From Traditional Medicine to the Laboratory: A Multidisciplinary Investigation on <i>Agrimonia eupatoria</i> L. Collected in Valle Imagna (BG, North of Italy)

A previous ethnobotanical investigation conducted in Valle Imagna (Northern Italy) highlighted the traditional use of <i>Agrimonia eupatoria</i> L. (Rosaceae) as a disinfectant and wound-healing agent. This use seemed to be linked to a local 18th century manuscript. This species was chos...

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Main Authors: Fabrizia Milani, Chiara Muratore, Sara Biella, Martina Bottoni, Elio Rossi, Lorenzo Colombo, Paola Sira Colombo, Piero Bruschi, Alessio Papini, Paolo Landini, Claudia Giuliani, Fabrizio Araniti, Bhakti Prinsi, Gelsomina Fico
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/3/340
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author Fabrizia Milani
Chiara Muratore
Sara Biella
Martina Bottoni
Elio Rossi
Lorenzo Colombo
Paola Sira Colombo
Piero Bruschi
Alessio Papini
Paolo Landini
Claudia Giuliani
Fabrizio Araniti
Bhakti Prinsi
Gelsomina Fico
author_facet Fabrizia Milani
Chiara Muratore
Sara Biella
Martina Bottoni
Elio Rossi
Lorenzo Colombo
Paola Sira Colombo
Piero Bruschi
Alessio Papini
Paolo Landini
Claudia Giuliani
Fabrizio Araniti
Bhakti Prinsi
Gelsomina Fico
author_sort Fabrizia Milani
collection DOAJ
description A previous ethnobotanical investigation conducted in Valle Imagna (Northern Italy) highlighted the traditional use of <i>Agrimonia eupatoria</i> L. (Rosaceae) as a disinfectant and wound-healing agent. This use seemed to be linked to a local 18th century manuscript. This species was chosen for a multidisciplinary investigation to validate or refute its traditional use in the valley. Samples from fresh leaves were observed under Scanning Electron and Light Microscopy. The phenolic profiles of an epicuticular aqueous extract of the whole leaves and of infusions and decoctions of leaves and aerial parts were analyzed through Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of fresh leaves were analyzed through Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction coupled with Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry. Growth inhibition and adhesion modulation were assessed on <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, and <i>S. warneri</i> by minimum inhibitory concentration and adhesion assays. Two trichome morphotypes were observed: a capitate with a one-celled rounded head and a capitate with a teo-celled cylindrical head. Both were responsible for producing terpenes, while the cylindrical capitates also produced polyphenols. Thirty-four phenolic compounds were characterized. Luteolin-7-O-glucoside, Catechin, and Epicatechin were common to all five extracts. The VOC profiles highlighted the dominance of (+)-α-Pinene. The infusions and the decoctions had a significant inhibitory activity on <i>E. coli</i>, and the extracts (specifically, the infusion of the leaves and both decoctions) also had a stimulating effect on the biofilm formation of <i>S. warneri</i>. These results already hold particular interest because of the strong connection they have to the traditional use of agrimony described in Valle Imagna.
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spelling doaj-art-cb46f70e87b34cf5babc2873f67f89892025-08-20T02:48:10ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-01-0114334010.3390/plants14030340From Traditional Medicine to the Laboratory: A Multidisciplinary Investigation on <i>Agrimonia eupatoria</i> L. Collected in Valle Imagna (BG, North of Italy)Fabrizia Milani0Chiara Muratore1Sara Biella2Martina Bottoni3Elio Rossi4Lorenzo Colombo5Paola Sira Colombo6Piero Bruschi7Alessio Papini8Paolo Landini9Claudia Giuliani10Fabrizio Araniti11Bhakti Prinsi12Gelsomina Fico13Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Environmental, Food and Forestry Science and Technology, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Biology, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via La Pira 4, 50121 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, ItalyA previous ethnobotanical investigation conducted in Valle Imagna (Northern Italy) highlighted the traditional use of <i>Agrimonia eupatoria</i> L. (Rosaceae) as a disinfectant and wound-healing agent. This use seemed to be linked to a local 18th century manuscript. This species was chosen for a multidisciplinary investigation to validate or refute its traditional use in the valley. Samples from fresh leaves were observed under Scanning Electron and Light Microscopy. The phenolic profiles of an epicuticular aqueous extract of the whole leaves and of infusions and decoctions of leaves and aerial parts were analyzed through Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of fresh leaves were analyzed through Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction coupled with Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry. Growth inhibition and adhesion modulation were assessed on <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, and <i>S. warneri</i> by minimum inhibitory concentration and adhesion assays. Two trichome morphotypes were observed: a capitate with a one-celled rounded head and a capitate with a teo-celled cylindrical head. Both were responsible for producing terpenes, while the cylindrical capitates also produced polyphenols. Thirty-four phenolic compounds were characterized. Luteolin-7-O-glucoside, Catechin, and Epicatechin were common to all five extracts. The VOC profiles highlighted the dominance of (+)-α-Pinene. The infusions and the decoctions had a significant inhibitory activity on <i>E. coli</i>, and the extracts (specifically, the infusion of the leaves and both decoctions) also had a stimulating effect on the biofilm formation of <i>S. warneri</i>. These results already hold particular interest because of the strong connection they have to the traditional use of agrimony described in Valle Imagna.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/3/340<i>Agrimonia eupatoria</i> L. subsp. <i>eupatoria</i>Valle Imagnawound healingglandular trichomesphenolic compoundsvolatile organic compounds
spellingShingle Fabrizia Milani
Chiara Muratore
Sara Biella
Martina Bottoni
Elio Rossi
Lorenzo Colombo
Paola Sira Colombo
Piero Bruschi
Alessio Papini
Paolo Landini
Claudia Giuliani
Fabrizio Araniti
Bhakti Prinsi
Gelsomina Fico
From Traditional Medicine to the Laboratory: A Multidisciplinary Investigation on <i>Agrimonia eupatoria</i> L. Collected in Valle Imagna (BG, North of Italy)
Plants
<i>Agrimonia eupatoria</i> L. subsp. <i>eupatoria</i>
Valle Imagna
wound healing
glandular trichomes
phenolic compounds
volatile organic compounds
title From Traditional Medicine to the Laboratory: A Multidisciplinary Investigation on <i>Agrimonia eupatoria</i> L. Collected in Valle Imagna (BG, North of Italy)
title_full From Traditional Medicine to the Laboratory: A Multidisciplinary Investigation on <i>Agrimonia eupatoria</i> L. Collected in Valle Imagna (BG, North of Italy)
title_fullStr From Traditional Medicine to the Laboratory: A Multidisciplinary Investigation on <i>Agrimonia eupatoria</i> L. Collected in Valle Imagna (BG, North of Italy)
title_full_unstemmed From Traditional Medicine to the Laboratory: A Multidisciplinary Investigation on <i>Agrimonia eupatoria</i> L. Collected in Valle Imagna (BG, North of Italy)
title_short From Traditional Medicine to the Laboratory: A Multidisciplinary Investigation on <i>Agrimonia eupatoria</i> L. Collected in Valle Imagna (BG, North of Italy)
title_sort from traditional medicine to the laboratory a multidisciplinary investigation on i agrimonia eupatoria i l collected in valle imagna bg north of italy
topic <i>Agrimonia eupatoria</i> L. subsp. <i>eupatoria</i>
Valle Imagna
wound healing
glandular trichomes
phenolic compounds
volatile organic compounds
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/3/340
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