Rendiconti Seminario Facoltà Scienze Università Cagliari • Vol. 74, Fasc. 1-2 (2004)

First ethnopharmacobotanical survey about sardinian endemic species, Italy ANDREA MAXIA(*), LUCIA MAXIA(*)

Riassunto. In questo contributo gli autori presentano i risultati di una prima indagine etnofarmacobotanica che si è sviluppata negli ultimi vent’anni, focalizzando l’attenzione sulle piante endemiche utilizzate nella medicina popolare sarda. Da questo studio emerge che il 4% della flora endemica sarda è impiegata in campo terapeutico principalmente per patologie dell’epidermide e del sistema respiratorio. Key words: Endemic species, ethnopharmacobotany, Sardinia, Italy.

INTRODUCTION Thanks to its environmental peculiarities, Sardinia is a territory with one of the greatest floristic diversity in the Mediterranean area. The registered taxa are over 3000. Twelve percent of these are endemic, many of which are exclusive. Geographic isolation has determined a marked and strong genetic selection, and the development of a unique quota of vegetable species. This has led to an ethnological selection that has stimulated a number of research studies on the ethnobotanical traditions of the island. It has been observed that more than 300 vegetable species are used to cure both modest pathologies, such as diseases of the skin and of the upper respiratory system, and more important pathologic manifestations, such as anaemia, malaria, and depression.

METHODOLOGY The investigation was carried out with the guided interview survey method using cards pre-formulated according to the most recent indications of ethnopharmacological (*) Department of Botanical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Viale Sant’Ignazio da Laconi 13, 09123 Cagliari, Italy. Presentato il 25/06/2004.

46

ANDREA MAXIA, LUCIA MAXIA

investigation [1]. This methodological approach uses the purely qualitative data of classical ethnobotanical-systematic investigation on the indication of the vegetable resources used and the quantitative numerical consensus data. The research was carried out from 1982 to 2004 and involved a sample of persons of a mean age of 60 years. As regards the taxonomic position of the different species indicated, we followed the systematic framing based on visual recognition by the informer of fresh or herbarium specimens proposed by Pignatti [2] and by endemic cards [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14]. The records relating to the interviews carried out are deposited at the Department of Botanical Sciences of the University of Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy). Plants have been listed in alphabetical order by family, indicating for each species, species code number, scientific name, drug, preparation, therapeutic uses and main ailments treated.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION In this contribution the authors present the results of an ethnopharmacobotanical survey that developed over the past two decades, while they point out the different endemic plants used in Sardinian folk medicine. Fourteen species (4% of the entire endemic quota) have been identified (Table 1). Plants used belong to 11 families with a prevalence of Labiatae (3 species) and Scrophulariaceae (2 species). The most commonly used drugs are the leaves (12 records), followed by whole plant, roots and flowers. The most prevalent preparation modalities are infusion (14 records) and decoction (11 records). Table 2 lists all the therapeutic uses of the specific plants by anatomic apparatus. Plants are mainly used for the disorders of the epidermis (71.4%) and of the respiratory system (57.1%). From this table it can be deduced that the digestive system is the most affected with 12 different pathologies ascribed to it and 6 vegetable species used in their treatment; while 10 pathologies are ascribed to the respiratory system with 7 vegetable species used in its treatment; and 9 pathologies ascribed to the tegumental system with 10 species used in its treatment. As regards the individual uses, as many as 5 plants are used as vulnerary, diuretic and anti-rheumatic; 3 as anthelminthic, lenitive, to trait asthma and burns. In some cases detailed references on the use of Scrophularia trifoliata L. for Basedow’s disease and Vinca sardoa (Stearn) Pign. against tuberculosis emerge. In conclusion it can be stated that in Sardinia there is a folk pharmacopoeia that includes a large number of endemic species, and that the number of pathologies that are still treated with natural active ingredients is also large. The Island shows an exclusive patrimony either for the floristic wealth or for ethnobotanic traditions. Genetic selection owed to geographical isolation has determined the development of an unique endemic contingent, sometimes exclusive, selecting in Sardinian folk medicine a remarkable endemic pharmacopoeia.

Glechoma sardoa Bég. Stachys glutinosa L.

Thymus herba-barona Loisel.

7 8

9

Labiatae

Euphorbia cupanii Guss. ex Bertol.

R R &L

BR L

WP

WP FW & S WP L L & FW

F B WP S&L FH & L L LX FP FW

L

UP L Preparations

Compress Infuso-Maceration Decoction Cataplasm Direct application Decoction Cataplasm Cataplasm Infusion Burned Infusion Decoction Direct application Decoction Maceration in olive oil Maceration in oil and wine Infusion Infusion in acqua o latte Infusion Decoction Infusion Infusion or decoction Infusion Decoction Cataplasm Maceration Infusion Compress Decoction

Infusion

Therapeutic uses and main ailments treated Anti-emetic, eupeptic, anti-tubercular, anti-inflammatory and anti-hemorrhagic of the urinary system, galactofuge Articular anti-inflammatory Eupeptic e antitubercular Galactofuge, hypoglycaemic, astringent, hypotensive Vulnerary, anti-rheumatic, burns Haemostatic Diuretic, nervous sedative Anti-rheumatic Vulnerary Emmenagogue, vulnerary Insecticide (pediculus) Anthelmintic Antipyretic, cough sedative, nervous sedative Corn-plaster Anti-asthmatic Burns Anti-rheumatic, sciatica, dislocation Balsamic, anti-asthmatic Pectoral, vulnerary Antiseptic, intestinal antispasmodic Cholagogue, diuretic, hepato-protector, cold Cough sedative Cough sedative, expectorant, intestinal antispasmodic Eupeptic, cold, anthelminthic, gastralgia, antispasmodic of respiratory system, dyspeptic Antipyretic Anti-rheumatic Antipyretic, expectorant Cough sedative, intestinal antispasmodic Lenitive Sore throat, cold, bronchitis, tonic, anti-anaemic, antispasmodic of respiratory system, diuretic, anti-asthmatic Toothache Anthelminthic, tonic, disinfectant Decongestant of upper respiratory tract [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [22] [22] [20] [23] [15, 24] [25] [20] [20] [15] [15] [15] [15] [23, 26] [25, 26] [17] [19] [15, 22] [22, 23] [22] [22] [23] [17] [25]

Ref. [15, 16]

To chew [23] Decoction [23] Vapour of its infusion together [22, 23] with malva, rosemary and sage FP Powder Urticaria (refreshing) [19] Polygalaceae 10 Polygala sardoa Chodat R Decoction Fluidifyng [15] Ranunculaceae 11 Delphinium pictum Willd. L Ointment Parasiticide [20] Schrophulariaceae 12 Cymbalaria muelleri (Moris) Cheval. AP Cataplasm Haemorrhoids, chilblain, burns, lenitive [15] 13 Scrophularia trifoliata L. L Decoction Diuretic [16] Cataplasm with olive oil Vulnerary, anti-rheumatic [22] RH Cream Vulnerary [16] Compress Edema [17] Infusion Emetic, laxative, Basedow’ s disease and related heart disease, lenitive [26] Cataplasm Vulnerary, anti-rheumatic [22] Powder with honey R Anthelminthic [20] Direct application Emollient [20] Urticaceae 14 Urtica atrovirens Requien L Infusion Baldness, antirheumatic, emmenagogue, gastralgia [16, 24] Syrup Diuretic, vulnerary [24] WP Infusion Diuretic [20] SC, species code n°; UP, used parts; L, leaves; F, fruits; B, bulbs; WP, whole plant; S, stem; R, roots; FH, flower head; LX, latex; RH, rhizome; AP, aerial parts; FP, flowering plant; BR, branches, FW, flowers; Ref., references.

Hypericum hircinum L.

5

Aristolochia thyrrena Nardi & Arrigoni Santolina insularis (Genn.ex Fiori) Arrigoni

6

3 4

Aristolochiaceae Compositae

Arum pictum L.

Euphorbiaceae

2

Araceae

Species Vinca sardoa (Stern) Pign.

Guttiferae

SC 1

Family Apocynaceae

Table 1. Medicinal endemic plants used in Sardinia island. FIRST ETHNOPHARMACOBOTANICAL SURVEY ABOUT SARDINIAN ENDEMIC SPECIES ...

47

48

ANDREA MAXIA, LUCIA MAXIA

Table 2. Main therapeutic use/aliments treated by endemic species joined for each anatomic apparatus.

Cardio circulatory system

Digestive system

Epidermis

Nervous system

Respiratory system

Urogenital system

Osteo-articular system

Other

Main therapeutic use/ ailments treated Hypotensive Haemostatic Haemorrhoids Basedow’s disease and related heart diseases Astringent Colagogue Intestinal antispasmodic Hepato-protector Emetic Anthelminthic Anti-emetic Tonic Gastralgia Dyspepsia Eupeptic Laxative Burns Urticaria (refreshing) Lenitive Chilblain Corn-plaster Badness Antiseptic Emollient Vulnerary Sedative Cough sedative Asthma Expectorant Sore throat Balsamic Bronchitis Fluidifyng Cold Antispasmodic Pectoral Anti-inflammatory and anti-hemorrhagic Diuretic Articular anti-inflammatory Anti-rheumatic Sciatica Dislocation Galactofuge Emmenagogue Hypoglycaemic Anti-anaemic Insecticide (pediculs) Parasiticide Anti-pyretic Edema Toothache Anti-tubercular

Species code n° 1 2-14 12 13 1 8 8-9 8 13 4-9-13 1 9 9-14 9 1-9 13 2-6-12 9 9-12-13 12 5 14 8-9 13 2-3-7-13-14 2-4 4-9 5-6-9 9 9 6 9 10 8-9 9 7 1 2-8-9-13-14 1 2-6-9-13-14 6 6 1 3-14 1 9 4 11 4-9 13 9 1

FIRST ETHNOPHARMACOBOTANICAL SURVEY ABOUT SARDINIAN ENDEMIC SPECIES ...

49

REFERENCES 0[1] D.P. WALLER, Methods in Ethnopharmacology. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 38, 189-198 (1993). 0[2] S. PIGNATTI, Flora d’Italia. Edagricole Edizioni, Bologna (1982). 0[3] P.V. ARRIGONI, Le piante endemiche della Sardegna. Boll. Soc. Sar. Sci. Na., 18, 223-295 (1979). 0[4] P.V. ARRIGONI, Le piante endemiche della Sardegna. Boll. Soc. Sar. Sci. Na., 21, 333-372 (1982). 0[5] P.V. ARRIGONI, Le piante endemiche della Sardegna. Boll. Soc. Sar. Sci. Na., 22, 259-316 (1983). 0[6] P.V. ARRIGONI, Le piante endemiche della Sardegna. Boll. Soc. Sar. Sci. Na., 28, 311-316 (1991). 0[7] I. CAMARDA, Le piante endemiche della Sardegna. Boll. Soc. Sar. Sci. Na., 17, 227-241 (1978). 0[8] I. CAMARDA, Le piante endemiche della Sardegna. Boll. Soc. Sar. Sci. Na., 19, 255-267 (1980). 0[9] B. CORRIAS, Le piante endemiche della Sardegna. Boll. Soc. Sar. Sci. Na., 20, 275-286 (1981). [10] B. CORRIAS, Le piante endemiche della Sardegna. Boll. Soc. Sar. Sci. Na., 21, 411-425 (1982). [11] E. NARDI, P.V. ARRIGONI, Le piante endemiche della Sardegna. Boll. Soc. Sar. Sci. Na., 22, 347-356 (1983). [12] F. VALSECCHI, Le piante endemiche della Sardegna. Boll. Soc. Sar. Sci. Na., 16, 295-313 (1987). [13] F. VASECCHI, Le piante endemiche della Sardegna. Boll. Soc. Sar. Sci. Na., 19, 323-342 (1980). [14] F. VALSECCHI, Le piante endemiche della Sardegna. Boll. Soc. Sar. Sci. Na., 21, 427-441 (1982). [15] M. BALLERO, R. FLORIS, F. POLI, Le piante utilizzate nella medicina popolare nel territorio di Laconi (Sardegna centrale). Boll. Soc. Sarda Sci Nat., 31, 207-229 (1997). [16] M.C. LOI, L. MAXIA, A. MAXIA, Ethnobotanical comparison between the villages of Escolca and Lotzorai (Sardinia, Italy). Journal of spices and medicinal plants, in press (2004). [17] M. BALLERO, R. FLORIS, G. SACCHETTI, F. POLI, Ricerche etnobotaniche nel comune di Ussassai (Sardegna centro-orientale). Atti Soc. Tosc. Sci. nat., Mem., Serie B., 105, 83-87 (1998). [18] M. BALLERO, F. POLI, Plants used in folk medicine of Monteleone (northern Sardinia). Fitoterapia, 69 (1), 52-64 (1998). [19] M. BALLERO, G. SACCHETTI, F. POLI, Plants in folk medicine in the territory of Perdasdefogu (Central Sardinia, Italy). Allionia, 35, 157-164 (1997). [20] M. BALLERO, I. FRESU, Le piante di uso officinale nella Barbagia di Seui (Sardegna centrale). Fitoterapia, 64 (2), 141-150 (1993). [21] M. BALLERO, A. BRUNI, G. SACCHETTI, F. POLI, Le piante utilizzate nella medicina popolare nel comune di Tempio Pausania (Sardegna settentrionale). Acta Phytotherapeutica, 2, 2329 (1997). [22] A. BRUNI, F. POLI, M. BALLERO, Quantitative ethnopharmacological study of the Campidano Valley and Urzulei district, Sardinia, Italy. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 57, 97-124 (1997).

50

ANDREA MAXIA, LUCIA MAXIA

[23] M. BALLERO, A. BRUNI, G. SACCHETTI, L. MOSSA, F. POLI, Indagine etnofarmacobotanica del territorio di Arzana (Sardegna orientale). Ann. Bot., 52 (11), 489-500 (1994). [24] M. BALLERO, I. FRESU, Piante officinali impiegate in fitoterapia nel terrritorio del Marganai (Sardegna sud occidentale). Fitoterapia, 62 (6), 524-531 (1991). [25] M.C. LOI, L. FRAILIS, A. MAXIA, Le piante utilizzate nella medicina popolare nel territorio di Gesturi (Sardegna centro meridionale). Atti Soc. Tosc. Sci. Nat., Mem., Serie B., 109, 167176 (2002). [26] M.C. LOI, F. POLI, G. SACCHETTI, M.B. SELENU, M. BALLERO, Ethnopharmacology of Ogliastra (Villagrande Strisaili, Sardinia, Italy). Fitoterapia, 75 (3-4), 277-295 (2004).