From Primary Data to Ethnopharmacological Investigations on IAchillea erba-rotta/I subsp. Imoschata/I

• Published in: Plants (Basel) 2024-02, Vol.13 (4)
• Main Authors: Bottoni, Martina, Martinelli, Giulia, Maranta, Nicole, Sabato, Emanuela, Milani, Fabrizia, Colombo, Lorenzo, Colombo, Paola Sira, Piazza, Stefano, Sangiovanni, Enrico, Giuliani, Claudia, Bruschi, Piero, Vistoli, Giulio, Dell’Agli, Mario, Fico, Gelsomina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Chemical properties; Digestive system diseases; Ethnopharmacology; Folk medicine; Medicinal plants; Medicine, Primitive; Pharmacology, Experimental
• ISSN: 2223-7747; 2223-7747
• DOI: 10.3390/plants13040539

(1) Background: Within the framework of the European Interreg Italy–Switzerland B-ICE & Heritage project (2018–2022), this study originated from a three-year ethnobotanical survey in Valmalenco (Sondrio, Italy). Following a preliminary work published by our group, this research further explored the folk therapeutic use of Achillea erba-rotta subsp. moschata (Wulfen) I.Richardson (Asteraceae) for dyspepsia disorders, specifically its anti-inflammatory potential at a gastrointestinal level. (2) Methods: Semi-structured interviews were performed. The bitter taste was investigated through molecular docking software (PLANTS, GOLD), while the anti-inflammatory activity of the hydroethanolic extract, infusion, and decoction was evaluated based on the release of IL-8 and IL-6 after treatment with TNFα or Helicobacter pylori. The minimum inhibitory concentration and bacterial adhesion on the gastric epithelium were evaluated. (3) Results: In total, 401 respondents were interviewed. Molecular docking highlighted di-caffeoylquinic acids as the main compounds responsible for the interaction with bitter taste receptors. The moderate inhibition of IL-6 and IL-8 release was recorded, while, in the co-culture with H. pylori, stronger anti-inflammatory potential was expressed (29–45 μg/mL). The concentration-dependent inhibition of H. pylori growth was recorded (MIC = 100 μg/mL), with a significant anti-adhesive effect. (4) Conclusions: Confirming the folk tradition, the study emphasizes the species’ potentiality for dyspepsia disorders. Future studies are needed to identify the components mostly responsible for the biological effects.