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Table 2 Medical use of plants to heal malaria in Calabria, bio-pharmacological properties and current use in Calabrian folk medicine.

From: Folk medicine used to heal malaria in Calabria (southern Italy)

Plants used to heal malaria in Calabria

Current use in Calabrian folk medicine°

Pharmacological/biological proprierties

Used part

References

Family/Scientific Name

Local Name

References

Aim

Used part

References

   

Adoxaceae

        

Sambucus nigra L.

savucu

[26, 55]

Antirheumatic, arteriosclerosis, febrifugal, purgative, to treat swollen breast and legs, insect bites, toothache, colics, conjunctivitis

Fi, Fr, Le, Ba, Dfh

[49–51]

Diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic

Fl, Ba

[27]

Alliaceae

        

Allium cepa L.

cipuddra

[60]

To treat flu, cough and headache, antidiarrhoeic, vermifugue

Bl

[49]

Antibacterial, vermifugue, hypotensive, diuretic, hypoglycaemic, eupeptic

Bl

[27]

Allium sativum L.

agliu

[55, 60]

To treat insect bites, neuralgias, calluses, rheumatisms, hypotensive, tinea, scabies, tooth decay, cold, diarrhoea

Bl, Cl

[49]

Hypotensive, antibacterial, hypoglycaemic, lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory

Bl

[27]

Apocynaceae

        

Nerium oleander L.

leandru

[58]

Not Reported

----

----

Cardiotonic

Le

[28]

Asteraceae

        

Achillea millefolium L.

millefogghio

[58, 71]

Emmenagogue

Ap

[49]

Eupeptic, cholagogic, choleretic, antidyspeptic

Fl, Ap

[27]

Artemisia absinthium L.

erba janca

[26, 56, 58, 62, 65, 71]

Not Reported

----

----

Eupeptic, cholagogic, antidyspeptic

Fh, Le

[27]

Centaurea benedicta (L.) L.

centarva

[56, 62, 65, 68]

Not Reported

----

----

Eupeptic

Fh, Le

[28]

Centaurea centaurium L.

centu gruppa

[11]

Not Reported

----

----

Antioxidant

Ro

[29]

Matricaria chamomilla L.

gamumilla

[26]

Digestive, sedative, antispasmodic, antitussive

Fh

[49, 50]

Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal

Fh

[27]

Boraginaceae

        

Borago officinalis L.

erva pignola

[60]

Diaphoretic, reddenings, burns, sunburns, tussis, rheumatisms, refreshing, diuretic

Le, Ap

[49, 50]

Anti-inflammatory

Oi

[27]

Heliotropium europaeum L.

Not reported

[67]

Urinary inflammations

Ap

[49]

Antibacterial

Oi

[30]

Capparaceae

        

Capparis spinosa L.

chiappara

[62]

Not Reported

----

----

Antiviral

Bl

[31]

Cactaceae

        

Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill.**

ficuniano

[60]

Antispasmodic, antidiarrhoeic, diuretic, to treat bronchitis,

Fl, Fr

[49]

Anti-inflammatory

Cld

[32]

Cucurbitaceae

        

Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich.**

cucummeru

[57]

Antirheumatic

Fr

[51]

Cholagogic

Frj

[33]

Dryopteridaceae

        

Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott.

filici masculu

[58]

To treat sores provoked by severe burns

Le

[49]

Anti-helmintic, anti-amebic, antiparasitic, antiprotozoal

Ro

[34]

Euphorbiaceae

        

Ricinus communis L.

ricinu

[26]

Not Reported

----

----

Laxative

Se

[28]

Fabaceae

        

Lupinus albus L.

lupinu

[56, 58, 62, 68]

To treat dermatitis in cattle

Ep

[50]

Gingival anti-inflammatory

Se

[35]

Fagaceae

        

Quercus spp.

cerza

[55, 58]

Intestinal astringent, detoxifying, cicatrizing

Dried bark of young stems and galls

[50]

Anti-inflammatory, antidiarrhoeic

Ba

[27]

Gentianaceae

        

Erythraea centaurium (L.) Borkh.

brundulija

[11, 60]

Not Reported

----

----

Eupeptic, antidyspeptic

Le, Fl

[27]

Gentiana lutea L.

genziana

[55]

Not Reported

----

----

Antidyspeptic, eupeptic

Ro

[27]

Juglandaceae

        

Juglans regia L.*

nuci

[68]

Vermifuge, anti-diarrhoeic, stomachic, to remove calluses, against excessive feet perspiration

Hu, Le, Fr, Fle

[49–51]

Anti-inflammatory

Le

[27]

Hyacinthaceae

        

Urginea maritima (L.) Baker

cipuddazza

[56, 62]

Not Reported

----

----

Cardiotonic

Bl

[28]

Lamiaceae

        

Ajuga chamaepitys Guss.

campezio

[72]

Not Reported

----

----

anabolic, analgesic, anti-arthritic, antibacterial, antiestrogenic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, antileukemic, antimalarial antimycobacterial, antioxidant, antipyretic, cardiotonic, cytotoxic, hypoglycemic, vasorelaxing activity°°

Ep

[36]

Ballota nigra L.

marrobio nero

[63]

Not Reported

----

----

Antioxidant

Le

[44]

Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi

nipitella

[64, 69, 70]

To cure insect and snake bites, cicatrizing

Fle, Fh

[49, 50]

Antibacterial

Eoi

[45]

Hyssopus officinalis L.

issopu

[65]

Not Reported

----

----

Emmenagogue

Ro

[27]

Rosmarinus officinalis L.

rosimarinu

[64, 70, 71]

To ripen abscesses quickly, carminative, digestive, to speed up the recovery of sores and wounds

Fl, Le, Br

[49]

Eupeptic, antidyspeptic, emmenagogue, anti-inflammatory

Le, Fh, Eoi

[27]

Salvia officinalis L.

sarvia

[64, 70, 71]

Digestive, antiasthmatic, to speed up the recovery of sores and wounds, to treat tussis, to cure aphtas and stomatitis, to treat swollen testicles and related pains

Le, Fl, Dle

[49, 50]

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory

Le, Ap

[27]

Teucrium chamaedrys L.

cametriu

[11, 26, 55, 56, 62, 65]

Not Reported

----

----

Poisonous

----

[37]

Lythraceae

        

Punica granatum L.

granato

[58]

Haemostatic, vermifuge

Frb, Rob

[51]

Emmenagogue

Rob

[27]

Myrtaceae

        

Eucalyptus spp.

calipsi

[58, 68]

Antiseptic of the respiratory tract

Le

[50]

Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, expectorant

Le

[27]

Oleaceae

        

Olea europaea L.

alivu

[62, 68]

Cholagogic, hypotensive, astringent, suppurative, to treat small burns, tooth ache

Le, Rfr, Ba, Oi

[49–51]

Hypotensive, diuretic, spasmolytic, antipyretic

Le

[27]

Papaveraceae

        

Chelidonium majus L.

cucumaju

[56]

To treat warts, calluses, gastric pains

La, Le

[49]

Cholagogic, choleretic, hypotensive, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antidyspeptic

Ap

[27]

Fumaria officinalis L.

fumaria

[11]

Not Reported

----

----

Cholagogic, choleretic

Ap

[27]

Piperaceae

        

Piper nigrum L.

pipi nivuro

[60, 63, 64]

Not Reported

----

----

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrhoeal, eupeptic

Se

[46]

Poaceae

        

Arundo donax L.

canna

[62]

Haemostatic, cicatrising, to treat throat inflammations and bronchitis

Sa, Rh

[49, 50]

Hypotensive, spasmolytic

Rh

[38]

Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.

acropastu, addisa, gramigna

[11, 54]

Diuretic, to alleviate rheumatic pains, inflammations of the digestive and urogenital system

Ap, Rh, Se

[49–51]

Diuretic, anti-inflammatory

Ro

[27]

Rosaceae

        

Prunus spinosa L.

cucumele

[24, 69, 72, 73]

Not Reported

----

----

Anti-inflammatory

Fr

[27]

Rutaceae

        

Citrus bergamia Risso

bergamotto

[64]

Cicatrizing and antiseptic for wounds and chilblains, to cure anomalous vaginal secretions, as a contraceptive

Eoi

[49]

Antimicrobial

Ba

[47]

Citrus limonum Risso

limuni

[11, 56, 65, 74]

Stomachic, to treat cough, slimming agent, chilblains, migraine (after drunkenness), toothache, rheumatisms, oral hollow diseases

Frj, Fr,

[49]

Anti-inflammatory

Frj

[39]

Ruta spp.

ruta

[64, 70]

Anti-helmintic, to treat gastritis, abscesses, rheumatic pains, headache, intestinal inflammations and eye reddening

Ap, Le

[49, 50]

Antibacterial

Le

[48]

Salicaceae

        

Salix spp.

salici

[58]

Against fever and rheumatic pains

Ba

[50]

Antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic

Ba

[27]

Smilacaceae

        

Smilax aspera L.

strazza buttuni

[11]

Not Reported

----

----

Adaptogen

Ro

[27]

Solanaceae

        

Solanum dulcamara L.

durcamara

[11]

Not Reported

----

----

To treat dermatitis

St

[27]

Capsicum annuum L.

pipariaddru

[56, 60, 62, 75]

To rise blood flow to superficial tissues

Fr

[49]

Antidyspeptic, anti-inflammatory

Fr

[27]

Capsicum annuum L. Var. acuminatum Fing.

pipi

[55, 57, 60, 68, 76]

Revulsive

Fr

[49]

Antioxidant

Fr

[40]

Tamaricaceae

        

Tamarix spp.

vruca

[24, 65]

Not Reported

----

----

Antioxidant, antibacterial

Fl, Le

[41]

Urticaceae

        

Parietaria officinalis L.

erba 'i muru

[56, 62]

Diuretic, depurative, cholagogue, to treat bruises, haematoma, kidney stones, abscesses, skin inflammations, viper bite

Le, Ro, Ap, Ep

[49–51]

Diuretic, uricosuric

Ap

[42]

Urtica dioica L.

urdica

[62]

Antirheumatic, hepatoprotective, to treat haemorrhoids, renal troubles

Ap, Ro, Le, To

[49, 50]

Diuretic, anti-inflammatory

Ap, Ro

[27]

Urtica urens L.

urdica piccola

[63]

Not Reported

----

----

Diuretic, anti-inflammatory

Ap, Ro

[27]

Valerianaceae

        

Valeriana officinalis L.

malariana

[65]

Not Reported

----

----

Sedative

Ro

[27]

Verbenaceae

        

Verbena officinalis L.*

erba di la crucivia

[56, 57, 62]

Not Reported

----

----

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic

Le

[43]

  1. * Plant used like magic remedy too (see text); ** plants used like magic remedy only (see text); Used parts of plant: Ap aerial part; Ba bark; Bl bulb; Br branches; Bu bud; Cl cloves; Cld cladodes; Dle dry leaves; Dfh dry flower heads; Eoi essential oil; Ep entire plant; Fh flower heads; Fi feminine inflorescences; Fl flowers; Fle fresh leaves; Fr fruit; Frb fruit bark; Frj fruit juice; Hu husk; La latex; Le leaves; Oi oil; Rfr ripe fruit; Rh rhizome; Ro root; Rob root bark; Sa sap; Se seeds; St stem; To tops;
  2. ° Current use drawn from recent fieldworks
  3. °° The properties relating to certain species of the genus Ajuga