The Mediterranean basin has a long and multifaceted cultural history and harbors a high biodivers... more The Mediterranean basin has a long and multifaceted cultural history and harbors a high biodiversity. Epidemiological studies have drawn attention to certain traditional Mediterranean diets. However, wild gathered food species, which are an important, but fast disappearing element of these diets, so far have been largely neglected in scientific studies. In this study we compare ethnobotanical data obtained from field studies conducted in Southern Italy, Southern Spain, mainland Greece, and Crete resulting in the identification of a core group of 18 culinary used wild gathered plant species. This group comprises species likePapaver rhoeas L.,Sonchus asper L.,S. oleraceus L., andSilene vulgaris L. We argue that the culinary use of wild gathered weedy greens evolved together with the neolithization process, since this offered the necessary ecological niches for them to thrive, thereby enriching and securing the diets of European agriculturalists. Especially wild gathered Asteraceae species seem to form a sort of proto-nutraceutical, which accounts for a significant input of biologically active compounds in the diet. II bacino Mediterraneo ha vissuto una lunga e multisfaccettata storia culturale e gode di una ricca biodiversita. Studi epidemiologici hanno attirato attenzione su certe diete] mediterranee. Attualmente I’ uso culinario di piante selvagge e commestibili, elemento importante di queste diete, si sta perdendo e ha ricevuto poca attenzione dai punto di vista scientifico. In questo lavoro mettiamo a paragone una serie di dati etnobotanici ottenuti da ricerche di campo nel sud dell’Italia, nel sud della Spagna, nella Grecia e a Creta risultanti nell’identificazione di un gruppo principale di 18 specie selvatiche ad uso culinario. Questo gruppo comprende specie come ilPapaver rhoeas L., ilSonchus asper L., ilS. oleraceus L. e ilSilene vulgaris L. Mettiamo in evidenza che l’evoluzione dell’uso culinario delle verdure selvatiche è avvenuto durante il processo di neolitizazzione poiché questo ha fornito le nicchie ecologiche necessarie. Attraverso il loro uso gli agricoltori europei hanno arricchito e assicurato la loro dieta. In modo particolare le specie raccolte selvatiche appartenenti alle Astaraceae sembrano formare un protointegratore rappresentando una fonte significativa di composti biologicamente attivi nella dieta. La Cuenca Mediterránea tiene una historia cultural larga y polifacetica y alberga una biodiversidad extraordinaria. Diversos estudios epidemiologicos han atraido atencion sobre algunas dietas mediterraneas tradicionales. Sin embargo, las especies silvestres comestibles recolectadas, un elemento importante de estas dietas que va desapareciendo rápidamente, han sido hasta ahora casie olvidadas en los estudios científicos. En este artículo comparamos datos etnobotánicos obtenidos de estudios de campo realizados en el sur de Italia, de España y de la Grecia continental y en Creta, que conducen a la identificatión de un grupo central de 18 especies de plantas recolectadas, silvestres, usadas en alimentatión. Este grupo comprende especies comoPapaver rhoeas L.,Sonchus asper L., 5.oleraceus L. ySilene vulgaris L. Sostenemos que el uso culinario de verduras silvestres y de hierbas de los campos de cultivo evolucionó asociado al proceso del neolitización, que ofreció los nichos ecológicos necesarios para el desarrollo de estas especies, enriqueciendo y afianzando las dietas de los primeros agricultores europeos. Especialmente las especies silvestres recolectadas de [la familia] Asteraceae, parecen constituir un tipo de proto-nutracéutico que aporta significativamente compuestos biológicamente activos a la dieta.
Two phenylpropanoids from Bupleurum fruticosum (Apiaceae/ Umbelliferae) were shown to inhibit the... more Two phenylpropanoids from Bupleurum fruticosum (Apiaceae/ Umbelliferae) were shown to inhibit the transcriptional activity induced by PMA or TNFa of an NF-kB-controlled reporter gene. Western blot experiments indicated that the phenylpropanoids did not prevent IkBa degradation, suggesting that their molecular target is at a post-IKB degradation level. Both compounds prevented cytokine (IL-1, IL-6, TNF, IL-8) release and prostaglandin E2 synthesis.
Gathered food plants (GFPs) (wild and weeds) are crucial for understanding traditional Mediterran... more Gathered food plants (GFPs) (wild and weeds) are crucial for understanding traditional Mediterranean diets. Combining open interviews and free-listing questionnaires, we identified 215 GFP items, i.e., 53 fungi and 162 from 154 vascular plant species. The variation in frequency and in salience among the items follows a rectangular hyperbola. Highly salient species were Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke, Scolymus hispanicus L., and Pleurotus eryngii (DC.: Fr.) Quélet. Salience and frequency showed no correlation with the expected health benefits of each species. Regional frequency in the Mediterranean and local frequency are directly related. Thus, local food plants are much less “local” than expected. Different types of culinary preparations provide the most information in the cluster analysis of variables. The cluster analysis of items produced a tree with 10 clusters that form culture-specific logical entities, allowing people to structure their environment. Within each cluster, plant species are replaced and incorporated provided they resemble the general profile. This allows innovation and adaptation on a local level and explains the differences between adjacent localities in the list of species. Two types of clusters or species complexes are described: “species-labeled” and “uses-labeled.” Lastly, we discuss the underlying empirical basis of the ethnoclassification in the Mediterranean area.
The flavonol content of commercial capers (pickled flower buds of Capparis spinosa L., C. sicula... more The flavonol content of commercial capers (pickled flower buds of Capparis spinosa L., C. sicula Veill. in Duham. and C. orientalis Veill. in Duham.) produced in different Mediterranean countries (Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Morocco) has been analysed. The content of quercetin 3-rutinoside, kaempferol 3-rutinoside; and kaempferol 3-rhamnosyl-rutinoside as well as the aglycones (quercetin and kaempferol) were evaluated by HPLC coupled with a diode-array detector. The free aglycones were not detected in the original flower buds, indicating that they were produced during the brining process. In addition, brining extracted most of the kaempferol 3-rhamnosyl rutinoside present in the original buds, this being a minor constituent in pickled capers. The average content of flavonoid glycosides in commercial capers was 5.18 mg/g fresh weight. When this value is converted to the corresponding aglycones (quercetin and kaempferol), capers provide an average of 3.86 mg/g fresh weight. A serving of capers (10 g) will provide 65 mg of flavonoid glycosides or the equivalent 40 mg of quercetin as aglycone.
La unidad 1 del curso Evaluación de proyectos y análisis estadísticos se desarrolla de la siguien... more La unidad 1 del curso Evaluación de proyectos y análisis estadísticos se desarrolla de la siguiente manera.
The Mediterranean basin has a long and multifaceted cultural history and harbors a high biodivers... more The Mediterranean basin has a long and multifaceted cultural history and harbors a high biodiversity. Epidemiological studies have drawn attention to certain traditional Mediterranean diets. However, wild gathered food species, which are an important, but fast disappearing element of these diets, so far have been largely neglected in scientific studies. In this study we compare ethnobotanical data obtained from field studies conducted in Southern Italy, Southern Spain, mainland Greece, and Crete resulting in the identification of a core group of 18 culinary used wild gathered plant species. This group comprises species likePapaver rhoeas L.,Sonchus asper L.,S. oleraceus L., andSilene vulgaris L. We argue that the culinary use of wild gathered weedy greens evolved together with the neolithization process, since this offered the necessary ecological niches for them to thrive, thereby enriching and securing the diets of European agriculturalists. Especially wild gathered Asteraceae species seem to form a sort of proto-nutraceutical, which accounts for a significant input of biologically active compounds in the diet. II bacino Mediterraneo ha vissuto una lunga e multisfaccettata storia culturale e gode di una ricca biodiversita. Studi epidemiologici hanno attirato attenzione su certe diete] mediterranee. Attualmente I’ uso culinario di piante selvagge e commestibili, elemento importante di queste diete, si sta perdendo e ha ricevuto poca attenzione dai punto di vista scientifico. In questo lavoro mettiamo a paragone una serie di dati etnobotanici ottenuti da ricerche di campo nel sud dell’Italia, nel sud della Spagna, nella Grecia e a Creta risultanti nell’identificazione di un gruppo principale di 18 specie selvatiche ad uso culinario. Questo gruppo comprende specie come ilPapaver rhoeas L., ilSonchus asper L., ilS. oleraceus L. e ilSilene vulgaris L. Mettiamo in evidenza che l’evoluzione dell’uso culinario delle verdure selvatiche è avvenuto durante il processo di neolitizazzione poiché questo ha fornito le nicchie ecologiche necessarie. Attraverso il loro uso gli agricoltori europei hanno arricchito e assicurato la loro dieta. In modo particolare le specie raccolte selvatiche appartenenti alle Astaraceae sembrano formare un protointegratore rappresentando una fonte significativa di composti biologicamente attivi nella dieta. La Cuenca Mediterránea tiene una historia cultural larga y polifacetica y alberga una biodiversidad extraordinaria. Diversos estudios epidemiologicos han atraido atencion sobre algunas dietas mediterraneas tradicionales. Sin embargo, las especies silvestres comestibles recolectadas, un elemento importante de estas dietas que va desapareciendo rápidamente, han sido hasta ahora casie olvidadas en los estudios científicos. En este artículo comparamos datos etnobotánicos obtenidos de estudios de campo realizados en el sur de Italia, de España y de la Grecia continental y en Creta, que conducen a la identificatión de un grupo central de 18 especies de plantas recolectadas, silvestres, usadas en alimentatión. Este grupo comprende especies comoPapaver rhoeas L.,Sonchus asper L., 5.oleraceus L. ySilene vulgaris L. Sostenemos que el uso culinario de verduras silvestres y de hierbas de los campos de cultivo evolucionó asociado al proceso del neolitización, que ofreció los nichos ecológicos necesarios para el desarrollo de estas especies, enriqueciendo y afianzando las dietas de los primeros agricultores europeos. Especialmente las especies silvestres recolectadas de [la familia] Asteraceae, parecen constituir un tipo de proto-nutracéutico que aporta significativamente compuestos biológicamente activos a la dieta.
Two phenylpropanoids from Bupleurum fruticosum (Apiaceae/ Umbelliferae) were shown to inhibit the... more Two phenylpropanoids from Bupleurum fruticosum (Apiaceae/ Umbelliferae) were shown to inhibit the transcriptional activity induced by PMA or TNFa of an NF-kB-controlled reporter gene. Western blot experiments indicated that the phenylpropanoids did not prevent IkBa degradation, suggesting that their molecular target is at a post-IKB degradation level. Both compounds prevented cytokine (IL-1, IL-6, TNF, IL-8) release and prostaglandin E2 synthesis.
Gathered food plants (GFPs) (wild and weeds) are crucial for understanding traditional Mediterran... more Gathered food plants (GFPs) (wild and weeds) are crucial for understanding traditional Mediterranean diets. Combining open interviews and free-listing questionnaires, we identified 215 GFP items, i.e., 53 fungi and 162 from 154 vascular plant species. The variation in frequency and in salience among the items follows a rectangular hyperbola. Highly salient species were Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke, Scolymus hispanicus L., and Pleurotus eryngii (DC.: Fr.) Quélet. Salience and frequency showed no correlation with the expected health benefits of each species. Regional frequency in the Mediterranean and local frequency are directly related. Thus, local food plants are much less “local” than expected. Different types of culinary preparations provide the most information in the cluster analysis of variables. The cluster analysis of items produced a tree with 10 clusters that form culture-specific logical entities, allowing people to structure their environment. Within each cluster, plant species are replaced and incorporated provided they resemble the general profile. This allows innovation and adaptation on a local level and explains the differences between adjacent localities in the list of species. Two types of clusters or species complexes are described: “species-labeled” and “uses-labeled.” Lastly, we discuss the underlying empirical basis of the ethnoclassification in the Mediterranean area.
The flavonol content of commercial capers (pickled flower buds of Capparis spinosa L., C. sicula... more The flavonol content of commercial capers (pickled flower buds of Capparis spinosa L., C. sicula Veill. in Duham. and C. orientalis Veill. in Duham.) produced in different Mediterranean countries (Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Morocco) has been analysed. The content of quercetin 3-rutinoside, kaempferol 3-rutinoside; and kaempferol 3-rhamnosyl-rutinoside as well as the aglycones (quercetin and kaempferol) were evaluated by HPLC coupled with a diode-array detector. The free aglycones were not detected in the original flower buds, indicating that they were produced during the brining process. In addition, brining extracted most of the kaempferol 3-rhamnosyl rutinoside present in the original buds, this being a minor constituent in pickled capers. The average content of flavonoid glycosides in commercial capers was 5.18 mg/g fresh weight. When this value is converted to the corresponding aglycones (quercetin and kaempferol), capers provide an average of 3.86 mg/g fresh weight. A serving of capers (10 g) will provide 65 mg of flavonoid glycosides or the equivalent 40 mg of quercetin as aglycone.
La unidad 1 del curso Evaluación de proyectos y análisis estadísticos se desarrolla de la siguien... more La unidad 1 del curso Evaluación de proyectos y análisis estadísticos se desarrolla de la siguiente manera.
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