Using Medicinal Plants in Valmalenco (Italian Alps): From Tradition to Scientific Approaches

doi:10.3390/molecules25184144

. 2020 Sep 10;25(18):4144.

doi: 10.3390/molecules25184144.

Using Medicinal Plants in Valmalenco (Italian Alps): From Tradition to Scientific Approaches

Martina Bottoni^{1

2}, Fabrizia Milani^{1

2}, Lorenzo Colombo^{1

2}, Kevin Nallio^{1

2}, Paola Sira Colombo^{1

2}, Claudia Giuliani^{1

2}, Piero Bruschi³, Gelsomina Fico^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy.
² Botanical Garden G.E. Ghirardi, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, Toscolano Maderno, 25088 Brescia, Italy.
³ Department of Agricultural, Environmental, Food and Forestry Science and Technology, University of Florence, 50144 Florence, Italy.

PMID: 32927742
PMCID: PMC7570945
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184144

Using Medicinal Plants in Valmalenco (Italian Alps): From Tradition to Scientific Approaches

Martina Bottoni et al. Molecules. 2020.

. 2020 Sep 10;25(18):4144.

doi: 10.3390/molecules25184144.

Authors

Martina Bottoni^{1

2}, Fabrizia Milani^{1

2}, Lorenzo Colombo^{1

2}, Kevin Nallio^{1

2}, Paola Sira Colombo^{1

2}, Claudia Giuliani^{1

2}, Piero Bruschi³, Gelsomina Fico^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy.
² Botanical Garden G.E. Ghirardi, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, Toscolano Maderno, 25088 Brescia, Italy.
³ Department of Agricultural, Environmental, Food and Forestry Science and Technology, University of Florence, 50144 Florence, Italy.

PMID: 32927742
PMCID: PMC7570945
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184144

Abstract

This ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Caspoggio (Valmalenco, SO, Italy) with the purpose of investigating the traditional uses of medicinal plants. Moreover, a bibliographic research meant to validate or refute the uses, focusing on the potentially responsible compounds, was performed. Fifty-nine species, attributable to 30 families (Asteraceae, Pinaceae, Malvaceae, and Lamiaceae the most cited), were mentioned. Arnica montana, anti-inflammatory for traumas and musculoskeletal pains; Pinus mugo, expectorant; Malva sylvestris, anti-inflammatory and soothing; Achillea moschata, digestive. The compounds, responsible for the therapeutic activities, are often polyphenols and terpenoids: helenanin in A. montana, α-pinene, δ-3-carene, and limonene in P. mugo, gossypin and malvin in M. sylvestris, luteolin and apigenin in A. moschata. Scientific evidence for at least one of the traditional activities described was found for 50 species but only in 26 out of 196 works consulted, it is possible to make a comparison between investigated extracts and traditional preparations. This study is thus a stimulus to new phytochemical investigations, mimicking as much as possible the traditional preparations. This work is part of the European Interreg Italy-Switzerland B-ICE project, aimed at creating a management model for the ongoing climate change and searching for new sources of territory valorization as attractions for tourists.

Keywords: Valmalenco; climate change; ethnobotany; medicinal plants; traditional uses.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
Geographical position of Valmalenco (SO, Italy).

**Figure 2**
Cluster analysis of the medicinal plant use. Comparison among ethnobotanical works in Alpine and Prealpine regions. Traditional uses in Valmalenco (VM) and in neighboring areas. VV: Valvestino [19]; VSG: Val San Giacomo [13]; VF: Valfurva [3]; LS: Lombard Stelvio National Park [15]; WA1: Italian Western Alps [22]; WA2: Italian Western Alps [2]; NW: Italian North Western Alps [14]; VAR: Val Varaita [18]; TR: Tremezzina [17].

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From Primary Data to Ethnopharmacological Investigations on Achillea erba-rotta subsp. moschata (Wulfen) I.Richardson as a Remedy against Gastric Ailments in Valmalenco (Italy).
Bottoni M, Martinelli G, Maranta N, Sabato E, Milani F, Colombo L, Colombo PS, Piazza S, Sangiovanni E, Giuliani C, Bruschi P, Vistoli G, Dell'Agli M, Fico G. Bottoni M, et al. Plants (Basel). 2024 Feb 16;13(4):539. doi: 10.3390/plants13040539. Plants (Basel). 2024. PMID: 38498568 Free PMC article.
Ethnobotanical Documentation of the Uses of Wild and Cultivated Plants in the Ansanto Valley (Avellino Province, Southern Italy).
Motti R, Marotta M, Bonanomi G, Cozzolino S, Di Palma A. Motti R, et al. Plants (Basel). 2023 Oct 26;12(21):3690. doi: 10.3390/plants12213690. Plants (Basel). 2023. PMID: 37960047 Free PMC article.
Remnants from the Past: From an 18th Century Manuscript to 21st Century Ethnobotany in Valle Imagna (Bergamo, Italy).
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Mattalia G, Graetz F, Harms M, Segor A, Tomarelli A, Kieser V, Zerbe S, Pieroni A. Mattalia G, et al. Plants (Basel). 2023 Jun 19;12(12):2372. doi: 10.3390/plants12122372. Plants (Basel). 2023. PMID: 37375997 Free PMC article.

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References

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1. Dei Cas L., Pugni F., Fico G. Tradition of use on medicinal species in Valfurva (Sondrio, Italy) J. Ethnopharmacol. 2015;163:113–134. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.12.054. - DOI - PubMed
1. Pilgrim S.E., Cullen L.C., Smith D.J., Pretty J. Ecological knowledge is lost in wealthier communities and countries? Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008;42:1002–1009. doi: 10.1021/es070837v. - DOI - PubMed
1. da Silva N.A., Alves Â.G., Chaves A., de Ulysses P., Ramos M.A. A biocultural approach to the use of natural resources in Northeast Brazil: A socioeconomic perspective. Acta Bot. Brasilica. 2019;33:315–330. doi: 10.1590/0102-33062018abb0346. - DOI

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[1] Bussmann R.W. Ethnobotany of Mountain Regions: Far Eastern Europe. In: Batsatsashvili K., Kikvidze Z., Bussmann R.W., editors. Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Far Eastern Europe. Ethnobotany of Mountain Regions. Springer International Publishing; Berlin, Germany: 2019.

[2] Bussmann R.W. Ethnobotany of Mountain Regions: Far Eastern Europe. In: Batsatsashvili K., Kikvidze Z., Bussmann R.W., editors. Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Far Eastern Europe. Ethnobotany of Mountain Regions. Springer International Publishing; Berlin, Germany: 2019.

[3] Bellia G., Pieroni A. Isolated, but Transnational: The Glocal Nature of Waldensian Ethnobotany, Western Alps, NW Italy. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed. 2015;11:37. doi: 10.1186/s13002-015-0027-1. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Bellia G., Pieroni A. Isolated, but Transnational: The Glocal Nature of Waldensian Ethnobotany, Western Alps, NW Italy. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed. 2015;11:37. doi: 10.1186/s13002-015-0027-1. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Dei Cas L., Pugni F., Fico G. Tradition of use on medicinal species in Valfurva (Sondrio, Italy) J. Ethnopharmacol. 2015;163:113–134. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.12.054. - DOI - PubMed

[6] Dei Cas L., Pugni F., Fico G. Tradition of use on medicinal species in Valfurva (Sondrio, Italy) J. Ethnopharmacol. 2015;163:113–134. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.12.054. - DOI - PubMed

[7] Pilgrim S.E., Cullen L.C., Smith D.J., Pretty J. Ecological knowledge is lost in wealthier communities and countries? Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008;42:1002–1009. doi: 10.1021/es070837v. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Pilgrim S.E., Cullen L.C., Smith D.J., Pretty J. Ecological knowledge is lost in wealthier communities and countries? Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008;42:1002–1009. doi: 10.1021/es070837v. - DOI - PubMed

[9] da Silva N.A., Alves Â.G., Chaves A., de Ulysses P., Ramos M.A. A biocultural approach to the use of natural resources in Northeast Brazil: A socioeconomic perspective. Acta Bot. Brasilica. 2019;33:315–330. doi: 10.1590/0102-33062018abb0346. - DOI

[10] da Silva N.A., Alves Â.G., Chaves A., de Ulysses P., Ramos M.A. A biocultural approach to the use of natural resources in Northeast Brazil: A socioeconomic perspective. Acta Bot. Brasilica. 2019;33:315–330. doi: 10.1590/0102-33062018abb0346. - DOI

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Using Medicinal Plants in Valmalenco (Italian Alps): From Tradition to Scientific Approaches

Affiliations

Using Medicinal Plants in Valmalenco (Italian Alps): From Tradition to Scientific Approaches

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Abstract

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Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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