Characterization of Thymus vulgaris Subsp. vulgaris Community by Using a Multidisciplinary Approach: A Case Study from Central Italy

Thymus vulgaris L. is an emblematic species of the Mediterranean tradition. As a crop, this species has been spread wherever possible by man around the World. Often escaped from cultivations, defining its natural environment and the limits of its natural range is very much complicated as these have been greatly altered and influenced by human presence, in a positive or in a negative way. In addition to ecology and biogeography studies, we carried out human ecology research to understand whether, in a multidisciplinary (pan-ecological) approach, the case study of the Th. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris community can be considered of natural or of naturalised origin. An ecological, bio-geographical, and floristic review on this species is reported to help the discussion. Our study could be a good way to improve scientific discussions and applications even for other places and other situations. Some outlook and proposals are reported to improve management and conservation measures, in order to foster our ”green-sphere” protection strategies through plants

Essential oil composition and polar fraction analysis of Tanacetum macrophyllum (Waldst. et Kit.) Schultz Bip.

Tanacetum macrophyllum (Waldst. et Kit.) Schultz Bip, also known as Tansy, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. This species is typical of the Balcan area but is punctually spread in other European countries as a rare species [1]. In Italy, it is found mainly within forests [1, 2]. This species is often erroneously confused with Achillea grandifolia Friv. [1, 2]. In this work, a comprehensive phytochemical analysis on the volatile components and polar fraction of T. macrophyllum growing in central Italy was carried out. Flowers and leaves were separately analyzed for the essential oil composition and were characterized by oxygenated monoterpenes (39.4%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (28.0%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (39.3%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (25.4%), respectively. The phytochemical analysis conducted on the ethanolic extract of the total aerial parts evidenced the presence of twelve compounds: apigenin, cirsimaritin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-glucuronide, kaempferol-7-O-glucoside, kaempferol-7-O-glucuronide, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid, shikimic acid, quinic acid and 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-vanillic acid. Most of these compounds were reported for the first time in the species while three of them are new phytochemicals for the Tanacetum genus. The presence of all these compounds provides a phytochemical rationale for the botanical classification of this species and encourages further ethno-pharmacological studies just like for T. parthenium [3]

Secondary metabolites from Stachys palustris L.

In this work we report the first total analysis of the secondary metabolites from a sample of Stachys palustris L., an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to Lamiaceae, collected in Hungary. The phytochemical analysis, performed by means of classical column chromatography and NMR spectroscopy and Mass spectrometry (MS), allowed us to isolate and identify eight compounds such as verbascoside (1) [1], echinacoside (2) [1], two isoscutellarein derivatives (3, 4) [2,3], chlorogenic acid (5) [3], harpagide (6) [4], 8-O-acetyl-harpagide (7) [4] and monomelittoside (8) [4]. These compounds belong to four different classes of chemical compounds namely phenyl-ethanoid glycosides (PhGs) (compounds 1, 2), flavonoids (compounds 3,4), caffeoyl-quinic acids (compound 5) and iridoids (compounds 6,7 and 8). From a chemosystematic point of view, these compounds are all important: compounds (6) and (7) are considered as the major chemotaxonomic markers of the genus; compound (1) and (8) resulted new constituents in this species and compound (2) is even new in the genus. In addition to this, the co-occurrence of iridoids and PhGs has a chemosystematic importance since it is widely demonstrated their presence in Asterids [1, 3]. Lastly, compounds (3) and (4) such as compounds (5),(6) and (7) have already been found in Stachys species, giving, this way, evidence of a phytochemical pattern perfectly in accordance with those reported in literature for other members of this genus. Nevertheless, it’s worth to underline the fact that compounds (3) and (4), like all isoscutellarein derivatives containing allose, seem to have a restricted distribution in only some genera of Lamiaceae

Secondary metabolites from Stachys palustris L.

In this work we report the first total analysis of the secondary metabolites from a sample of Stachys palustris L., an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to Lamiaceae, collected in Hungary. The phytochemical analysis, performed by means of classical column chromatography and NMR spectroscopy and Mass spectrometry (MS), allowed us to isolate and identify eight compounds such as verbascoside (1) [1], echinacoside (2) [1], two isoscutellarein derivatives (3, 4) [2,3], chlorogenic acid (5) [3], harpagide (6) [4], 8-O-acetyl-harpagide (7) [4] and monomelittoside (8) [4]. These compounds belong to four different classes of chemical compounds namely phenyl-ethanoid glycosides (PhGs) (compounds 1, 2), flavonoids (compounds 3,4), caffeoyl-quinic acids (compound 5) and iridoids (compounds 6,7 and 8). From a chemosystematic point of view, these compounds are all important: compounds (6) and (7) are considered as the major chemotaxonomic markers of the genus; compound (1) and (8) resulted new constituents in this species and compound (2) is even new in the genus. In addition to this, the co-occurrence of iridoids and PhGs has a chemosystematic importance since it is widely demonstrated their presence in Asterids [1, 3]. Lastly, compounds (3) and (4) such as compounds (5),(6) and (7) have already been found in Stachys species, giving, this way, evidence of a phytochemical pattern perfectly in accordance with those reported in literature for other members of this genus. Nevertheless, it’s worth to underline the fact that compounds (3) and (4), like all isoscutellarein derivatives containing allose, seem to have a restricted distribution in only some genera of Lamiaceae

The importance of keeping alive sustainable foraging practices: Wild vegetables and herbs gathered by Afghan refugees living in Mansehra District, Pakistan

The issue of foraging for wild food plants among migrants and relocated communities is an important one in environmental studies, especially in order to understand how human societies rearrange their practices linked to nature and how they adapt to new socioecological systems. This paper addresses the complexity of Traditional/Local Environmental Knowledge (LEK) changes associated to wild vegetables and herbs across four different groups of Afghan refugees living in Mansehra District, NW Pakistan, since 1985. Via interviews with eighty study participants, forty-eight wild vegetables and herbs were recorded, representing both the past and present wild plant gastronomic heritage. The majority of the quoted wild plant ingredients were only remembered and no longer actively used, thus suggesting an important erosion of LEK. Moreover, the number of wild vegetables and herbs currently used by Afghan Pashtuns engaged in farming activities is much higher than those reported by the other groups. The findings indicate that practiced LEK, i.e., knowledge that is continuously kept alive via constant contact with the natural environment, is essential for the resilience of the biocultural heritage, which is, however, also influenced by the re-arrangement of social life adopted by refugees after relocation

Minor neurological signs and behavioural function at age 2 years in neonatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE)

Background: Neurodevelopmental follow-up in Neonatal Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) typically focusses on major neuromotor (cerebral palsy, CP) and severe cognitive impairment. Outcomes in those without major neuromotor impairment are less well explored. Objectives: To examine behavioural, cognitive and neurological outcomes after neonatal HIE, in a clinical cohort of children without CP, at age 2 years. Methods: Clinical routine outcome data from children admitted to a tertiary centre with neonatal HIE for hypothermia treatment between 05/08/09 - 30/05/2016. Children were assessed for neuromotor status – particularly minor neurological signs (MNS), with Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III (Bayley III) or Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 (ASQ), Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5 (CBCL), Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT). Results: Of 107 children, 75.5% had normal neurology, 12.1% CP, 12.1% MNS. Children with CP were excluded from analyses. For those without CP, Bayley-III scores were in the average range for the majority; mild cognitive delay observed in 5%, 4.2% language, 1.3% motor development; severe delay in 1.3% for cognitive, 4.2% for language. More than in the normative population scored in clinical ranges for CBCL externalising, sleep, and other problems. No significant difference was seen for Q-CHAT. Children with MNS were significantly more likely to have impaired Bayley-III scores, parent-reported internalising, sleep, and other problems. Conclusions: In this clinical cohort, the majority of children had favourable outcome at 2 years. However, children with MNS were at risk for cognitive and behavioural difficulties and will benefit from enhanced clinical follow-up and support

Impacts of caring for a child with the CDKL5 disorder on parental wellbeing and family quality of life

Background: Although research in this area remains sparse, raising a child with some genetic disorders has been shown to adversely impact maternal health and family quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate such impacts in families with a child with the CDKL5 disorder, a newly recognised genetic disorder causing severe neurodevelopmental impairments and refractory epilepsy. Methods: Data were sourced from the International CDKL5 Disorder Database to which 192 families with a child with a pathogenic CDKL5 mutation had provided data by January 2016. The Short Form 12 Health Survey Version 2, yielding a Physical Component Summary and a Mental Component Summary score, was used to measure primary caregiver's wellbeing. The Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale was used to measure family quality of life. Linear regression analyses were used to investigate relationships between child and family factors and the various subscale scores. Results: The median (range) age of the primary caregivers was 37.0 (24.6-63.7) years and of the children was 5.2 (0.2-34.1) years. The mean (SD) physical and mental component scores were 53.7 (8.6) and 41.9 (11.6), respectively. In mothers aged 25-54 years the mean mental but not the physical component score was lower than population norms. After covariate adjustment, caregivers with a tube-fed child had lower mean physical but higher mean mental component scores than those whose child fed orally (coefficient = -4.80 and 6.79; p = 0.009 and 0.012, respectively). Child sleep disturbances and financial hardship were negatively associated with the mental component score. The mean (SD) Beach Center Family Quality of Life score was 4.06 (0.66) and those who had used respite services had lower scores than those who had not across the subscales. Conclusions: Emotional wellbeing was considerably impaired in this caregiver population, and was particularly associated with increased severity of child sleep problems and family financial difficulties. Family quality of life was generally rated lowest in those using respite care extensively, suggesting that these families may be more burdened by daily caregiving

The bear in Eurasian plant names: Motivations and models

Ethnolinguistic studies are important for understanding an ethnic group's ideas on the world, expressed in its language. Comparing corresponding aspects of such knowledge might help clarify problems of origin for certain concepts and words, e.g. whether they form common heritage, have an independent origin, are borrowings, or calques. The current study was conducted on the material in Slavonic, Baltic, Germanic, Romance, Finno-Ugrian, Turkic and Albanian languages. The bear was chosen as being a large, dangerous animal, important in traditional culture, whose name is widely reflected in folk plant names. The phytonyms for comparison were mostly obtained from dictionaries and other publications, and supplemented with data from databases, the co-authors' field data, and archival sources (dialect and folklore materials). More than 1200 phytonym use records (combinations of a local name and a meaning) for 364 plant and fungal taxa were recorded to help find out the reasoning behind bear-nomination in various languages, as well as differences and similarities between the patterns among them. Among the most common taxa with bear-related phytonyms were Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng., Heracleum sphondylium L., Acanthus mollis L., and Allium ursinum L., with Latin loan translation contributing a high proportion of the phytonyms. Some plants have many and various bear-related phytonyms, while others have only one or two bear names. Features like form and/or surface generated the richest pool of names, while such features as colour seemed to provoke rather few associations with bears. The unevenness of bear phytonyms in the chosen languages was not related to the size of the language nor the present occurence of the Brown Bear in the region. However, this may, at least to certain extent, be related to the amount of the historical ethnolinguistic research done on the selected languages

Specie esotiche invasive di rilevanza unionale in Italia: aggiornamenti e integrazioni

La Commissione Europea (CE) ha inserito ad oggi 36 taxa esotici vegetali nella lista delle specie esotiche invasive di rilevanza unionale ai sensi del Regolamento (UE) n. 1143/2014 del Parlamento Europeo e del Consiglio, recante disposizioni volte a prevenire e gestire l’introduzione e la diffusione delle specie esotiche invasive. La lista delle specie di rilevanza unionale viene periodicamente aggiornata e include quelle specie che rappresentano una grave minaccia per la biodiversità, ma anche per la salute dei cittadini e le attività economiche nei territori dell’Unione Europea e che necessitano di una gestione concertata a livello comunitario. La CE vigila sullo stato di ogni taxon grazie anche a periodiche rendicontazioni da parte dei paesi dell'Unione. In vista di tali report, tra il 2020 e il 2021 è stata definita e integrata la distribuzione di queste specie in Italia