An annotated checklist of the italian vascular flora: nomenclatural sources

This volume offers an introductory guide through the maze of interdisciplinary themes that combine under the concept of "biodiversity". Featuring examples from the UK, Africa and several oceanic islands and elsewhere, including dodos and the Udzungwa Forest partridge, the book defines and explains core topics of biodiversity, from creation and natural processes, measurements and patterns of extant biodiversity, losses, causes and consequences, to legislative, species/habitat protection and economic approaches to conservation.

Biodiversity and Conservation

Plants and natural products have played a significant role in curing and preventing a variety of ailments occurring in humans and animals, and continue to provide new bioactive leads for researchers in therapeutic discovery. This study was conducted with the aim to identify and document local healers’ practices of treating human diseases and quantitatively document indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants, as well as to highlight the species of public interest for bioprospecting potential. A total of 17 field tours were carried out in 12 regions of Jasrota hill and its adjoining areas of Himalaya. Informants (113) were interviewed using semi-structured interviews and discussions and local guided collections. The results were analyzed using ethnobotanical indices—use-reports (URs) and the informant consensus factor (ICF)—and the data were statistically analyzed. The ethnopharmacological uses of 121 plant species belonging to 105 genera and 53 families were reported for use as medicine for treating 93 types of ailments. A total of 4987 URs were mentioned by 113 informants. Fabaceae (90.09%) and Asteraceae (6.62%) were the most represented families. Herbs (46.28%) were the primary sources of medicine, decoction (33.88%) was the most common use method for utilization, and leaves (43.80%) were the most frequently used plant parts. The ICF values ranged from 0.667 to 0.974, with the highest number of species (1314UR, 55 species) being used for the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments (GIA), followed by dermatological disorders (38 species). This result showed that the exchange of knowledge could be evident among the different communities, and their medicinal uses and practices could be correlated.

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/18/7526/pdf

Exploring Plant-Based Ethnomedicine and Quantitative Ethnopharmacology: Medicinal Plants Utilized by the Population of Jasrota Hill in Western Himalaya

Antitumor properties of twigs extract of Croton bonplandianum Baill were proven using potato disc and radish seed bioassays Tumor formation ability of Agrobacterium was distinctly inhibited on potato disc in presence of methanol extract Significant variation on the ability of tumor formation was observed among the tested strains of Agrobacterium when treated with different concentrations (10, 100 and 1,000 ppm) of plant extracts Tumor inhibition was increased with the increasing of concentrations of plant extract Decreasing the root length and percentage of seed germination during radish seed bioassays further confirmed the antitumor properties of Croton bonplandianum In conclusion it may be recommended that the bioactive compound of this plant may play an important role in developing antitumor drugs for human beings, as there is a similarity between human and plant tumor formation mechanism

In vitro evaluation of Croton bonplandianum Baill. as potential antitumor properties using Agrobacterium tumefaciens

This paper presents an ethnobotanical survey of the traditional uses of plants in the Reventino Massif (Calabria Region, Southern Italy). The aim of study was to record local knowledge on plants used for food, medical and other purposes based on new information provided by inhabitants in the study area. Fifty people, aged between 52 and 91 years, were interviewed between January and June 2016, using open and semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews. For each described plant species, the Italian common and local folk names, the part of the plants used, the uses and the relative use value (UV), were recorded. 76 plant species belonging to 43 families have been identified, with Asteraceae (10 species) and Lamiaceae (9 species) being most frequently used. The decoction and infusion in water, is the main preparation method for oral administration, while direct application of plants is the most important method for topical use. Several uses were never reported before. Phytotherapy in the Reventino Massif Area is nowadays practiced by a few elderly people that resort to medicinal plants only for various mild complaints such as tooth-ache, rheumatic pain, headaches; they also serve as first aid, as cicatrizing, lenitive, haemostatic agents. On the contrary, food uses are still commonly practiced.

Ethnobotanical notes about medicinal and useful plants of the Reventino Massif tradition (Calabria region, Southern Italy)

Fagonia cretica L. is an important component of Mediterranean dry grasslands and a rare and isolated species of Italian flora. In this study, an assessment is presented on the distribution, habitat, and conservation status of F. cretica in Italy. The results of field investigation and herbarium analysis show that this species grows in a small area within the southern Calabria region characterized by a warmest and driest Mediterranean climate on the Italian peninsula. F. cretica is a semi-desert plant species growing in Italy in only one peripheral and isolated population at the northern limit of its distribution. Plant community analysis, using the phytosociological method, shows that F. cretica grows in wintergreen perennial dry grasslands dominated by Lygeum spartum and Hyparrhenia hirta. F. cretica plant communities are located in thermo-xeric habits such as south-, southeast- and east-facing slopes on clays and sandy clays in southern Calabria. The population of F. cretica is fragmented in six neighbouring localities, with two of which belonging to a Site of Community Importance (SCI). The conservation status of F. cretica population is not very good, and is defined as “Critically Endangered” in accordance with IUCN criteria. There are many threats affecting the F. cretica population in Italy, primarily the changes in land uses due to urban expansion and reforestation with exotic plants. The southern end of the Italian peninsula hosts other plants from thermo-xeric habits that do not adapt to the current local climate. This territory can be considered as a microrefugia for plants currently distributed in the arid territory of the southern Mediterranean. These results contribute to the discussion of some conservation measures, and the possibility of establishing a micro-reserve. For all these reasons, we propose to include F. cretica in the lists of protected plant species at regional (Calabria) and country (Italy) scales in Italy.

Habitat, occurrence and conservation status of the Saharo-Macaronesian and Southern-Mediterranean element Fagonia cretica L. (Zygophyllaceae) in Italy

espanolComo parte de un plan de investigacion para la vegetacion de humedales del sur de Italia, se realizo un analisis fitosociologico de la Reserva Natural Regional del Lago de Tarsia. Veinticuatro comunidades (19 asociaciones y cinco comunidades) han sido asignadas a 17 alianzas, 14 ordenes y 11 clases. La mayoria de las asociaciones resultan comunes en el area mediterranea. No obstante, en respuesta a los factores climaticos y edaficos particulares, en el area de estudio hay algunas fitocenosis tipicas de Europa central, que aun no se han observado en el sur de Italia. Actualmente, esta area conserva una flora y vegetacion de considerable interes naturalista. Por consiguiente, se necesita un plan adecuado de monitoreo y proteccion para contrarrestar la presion antropogenica severa. EnglishA phytosociological analysis of Tarsia Lake Regional Nature Reserve was carried out within a research project dealing with the vegetation of southern Italian wetlands. Twenty-four plant communities (19 associations and five communities not yet assigned to formal rank) were attributed to 17 alliances, 14 orders, and 11 classes. Most associations resulted as common in the Mediterranean area; however, as a response to the peculiarity of the local climatic and edaphic factors, some phytocoenoses were found as typical throughout central Europe but not observed in southern Italy, yet. Currently, this area is preserving a considerably interesting flora and vegetation for both naturalistic and phytogeographic reasons. Therefore, an appropriate monitoring and protection plan is needed in order to counteract the ongoing severe anthropogenic pressure.

https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/MBOT/article/download/61002/4564456553053

G. Signorino

Papers

Habitat, occurrence and conservation status of the Saharo-Macaronesian and Southern-Mediterranean element Fagonia cretica L. (Zygophyllaceae) in Italy

Wetland vegetation of the Tarsia Lake Regional Nature Reserve (Calabria, southern Italy)

Fagonia cretica L.

Fagonia cretica L.. In: Schede per una Lista Rossa della Flora vascolare e crittogamica Italiana