Abstract
The genus Crepis L., included within the Asteraceae family, has a very wide distribution, expanding throughout the northern hemisphere, including Europe, northern Africa, and temperate Asia. This genus has a fundamental value from biodynamic and ecological perspectives, with the different species often being chosen for soil conservation, for environmental sustainability, and for their attraction towards pollinating species. Furthermore, various species of Crepis have been used in the popular medicine of several countries as medicinal herbs and food since ancient times. In most cases, the species is consumed either in the form of a decoction, or as a salad, and is used for its cardiovascular properties, as a digestive, for problems related to sight, for the treatment of diabetes, and for joint diseases. This literature review, the first one of the Crepis genus, includes publications with the word ‘Crepis’, and considers the single metabolites identified, characterised, and tested to evaluate their biological potential. The various isolated compounds, including in most cases sesquiterpenes and flavonoids, were obtained by extracting the roots and aerial parts of the different species. The secondary metabolites, extracted using traditional (solvent extraction, column chromatography, preparative thin layer chromatography, preparative HPLC, vacuum liquid chromatography), and modern systems such as ultrasounds, microwaves, etc., and characterised by mono- and bi- dimensional NMR experiments and by HPLC-MS, have a varied application spectrum at a biological level, with antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antitumor, antiviral, antiulcer, phytotoxic, and nutritional properties having been reported. Unfortunately, in vitro tests have not always been accompanied by in vivo tests, and this is the major critical aspect that emerges from the study of the scientific aspects related to this genus. Therefore, extensive investigations are necessary to evaluate the real capacity of the different species used in food, and above all to discover what the different plants that have never been analysed could offer at a scientific level.
Highlights
The genus Crepis L. belongs to the tribe Cichorieae Lam. & DC of the Asteraceae family
Agricultural landscapes have changed substantially in recent decades, from the dominance of smallholder fields with wide diversity to large-scale monoculture systems where ecosystem services are much more challenged. These species, with annual or biennial behaviour, especially when in relationship and balance with other species, make a substantial contribution to the development of resilient patterns that respond to the principles of agroecology and enhance pathways of ecological transition
Since ancient times, the Crepis genus has been used in the agri-food field
Summary
The genus Crepis L. belongs to the tribe Cichorieae Lam. & DC (the old name is Lactuceae Cass.) of the Asteraceae family. The genus Crepis L. belongs to the tribe Cichorieae Lam. & DC (the old name is Lactuceae Cass.) of the Asteraceae family This tribe is characterised by ligulate florets, which are commonly five lobed, and by milky juice, and it includes more than 98 genera and 1550 species [1] (Figure 1). The Plant List [3] shows 1302 plant name records, of which 293 rank as accepted species or sub-species. Species of this genus grow in Plants 2022, 11, 519. ESirzaenrgaensgefrsofmromonolnylya afefwewcceennttiimmeettrreess iinn hheeiigghhtt(e(e.g.g.,.C, C. p.ypgymgameaa)ea) to nteoanrelyartlwy otwmoemtreetsreisniCn.Cs.ibsiibriicriaca[5[]5.]. Hhaassssiiggnnifiificcaannt tvvalaulue efrformomanaangarognroonmoimc aicndanedcoescyostseymstepmersppeercstpiveec,tmivoes,tmlyostly iinn MMeeddiitteerrrraanneeaann eennvviriroonnmmenetnst.sT. Cm. ibxiteunrneis,fomrovreegoevtaetri,vheacsovbeereonfufaslelodwwsiothilspinosuitribvaeneefnfevcirtsoninmseenetsd[1m7i]x. tures for vegetative coverCoofnfsaelqlouwenstolyi,lsdiuneutroboaunreenxvpierrotnisme einntshe[1A7]s.teraceae family [18,19,20,21,22,23,24], and to the ab‐ senceCofnasenqyuleitnetrlayt,udrueeretovioewuroenxpCerretpiisseginentuhse, Awsetedreacciedaeedftaomainlyal[y1s8e–2an4]d, asnudrvteoytahlel paba‐sence opfearsncyolnicternatinugrethriesvgienwuso.n Crepis genus, we decided to analyse and survey all papers concerning this genus
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