Phytochemical Analysis of the Aerial Parts of Campanula pelviformis Lam. (Campanulaceae): Documenting the Dietary Value of a Local Endemic Plant of Crete (Greece) Traditionally Used as Wild Edible Green

Abstract

Native wild edible greens usually include plants with widespread geographical ranges and represent a long tradition associated with well-documented health effects, especially in the frame of the Mediterranean diet. Although consuming local endemic and range-restricted plants as wild edible greens is rare, in some areas of Crete this is a long ethnobotanical tradition. The present study is focused on the phytochemical and nutritional element analyses of the edible parts of the wild-growing green Campanula pelviformis. To date, nine secondary metabolites have been isolated: lobetyolin (1), calaliukiuenoside (2), demethylsyrrigin (3), wahlenoside A (4), chlorogenic acid methyl (5) and butyl ester (6), nicotiflorin (7), rutin (8) and corchoionoside A (9). This first-time research on the phytochemical composition of this local endemic plant of Crete is a basic step in attempts to document its nutritional value, also allowing an exploration of its beneficial properties. The nutritional value of the Mediterranean diet owes much to the inclusion of native edible wild plants, which are abundant in mineral elements and bioactive compounds known to promote human health. Among these plants, the local Cretan endemic species C. pelviformis stands out as a rare and valuable source of wild edibles with traditional dietary significance in eastern Crete. This plant’s rich content of mineral elements and bioactive compounds makes it an intriguing subject for further research into the potential health benefits of wild plant consumption.

GIS-Facilitated Germination of Stored Seeds from Five Wild-Growing Populations of Campanula pelviformis Lam. and Fertilization Effects on Growth, Nutrients, Phenol Content and Antioxidant Potential

“…During this period, the increased soil moisture due to high amount of precipitation is probably expected to create the ideal conditions for the germination of seeds (Supplementary Material Table S1). Furthermore, this timing of seed germination probably allows the growth of seedlings through winter to develop into fresh rosettes of C. pelviformis by February when local inhabitants of Crete traditionally collect this wild edible green from the wild [6].…”

“…The "tsigarolachana" can be served in everyday life with other basic food ingredients (fish, other seafood, or meat), can be cooked in casserole with all the latter and/or with eggs and other common vegetables. Ultimately, "tsigarolachana" is also the basic filling (together with other wild greens) for pot pies with handmade dough [6]. The daily use and consumption of wild 'chórta' (or hórta) including C. pelviformis is linked with the traditional Mediterranean (Cretan) diet, which is associated with high adult life expectancy (longest in the world) and decreased rates of coronary heart disease, certain types of cancer, and other chronic diseases [47].…”

“…Furthermore, Campanula pelviformis Lam. has been reported as a wild green traditionally consumed as food in the eastern part of Crete [5,6]. In fact, the phytochemical profile of C. pelviformis has been recently analyzed, and several isolated compounds have been found to possess pharmaceutical properties, thus rendering it as an emerging medicinal plant [6].…”

“…has been reported as a wild green traditionally consumed as food in the eastern part of Crete [5,6]. In fact, the phytochemical profile of C. pelviformis has been recently analyzed, and several isolated compounds have been found to possess pharmaceutical properties, thus rendering it as an emerging medicinal plant [6]. These findings render C. pelviformis as a trustworthy source of diverse phytonutrients and bioactive compounds [6].…”

“…Species-wise, this study is focused on Campanula pelviformis, a vulnerable [35] and range-restricted local endemic plant of eastern Crete, which is protected by the Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981, although it is traditionally consumed as a wild edible green [6], thus meriting conservation concern. Given that many species from genus Campanula are already used for ornamental and ethnobotanical purposes [1,3,4,6], C. pelviformis also takes advantage of its sustainable exploitation, since high demand of such unique resources may lead to excessive collection in the wild, risking the degradation of genetic pools and local biodiversity. Context-wise, this study was designed to bridge extant research gaps regarding the studied focal species.…”