Abstract
BackgroundThis paper illustrates the results of a study carried out in four Regional Parks of Sicily (Italy), concerning traditional knowledge on food use of wild plant species. The main aims of the paper were: (i) to verify which wild plant species are used for food purpose in the local culture based on information provided by elderly inhabitants (ii) to verify the presence of wild plant species which have not been cited for food use in previous studies in the Mediterranean area (iii) to determine how many of the most frequently cited wild plant species are cultivated by the local population in the four Sicilian Parks.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were carried out in the local communities of the four Regional Parks between 2007 and 2010. A total of 802 people over the age of 60 were interviewed. Cultural Importance Index was used to evaluate the level of importance given to any wild plant species as a food in the local culture. The level of appreciation of the wild plant species and the possible effects of wild plants on human health were also investigated.ResultsLocal communities currently use a total number of 119 wild species for food purposes. Asteraceae and Brassicaceae were the most represented botanical families. In each of the four Sicilian Parks, Cichorium intybus L. and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. obtained the highest Cultural Importance Index values. Sixty-four species were indicated as also having medicinal properties. Leaves and other aerial plant parts were the parts most-used for the preparation of traditional recipes.ConclusionsThe research shows that the level of traditional knowledge on the food uses of wild plant species in the study area is poor. The food uses of plants which are most likely to survive over time are those at the interface of food and medicine. Further agronomic studies are needed for a number of species with a view to introducing them as a crop into non-intensive agricultural systems.
Highlights
This paper illustrates the results of a study carried out in four Regional E - Etna Regional Park (Parks) of Sicily (Italy), concerning traditional knowledge on food use of wild plant species
The main aims of the paper were: (i) to verify those wild plant species used for food purpose by the local culture within 4 Sicilian Parks (ii) to identify any wild plants not mentioned in previous studies in the Mediterranean area as regards their food use (iii) to determine how many wild food plants are/could be cultivated locally in each of the 4 Sicilian Parks
With regards to the wild food plant species used in each of the Sicilian Regional Parks, the analysis shows that Cichorium intybus L. (C.I. 0.37), Foeniculum vulgare Miller (C.I. 0.31), Borago officinalis L. (C.I. 0.23) and Asparagus acutifolius L. (C.I. 0.21) are the most important species to the local populations in terms of food use (Table 2)
Summary
This paper illustrates the results of a study carried out in four Regional Parks of Sicily (Italy), concerning traditional knowledge on food use of wild plant species. The welldocumented health properties of wild food plants have contributed to increasing their importance as a part of the Mediterranean diet [31, 32] This nutritional model, based on the consumption of cereals, legumes, vegetables, fresh fruit and olive oil, is recognized on a nutraceutical level throughout the world and has been designated in recent years as a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (2010). The main aims of the paper were: (i) to verify those wild plant species used for food purpose by the local culture within 4 Sicilian Parks (ii) to identify any wild plants not mentioned in previous studies in the Mediterranean area as regards their food use (iii) to determine how many wild food plants are/could be cultivated locally in each of the 4 Sicilian Parks
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