Cornara Laura, La Rocca Arianna, Terrizzano Luca, Dente Fulvio, Mariotti Mauro Giorgio
Polo Botanico Hanbury, DISTAV, University of Genova, Corso Dogali 1 M, Genova 16136, Italy.
Polo Botanico Hanbury, DISTAV, University of Genova, Corso Dogali 1 M, Genova 16136, Italy.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2014 Aug 8;155(1):463-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.05.046. Epub 2014 Jun 6.
The ethnobotany of European alpine regions is much diversified and scarcely investigated. These regions retain a well-developed heritage culture and botanical traditional knowledge, favored by the isolated montane location. We carried out a study of therapeutic and traditional uses of native plants of a poorly explored area of the Western Italian Alps in the Ligurian region (NW Italy). The area has been the object of human activities since prehistoric ages, and an obliged crossroad for people moving across Provence, Liguria and Piemonte.
The investigation was conducted in the upper Tanarello and Arroscia Valleys by using semi-structured, open interviews. Data were summarized by different indices--Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Cultural Value Index (CV), Ethnobotanicity Index (EI) and Informant Consensus Factor (Fic).
A group of 65 informants were interviewed, yielding an inventory of 199 botanical taxa from 64 families, and a total of 2661 citations. A total of 13 categories of use were found, of which the most frequent ones were medicinal and food. In addition, 12 main medicinal subcategories were recorded. Botanicals were mainly used to treat digestive system, respiratory system, and the skin. A relevant role was played by plants with digestive and remineralizing properties. On the basis of quantitative analysis (RFC and CV indices) among the 30 most relevant plants are included rare and/or protected species, such as Achillea ligustica, Arnica montana, Gentiana ligustica, Gentiana lutea, and Achillea erba-rotta.
An exhaustive prospect of the ethnobotanical knowledge in North-Western Ligurian Alps has been achieved through the recording of a large number of data. About 50% of the recorded uses have survived in the area. A great traditional importance is retained by species such as Artemisia absinthium, Lavandula angustifolia and Arnica montana which were formerly cultivated and marketed for their therapeutic virtues. A substantial role is also attributable to the tree species Pinus sp. pl., Castanea sativa and Olea europaea that have been exploited as sources of wood/food since long ago. These plants are a natural resource deserving reevaluation among local agriculture and commercial activities.
欧洲高山地区的民族植物学具有丰富的多样性，但研究较少。这些地区保留了发达的传统文化和植物学传统知识，山区的孤立位置对此颇为有利。我们对意大利利古里亚地区（意大利西北部）西阿尔卑斯山一个探索较少区域的本土植物的治疗用途和传统用途进行了研究。该地区自史前时代起就是人类活动的场所，也是人们往来普罗旺斯、利古里亚和皮埃蒙特的必经之路。
通过半结构化的开放式访谈，在塔纳雷洛河上游和阿罗西亚山谷开展调查。数据通过不同指数进行汇总——引用相对频率（RFC）、文化价值指数（CV）、民族植物学指数（EI）和 informant 共识因子（Fic）。
共访谈了65位 informant，得到了一份包含64个科199种植物分类群的清单，以及总计2661条引用。共发现13种用途类别，其中最常见的是药用和食用。此外，记录了12个主要的药用子类别。植物主要用于治疗消化系统、呼吸系统和皮肤疾病。具有消化和补充矿物质特性的植物发挥了重要作用。基于定量分析（RFC和CV指数），30种最相关的植物中包括珍稀和/或受保护物种，如利古里亚蓍、山金车、利古里亚龙胆、黄龙胆和草本罗勒蓍。
通过记录大量数据，对利古里亚阿尔卑斯山西北部的民族植物学知识有了详尽的了解。记录的用途中约50%在该地区得以留存。苦艾、狭叶薰衣草和山金车等物种曾因其治疗功效而被种植和销售，至今仍具有重要的传统意义。松属植物、欧洲栗和油橄榄等树种长期以来被用作木材/食物来源，也发挥了重要作用。这些植物是一种自然资源，值得在当地农业和商业活动中重新评估。
