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Article

Perennial Common Basilisk (Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl.): Ecological Aspects, Forage Value, and Assessment of Its Effects on Chemical and Microbiological Properties of Raw Milk and Ricotta—A Case Study in Sicily (Italy)

by
Giuseppe Di Miceli
1,
Marialetizia Ponte
1,
Nicoletta Lala
1,*,
Davide Farruggia
1,
Mario Licata
1,
Adriana Bonanno
1,
Antonino Di Grigoli
1,
Giuliana Garofalo
1,
Luca Settanni
1,
Claudia Lino
2,
David Bongiorno
2,
Giuseppe Avellone
2 and
Gianniantonio Domina
1
1
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, Building 4, 90128 Palermo, Italy
2
Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi, 90123 Palermo, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agriculture 2026, 16(1), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16010066 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 19 November 2025 / Revised: 23 December 2025 / Accepted: 25 December 2025 / Published: 27 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Farm Animal Production)
Versions Notes

Abstract

This paper illustrates the results of a case study conducted in the Madonie Regional Park (Sicily, Italy) focusing on Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl. This species spontaneously grows in the area and plays an important role as forage plant, contributing to the production of traditional dairy products. A multidisciplinary approach was adopted to investigate the ecological characteristics and the chemical composition of the species, and to assess its effects on chemical and microbiological properties of raw milk and ricotta from grazing animals. Indices of bioindication were used to analyse the ecological features of the study area, and a change in the landscape has been observed. Samples of P. ferulacea were collected in the wild in specific plot areas. Chemical analyses were carried out to determine the main nutritional parameters of the species. Chemical and microbiological analyses were performed on raw milk and ricotta samples to evaluate their nutritional composition and quantify the main microbial groups. Raw milk showed no significant microbial differences between samples, with low levels of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and some Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia coli (~102 CFU/mL), while pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp., as well as spoilage yeasts were undetectable. Ricotta cheese showed a high hygienic profile, with LAB around 104 CFU/g and no spoilage or pathogenic microbes detected, including STEC-negative E. coli. Additionally, SPME-GC/MS and LC/MS analyses were carried out to identify the phenolic compounds of the species with those of dairy products and showed how the contribution of P. ferulacea to ricotta was effective for the aromatic profile and negligible for the polyphenolic component.
Keywords: bioindication indices; dairy products; ecology; forage quality; Madonie Regional Park; nutrient content; volatile compounds bioindication indices; dairy products; ecology; forage quality; Madonie Regional Park; nutrient content; volatile compounds

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MDPI and ACS Style

Di Miceli, G.; Ponte, M.; Lala, N.; Farruggia, D.; Licata, M.; Bonanno, A.; Di Grigoli, A.; Garofalo, G.; Settanni, L.; Lino, C.; et al. Perennial Common Basilisk (Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl.): Ecological Aspects, Forage Value, and Assessment of Its Effects on Chemical and Microbiological Properties of Raw Milk and Ricotta—A Case Study in Sicily (Italy). Agriculture 2026, 16, 66. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16010066

AMA Style

Di Miceli G, Ponte M, Lala N, Farruggia D, Licata M, Bonanno A, Di Grigoli A, Garofalo G, Settanni L, Lino C, et al. Perennial Common Basilisk (Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl.): Ecological Aspects, Forage Value, and Assessment of Its Effects on Chemical and Microbiological Properties of Raw Milk and Ricotta—A Case Study in Sicily (Italy). Agriculture. 2026; 16(1):66. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16010066

Chicago/Turabian Style

Di Miceli, Giuseppe, Marialetizia Ponte, Nicoletta Lala, Davide Farruggia, Mario Licata, Adriana Bonanno, Antonino Di Grigoli, Giuliana Garofalo, Luca Settanni, Claudia Lino, and et al. 2026. "Perennial Common Basilisk (Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl.): Ecological Aspects, Forage Value, and Assessment of Its Effects on Chemical and Microbiological Properties of Raw Milk and Ricotta—A Case Study in Sicily (Italy)" Agriculture 16, no. 1: 66. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16010066

APA Style

Di Miceli, G., Ponte, M., Lala, N., Farruggia, D., Licata, M., Bonanno, A., Di Grigoli, A., Garofalo, G., Settanni, L., Lino, C., Bongiorno, D., Avellone, G., & Domina, G. (2026). Perennial Common Basilisk (Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl.): Ecological Aspects, Forage Value, and Assessment of Its Effects on Chemical and Microbiological Properties of Raw Milk and Ricotta—A Case Study in Sicily (Italy). Agriculture, 16(1), 66. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16010066

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