A review about Pastinaca sativa L. ssp. sylvestris [Mill.] secondary metabolite diversity and inducibility

Pastinaca sativa L. ssp. sylvestris [Mill.] is a biennial, vegetable plant, whose root is tuberous and pivoting and the stem is tall and branched. The leaves are feather-sectate and the flowers are yellow, umbrella-shaped, compound. The fruits are dicariopse with winged edges. The plant is used in food and as a natural remedy in folk medicine. P. sativa is considered a very nutritious plant, important also due to its medicinal effects. The sweet taste and pleasant aroma made this vegetable indispensable in the traditional cuisine: either eaten in raw salads, or steamed, or it gives consistency and flavor to soups and broths. The roots and leaves are used for phytotherapeutic purposes.