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Comparing Wild and Cultivated Arnica montana L. from the Italian Alps to Explore the Possibility of Sustainable Production Using Local Seeds

Author

Listed:
  • Valeria Leoni

    (Centre of Applied Studies for the Sustainable Management and Protection of Mountain Areas (CRC Ge.S.Di.Mont.), University of Milan, Via Morino 8, 25048 Edolo, Italy)

  • Gigliola Borgonovo

    (Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DEFENS), University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Luca Giupponi

    (Centre of Applied Studies for the Sustainable Management and Protection of Mountain Areas (CRC Ge.S.Di.Mont.), University of Milan, Via Morino 8, 25048 Edolo, Italy
    Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—Production, Landscape and Agroenergy (DISAA), University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Angela Bassoli

    (Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DEFENS), University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Davide Pedrali

    (Centre of Applied Studies for the Sustainable Management and Protection of Mountain Areas (CRC Ge.S.Di.Mont.), University of Milan, Via Morino 8, 25048 Edolo, Italy)

  • Marco Zuccolo

    (Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Alessia Rodari

    (Centre of Applied Studies for the Sustainable Management and Protection of Mountain Areas (CRC Ge.S.Di.Mont.), University of Milan, Via Morino 8, 25048 Edolo, Italy)

  • Annamaria Giorgi

    (Centre of Applied Studies for the Sustainable Management and Protection of Mountain Areas (CRC Ge.S.Di.Mont.), University of Milan, Via Morino 8, 25048 Edolo, Italy
    Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—Production, Landscape and Agroenergy (DISAA), University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

Arnica montana L. is an alpine herbaceous plant typical of nutrient-poor grasslands. It is a popular medicinal plant for the treatment of bruises, cuts and pain, and it is also an endangered alpine species. For this reason, the sustainable production of inflorescences instead of the spontaneous collection of plant material, coupled with the use of local ecotypes, should be incentivized. Inflorescences of a wild accession of arnica were compared versus an accession cultivated in Valsaviore (Italian Alps) in terms of seed germination performance and phytochemical characterization by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. The germination percentage was high (>75%) for both cultivated and wild seeds. The NMR spectra of arnica extracts were very similar and confirmed the presence of sesquiterpene compounds, esters of helenaline and dehydroelenaline. A significant high percentage of acetic acid methyl ester (38 μg/g) and the 2-methyl methyl ester of propanoic acid (31 μg/g) were found in cultivated arnica and were probably associated with fermentation processes linked to the traditional method of air drying on a trellis. The possibility of growing A. montana and a controlled local first transformation are important to incentivize local, good quality and sustainable production. The growing of seedlings “in loco” could be of great interest both for farmers and for natural conservation purposes.

Suggested Citation

  • Valeria Leoni & Gigliola Borgonovo & Luca Giupponi & Angela Bassoli & Davide Pedrali & Marco Zuccolo & Alessia Rodari & Annamaria Giorgi, 2021. "Comparing Wild and Cultivated Arnica montana L. from the Italian Alps to Explore the Possibility of Sustainable Production Using Local Seeds," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3382-:d:519993
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Luca Giupponi & Valeria Leoni, 2020. "VegeT: An Easy Tool to Classify and Facilitate the Management of Seminatural Grasslands and Dynamically Connected Vegetation of the Alps," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Luca Giupponi & Valeria Leoni, 2020. "Alpine Pioneer Plants in Soil Bioengineering for Slope Stabilization and Restoration: Results of a Preliminary Analysis of Seed Germination and Future Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-15, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Katarzyna Olesińska & Danuta Sugier & Zdzisław Kaczmarski, 2021. "Yield and Chemical Composition of Raw Material from Meadow Arnica ( Arnica chamissonis Less.) Depending on Soil Conditions and Nitrogen Fertilization," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-17, August.

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