This chapter deals the importance of edible wild plants as regards not only the ethnobotanical uses but also their value in human nutrition. Particularly in the past, these species played an important supporting role in daily nutrition and provided a balanced intake of oligoelements, vitamins and minerals. However, aspects that have attracted recent interest are the nutraceutical properties of these species and the health benefits that derive from their habitual consumption. Data on the use of 60 species were collected through informed consent ad hoc semi-structured interviews with local informants. Furthermore, the nutraceutical analysis centered on some of the commonly used wild edible plants demonstrates how these species contain many of the so-called minor nutrients, such as antioxidant vitamins and polyphenols
The Role of Edible Wild Plants in Human Nutrition: Ethnobotanical Uses and Nutritional Properties. The Case Study of Umbria, Central Italy
MAURIZI, Angela;RANFA, Aldo
2015
Abstract
This chapter deals the importance of edible wild plants as regards not only the ethnobotanical uses but also their value in human nutrition. Particularly in the past, these species played an important supporting role in daily nutrition and provided a balanced intake of oligoelements, vitamins and minerals. However, aspects that have attracted recent interest are the nutraceutical properties of these species and the health benefits that derive from their habitual consumption. Data on the use of 60 species were collected through informed consent ad hoc semi-structured interviews with local informants. Furthermore, the nutraceutical analysis centered on some of the commonly used wild edible plants demonstrates how these species contain many of the so-called minor nutrients, such as antioxidant vitamins and polyphenolsI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
