Food, flavouring and feed plant traditions in the Tyrrhenian sector of Basilicata, Italy

BACKGROUND: Research was carried out in the years 2002–2003 into food, flavouring and feed folk traditions of plants in the Tyrrhenian part of the Basilicata region (southern Italy). This area was colonized in ancient times by Greeks. Data was collected through field interviews, especially of farmers. METHODS: Field data were collected through structured interviews. The informants, numbered 49, belonged to families which had strong links with the traditional activities of the area. RESULTS: 61 taxa are cited, belonging to 26 botanical families, amongst which 44 used as food or flavouring and 22 for animal alimentation. Besides 7 taxa are involved in rituals especially connected with agriculture and plant growth. CONCLUSION: The preservation of some rituals especially concerning agricultural plants is noteworthy in the area, together with a certain degree of continuity in food uses. Knowledge and rediscovery of recipes in human and animal diet could represent an economic potential for the area

Isolation and characterization of heterotepalins, type 1 ribosome-inactivating proteins from Phytolacca heterotepala leaves

Leaves from Phytolacca heterotepala H. Walter (Mexican pokeweed) contain at least 10 type 1 RIP isoforms, named heterotepalins. Their Mr values are included in the range 28,000–36,000, as shown by SDS-PAGE performed under reduced conditions and the pI values in the pH range 8.50–9.50. Some heterotepalins are glycosylated. ESI-QTOF mass spectrometry provides the accurate Mr of heterotepalin 4 (29,326.00) and heterotepalin 5b (30,477.00), two isoforms purified to homogeneity by conventional chromatographic techniques. The N-terminal sequences up to residue 35, show that heterotepalins exhibit an high percentage identity with other type 1 RIPs isolated from Phytolaccaceae. Some heterotepalins cross-react with antisera raised against RIPs isolated from Phytolacca dioica leaves. The complete amino acid sequence of heterotepalin 4 matches that of Phytolacca heterotepala anti-viral protein PAP (RIP1), deduced from the cDNA sequence of PhRIP1 gene (AC: AY327475), with one exception concerning residue 245 which, in the native protein, is Ile instead of Met. This substitution, found by mass spectrometry mapping, has been directly confirmed by Edman degradation sequencing of the C-terminal tryptic peptide 242–262. The results show the high potential of mass spectrometry and Edman degradation to verify and to uncover possible amino acid substitutions between native proteins and their cDNA deduced sequences

Preliminary report on antimicrobial activity of Helichrysum litoreum Guss

The authors present the preliminary results regarding the antibacterial action of extracts of Helichrysum litoreum Guss. The leaves and the young stems of this species, gathered on the slopes of Mt Vesuvius, in the Campania region, were ground and four extracts were made as follows: with dichloromethane, ethanol and water (70:30 v/v), water and methanol. The antibacterial activity of each of the samples was tested in order to determine which of the extracts was more antibacterial. The results of the test showed that the extract with the ethanol/water (70/30 v/v) was the most active one. This will allow us to advance in the research, purifying the extract and hopefully identifying the active principles