the national scale of Burkina Faso, to provide a comprehensive overview of all edible plants, their taxonomy, plant parts and preparations. Our study revealed a relatively high number of 354 edible wild species, representing 66 plant families, with Fabaceae and Poaceae being the most species rich. Almost one third of these species have two to four edible plant parts. The number of species with edible fruits ranked highest, followed by seeds, leaves, starchy underground storage organs and others. Overall, the results underline that wild plant species contribute considerably to nutrition and the database compiled in this study constitutes a good basis for further evaluations of the potential of edible plants in Burkina Faso.

scholarly journals Traditional Salads and Soups with Wild Plants as a Source of Antioxidants: A Comparative Chemical Analysis of Five Species Growing in Central Italy

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Savo ◽  
Francois Salomone ◽  
Elena Mattoni ◽  
Daniela Tofani ◽  
Giulia Caneva
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Phenolic Content ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Wild Food ◽  
Total Phenolic ◽  
Wild Food Plants ◽  
Hypochaeris Radicata

The interest and demand for nutraceuticals are rapidly increasing in many industrialized countries due to the emergence of health risks associated with the increased consumption of processed foods. Several wild Mediterranean plants used as traditional foods are an extraordinary source of nutraceutical substances with antioxidant properties. This study has two main aims: (1) to quantify the antioxidant properties of traditional wild food plants and (2) to determine if their use in soups (i.e., the cooking process) can alter their beneficial properties. We have evaluated the antioxidant capacity (ABTS, DPPH) and the Total Phenolic Content (Folin-Ciocalteu) of five herbaceous plants traditionally consumed in several areas of Central Italy: (A) Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth, (B) Hypochaeris radicata L., (C) Cichorium intybus L., (D) Tordylium apulum L., and (E) Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub. Our analyses show good levels of antioxidant capacity for all plants, with Reichardia picroides and Helminthotheca echioides having the highest levels. There is a high correlation between the antioxidant activity and the Total Phenolic Content especially in Reichardia picroides (R2=0.92) and Hypochaeris radicata (R2=0.93). Boiling the species caused a general decrease in the antioxidant activity and polyphenols. Our study confirms the health benefits of consuming wild plants, especially raw ones in salads. It also supports the use of ethnobotanical information to study and then promote the consumption of wild food plants.

scholarly journals Wild Plants Used as Herbs and Spices in Italy: An Ethnobotanical Review

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 563
Author(s):  
Riccardo Motti
Keyword(s):  
Food Plants ◽  
Wild Edible Plants ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Wild Plant ◽  
Wild Food ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Wild Food Plants ◽  
Edible Plants ◽  
Phytochemical Compounds ◽  
Herbs And Spices

Wild edible plants are an essential component of people’s diets in the Mediterranean basin. In Italy, ethnobotanical surveys have received increasing attention in the past two centuries, with some of these studies focusing on wild edible plants. In this regard, the literature in Italy lacks the coverage of some major issues focusing on plants used as herbs and spices. I searched national journals for articles on the use of wild food plants in Italy, published from 1963 to 2020. Aims of the present review were to document plant lore regarding wild herbs and spices in Italy, identify the wild plants most frequently used as spices, analyze the distribution of wild herbs and spices used at a national scale, and finally, to describe the most common phytochemical compounds present in wild plant species. Based on the 34 studies reviewed, I documented 78 wild taxa as being used in Italy as herbs or spices. The studies I included in this systematic review demonstrate that wild species used as herbs and spices enrich Italian folk cuisine and can represent an important resource for profitable, integrated local small-scale activities.

scholarly journals Wild food plants and fungi sold in the markets of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Łukasz Łuczaj ◽  
Vichith Lamxay ◽  
Khamphart Tongchan ◽  
Kosonh Xayphakatsa ◽  
Kongchay Phimmakong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lao Pdr ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Wild Edible Plants ◽  
Wild Food ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Wild Food Plants ◽  
Edible Plants ◽  
Important Position ◽  
Open Air Markets

Abstract Background Open air markets hold an important position for ethnobiologists. In Southeast Asia, they are seriously understudied, in spite of their incredible biocultural diversity. In order to fill this gap we recorded plants and fungi sold in the open air markets of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. Methods The markets were visited 38 times in four seasons: the dry season, early monsoon, mid-monsoon, and end-of-monsoon, at least 8 times per season. All items were photographed and voucher specimens were collected. Fungi were identified using DNA barcoding techniques. Results We recorded 110 species of wild edible plants and 54 species of fungi, including 49 wild-collected species. The sold plants included 86 species of green vegetables, 18 species of fruits and 3 species of flowers. Products from woody species constitute around half of all taxa sold. These include the young shoots of tree leaves, which are used for salads—an interesting feature of Lao cuisine. A large number of extremely rare Russula, with no reference sequences represented in databases or even species unknown to science is present on sale in the markets. Conclusions Luang Prabang markets are some of the richest in species of wild edible plants and fungi in Asia, and indeed in the whole world. It is worth pointing out the exceptionally long list of wild edible mushrooms which are sold in Luang Prabang (and probably elsewhere in Laos). We view the Morning Market of Luang Prabang as a cultural treasure that unites the traditions of eating a large number of living species with very diverse flora and fauna. Measures should be taken to strike a balance between local foraging traditions and nature conservation priorities.

Abstract P088: Obesity, Hypertension and Insulin Resistance in a Primary Pediatric Setting in Southern Italy

Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giampaolo De Filippo ◽  
Domenico Rendina ◽  
Domenico Viggiano ◽  
Antonio Fasolino ◽  
Paola Sabatini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Diagnostic Criteria ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Serum Insulin ◽  
High Density Lipoproteins ◽  
Obese Children ◽  
Campania Region

Background: Obesity is the main risk factor for essential hypertension (EH) in childhood. The O.Si.Me. study (Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in children and adolescents) evaluated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its constitutive traits in a sample of obese children and adolescents living in Campania, southern Italy. Patients and methods: Four hundred and fifteen children and adolescents consecutively referred to the National Health Service participating Outpatient Clinics for minor health problems and found to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) Z-score > 2.0 were enrolled in the study. The entire sample was screened for MetS, which was defined as the presence of at least 2 of the following alterations in addition to obesity: fasting hyperglycemia, low levels of high-density lipoproteins cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, and EH. The present analysis evaluated the clinical characteristics of the O.Si.Me subgroup of EH participants (systolic and/or diastolic BP ≥ 95 th percentile for age, gender and height) as compared with normotensive participants. Results: The prevalence of EH in the O.Si.Me population was 23.6 % (98/415, 48M and 50F.) and two-thirds of the EH participants met the MetS diagnostic criteria. The EH participants featured serum insulin and HOMA-IR levels significantly higher compared with normotensive ones (11.6±0.6 vs. 9.5±0.4 μIU/ml, p = 0.014; 2.6±0.1 vs. 2.2±0.1, p = 0.028 for insulin and HOMA-IR, respectively). These differences were common to boys and girls and remained significant after correction for age, pubertal stage, body weight, length, BMI, gestational age at birth, duration of breastfeeding and anthropometric parental parameters. Accordingly, children and adolescents with EH had a a relative risk of being insulin resistant (defined as a HOMA-IR ≥2.5) significantly greater compared to those without. Moreover, they exhibited higher serum creatinine levels (53.8±7.1 vs. 35.4±6.8 μmol/l, p=0.025) accounting for gender and body weight. Conclusions: More than a quarter of obese children and adolescents meet the diagnostic criteria for EH in the Campania region in southern Italy. These obese boys and girls have an increased prevalence of insulin resistance and apparently an initial reduction in renal function compared with obese children and adolescents with normal BP.

scholarly journals Debris-flow susceptibility assessment through cellular automata modeling: an example from 15–16 December 1999 disaster at Cervinara and San Martino Valle Caudina (Campania, southern Italy)

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 457-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Iovine ◽  
S. Di Gregorio ◽  
V. Lupiano
Keyword(s):  
Cellular Automata ◽  
Debris Flow ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Landslide Risk ◽  
Campania Region ◽  
Optimal Values ◽  
Debris Flow Susceptibility

Abstract. On 15–16 December 1999, heavy rainfall severely stroke Campania region (southern Italy), triggering numerous debris flows on the slopes of the San Martino Valle Caudina-Cervinara area. Soil slips originated within the weathered volcaniclastic mantle of soil cover overlying the carbonate skeleton of the massif. Debris slides turned into fast flowing mixtures of matrix and large blocks, downslope eroding the soil cover and increasing their original volume. At the base of the slopes, debris flows impacted on the urban areas, causing victims and severe destruction (Vittori et al., 2000). Starting from a recent study on landslide risk conditions in Campania, carried out by the Regional Authority (PAI –Hydrogeological setting plan, in press), an evaluation of the debris-flow susceptibility has been performed for selected areas of the above mentioned villages. According to that study, such zones would be in fact characterised by the highest risk levels within the administrative boundaries of the same villages ("HR-zones"). Our susceptibility analysis has been performed by applying SCIDDICA S3–hex – a hexagonal Cellular Automata model (von Neumann, 1966), specifically developed for simulating the spatial evolution of debris flows (Iovine et al., 2002). In order to apply the model to a given study area, detailed topographic data and a map of the erodable soil cover overlying the bedrock of the massif must be provided (as input matrices); moreover, extent and location of landslide source must also be given. Real landslides, selected among those triggered on winter 1999, have first been utilised for calibrating SCIDDICA S3–hex and for defining "optimal" values for parameters. Calibration has been carried out with a GIS tool, by quantitatively comparing simulations with actual cases: optimal values correspond to best simulations. Through geological evaluations, source locations of new phenomena have then been hypothesised within the HR-zones. Initial volume for these new cases has been estimated by considering the actual statistics of the 1999 landslides. Finally, by merging the results of simulations, a deterministic susceptibility zonation of the considered area has been obtained. In this paper, aiming at illustrating the potential for debris-flow hazard analyses of the model SCIDDICA S3–hex, a methodological example of susceptibility zonation of the Vallicelle HR-zone is presented.

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