A study on certain herbal drugs recorded in Materia medica of Dioscorides

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1 A study on certain herbal drugs recorded in Materia medica of Dioscorides Sevgi ŞAR* Adnan ATAÇ** KAHYA*** INTRODUCTION Herbal Drugs that are used in therapy since antiquity, have gained importance at present again. Written manuscripts are the most important tools that enable the knowledge on medicinal plants to reach the modern age. One of the most beautiful manuscripts written in this area is the Materia Medica of Dioscorides (I. Century A.D.) which was used as the basic book in the Islamic World, in the West and in the Ottoman Empire. Usage in therapy and dosage of herbal, animal and mineral drugs and their substitutes are given in this book. Among the most frequently used drugs recorded in Materia Medica, 8 drugs have been chosen and studied in detail. In this presentation, certain herbal drugs selected from Materia Medica of Dioscorides will be evaluated concerning their current use. Their efficacy will be discussed by screening the related studies. MATERIAL and METHOD In this study, photographs of Materia Medica s Arabic copy, registered in Ahmed III. Library (No: 2147) in Topkapı Palace were taken. Arabic names given in this copy, dictionaries, books on pharmaceutical botany and pharmacognosy were used to identify the plants and their latin names. Then, usage of these plants by Dioscorides and effects of plants were analysed. Findings were compared with the information in today s pharmaceutical botanic and pharmacognosy books whether they really possess same effects or not. * University of Ankara, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tandoğan, Ankara / TURKEY ** Gülhane Military Medical Academy Etlik - Ankara / TURKEY *** University of Ankara, Faculty of Letters, Sıhhıye - Ankara / TURKEY

Acta - Congressus Historiae Pharmaciae 2001 Latin Name : Mentha pulegium : Labiatae

Sefakus Effective elements included in drugs : Volatile oil Effects given in the

Dioscorides : Diuretic, antihemostatic Fig. 1: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Arabic copy.

3: Mentha pulegium Latin Name : Cicer arietinum : Fabaceae Used part of Drug : Semen

drugs : Protein, mucilage Effects given in the Literature : - Used according to

2 Acta - Congressus Historiae Pharmaciae 2001 Latin Name : Mentha pulegium : Labiatae Used part of Drug : Herba Menthae pulegii Turkish Name : Yarpuz Arabic Name : Helil Sefakus Effective elements included in drugs : Volatile oil Effects given in the Literature : Tonic, stomachic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, expectoran Used according to Dioscorides : Diuretic, antihemostatic Fig. 1: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Arabic copy. Fig. 2: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Eng. copy. Fig. 3: Mentha pulegium Latin Name : Cicer arietinum : Fabaceae Used part of Drug : Semen Turkish Name : Nohut Arabic Name : Humus (Hummeyıd) Effective elements included in drugs : Protein, mucilage Effects given in the Literature : - Used according to Dioscorides : Diuretic, carminative, antihemostatic Fig. 4: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Arabic copy. Fig. 5: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Eng. copy.

Sevgi ŞAR, Adnan ATAÇ, KAHYA Latin Name : Verbascum : Scrophulariaceae Used part of Drug : Folium Verbasci Turkish Name :

Effects given in the Literature : Expectoran, sedative, diuretic Used according to Dioscorides : Sedative Fig.

7: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Eng. copy. Fig.

3 Sevgi ŞAR, Adnan ATAÇ, KAHYA Latin Name : Verbascum : Scrophulariaceae Used part of Drug : Folium Verbasci Turkish Name : Sığırkuyruğu Arabic Name : Lisan ül-sevr Effective elements included in drugs : Mucilage, bitter principle, resin, saponin Effects given in the Literature : Expectoran, sedative, diuretic Used according to Dioscorides : Sedative Fig. 6: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Arabic copy. Fig. 7: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Eng. copy. Fig. 8: Verbascum Scrophulariacea Latin Name : Datura stramonium : Solanaceae Used part of Drug : Folium Stramonii Turkish Name : Boruçiçeği Arabic Name : Mulu Effective elements included in drugs : Alkaloids Effects given in the Literature : Antiashmatic, antispazmodic, antiasthmatic Used according to Dioscorides : Gynaecologic

Acta - Congressus Historiae Pharmaciae 2001

of Drug : Opium Turkish Name : Afyon Arabic

drugs : Alkaloids, resin, mucilage, organic

Med. Arabic copy. Fig. 13: Dioscorides, Mat.

Latin Name : Origanum majorana : Labiatae

Kekik Arabic Name : Tragoriganos Effective

Effects given in the Literature : Tonic,

4 Acta - Congressus Historiae Pharmaciae 2001 Fig. 9: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Arabic copy. Fig. 10: Datura stramonium Latin Name : Papaver somniferum : Papaveraceae Used part of Drug : Opium Turkish Name : Afyon Arabic Name : Afyon Effective elements included in drugs : Alkaloids, resin, mucilage, organic acids, Effects given in the Literature : Analgesic, narcotic, astringent Used according to Dioscorides : Analgesic, narcotic, expectorant, antiseptique, digestive Fig. 11, 12: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Arabic copy. Fig. 13: Dioscorides, Mat. Fig. 14: Papaver somniferum Med. Eng. copy. Latin Name : Origanum majorana : Labiatae Used part of Drug : Herba Turkish Name : Kekik Arabic Name : Tragoriganos Effective elements included in drugs : Volatile oil Effects given in the Literature : Tonic, carminative, stomachic Used according to Dioscorides : Diuretic, expectoran

Sevgi ŞAR, Adnan ATAÇ, KAHYA Fig. 15: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Fig. 16 Dioscorides, Mat. Fig. 17, 18: Origanum majorana Arabic copy.

Latin Name : Mandragora autumnalis : Solanaceae Used part of Drug : Radix Mandragorae Turkish Name : Adamotu Arabic

aphrodisiaque Used according to Dioscorides: Analgesic, emmenagogue, eye diseases, sedative, antidot Fig.

5 Sevgi ŞAR, Adnan ATAÇ, KAHYA Fig. 15: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Fig. 16 Dioscorides, Mat. Fig. 17, 18: Origanum majorana Arabic copy. Med. Eng. copy. Latin Name : Mandragora autumnalis : Solanaceae Used part of Drug : Radix Mandragorae Turkish Name : Adamotu Arabic Name : Luffah Effective elements included in drugs : Alkoloids Effects given in the Literature: Analgesic, sedative, aphrodisiaque Used according to Dioscorides: Analgesic, emmenagogue, eye diseases, sedative, antidot Fig. 19: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Arabic copy. Fig. 20: Dioscorides, Mat. Fig. 21, 22: Mandragora autumnalis Med. Eng. copy. Latin Name : Galium verum : Rubiaceae Used part of Drug : Herba Galii Turkish Name : Sarı Yoğurt Otu Arabic Name : Galihon Effective elements included in drugs: Volatile oil, organic acids, glycoside Effects given in the Literature : Diuretic, cholagogue, sedative Used according to Dioscorides : Carminative, expectoran, antiseptique, diuretic

6 Acta - Congressus Historiae Pharmaciae 2001 Fig. 23: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Arabic copy. Fig. 24: Dioscorides, Mat. Med. Eng. copy. CONCLUSION As a result of this comparative study, it is obvious that Verbascum, Papaver somniferum, Mandragora autumnalis and Galium verum drugs have been used by Dioscorides in a similar way to present usage. Howewer Cicer arietinum was applied as diuretic, carminativa and antihemostatic by Dioscorides although the seeds of this plant is used only as food at present. Datura stramonium is known as antiasthmatic and antispasmodic. Dioscorides have used this drug for gynaecologic disorders also. This usage may be due to its spasmodic action. On the other hand Origanum majorana and Mentha pulegium have been used by Dioscorides for different purposes when compared to present usage. REFERENCES 1) Baytop, T. (1984), Therapy with Plants in Turkey, Sanal Press, Istanbul 2) Dolen, E. (1995), History of Pharmacy ( Course Notes ), University of Marmara, Istanbul. 3) Gunther, R.T. (1959), The Greek Herbal of Dioscorides. Hafner Publishing Co., New York. 6) Sar, S. (1982), Investigation on Folk Remedies of Central Anatolia Region From the Viewpoint of History of Pharmacy and Pharmacognosy, Ph. D. Thesis, Ankara. 7) Sehsuvaroğlu, B.N. (1970), History of Pharmacy, Husnu Tabiat Press, Istanbul. 8) Tanker, M., Tanker, N. (1990), Pharmacognosy II, Publications of Ankara University, Ankara. 9) Tanker, N., Koyuncu, M., Coskun, M. (1998), Pharmaceutical Botany, Publications of Ankara University, Ankara. 10) Tuglacı, P. (1978), Medical Dictionary ( English-Turkish ), Pars Press, Istanbul. 11) Trease, G. E. (1983), Pharmacognosy, Alden Press, Oxford. 12) Ahmet III. Library in Topkapı Palace, number 2147 (The Arabic copy of Materia Medica ) 13) Unver, A.S. (1944), About the Records Dioscorides Books in Istanbul, Osmanbey Press, Istanbul.

CLASSIFICATION OF CRUDE DRUGS. Unit 2 nd

CLASSIFICATION OF CRUDE DRUGS. Unit 2 nd CLASSIFICATION OF CRUDE DRUGS Unit 2 nd Classification of crude drugs Crude drug i.e Simple drug Crude drugs are plant, animal or their parts which after collection are subjected only to drying or making