Los ecosistemas ibéricos, al igual que todos los mediterráneos, han sido profundamente alterados ... more Los ecosistemas ibéricos, al igual que todos los mediterráneos, han sido profundamente alterados desde hace miles de años por la acción humana. El resultado es un paisaje con estructura de mosaico, en el que se alternan pastos con matorrales, bosques, dehesas, setos y cultivos. Foto: Javier Tardío Artículos Agenda Libros Números Anteriores Enlaces Innovación Contacto Etnología y biodiversidad EL INVENTARIO ESPAÑOL DE LOS CONOCIMIENTOS TRADICIONALES Versión imprimible en pdf
This book provides the latest published nutritional data about wild edible plants traditionally c... more This book provides the latest published nutritional data about wild edible plants traditionally consumed in the Mediterranean region. This information, not usually included in nutrient databases of foods, provides insight into the revalorization of wild food species and preservation of their traditional uses. The text also presents wild edible plants as alternatives to improve the diversity of modern Mediterranean diets, as they may represent valuable sources of nutrients often lacking in modern societies, such as fiber or vitamin B9. This work has expanded from the two initial groups, to involve different contributors, including experts from different countries, most of them bordering the Mediterranean Sea. As a result, a multidisciplinary approach has been achieved.The book is organized into four parts that deals with different aspects of wild edible plants, the last one and largest offering a detailed compilation of ethnobotanical and nutritional information about some of the mos...
Folic acid and folates (vitamin B 9) are essential for human metabolism. Their nutritional import... more Folic acid and folates (vitamin B 9) are essential for human metabolism. Their nutritional importance mainly lies in the prevention of neural tube formation defects, and other degenerative diseases. The determination of folates in food matrices is a very complex task due to the large number of chemical compounds included under the definition of folates. In the present study, an HPLC-fluorescence detection (HPLC-FL) methodology was optimized and validated to characterize total folates in vegetables. Its application to Mediterranean wild vegetables, provide new data on folates content on these species, scarcely studied so far. The highest folates contents were found in the leaves of Rumex pulcher L., Beta maritima L. and Anchusa azurea Mill. (506, 302 and 278 μg/100 g, respectively), as well as in the tender leaves and stems of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. and Silene vulgaris (Moench.) Garcke (272 and 268 μg/100 g, respectively). These data show that the studied wild vegetables are mostly a very good source of folates, compared to other folate-rich plants, such as spinach, parsley or chard. These under-utilized plants deserve attention for their potential value in current diets, as they are a good alternative for the diversification of our vegetable intake and represent an important added value as rich sources of vitamin B 9 .
Introducción La bellota es el fruto de los árboles y arbustos del género Quercus. En la península... more Introducción La bellota es el fruto de los árboles y arbustos del género Quercus. En la península ibérica viven alrededor de una decena especies que ocupan diferentes climas y sustratos: desde zonas áridas o semiáridas (coscoja, Q. coccifera L.), hasta zonas húmedas (roble, Q. robur L., Q. petraea [Matt.] Liebl.); desde el nivel del mar (encina, Q. ilex L. subsp. ilex), a montañas del interior (melojo, Q. pyrenaica Willd.) (Ruiz de la Torre, 2006). Muchas de ellas forman extensas masas, tanto puras como mezcladas. De todas ellas la más extendida es la encina o carrasca (Q. ilex subsp. ballota [Desf.] Samp.) (López González, 2001). Estas masas boscosas dominan el paisaje ibérico desde el Holoceno temprano (Blanco et al., 1998). El género también es muy importante en toda Europa y muchas zonas de Centro y Norteamérica (Vázquez Pardo, 1998). La bellota es por ello un recurso alimenticio abundante, cercano y de fácil obtención. Sus características nutritivas son similares a las de los c...
Spain is one of the largest countries of Europe with an area of 505,992 km2 and a population of m... more Spain is one of the largest countries of Europe with an area of 505,992 km2 and a population of more than 46,500,000 people. It has a very rich vascular flora composed of 7071 species given its climatic, geographic and ecologic diversity. Inaddition to this high plant biodiversity, a complex history has brought about a great cultural diversity. A team of more than 60 scientists from more than 20 research centers and universities are developing the Spanish Inventory of Traditional Knowledge, one of the inventories of the Spanish Inventory of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity as reflected in the 42/2007 law of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity. A database with information of more than 180 papers that include more than 40 papers published in Scopus index journals was built. We paid attention to: the species used, modes of use, illness treated, relative importance of each use-report, and importance in the past and in the present. This has resulted in a very rich and dynamic ethnobotanic...
Traditional knowledge on the species Osmunda regalis, registered in Spain, is presented. Se descr... more Traditional knowledge on the species Osmunda regalis, registered in Spain, is presented. Se describen los conocimientos tradicionales asociados a la especie Osmunda regalis que se han registrado en España
En los últimos años se han llevado a cabo diversos estudios para evaluar el potencial nutricional... more En los últimos años se han llevado a cabo diversos estudios para evaluar el potencial nutricional y funcional de las plantas silvestres comestibles. Algunas de ellas son una buena fuente de compuestos bioactivos y han demostrado tener una interesante actividad biológica como antioxidantes. Por ello, este trabajo tiene como objetivo principal evaluar la actividad biológica in vitro de la parte comestible de 20 verduras silvestres tradicionalmente consumidas en la Península Ibérica, cuantificando tanto la actividad antioxidante total (DPPH y poder reductor) como la inhibición de la peroxidación lipídica (inhibición de la decoloración del β-caroteno y TBARS), y correlacionando estos parámetros con su contenido en distintos compuestos bioactivos. Las muestras objeto de estudio fueron recolectadas durante tres años consecutivos (2007-2009) en dos localidades diferentes del centro peninsular. Los resultados de actividad antioxidante más interesantes, expresados como EC 50 (mg/mL de extracto) y evaluados mediante el DPPH, correspondieron a Anchusa azurea, Apium nodiflorum y Taraxacum obovatum. En el caso de la evaluación del poder reductor, Anchusa azurea, Apium nodiflorum, así como Chondrilla juncea y Montia fontana, fueron las especies que mejor EC 50 (p < 0,05) presentaron. Respecto a los ensayos de inhibición de la peroxidación lipídica, destacaron nuevamente Anchusa azurea, Apium nodiflorum para el ensayo de inhibición de la decoloración del β-caroteno, mientras que para el TBARS fueron Sonchus oleraceus, Montia fontana, Silene vulgaris, Anchusa azurea, Chondrilla juncea, Papaver rhoeas, Foeniculum vulgare, Silybum marianum y Rumex pulcher. En general, las plantas silvestres comestibles estudiadas presentan unos valores de actividad antioxidante (EC 50) muy interesantes y su consumo puede tener efectos beneficiosos para la salud además de contribuir a una mayor diversificación de la dieta. Todo ello justifica la conservación y revalorización de su uso alimentario. Palabras clave: verduras silvestres, actividad biológica in vitro, compuestos bioactivos.
Wild Arbutus unedo L. and Rubus ulmifolius Schott fruits are underutilized sources of valuable bi... more Wild Arbutus unedo L. and Rubus ulmifolius Schott fruits are underutilized sources of valuable bioactive compounds with antioxidant capacity. Abstract-Introduction. Several studies reveal the important role played by 'lesser-known' wild fruits since they contain nutritional and functional compounds which have biological properties. Materials and methods. Our work studied the presence of bioactive compounds such as vitamin C (ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid), total phenolic content, phenolic acids, flavonols, anthocyanins and the antioxidant capacity (FRAP, ABTS •+ and DPPH • in vitro tests) in wild fruits of Arbutus unedo L. and Rubus ulmifolius Schott of Spanish origin, including samples from different seasons and locations. Results and discussion. A wide variability was found in the composition of fruits of the same species, which substantiates the importance of analyzing several batches of wild fruits, to achieve representative results, taking into account the natural variability. Arbustus unedo fruits showed higher vitamin C, mainly in the ascorbic acid form, and phenolic content than R. ulmifolius [(172-419) mg ascorbic acid⋅100 g-1 fw vs. (5.99-26.83) mg ascorbic acid⋅100 g-1 fw, and (773-1621) mg total phenolic compounds⋅100 g-1 fw vs. (376-1326) mg total phenolic compounds⋅100 g-1 fw, respectively]; phenolic acids and anthocyanins are the major groups of phenolic compounds found in both species, with gallic acid and cyanidin 3-glucoside as the main compounds. Arbustus unedo fruits showed significantly higher Folin-Ciocalteu values than those of R. ulmifolius. These values are higher than those reported for the majority of berries. The significant correlations found among different antioxidant compounds (r > 0.6300, P < 0.001) may reveal a protective effect between ascorbic acid and phenolic acids or anthocyanins in the fruits. Therefore, Arbutus unedo and R. ulmifolius fruits should be considered as new important sources of safe antioxidants. Spain / Arbutus unedo / Rubus ulmifolius / fruits / phenolic compounds / phenolic content / antioxidants Les fruits sauvages d'Arbutus unedo L. et de Rubus ulmifolius Schott sont des sources peu employées de composés bioactifs intéressants présentant une capacité antioxydante. Résumé-Introduction. Plusieurs études indiquent le rôle important joué par les fruits sauvages « peu connus » car ils contiennent des composés nutritionnels et fonctionnels avec des propriétés biologiques. Matériel et méthodes. Nos recherches ont étudié la présence de composés bioactifs comme la vitamine C (acide ascorbique et acide déhydroascorbique), la teneur totale en phénols, les acides phénoliques, les flavonols, les anthocyanes, et la capacité antioxydante (mesurée par des essais FRAP •+ , ABTS • et DPPH in vitro) dans des fruits sauvages de A. unedo L. et de R. ulmifolius Schott d'origine espagnole, les échantillons provenant de différentes saisons et différents sites. Résultats et discussion. Une large variabilité a été révélée dans la composition des fruits d'une même espèce ; cela a justifié l'importance d'analyser plusieurs séries de fruits sauvages, pour obtenir des résultats représentatifs, prenant en considération la variabilité naturelle. Les fruits d'A. unedo ont montré une plus haute teneur en vitamine C, principalement sous forme d'acide ascorbique, et en phénols que les fruits de R. ulmifolius [(172-419) mg acide ascorbique⋅100 g-1 pf vs. (5.99-26.83) mg acide ascorbique⋅100 g-1 pf, et (773-1621) mg de composés phénoliques totaux⋅100 g-1 pf vs. (376-1326) mg de composés phénoliques totaux⋅100 g-1 pf, respectivement] ; les acides phénoliques et les anthocyanes ont été les groupes principaux de composés phénoliques trouvés dans les deux espèces, l'acide gallique et la cyanidine 3-glucoside étant les composés principaux. Les fruits d'A. unedo ont présenté des valeurs sensiblement plus élevées avec le test de Folin-Ciocalteu que ceux de R. ulmifolius. Ces valeurs se sont révélées plus hautes que celles enregistrées pour la majorité de baies. Les corrélations significatives trouvées parmi les différents composés antioxydants (r > 0,6300, P < 0,001) pourraient indiquer un effet protecteur dans les fruits entre l'acide ascorbique et les acides phénoliques ou les anthocyanes. Pour cela, les fruits d'A. unedo et de R. ulmifolius devraient être considérés comme de nouvelles sources importantes d'antioxydants. Espagne / Arbutus unedo / Rubus ulmifolius / fruits / composés phénoliques / teneur en phénols / antioxidant
Non-cultivated vegetables whose basal leaves have been traditionally consumed in Spain were evalu... more Non-cultivated vegetables whose basal leaves have been traditionally consumed in Spain were evaluated for their potential in human nutrition, considering vitamin C, organic acids, tocopherols, phenolics and flavonoids, and antioxidant activity. As far as we know, this is the first report on organic acids and vitamin C of Anchusa azurea and Apium nodiflorum, on tocopherols of Anchusa azurea, Beta vulgaris, Chondrilla juncea, Rumex papillaris, Rumex pulcher, Silybum marianum and Taraxacum obovatum, as well as on the antioxidant capacity of most of them. Data revealed that the mentioned non-cultivated vegetables are good sources of bioactive compounds. Rumex pulcher, R. papillaris and Papaver rhoeas are rich in vitamin C, Sonchus oleraceus and Rumex papillaris in tocopherols. Rumex pulcher, Papaver rhoeas and Anchusa azurea showed promising antioxidant properties, which are related to their high levels of phenolic and flavonoids. Some species presented high levels of oxalic acid. Therefore, people with a trend of developing kidney calculus should avoid eating these greens (especially Silybum marianum, Sonchus oleraceus and Beta maritima) and choose species with low oxalic acid content such as Taraxacum obovatum and Cichorium intybus. The traditional consumption of these species after boiling and rejecting the water may decrease the amount of oxalic acid.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Many ethnobotanical studies show that people in industrial countr... more Ethnopharmacological relevance: Many ethnobotanical studies show that people in industrial countries still rely on their traditional knowledge of medicinal plants for self-treatment, although the trend might not be as common as some decades ago. Given the social and public health implications of ethnopharmacological practices, this survey aims at recording and analysing the medicinal plants used in the folk medicine of the Northwest of the Basque Country focusing on how medicinal plants knowledge and practices evolve. Materials and methods: Fieldwork consisted of 265 orally consented semi-structured interviews with 207 informants about medicinal uses of plants. Interviews were conducted between September 2008 and January 2011. Informants were on average 76 years old (minimum 45, maximum 95), being more than half of them (112) men. Data collected were structured in use-reports (UR). Following informants 0 comments, medicinal use-reports were classified as abandoned-UR, when the informants reported that the use was only practiced in the past, and prevalent-UR, when the informants reported to continue the practice. Results and discussion: A total of 2067 UR for 139 species that belong to 58 botanical families were recorded, being the most important families Asteraceae, Liliaceae sensu latu and Urticaceae. Some of the most important species are commonly used in other European areas (e.g., Chamaemelum nobile, Urtica dioica and Chelidonium majus). However, there are also plants commonly used in the area such as Helleborus viridis or Coronopus didymus, that are scarcely used in other areas, and whose record is an original contribution of the local pharmacopeia. It is also the case of remedies such as the use of Plantago leaves against strains in a local remedy called zantiritu. Overall, and for all variables analysed (total UR, medicinal use-categories, drug preparation and administration), the percentage of UR being currently practiced (prevalence ratio) was very low (near 30%) suggesting a strong decay in the use of traditional medicinal plants. Exceptionally, some species (Chamaemelum nobile, Verbena officinalis or Anagallis arvensis) had a high prevalence ratio, reflecting the fact that this erosion process is not evolving homogeneously. Informants also reported that new species and medicinal plant uses were entering into the local pharmacopeia via non-traditional sources such as books, courses, or the internet. These modern ways are now being used to spread some traditional remedies that in the past were only orally transmitted. Conclusions: This study shows that traditional knowledge is continuously changing, evolving and adapting to the new social and environmental conditions. The image of the local folk medicine as a dying reality doomed to disappear should be reviewed. It also shows the need of a culturally sensitive approach by the official health systems to these practices.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids play an important role in human nutrition, being associated with seve... more Polyunsaturated fatty acids play an important role in human nutrition, being associated with several health benefits. The analyzed vegetables, in spite of its low fat content, lower than 2%, present a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids of n-3, n-6 and n-9 series, such as α-linolenic, linoleic and oleic acids, respectively. Wild edible plants contain in general a good balance of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. The present study tries to contribute to the preservation and valorization of traditional food resources, studying the fatty acids profile of 20 wild vegetables by gas-liquid chromatography with flame ionization detection. Results show that species in which leaves are predominant in their edible parts have in general the highest polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratios: Rumex pulcher (5.44), Cichorium intybus (5.14) and Papaver rhoeas (5.00). Due to the low n-6/n-3 ratios of the majority of the samples, they can be considered interesting sources of n-3 fatty ...
Arbutus wild berries have been traditionally collected and appreciated in the Mediterranean regio... more Arbutus wild berries have been traditionally collected and appreciated in the Mediterranean region, although it is actually considered an underutilized fruit-tree species. Increasing the scarce knowledge about its nutritional composition and natural production may interest a broad range of scholars, such as ethnobotanists, chemists, nutritionists and anthropologists. The present study aims to provide original data on the nutritional value and the biomass production of wild strawberry-tree fruits, studying the variation of these characteristics in fruits harvested in different years, from two different Spanish areas. Macro and micronutrient composition of mature Arbutus unedo fruits have been analyzed, with particular attention to the content of some bioactive compounds (fiber, vitamin C as ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acids, total phenolics, carotenoids, including lycopene) and the organic acids profile. The contribution to recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) of this exotic fruit has also been calculated. Fruit crop volume per tree has been estimated as well in the wild strawberry-tree populations surveyed to provide a general framework for discussing the agronomic potential of the species. A wide variability in the nutrient composition of strawberry-tree fruits was found which shows that the analysis of many different samples from different origins and seasons are required to provide average reliable data about the chemical composition of wild fruits. From the results obtained, strawberry-tree fruits can be considered a very good source of health promoting compounds as vitamin C and dietary fiber (202.6 mg/100 g and 42.6% minimum contribution to RDAs, respectively). They are also rich in total available carbohydrates, sugars, potassium and secondary metabolites, such as phenolic compounds, being poor in lipids and Na. These results, together with its high production may help to reinforce its consumption, as an alternative to the fruits available in the market or a source of bioactive compounds for dietary supplements or functional foods.
Memorias de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural. Segunda época, 2011
1. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC. Plaza de Murillo, 2. E-28014-Madrid. España. morales@ rjb. csic. e... more 1. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC. Plaza de Murillo, 2. E-28014-Madrid. España. morales@ rjb. csic. es 2. Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDRA). Finca “El Encín”. Apdo. 127. E-28800 Alcalá de Henares. España 3. Dpto. Biología (Botánica). Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. C/Darwin, 2. E-28049 Madrid. España PALABRAS CLAVE: Biodiversidad vegetal, etnobotánica, diversidad biocultural, España. KEY WORDS: Vegetal biodiversity, ethnobotany, biocultural diversity, ...
Los ecosistemas ibéricos, al igual que todos los mediterráneos, han sido profundamente alterados ... more Los ecosistemas ibéricos, al igual que todos los mediterráneos, han sido profundamente alterados desde hace miles de años por la acción humana. El resultado es un paisaje con estructura de mosaico, en el que se alternan pastos con matorrales, bosques, dehesas, setos y cultivos. Foto: Javier Tardío Artículos Agenda Libros Números Anteriores Enlaces Innovación Contacto Etnología y biodiversidad EL INVENTARIO ESPAÑOL DE LOS CONOCIMIENTOS TRADICIONALES Versión imprimible en pdf
This book provides the latest published nutritional data about wild edible plants traditionally c... more This book provides the latest published nutritional data about wild edible plants traditionally consumed in the Mediterranean region. This information, not usually included in nutrient databases of foods, provides insight into the revalorization of wild food species and preservation of their traditional uses. The text also presents wild edible plants as alternatives to improve the diversity of modern Mediterranean diets, as they may represent valuable sources of nutrients often lacking in modern societies, such as fiber or vitamin B9. This work has expanded from the two initial groups, to involve different contributors, including experts from different countries, most of them bordering the Mediterranean Sea. As a result, a multidisciplinary approach has been achieved.The book is organized into four parts that deals with different aspects of wild edible plants, the last one and largest offering a detailed compilation of ethnobotanical and nutritional information about some of the mos...
Folic acid and folates (vitamin B 9) are essential for human metabolism. Their nutritional import... more Folic acid and folates (vitamin B 9) are essential for human metabolism. Their nutritional importance mainly lies in the prevention of neural tube formation defects, and other degenerative diseases. The determination of folates in food matrices is a very complex task due to the large number of chemical compounds included under the definition of folates. In the present study, an HPLC-fluorescence detection (HPLC-FL) methodology was optimized and validated to characterize total folates in vegetables. Its application to Mediterranean wild vegetables, provide new data on folates content on these species, scarcely studied so far. The highest folates contents were found in the leaves of Rumex pulcher L., Beta maritima L. and Anchusa azurea Mill. (506, 302 and 278 μg/100 g, respectively), as well as in the tender leaves and stems of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. and Silene vulgaris (Moench.) Garcke (272 and 268 μg/100 g, respectively). These data show that the studied wild vegetables are mostly a very good source of folates, compared to other folate-rich plants, such as spinach, parsley or chard. These under-utilized plants deserve attention for their potential value in current diets, as they are a good alternative for the diversification of our vegetable intake and represent an important added value as rich sources of vitamin B 9 .
Introducción La bellota es el fruto de los árboles y arbustos del género Quercus. En la península... more Introducción La bellota es el fruto de los árboles y arbustos del género Quercus. En la península ibérica viven alrededor de una decena especies que ocupan diferentes climas y sustratos: desde zonas áridas o semiáridas (coscoja, Q. coccifera L.), hasta zonas húmedas (roble, Q. robur L., Q. petraea [Matt.] Liebl.); desde el nivel del mar (encina, Q. ilex L. subsp. ilex), a montañas del interior (melojo, Q. pyrenaica Willd.) (Ruiz de la Torre, 2006). Muchas de ellas forman extensas masas, tanto puras como mezcladas. De todas ellas la más extendida es la encina o carrasca (Q. ilex subsp. ballota [Desf.] Samp.) (López González, 2001). Estas masas boscosas dominan el paisaje ibérico desde el Holoceno temprano (Blanco et al., 1998). El género también es muy importante en toda Europa y muchas zonas de Centro y Norteamérica (Vázquez Pardo, 1998). La bellota es por ello un recurso alimenticio abundante, cercano y de fácil obtención. Sus características nutritivas son similares a las de los c...
Spain is one of the largest countries of Europe with an area of 505,992 km2 and a population of m... more Spain is one of the largest countries of Europe with an area of 505,992 km2 and a population of more than 46,500,000 people. It has a very rich vascular flora composed of 7071 species given its climatic, geographic and ecologic diversity. Inaddition to this high plant biodiversity, a complex history has brought about a great cultural diversity. A team of more than 60 scientists from more than 20 research centers and universities are developing the Spanish Inventory of Traditional Knowledge, one of the inventories of the Spanish Inventory of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity as reflected in the 42/2007 law of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity. A database with information of more than 180 papers that include more than 40 papers published in Scopus index journals was built. We paid attention to: the species used, modes of use, illness treated, relative importance of each use-report, and importance in the past and in the present. This has resulted in a very rich and dynamic ethnobotanic...
Traditional knowledge on the species Osmunda regalis, registered in Spain, is presented. Se descr... more Traditional knowledge on the species Osmunda regalis, registered in Spain, is presented. Se describen los conocimientos tradicionales asociados a la especie Osmunda regalis que se han registrado en España
En los últimos años se han llevado a cabo diversos estudios para evaluar el potencial nutricional... more En los últimos años se han llevado a cabo diversos estudios para evaluar el potencial nutricional y funcional de las plantas silvestres comestibles. Algunas de ellas son una buena fuente de compuestos bioactivos y han demostrado tener una interesante actividad biológica como antioxidantes. Por ello, este trabajo tiene como objetivo principal evaluar la actividad biológica in vitro de la parte comestible de 20 verduras silvestres tradicionalmente consumidas en la Península Ibérica, cuantificando tanto la actividad antioxidante total (DPPH y poder reductor) como la inhibición de la peroxidación lipídica (inhibición de la decoloración del β-caroteno y TBARS), y correlacionando estos parámetros con su contenido en distintos compuestos bioactivos. Las muestras objeto de estudio fueron recolectadas durante tres años consecutivos (2007-2009) en dos localidades diferentes del centro peninsular. Los resultados de actividad antioxidante más interesantes, expresados como EC 50 (mg/mL de extracto) y evaluados mediante el DPPH, correspondieron a Anchusa azurea, Apium nodiflorum y Taraxacum obovatum. En el caso de la evaluación del poder reductor, Anchusa azurea, Apium nodiflorum, así como Chondrilla juncea y Montia fontana, fueron las especies que mejor EC 50 (p < 0,05) presentaron. Respecto a los ensayos de inhibición de la peroxidación lipídica, destacaron nuevamente Anchusa azurea, Apium nodiflorum para el ensayo de inhibición de la decoloración del β-caroteno, mientras que para el TBARS fueron Sonchus oleraceus, Montia fontana, Silene vulgaris, Anchusa azurea, Chondrilla juncea, Papaver rhoeas, Foeniculum vulgare, Silybum marianum y Rumex pulcher. En general, las plantas silvestres comestibles estudiadas presentan unos valores de actividad antioxidante (EC 50) muy interesantes y su consumo puede tener efectos beneficiosos para la salud además de contribuir a una mayor diversificación de la dieta. Todo ello justifica la conservación y revalorización de su uso alimentario. Palabras clave: verduras silvestres, actividad biológica in vitro, compuestos bioactivos.
Wild Arbutus unedo L. and Rubus ulmifolius Schott fruits are underutilized sources of valuable bi... more Wild Arbutus unedo L. and Rubus ulmifolius Schott fruits are underutilized sources of valuable bioactive compounds with antioxidant capacity. Abstract-Introduction. Several studies reveal the important role played by 'lesser-known' wild fruits since they contain nutritional and functional compounds which have biological properties. Materials and methods. Our work studied the presence of bioactive compounds such as vitamin C (ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid), total phenolic content, phenolic acids, flavonols, anthocyanins and the antioxidant capacity (FRAP, ABTS •+ and DPPH • in vitro tests) in wild fruits of Arbutus unedo L. and Rubus ulmifolius Schott of Spanish origin, including samples from different seasons and locations. Results and discussion. A wide variability was found in the composition of fruits of the same species, which substantiates the importance of analyzing several batches of wild fruits, to achieve representative results, taking into account the natural variability. Arbustus unedo fruits showed higher vitamin C, mainly in the ascorbic acid form, and phenolic content than R. ulmifolius [(172-419) mg ascorbic acid⋅100 g-1 fw vs. (5.99-26.83) mg ascorbic acid⋅100 g-1 fw, and (773-1621) mg total phenolic compounds⋅100 g-1 fw vs. (376-1326) mg total phenolic compounds⋅100 g-1 fw, respectively]; phenolic acids and anthocyanins are the major groups of phenolic compounds found in both species, with gallic acid and cyanidin 3-glucoside as the main compounds. Arbustus unedo fruits showed significantly higher Folin-Ciocalteu values than those of R. ulmifolius. These values are higher than those reported for the majority of berries. The significant correlations found among different antioxidant compounds (r > 0.6300, P < 0.001) may reveal a protective effect between ascorbic acid and phenolic acids or anthocyanins in the fruits. Therefore, Arbutus unedo and R. ulmifolius fruits should be considered as new important sources of safe antioxidants. Spain / Arbutus unedo / Rubus ulmifolius / fruits / phenolic compounds / phenolic content / antioxidants Les fruits sauvages d'Arbutus unedo L. et de Rubus ulmifolius Schott sont des sources peu employées de composés bioactifs intéressants présentant une capacité antioxydante. Résumé-Introduction. Plusieurs études indiquent le rôle important joué par les fruits sauvages « peu connus » car ils contiennent des composés nutritionnels et fonctionnels avec des propriétés biologiques. Matériel et méthodes. Nos recherches ont étudié la présence de composés bioactifs comme la vitamine C (acide ascorbique et acide déhydroascorbique), la teneur totale en phénols, les acides phénoliques, les flavonols, les anthocyanes, et la capacité antioxydante (mesurée par des essais FRAP •+ , ABTS • et DPPH in vitro) dans des fruits sauvages de A. unedo L. et de R. ulmifolius Schott d'origine espagnole, les échantillons provenant de différentes saisons et différents sites. Résultats et discussion. Une large variabilité a été révélée dans la composition des fruits d'une même espèce ; cela a justifié l'importance d'analyser plusieurs séries de fruits sauvages, pour obtenir des résultats représentatifs, prenant en considération la variabilité naturelle. Les fruits d'A. unedo ont montré une plus haute teneur en vitamine C, principalement sous forme d'acide ascorbique, et en phénols que les fruits de R. ulmifolius [(172-419) mg acide ascorbique⋅100 g-1 pf vs. (5.99-26.83) mg acide ascorbique⋅100 g-1 pf, et (773-1621) mg de composés phénoliques totaux⋅100 g-1 pf vs. (376-1326) mg de composés phénoliques totaux⋅100 g-1 pf, respectivement] ; les acides phénoliques et les anthocyanes ont été les groupes principaux de composés phénoliques trouvés dans les deux espèces, l'acide gallique et la cyanidine 3-glucoside étant les composés principaux. Les fruits d'A. unedo ont présenté des valeurs sensiblement plus élevées avec le test de Folin-Ciocalteu que ceux de R. ulmifolius. Ces valeurs se sont révélées plus hautes que celles enregistrées pour la majorité de baies. Les corrélations significatives trouvées parmi les différents composés antioxydants (r > 0,6300, P < 0,001) pourraient indiquer un effet protecteur dans les fruits entre l'acide ascorbique et les acides phénoliques ou les anthocyanes. Pour cela, les fruits d'A. unedo et de R. ulmifolius devraient être considérés comme de nouvelles sources importantes d'antioxydants. Espagne / Arbutus unedo / Rubus ulmifolius / fruits / composés phénoliques / teneur en phénols / antioxidant
Non-cultivated vegetables whose basal leaves have been traditionally consumed in Spain were evalu... more Non-cultivated vegetables whose basal leaves have been traditionally consumed in Spain were evaluated for their potential in human nutrition, considering vitamin C, organic acids, tocopherols, phenolics and flavonoids, and antioxidant activity. As far as we know, this is the first report on organic acids and vitamin C of Anchusa azurea and Apium nodiflorum, on tocopherols of Anchusa azurea, Beta vulgaris, Chondrilla juncea, Rumex papillaris, Rumex pulcher, Silybum marianum and Taraxacum obovatum, as well as on the antioxidant capacity of most of them. Data revealed that the mentioned non-cultivated vegetables are good sources of bioactive compounds. Rumex pulcher, R. papillaris and Papaver rhoeas are rich in vitamin C, Sonchus oleraceus and Rumex papillaris in tocopherols. Rumex pulcher, Papaver rhoeas and Anchusa azurea showed promising antioxidant properties, which are related to their high levels of phenolic and flavonoids. Some species presented high levels of oxalic acid. Therefore, people with a trend of developing kidney calculus should avoid eating these greens (especially Silybum marianum, Sonchus oleraceus and Beta maritima) and choose species with low oxalic acid content such as Taraxacum obovatum and Cichorium intybus. The traditional consumption of these species after boiling and rejecting the water may decrease the amount of oxalic acid.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Many ethnobotanical studies show that people in industrial countr... more Ethnopharmacological relevance: Many ethnobotanical studies show that people in industrial countries still rely on their traditional knowledge of medicinal plants for self-treatment, although the trend might not be as common as some decades ago. Given the social and public health implications of ethnopharmacological practices, this survey aims at recording and analysing the medicinal plants used in the folk medicine of the Northwest of the Basque Country focusing on how medicinal plants knowledge and practices evolve. Materials and methods: Fieldwork consisted of 265 orally consented semi-structured interviews with 207 informants about medicinal uses of plants. Interviews were conducted between September 2008 and January 2011. Informants were on average 76 years old (minimum 45, maximum 95), being more than half of them (112) men. Data collected were structured in use-reports (UR). Following informants 0 comments, medicinal use-reports were classified as abandoned-UR, when the informants reported that the use was only practiced in the past, and prevalent-UR, when the informants reported to continue the practice. Results and discussion: A total of 2067 UR for 139 species that belong to 58 botanical families were recorded, being the most important families Asteraceae, Liliaceae sensu latu and Urticaceae. Some of the most important species are commonly used in other European areas (e.g., Chamaemelum nobile, Urtica dioica and Chelidonium majus). However, there are also plants commonly used in the area such as Helleborus viridis or Coronopus didymus, that are scarcely used in other areas, and whose record is an original contribution of the local pharmacopeia. It is also the case of remedies such as the use of Plantago leaves against strains in a local remedy called zantiritu. Overall, and for all variables analysed (total UR, medicinal use-categories, drug preparation and administration), the percentage of UR being currently practiced (prevalence ratio) was very low (near 30%) suggesting a strong decay in the use of traditional medicinal plants. Exceptionally, some species (Chamaemelum nobile, Verbena officinalis or Anagallis arvensis) had a high prevalence ratio, reflecting the fact that this erosion process is not evolving homogeneously. Informants also reported that new species and medicinal plant uses were entering into the local pharmacopeia via non-traditional sources such as books, courses, or the internet. These modern ways are now being used to spread some traditional remedies that in the past were only orally transmitted. Conclusions: This study shows that traditional knowledge is continuously changing, evolving and adapting to the new social and environmental conditions. The image of the local folk medicine as a dying reality doomed to disappear should be reviewed. It also shows the need of a culturally sensitive approach by the official health systems to these practices.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids play an important role in human nutrition, being associated with seve... more Polyunsaturated fatty acids play an important role in human nutrition, being associated with several health benefits. The analyzed vegetables, in spite of its low fat content, lower than 2%, present a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids of n-3, n-6 and n-9 series, such as α-linolenic, linoleic and oleic acids, respectively. Wild edible plants contain in general a good balance of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. The present study tries to contribute to the preservation and valorization of traditional food resources, studying the fatty acids profile of 20 wild vegetables by gas-liquid chromatography with flame ionization detection. Results show that species in which leaves are predominant in their edible parts have in general the highest polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratios: Rumex pulcher (5.44), Cichorium intybus (5.14) and Papaver rhoeas (5.00). Due to the low n-6/n-3 ratios of the majority of the samples, they can be considered interesting sources of n-3 fatty ...
Arbutus wild berries have been traditionally collected and appreciated in the Mediterranean regio... more Arbutus wild berries have been traditionally collected and appreciated in the Mediterranean region, although it is actually considered an underutilized fruit-tree species. Increasing the scarce knowledge about its nutritional composition and natural production may interest a broad range of scholars, such as ethnobotanists, chemists, nutritionists and anthropologists. The present study aims to provide original data on the nutritional value and the biomass production of wild strawberry-tree fruits, studying the variation of these characteristics in fruits harvested in different years, from two different Spanish areas. Macro and micronutrient composition of mature Arbutus unedo fruits have been analyzed, with particular attention to the content of some bioactive compounds (fiber, vitamin C as ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acids, total phenolics, carotenoids, including lycopene) and the organic acids profile. The contribution to recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) of this exotic fruit has also been calculated. Fruit crop volume per tree has been estimated as well in the wild strawberry-tree populations surveyed to provide a general framework for discussing the agronomic potential of the species. A wide variability in the nutrient composition of strawberry-tree fruits was found which shows that the analysis of many different samples from different origins and seasons are required to provide average reliable data about the chemical composition of wild fruits. From the results obtained, strawberry-tree fruits can be considered a very good source of health promoting compounds as vitamin C and dietary fiber (202.6 mg/100 g and 42.6% minimum contribution to RDAs, respectively). They are also rich in total available carbohydrates, sugars, potassium and secondary metabolites, such as phenolic compounds, being poor in lipids and Na. These results, together with its high production may help to reinforce its consumption, as an alternative to the fruits available in the market or a source of bioactive compounds for dietary supplements or functional foods.
Memorias de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural. Segunda época, 2011
1. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC. Plaza de Murillo, 2. E-28014-Madrid. España. morales@ rjb. csic. e... more 1. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC. Plaza de Murillo, 2. E-28014-Madrid. España. morales@ rjb. csic. es 2. Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDRA). Finca “El Encín”. Apdo. 127. E-28800 Alcalá de Henares. España 3. Dpto. Biología (Botánica). Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. C/Darwin, 2. E-28049 Madrid. España PALABRAS CLAVE: Biodiversidad vegetal, etnobotánica, diversidad biocultural, España. KEY WORDS: Vegetal biodiversity, ethnobotany, biocultural diversity, ...
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