Edible Flowers Used in Some Countries of the Mediterranean Basin: An Ethnobotanical Overview
Edible flowers are becoming an essential component of people’s nutrition in the Mediterranean basin. In the last decades, many researchers also have focused their attention on the nutritional composition of the edible flowers, as well as their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, including stud...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/23/3272 |
| _version_ | 1797462324010811392 |
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| author | Riccardo Motti Bruno Paura Alessia Cozzolino Bruna de Falco |
| author_facet | Riccardo Motti Bruno Paura Alessia Cozzolino Bruna de Falco |
| author_sort | Riccardo Motti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Edible flowers are becoming an essential component of people’s nutrition in the Mediterranean basin. In the last decades, many researchers also have focused their attention on the nutritional composition of the edible flowers, as well as their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, including studies on their safety issues. Despite the growing interest in the use of flowers in human nutrition, the ethnobotanical literature is lacking coverage of some important issues, particularly those which concern the use of flowers in the folk tradition. Only recently, a review regarding the contribution of 32 edible flowers to the Mediterranean diet was published. The aim of the present review is to document the plant lore regarding the wild and cultivated edible flowers consumed in the Mediterranean basin. Based on the 112 studies reviewed, we documented 251 taxa as being used in the Mediterranean basin as edible flowers. The plant species belong to 45 families and 141 genera. Asteraceae (54 taxa) is the most frequently cited family. <i>Sambucus nigra</i> L. is the most cited species. This study can be the basis for future research on the supposed bioactivity and toxicity of wild and cultivated flowers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:35:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-85327d6b16ef480aa499f98b6180a758 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:35:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-85327d6b16ef480aa499f98b6180a7582023-11-24T11:55:11ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472022-11-011123327210.3390/plants11233272Edible Flowers Used in Some Countries of the Mediterranean Basin: An Ethnobotanical OverviewRiccardo Motti0Bruno Paura1Alessia Cozzolino2Bruna de Falco3Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università, 100 Portici, 80055 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università, 100 Portici, 80055 Naples, ItalySpanish Bank of Algae, Marine Biotechnology Center, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Muelle de Taliarte s/n, 35214 Telde, SpainEdible flowers are becoming an essential component of people’s nutrition in the Mediterranean basin. In the last decades, many researchers also have focused their attention on the nutritional composition of the edible flowers, as well as their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, including studies on their safety issues. Despite the growing interest in the use of flowers in human nutrition, the ethnobotanical literature is lacking coverage of some important issues, particularly those which concern the use of flowers in the folk tradition. Only recently, a review regarding the contribution of 32 edible flowers to the Mediterranean diet was published. The aim of the present review is to document the plant lore regarding the wild and cultivated edible flowers consumed in the Mediterranean basin. Based on the 112 studies reviewed, we documented 251 taxa as being used in the Mediterranean basin as edible flowers. The plant species belong to 45 families and 141 genera. Asteraceae (54 taxa) is the most frequently cited family. <i>Sambucus nigra</i> L. is the most cited species. This study can be the basis for future research on the supposed bioactivity and toxicity of wild and cultivated flowers.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/23/3272food plantsnew foodsfood systemnutritiondietbioactive compounds |
| spellingShingle | Riccardo Motti Bruno Paura Alessia Cozzolino Bruna de Falco Edible Flowers Used in Some Countries of the Mediterranean Basin: An Ethnobotanical Overview Plants food plants new foods food system nutrition diet bioactive compounds |
| title | Edible Flowers Used in Some Countries of the Mediterranean Basin: An Ethnobotanical Overview |
| title_full | Edible Flowers Used in Some Countries of the Mediterranean Basin: An Ethnobotanical Overview |
| title_fullStr | Edible Flowers Used in Some Countries of the Mediterranean Basin: An Ethnobotanical Overview |
| title_full_unstemmed | Edible Flowers Used in Some Countries of the Mediterranean Basin: An Ethnobotanical Overview |
| title_short | Edible Flowers Used in Some Countries of the Mediterranean Basin: An Ethnobotanical Overview |
| title_sort | edible flowers used in some countries of the mediterranean basin an ethnobotanical overview |
| topic | food plants new foods food system nutrition diet bioactive compounds |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/23/3272 |
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