0000000000334146
AUTHOR
S Lazzara
Ethnobotanical knowledge in some rural communities of northern Sicily (Palermo, Italy)
An ethnobotanical study was carried out to document the uses of wild plants among some local communities of Sicily (southern Italy). We recorded 48 taxa belonging to 45 genera included in 32 families. 30 taxa are used as medicinal plants, 22 taxa as food and 9 for handicraft use. In comparison with other ethnobotanical studies carried out in Sicily and other Italian territories, some uses of the plants reported by the local population in the study area are peculiarities. The analysis of data shows that the level of traditional knowledge on use of plants in province of Palermo is poor, highlighting a considerably advanced state of cultural erosion. The results of our investigation confirm th…
EVALUATION OF THE DNA BARCODING APPROACH IN HYPERICUM SPP. DISCRIMINATION
Hypericum, with more than 450 species, is widespread in temperate zones all over the world. In Italy 30 taxa are known (1), 26 species and 4 subspecies; ten of them are native to Sicily, in addition to H. calycinum which is recoded as naturalized. Hypericum biochemical compounds (flavanols, flavonoids, cumarins, glicosidys, terpens, tannins, essential oils) are well recognized for many pharmacological activities: antiflogistic, improving blood flow, against traumas, in wounds and burns recovering. The most important activity is ascribed to the hipericyn, a compound especially derived from Hypericum perforatum L., with successfully application in anti-depressive phytotherapy. The medical rel…
Efficacy of Clove Essential Oil an Sodium Bicarbonate to Control Powdwry Mildew and Grey Mould in the Strawberry Crops
Straberry growning in greenhouse is frequently affected by diseases which are controlled by means of chemical products.In order to find an alternative to synthetic fungicides, the antifungal activity of clove essential oil and Sodium bicarbonate were tested to control powdery mildew (causal agent Oìdium fragaria (Harz.)and grey mould and grey mould (Botrytis cinerea Pers.) "in vitro" and in planta essays "In vitro" essay the inhibition efficacy of natural substances was evaluated on O.fragariae conidial germination and on B. cinerea mycelial growth. The results showed a consistent fungicidal activity in all concentrations tested. In planta essay, treatments were carried out in greenhouse on…