Sedum sarmentosum Bunge una cespitosa inusual en la Comunidad Valenciana

Se presentan dos localidades para una especie de "Raïm de Pastor" de origen Chino-Japonés (Sedum sarmentosum Bunge), que no había sido citado expresamente en localidades valencianas. Se ha localizado exclusivamente en las localidades de Almudaina, Comarca de El Comtat (Alicante) y en el Portell de Morella, Comarca de Els Ports (Castellón). En la primera localidad se ha podido constatar la facilidad de esta planta para naturalizarse en tejados y repisas, próximos al punto de cultivo, por lo que aunque actualmente es una planta muy rara, habrá que vigilar su comportamiento futuro en las comarcas de montaña valencianas, dada su resistencia al frío y a la sequía. Por otra parte, es una especie con usos medicinales en la tradición china para problemas gástricos, renales y desórdenes hormonales, además, actualmente se está investigando activamente como antitumoral.Two citations are presented as "Raïm de Pastor" with a Chinese-Japanese origin (Sedum sarmentosum Bunge) which has not an explicity mention in any Valencian locality. It has been located only in Almudaina, a village from El Comtat region, in Alicante province, and in Portell de Morella, from Els Ports region in Castellón province. In the first place, an easy naturalization on roofs and ledges becoming from the point of cultivation, has been observed. Although, nowadays is a very rare plant, a monitorization of its behavior in future, in Valencian montainous regions, due to its hardiness and drought is needed. On the other hand, in medicinal Chinese tradition, this plant is used to gastric and kidney disorders, hormonal problems, and is currently being investigated as an antitumor

Rosa gallica l. var. officinalis (hort. ex Andrews) Ser. en el norte de Alicante (Comunidad Valenciana)

Se ha localizado en el margen de la carretera comarcal CV 795 en su kilómetro 17 próximo a Ulls de Canals y dentro del término de Banyeres de Mariola, una buena población asilvestrada de Rosa gallica L. var. officinalis (hort. ex Andrews) Ser., que corresponde a la segunda población localizada en Alicante, puesto que se conocía una población pero situada próxima al litoral en la comarca de la Marina Alta. La llamada rosa de Provins o provincialis (de Provenza) es una de las rosas cultivadas en Europa desde más antiguo, probablemente la primera. Aparece dibujada en los frescos de Pompeya, fue también la rosa de las boticas (“Officinalis”) y se corresponde con la famosa rosa roja o Rosa de Lancanster, símbolo de este bando en la Guerra de civil inglesa llamada de “las dos rosas”. Su cultivo en España fue muy importante y era frecuentemente citada en la literatura botánica antigua, fue llamada “rosa de Castilla” pero con el tiempo y el abandono del campo, su presencia fue disminuyendo y de forma asilvestrada solo aparece en unas pocas provincias españolas, aunque se sigue manteniendo su cultivo a pequeña escala en colecciones particulares y rosaledas. Precisamente, en la Rosaleda “Pere Dot” del Jardín Botánico de Torretes (Ibi) mantenemos en cultivo dos de las variedades botánicas reconocidas y muchos de los cultivares e híbridos de este rosal, que hemos adquirido de colecciones extranjeras. El hallazgo de este material asilvestrado probablemente procedente de antiguos cultivos en la zona, tiene gran valor etnobotánico y puede tener valor genético. Aunque en su morfología no se han encontrado diferencias relevantes, se ha procedido a su multiplicación vegetativa y será próximamente incluido en la rosaleda del Jardín Botánico, junto con pliegos de herbario y semillas.A good naturalised population of Rosa gallica L. var. officinalis (hort. ex Andrews) Ser. has been located in a margin of the local road CV 795, in the kilometer 17 near Ulls Canals, within the term of Banyeres de Mariola. This corresponds to the second population known in Alicante, being the first one located close to the coast in the Marina Alta region. Called as Provins rose or provincialis (Provence) is one of the roses grown in Europe since oldest, probably the first. It appears drawn in some Pompeii’s frescoes, it was also the pharmacies rose ("Officinalis") and it corresponds to the famous red rose or Lancanster’s Rose, symbol of this squad in the English Civil War called "The Two Roses". Its cultivation in Spain was very important and was often cited in old botanical literature, where it was called "Rose of Castile". Over time, the field abandonment reduces its presence and only appears naturalised in a few Spanish provinces, although a small-scale cultivation in rose gardens and private collections is still maintained. Indeed, in the “Pere Dot” Rose Garden of Torretes Botanical Garden (Ibi) two of the many botanical varieties recognized and some cultivars and hybrids of this rose, which we acquired in foreign collections are maintained in culture. The finding of this naturalised material probably from ancient cultures in this area, has a great ethnobotanical value and could have genetic value. Although no significant differences in its morphology has been found, it has been vegetatively propagated and will be included in the Rose Gar- den of the Torretes Botanical Garden soon, along with herbarium specimens and seeds

Presencia del olmo temblón o negrillo, Ulmus laevis Pall. en Ibi (Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana)

Se ha localizado en la Rambla de la Gavarnera en Ibi, Alicante una pequeña población de Ulmus laevis Pall., que no había sido citado expresamente en localidades valencianas, ni en las floras locales, regionales, ni nacionales, en unos casos por no haberse localizado, en otros por considerar a este árbol alóctono en España. Desde hace una década un equipo de la ETSIA de Montes de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, viene realizando diversos proyectos y tesis doctorales que han dado como resultado la puesta en valor de esta especie, a través de su localización a nivel nacional, estudio ecológico, fisiológico y genético, que arrojan numerosas pruebas a favor de la autoctonía de esta especie en España. Según los autores de este dilatado proyecto, U. laevis habría tenido en España uno de su principales refugios cuaternarios, aunque en la actualidad se encuentre fragmentado en poblaciones dispersas, con pocos individuos y problemas para su conservación y supervivencia. No obstante esta especie ha demostrado mayores tasas de supervivencia a la enfermedad de los olmos, que otros de sus congéneres como Ulmus minor y U. glabra. En cuanto a su presencia en Alicante, son precisamente estos autores los que localizan un primer ejemplar en Ibi, al que ahora añadimos dos ejemplares más repartidos en tres puntos muy próximos y situados a lo largo de la Rambla de la Gavarnera. Este es un cauce irregular pero con nivel freático permanente, como lo atestiguan la existencia de pozos, azudes, albercas que abastecieron a los pequeños regadíos de la zona, muchos de ellos abandonados en la actualidad. Dada la rareza de esta especie a nivel nacional y la excepcionalidad de su presencia en Ibi, consideramos que el ejemplar de mayor porte merece la consideración de árbol singular para la Comunidad Valenciana y por otra parte, los otros ejemplares merecen su protección y multiplicación, para incrementar la población existente. Es necesario desarrollar un mayor esfuerzo de localización en este paraje y zonas próximas de la Comarca, para conocer su potencial distribución en la provincia y determinar un estatus de protección adecuado.An small population of Ulmus laevis Pall., has been located at Gavarnera's dry riverbed in Ibi, Alicante. This population has not been citated previously in any other valencian locality, or local, regional or national floras, in some cases, it has not been located but in others because it has been considered an allochthonous tree in Spain. Since one decade, a team of ETSIA Forestry in the UPN of Madrid, has been carrying out various projects and a PhD thesis, that have resulted in the enhancement of this specie, through its location nationwide, with an ecological, phisiological and genetic study, yielding evidences for its authochthony in Spain. According to some authors of this project, U. laevis has had in Spain one of its main quaternary shelters, although actually it is fragmented in scattered populations with few individuals, with problems in its conservation and survival. However, this species has shown higher survival rates to elm disease than their fellows as Ulmus minor and U. glabra. Regarding its presence in Alicante, are these authors, which firstly locate one exemplar in Ibi, at which now we add two more exemplars, distributed in three very close points along Gavarnera's dry riverbed. This is an irregular but with permantent phreatic level channel, as witnessed by existence of some wells, dams and pools that catered small irrigations in this area, most of them abandoned today. Due to the rarity of this species in our country and the exceptionality of its presence in Ibi, in one hand, we consider that the highest exemplar deserves consideration for Valencian Community singular tree, and on the other hand, the other exemplars deserve protection and multiplication for increase this population. It is necessary to develop a greater effort of location in this place and surrounding areas of this region, to know its potential distribution in the province and to determine an appropriate protective status

Gastroethnobotany of Halophytes

The halophytes are a specialized group of plants among which there are some representatives that have been cultivated for millenia. Domesticated or wild lineages are also consumed as food, being chard and dates fruits a good example of it. Other species highly appreciated and consumed locally are collected from wild, like Crithmum, and form part of the traditional cuisine of various areas of the planet. Within this group, some are the object of global cultivation and are distributed by haute cuisine networks such as Salicornia, Mertensia, or Tetragonia. Finally, there are other wild halophytes that were only consumed in situations of extreme need such as famines. Generally, they have not been appreciated by the populations that collect them, such as Halosarcia, Suaeda, or Arthrocnemum. The case of Tetragonia, a species native to Australia, is very significant. The perception of the aborigines, who did not eat it, was different from that of the European settlers who did consume them and even sent their seeds to Europe for domestication and cultivation as new vegetable. Currently, the new gastronomy, sometimes based on tradition and others on experimentation itself, has incorporated into the kitchen many news halophytes and with them has developed numerous unpublished and novel recipes

An ethnopharmacological and historical analysis of “Dictamnus”, a European traditional herbal medicine

Ethnopharmacological relevance and background: “Dictamnus” was a popular name for a group of medicinal herbaceous plant species of the Rutaceae and Lamiaceae, which since the 4th century have been used for gynaecological problems and other illnesses BCE and still appear in numerous ethnobotanical records. Aims: This research has as four overarching aims: Determining the historical evolution of medical preparations labelled “Dictamnus” and the different factors affecting this long-standing herbal tradition. Deciphering and differentiating those medicinal uses of “Dictamnus” which strictly correspond to Dictamnus (Rutaceae), from those of Origanum dictamnus and other Lamiaceae species. Quantitatively assessing the dependence from herbal books, and pharmaceutical tradition, of modern Dictamnus ethnobotanical records. Determining whether differences between Western and Eastern Europe exist with regards to the Dictamnus albus uses in ethnopharmacology and ethnomedicine. Methods: An exhaustive review of herbals, classical pharmacopoeias, ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological literature was conducted. Systematic analysis of uses reported which were standardized according to International Classification of Diseases – 10 and multivariate analysis using factorial, hierarchical and neighbour joining methods was undertaken. Results and discussion: The popular concept “Dictamnus” includes Origanum dictamnus L., Ballota pseudodictamnus (L.) Benth. and B. acetabulosa (L.) Benth. (Lamiaceae), as well as Dictamnus albus L. and D. hispanicus Webb ex Willk. (Rutaceae), with 86 different types of uses. Between 1000 and 1700 CE numerous complex preparations with “Dictamnus” were used in the treatment of 35 different pathologies. On biogeographical grounds the widespread D. albus is a far more likely prototypical “Dictamnus” than the Cretan endemic Origanum dictamnus. However both form integral parts of the “Dictamnus” complex. Evidence exists for a sufficiently long and coherent tradition for D. albus and D. hispanicus, use to treat 47 different categories of diseases. Conclusions: This approach is a model for understanding the cultural history of plants and their role as resources for health care. “Dictamnus” shows how transmission of traditional knowledge about materia medica, over 26 centuries, represents remarkable levels of development and innovation. All this lead us to call attention to D. albus and D. hispanicus which are highly promising as potential herbal drug leads. The next steps of research should be to systematically analyse phytochemical, pharmacological and clinical evidence and to develop safety, pharmacology and toxicology profiles of the traditional preparations

Biodiversidad oculta entre las piñas: presencia del hongo saprófito Mycocalicium llimonae Hladun & Muñiz en el norte de Alicante

Se cita por primera vez en la provincia de Alicante y la segunda para la Comunidad Valenciana del hongo Mycocalicium llimonae (Ascomycota).It is cited for the first time in the province of Alicante and the second for the Valencian Community of the fungus Mycocalicium llimonae (Ascomycota)

Medicinal Plants in Traditional Herbal Wines and Liquors in the East of Spain and the Balearic Islands

Homemade herbal preparations from the East of Spain are the witness of traditional medicine inherited from the ancient complex formulas of herbal teas and medicinal wines. In this study, we document the use of traditional alcoholic beverages, identify their ingredients, almost exclusively botanical, record the local medicinal uses of these mixtures, and discuss patterns of distribution of this knowledge in regions of eastern Spain, the Balearic Islands and Andorra. We determine marker species and relevant patterns of herbal formulas in the different regions of the territory. Homemade liquors and liqueurs are consumed for their digestive and tonic-restorative properties but they also play in some cases an important social role. The elderly remember other medicinal uses such as aperitif, emmenagogue, or antidiarrheal, for some of the most popular preparations. The herbal liqueur formulas include predominantly Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Rutaceae, and Apiaceae species. Herbs (58%), fruits (28%), and mixtures of both (12%) are ingredients of liquors and wines, being the aerial parts the most frequent in terms of species (30%) and records (49%). Dictamnus hispanicus, Santolina villosa, Salvia blancoana subsp. mariolensis, Rosmarinus officinalis, Thymus vulgaris, and Clinopodium serpyllifolium subsp. fruticosum are the species most frequently used. Others species used to a lesser extent as Polygonatum odoratum, Thymus moroderi, and Saxifraga longifolia are restricted to locally homemade preparations because their collection and uses require special knowledge of the rare or endemic flora. Sustainability of these practices is strongly limited by the overall loss of local traditional knowledge and by the limited availability of most of the wild species; some of them are endangered or threatened mainly by the loss of their natural habitats. Cultivation and domestication are a promising alternative to collecting from wild populations. The cultivation of Thymus moroderi in the province of Alicante and Polygonatum odoratum in the province of Teruel are good examples. There is a notable decrease in the complexity of the formulas registered throughout the nearly 15 years of the study. This is interpreted as a consequence of a loss of knowledge, less accessibility to wild resources, and changes in traditions and preferences

La colección de lirios (Iris L. Iridaceae) de la Estación Biológica de Torretes – Jardín Botánico de la Universidad de Alicante: Iridario “Christine Lomer”

Los lirios son una de las flores simbólicas más apreciadas desde la historia antigua y así aparecen ligados irreversiblemente a la cultura occidental. Dentro del género Iris s.l. los llamados Bulbosos y Barbados, son los que han sufrido mayor cultivo y selección desde principios del s. XVI hasta nuestros días y son estos últimos los que conforman mayoritariamente la colección de la Estación Biológica de Torretes – Jardín Botánico de la Universidad de Alicante. Probablemente fueron Clusio y Jonh Gerard los auténticos pioneros en el cultivo de Iris y desde el s. XVI hasta finales del s. XVIII la domesticación se basó en la variabilidad intrínseca e hibridaciones de las especies del Mediterréneo oriental Iris pallida e I. variegata, con participación de I. germanica e I. florentina. Asi surgieron los primeros cultivares que incrementaron su variabilidad, gama de colores, tamaño y rigidez de los tépalos, tacto aterciopelado, aromas, etc. con la introducción de especies tetraploides asiáticas. Todo ello multiplicó las obtenciones exponencialmente hasta más de 70.000 registros varietales de la actualidad. En Torretes surge la idea de establecer una colección monográfica de Iris en 2016, tras recibir en donación por parte de Christine Lomer y Nick Brown una réplica del llamado “Jardín de los Lirios” que ellos regentaban en Jalón (Alicante). A están donación inicial hubo que sumarle posteriormente varios cientos de cultivares procedentes de “Iris de Laymont” ofrecidos por Roland Deyoux, presidente de la Societé de Iris et plantes bulboses de Francia. A esto sumamos especies obtenidas por intercambio entre jardines botánicos, que son el origen del llamado Iridario Christine Lomer de Torretes en honor a nuestra primera donante y que mantenemos para disfrute de nuestros visitantes.Irises have been one of the most appreciated symbolic flowers since ancient history and appear irreversibly linked to Western culture. Within the genus Iris s.l., the so-called Bulbous and Beardeds, are the ones that have undergone the greatest cultivation and selection from the beginning of the 16th century to the present day. The latter are the ones that make up the majority of the collection of the Biological Research Station of Torretes – Botanical Garden of the University of Alicante. Probably Clusio and John Gerard were the real pioneers in the cultivation of Iris. From the 16th century until the end of the 18th century, domestication was based on the intrinsic variability and hybridisations of the eastern Mediterranean species such as Iris pallida and I. variegata, with the participation of I. germanica and I. florentina. This is how the first cultivars emerged, which increased their variability, range of colors, size and rigidity of the tepals, velvety touch, aromas, etc. with the introduction of Asian tetraploid species. All this multiplied the number of varieties exponentially to more than 70,000 varietal registers today. It was at Torretes that the idea of establishing a monographic collection of Irises arose in 2016, after receiving a donation from Christine Lomer and Nick Brown of a replica of the so-called “Jardín de los Lirios” that they ran in Jalón (Alicante). To this initial donation had to be added several hundred cultivars from “Iris of Laymont” offered by Roland Deyoux, president of the Société de Iris et plantes bulboses de France. To this we add species obtained by exchange between botanical gardens, which are the origin of the so-called “Iridario Christine Lomer” of Torretes in honour of our first donor, which we maintain for the enjoyment of our visitors

The Anti-Cholinesterase Potential of Fifteen Different Species of Narcissus L. (Amaryllidaceae) Collected in Spain

Narcissus L. is a renowned plant genus with a notable center of diversity and is primarily located in the Mediterranean region. These plants are widely recognized for their ornamental value, owing to the beauty of their flowers; nonetheless, they also hold pharmacological importance. In Europe, pharmaceutical companies usually use the bulbs of Narcissus pseudonarcissus cv. Carlton to extract galanthamine, which is one of the few medications approved by the FDA for the palliative treatment of mild-to-moderate symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of these plants in Alzheimer’s disease. The alkaloid extract from the leaves of different species of Narcissus was obtained by an acid-base extraction work-up -procedure. The biological potential of the samples was carried out by evaluating their ability to inhibit the enzymes acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase (AChE and BuChE, respectively). The species N. jacetanus exhibited the best inhibition values against AChE, with IC50 values of 0.75 ± 0.03 µg·mL−1, while N. jonquilla was the most active against BuChE, with IC50 values of 11.72 ± 1.15 µg·mL−1.Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnologia para el Desarrollo (CYTED, 223RT0140)

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research