Il Casentino: tradizioni etnofarmacobotaniche nei comuni di Poppi e Bibbiena (Arezzo - Toscana)

The Casentino area: ethnopharmacobotanical traditions in the towns of Poppi and Bibbiena (Arezzo-Tuscany). The results refer an ethnopharmacobotanical study carried out in the territories of Poppi and Bibbiena in the Casentino area. There are 89 plants used in folk medicine; some of them are not known to scientific medicine (Asplenium trichomanes L., Fagus sylvatica L., Malva sylvestris L., Nerium oleander L. and Tamus communis L.)

Quali-quantitative analysis of flavonoides of Cornus mas L. (Cornaceae) fruts.

The methanol extract obtained from the ripe fruits of Cornus mas L. (Cornaceae) have been phytochemically studied. On the basis of HPLC–PDA–MS/MSn analysis eight compounds have been identified as quercetin, kaempferol, and aromadendrin glycosilated derivatives. Three major compounds have been also isolated by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography followed by HPLC and characterised by NMR spectroscopy. Moreover, LC–PDA–MS analysis of the red pigment revealed the presence of three anthocyanins. The quantitative analysis of all compounds was reported

Antiradical potential of ancient Italian apple varieties of Malus x domestica Borkh. in a peroxynitrite-induced oxidative process

Ancient apple cultivars may be an important source of genes for apple breeding programs and for the production of value-added apple cultivars. We evaluated the biochemical properties of six apple varieties grown in the Casentino area (Tuscany, Italy). Two commercial varieties (Golden Delicious and Stark Delicious) and four local varieties (Mora, Nesta, Panaia-red and Ruggine) were selected and their methanolic extracts were analysed for total phenolics and flavonoids. Moreover the content of catechin, epicatechin, rutin, chlorogenic and caffeic acid, five major phenolic constituents, was determined through HPLC-UV analysis. The radical scavenging capacity of the methanolic extracts was assessed using two in vitro tests: the blanching of the stable DPPH radical and the inhibition of tyrosine nitration induced by peroxynitrite. Three of the four local varieties had the highest content of total phenols and flavonoids. Ruggine and Panaia-red apple had the highest content of the five phenolic compounds investigated and the highest antioxidant activity towards both radicals. The commercial varieties were characterized by lower phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared to old varieties. Finally, a significant correlation between phenolic content and antioxidant activity was found

Quali-quantitative analysis of flavonoids of Cornus mas L. (Cornaceae) fruits

SUMMARY The methanol extract obtained from the ripe fruits of Cornus mas L. (Cornaceae) have been phytochemically studied. On the basis of HPLC–PDA–MS/MSn analysis eight compounds have been identified as quercetin, kaempferol, and aromadendrin glycosilated derivatives. Three major compounds have been also isolated by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography followed by HPLC and characterised by NMR spectroscopy. Moreover, LC–PDA–MS analysis of the red pigment revealed the presence of three anthocyanins. The quantitative analysis of all compounds was reported

Le piante nella magia e nella superstizione: alcuni esempi nella tradizione popolare della Toscana

Tuscany is a region very rich in popular traditions connected to plants. In this work, the authors present the plants used in magic and superstition. To testify their use, some of these plants (Cannabis sativa L., Stachys recta L., etc.) have been inserted in the Ethnobotanical Garden of Rottaia, near Pisa