Design a Database of Italian Vascular Alimurgic Flora (AlimurgITA): Preliminary Results.

Bruno Paura,Annarita Bufano,Giovanni Salerno,Piera Di Marzio,Elisabetta Brugiapaglia

doi:10.3390/plants10040743

Bruno Paura, Annarita Bufano + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040743

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Abstract

Despite the large number of data published in Italy on WEPs, there is no database providing a complete knowledge framework. Hence the need to design a database of the Italian alimurgic flora: AlimurgITA. Only strictly alimurgic taxa were chosen, excluding casual alien and cultivated ones. The collected data come from an archive of 358 texts (books and scientific articles) from 1918 to date, chosen with appropriate criteria. For each taxon, the part of the plant used, the method of use, the chorotype, the biological form and the regional distribution in Italy were considered. The 1103 taxa of edible flora already entered in the database equal 13.09% of Italian flora. The most widespread family is that of the Asteraceae (20.22%); the most widely used taxa are Cichorium intybus and Borago officinalis. The not homogeneous regional distribution of WEPs (maximum in the south and minimum in the north) has been interpreted. Texts published reached its peak during the 2001–2010 decade. A database for Italian WEPs is important to have a synthesis and to represent the richness and complexity of this knowledge, also in light of its potential for cultural enhancement, as well as its applications for the agri-food system.

Highlights

IntroductionOne of the most famous aphorisms attributed to Hippocrates of Cos (“let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”) underlines the strong correlation existing between food and its curative capacities whose effects are synergic, not separable in their overall actions [1,2,3,4,5,6]
343 papers which led to introducing 1103 taxa in the database. This value corresponds to to 13.09% of the 8426 entities chosen for comparison from the checklists of Italian flora
The 1103 taxa of edible flora entered in the database AlimurgITA account for 13.09% of Italian flora

Summary

Introduction

One of the most famous aphorisms attributed to Hippocrates of Cos (“let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”) underlines the strong correlation existing between food and its curative capacities whose effects are synergic, not separable in their overall actions [1,2,3,4,5,6]. It is likely that some plants, widespread in the tradition of many cuisines and which are still eaten every day, originally introduced because of their curative properties, —over time—might have become staple foods in the local cuisines. Many species of the Allium genus, as well as many species with a bitter taste (e.g., Cichorium intybus), show excellent curative properties, with their use being testified in many civilizations since ancient times

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