Plants species in the folk medicine of Montecorvino Rovella (inland Campania, Italy)

An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the territory of Montecorvino Rovella (MR), inland Campania, Italy. Information on traditional uses of 95 botanical taxa was collected; more than half of which are used to treat a wide range of diseases, ranging from pains of different origins, to skin problems, and diseases of the respiratory system. For each medicinal species, data were collected including the vernacular names, preparation, plant part, and therapeutic use. Twenty-four out of the 57 medicinal plants listed have a therapeutic use not previously reported in Campania and neighbouring regions. Plant uses by Montecorvino inhabitants are compared with those described in medical and botanical literature by Campanian authors from the last three centuries. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.