SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Ethnopharmacology
Ethnopharmacology and ecosystem applications of woody plant species in the Southern European Alps: A systematic review
Matteo Orlando 1
Parham Joolaei 1
Giovanna FERRENTINO 2
Maria Concetta Tenuta 1
Stefan Zerbe 1
1. Libera Universita di Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
2. Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
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Abstract
Alpine woody plants are deeply embedded in local healthcare practices, where multiple organs-especially leaves, bark, fruits, buds, and flowers, are used to manage respiratory, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, dermatological, metabolic, cardiovascular, and urogenital disorders. This systematic review aimed to synthesize ethnopharmacological uses, summarize phytochemical and pharmacological evidence, and contextualize ecosystem functions of woody plant species native to the European Alps. Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed for peer-reviewed studies up to May 2025 and harmonized data for 54 woody species (28 trees, 26 shrubs, 25 families) identified from 281 eligible sources. Extracted information included ecology, harvested organs, phytochemical classes, and experimentally validated bioactivities, which were mapped to clinical indications using the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2). Phytochemical profiles were dominated by phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and saponins, underpinning convergent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, vasoprotective, and cytotoxic activities demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. The same species also contribute to key ecosystem functions, including soil stabilization, hydrological regulation, carbon sequestration, and the maintenance of biocultural landscapes and cultural identity. However, climate-driven range shifts, land-use intensification, commercial overharvesting, and the scarcity of robust pharmacokinetic and toxicological data limit both resource sustainability and clinical translation. This review identifies high-priority taxa and knowledge gaps and proposes an integrated research agenda that combines standardized green extraction, high-resolution metabolomics, longitudinal ecological monitoring, participatory documentation of traditional knowledge, and equitable benefit-sharing. Such an approach is essential to translate the biocultural legacy of Alpine woody flora into resilient phytotherapeutic options and sustainable mountain ecosystem stewardship.
Summary
Keywords
Alpine plants, Cultural identity, Ethnopharmacology, medicinal trees and shrubs, phytochemistry
Received
21 October 2025
Accepted
26 January 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Orlando, Joolaei, FERRENTINO, Tenuta and Zerbe. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Giovanna FERRENTINO
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.