Traditional knowledge on medicinal and food plants used in Val San Giacomo (Sondrio, Italy)--an alpine ethnobotanical study.

摘要: Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance This work increases the ethnobotanical data from Northern Italy and, in particular, Lombardy region, till now poorly documented, safeguarding local folk knowledge, and provides information on new or scarcely reported properties of medicinal plants, whose traditional use needs to be validated experimentally. Aim study The present aimed gather, analyse evaluate species used for food purposes by native people Val San Giacomo. Materials methods plant was documented speaking with more than 100 people, mainly over 60 years old, born resident Information collected using semi-structured interviews then analysed indices such as Ethnophytonomic Index (EPI), Ethnobotanicity (EI), relative frequency citation (RFC), value (UV), importance (RI) factor informant consensus (FIC). Results 66 plants belonging 35 families (Asteraceae, Rosaceae Lamiaceae, mainly) gathered. preference ranking placed Achillea moschata Wulfen at first place, both number RFC UV. Arnica montana L., Thymus pulegioides L. Artemisia genipi Stechm. were also relevant use. Sixty wild six cultivated. Leaves, flowers, complete aerial parts fruits most commonly remedy preparation (infusion, especially). interviewees flora purposes, specifically. About 51.5% treat gastrointestinal tract humans digestive, depurative, appetiser, laxative, astringent carminative remedies. 56% cookery, 24.2% veterinary field, 3% cosmetics. calculated demonstrated that studied area there is a small retention knowledge. Only 6.2% autochthonous proved useful tradition. Despite this, uses Sempervivum montanum Rhododendron ferrugineum Panicum miliaceum never other investigations conducted alpine area. Conclusions survey an extension performed Italian Alps. A like though reduced could basis subsequent research are interesting phytochemical point view potential their active metabolites.