Application of Herbal Exudates in Traditional Persian Medicine

Galen.GMJ. 2012;1(2):78-83 2010;6(4):122-127 www.gmj.ir

Received: 9 Dec 2012 Revised: 28 Dec 2012 Accepted: 30 Dec 2012

Mohammad M. Zarshenas1,2, Atefeh Arabzadeh3, Mehdi Ajdari Tafti3, Gholamreza Kordafshari4, Arman Zargaran1,2 , Abdolali Mohagheghzadeh2,3

1Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 2Research Office for the History of Persian Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 3Department of Traditional Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 4Department of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Traditional Persian medical and pharmaceutical manuscripts authored by medieval Persian scholars offer not only accumulation of traditional medical systems knowledge, but also contain collection of ingenious studies that provide vast information in the field of medicinal herbs application. One of the most cited derivative compositions of medicinal herbs are exudates. A large group of these compounds along with their different clinical and pharmacological applications can be found in the manuscripts of Persian medicine. Methods and Materials: This work is a literature research on some main traditional manuscripts of Persian medicine, including the book of Alhavi, Canon of Medicine, the book of Tohfat ol Moemenin, and Makhzan ol advieh. Also, current investigations on related subjects were considered by searching in Medline/PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Results: According to the investigated manuscripts, thirty-one substances, incorporating plant exudates relating to sixteen plant families, were used to combat simple to sophisticated ailments. Mostly exudates were derived from herbs of family, Asteraceae, Apiaceae with six and five citations, respectively. Other than the reported clinical applications for herbs, which were defined as a source for gummy compositions, numerous pharmacological approaches were also remarked for the secreted gums. Conclusion: Application of ethnobotanical findings on simple remedies offers rational criteria to evaluate the potentialArchive therapeutic properties of medicinal of plants. [SIDGMJ. 2012;1(2):78-83] Keywords: Gum; Herbal exudates; Persia; Traditional medicine

Introduction plicated disorders.(2) Despite the emergence of new chemical drugs in contemporary medi- ince the beginning of civilization, me- cine, the application of herbal remedies has dicinal herbs have been widely applied not yet been declined.(3) On the other hand, S (1) for the human ailments. Well before herbs as active ingredients of many herb species have well as animal and mineral medicaments were been isolated and applied even in combination considered as the only choice for even com- of current synthetic medicines.(4)

 © Correspondence to: GMJ 2012. SRCFUMS Arman Zargaran, Research Office for the History of Persian Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Fax: +98 731 2227091 Accessible online at: Sciences, Shiraz, Iran www.SID.ir PO Box 7461686688 www.GMJ.ir Telephone number: +98 711 230 4279 Email:[email protected] Email Address: [email protected] Application of Herbal Exudates in Traditional Persian Medicine Zarshenas MM, et al GMJ. 2012;1(2):78-83 www.gmj.ir

Today herbal derivatives are considered as medicinal herbs using the Pub Med, Scopus, the basis for a large proportion of the medi- and Google Scholar databases. cations in traditional and modern systems of medicine.(3) Due to insufficient therapeutic approaches, many diseases and complications Results and Discussion are still unmanaged(5) ;as a result, the medical Application of various exudates and gummy and pharmaceutical aspects of complementary compositions of medicinal herbs has a history and integrative medicine can be beneficial.(6) as long as mankind civilization.(17) Exudates Traditional Persian medical and pharmaceuti- are defined as large group of herbal biochemi- cal manuscripts authored by medieval Persian cal derivatives possessing pharmacologi- scholars offer not only accumulation of tradi- cal activities. Generally, these compounds tional medical systems knowledge, but also may be known as non-starch polysaccharide, contain collection of ingenious studies that which may have opportunities to be applied provide vast information in the field of me- for pharmaceutical and industrial approaches dicinal herbs application.(7) One of the most other than clinical purposes.(18) Structurally, cited derivative compositions of medicinal gummy exudates may be found as resins, gum herbs are exudates. These compounds are now resins which are defined as resins attached widely applied in medical sciences as well as to a polysaccharide part, and oleo gum res- pharmaceutical and cosmetics.(8) ins. Oleo gum resins are naturally occurring A large group of these compounds along with mixture of resin, gum, and volatile oil.(19) The their different clinical and pharmacological recent compounds are often referred to as bal- applications can be found in the manuscripts sam.(17) of Persian medicine. In this regard, the current Gummy exudates which were cited in Persian study was carried out to collect and introduce manuscripts structurally correspond to the different cited exudates in Persian traditional above-mentioned types. In fact, all plant exu- pharmacopeias along with the related reported dates were called gum (Samgh) in the medi- applications. eval manuscript of Persian medicine.(12) Most exudates are obtained by tapping or applying Methods and Materials cuts on tree or shrub barks.(9) It is also noted that the best time for collecting the product is This work is a literature research, investi- before sunrise or sunset.(12) gating some surviving Persian medical and According to the investigated manuscripts, pharmaceutical manuscripts from the 10th to thirty-one substances incorporating plant exu- the 18th century AD. The manuscripts were dates relating to sixteen plant families were comprised of the book of Alhavi, Canon of used to combat simple to sophisticated ail- Medicine, the book of Tohfat ol Moemenin, ments (Table 1). and Makhzan ol advieh.(9-12) These texts are Mostly, exudates were derived from herbs defined as Persian traditional references in of family, Asteraceae, Apiaceae with six and medicine and pharmacyArchive and are now used five citations,of respectively.SID Other than the re- exclusively as references for the Iranian PhD ported clinical applications for herbs, which program in traditional pharmacy. were defined as a source for gummy composi- The scientific names of the reported gums tions, numerous pharmacological approaches were authenticated using botanical textbooks were also mentioned for the secreted gums. such as Dictionary of Medicinal Plants, Popu- Accordingly, Table 1 also involves medical lar Medicinal Plants of Iran, Pharmacographia applications and considerations for the cited Indica, and Indian Medicinal Plants.(13-16) In exudates. As is mentioned in the manuscripts, order to establish relationships between tra- for some herbs, gummy compositions were ditional knowledge and current findings, a the only medicinal part used by medieval search was performed on the reported phar- practitioners. Overall, sixteen cited exudates macological effects (experimental, animal, were the only part exhibiting clinical activi- and human studies) related to the mentioned ties.

www.SID.ir GMJ. 2012;1(2):78-83 79 www.gmj.ir Zarshenas MM, et al Application of Herbal Exudates in Traditional Persian Medicine

These medicaments are marked with star (*) Apparently, plants exudates were used for in Table 1. neural, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, re- Fundamentally, gummy exudates were admin- spiratory, urinary and genital systems as well istered via oral, topical, and also nasal routes as skin disorders (Table 1). Other than the of application. Persian physicians knew about recommended application directions by early the undesirable effects of these compounds Persian practitioners, cautions on the oral ad- other than different parts of the herb. Many ministration of these gummy compounds are pharmacological activities and clinical as- also cited. The oral application of many cited pects were attributed to these medicaments. exudates was restricted.

Table 1- Gums reported in Persian medical manuscriptsv

Common Traditional Medieval application(s)/ Traditional Plant Family Scientific Name name Name Disease(s) consideration(s)

Mt. Atlas Analgesic, Digestive, It was used in Balms Pistacia atlantica Desf. Alak-ol-batm mastic Diuretic, Nerve tonic together with Ratianaj The medicine should be Cough, Headache, Pistacia lentiscus L.* Mastic Mastaki soaked in vinegar for a Anacardiaceae Melancholia, Tremor night before application Habbat ol Aphrodisiac, Laxative/ Otitis, Pistacia terebinthus L. Terebinth - khazra Respiratory ulcers Soaking in decocted Abortifacient, Carminative, grape juice may reduce Prangos ferulacea Lindl. Prangos Javsheer Diuretic, Nerve tonic, Nerve the side effects of this tonic, Topical analgesic medicine

Appetite killer, Carminative, It should not be applied Thapsia garganica L.* Deadly carrots Safsia Nerve tonic in GI upset

Anthelmintic, Anti- It was used to prepare Ferula assa-foetida L.* Asafoetida Heltit hemorrhoid/ Common cold, Apiaceae antidote (pat-zahr) Cough, Epilepsy, Tremor

Caution should Dorema ammoniacum Analgesic, Antidote for Gum ammoniac Oshagh be applied in the D.Don* toxins, Laxative/ Sciatic pain administration

Diuretic/ Cough, Meningitis, Bokhur ol Peucedanum officinale L. Peucedanum Paralysis, Renal stone, Maximum dose is 4g/day ekrad Respiratory ulcers

Khun It should be accompanied Asparagaceae Dracaena cinnabari Balf.f.* Dragon’s Blood GI bleeding siavashan with Tragacanth

It should be applied in Amberboa amberboi (L.) Anti-abortion, Cardiac tonic, Amberboa Kahroba combination with viola Tzvelev* Styptic agent / Jaundice Archive of SIDflower Anacyclus pyrethrum Astringent, Hair coloring It should not be applied Pellitory Aghaghia (L.) Lag. agent, Joints tonic in GI upset The medicine may cause Carlina gummifera (L.) headache. It should be Pine Thistle Eshkhees Gastric tonic/ Inflammation Less. applied with sugar or Asteraceae milk It is not appropriate in Ferula galbaniflua Boiss. Anti-hemorrhoid, Laxative/ Galbanum Barzad CNS ailments, It should & Buhse Apnea, Asthma, Renal stone be applied with honey Harshaf e It should be administered Cynara cardunculus L. Cardoon Inflammation, Vomiting barri with honey Analgesic, Carminative, Visual tonic/ Colic pain, It should be accompanied Ferula persica Willd.* - Sakbinaj Cough, Epilepsy, Headache, with Tragacanth Paralysis, Pleurisy

www.SID.ir 80 GMJ. 2012;1(2):78-83 www.gmj.ir Application of Herbal Exudates in Traditional Persian Medicine Zarshenas MM, et al

Analgesic, Antidote for The odor of this Commiphora myrrha Gum myrrh Morr toxins/ Cough, Dyspnea, medicament may cause (Nees) Engl.* Inflammation , Wound healing headache or induce sleep

It was used to prepare Diuretic, Expectorant, Liver Commiphora mukul antidote (pat-zahr) in Guggal Moghl tonic/ Sciatic pain, Gout, Burseraceae (Hook. ex Stocks) Engl.* accompanying with Renal stone Tragacanth

Anti-hemorrhoid, It may induce idiopathic Cardiac tonic, CNS tonic, Boswellia sacra Flueck.* Frankincense Kondor headaches and should be Expectorant, Stomach tonic, administered with sugar Styptic/ Tumor

Convolvulus scammonia Abortifacient, Analgesic, The medicine is a potent Convoluceae Scammony Saghmunia L.* Laxative/ Vitiligo laxative

Cupressus sempervirens Mediterranean Styptic agent, Visual tonic/ It should be applied with Cupressaceae Sandrus L.* Cypress Common, cold Fatigue acacia gum

Laxative/ Thirst and Malvaceae Althaea officinalis L. marshmallow Khatmee - dehydration, Vomiting

Moraceae Morus alba L. White mulberry Toot Toothache -

Diuretic, Memory enhancer/ Oleaceae Olea europaea L. Olive Zeytun - Cough, wound healing

This medicine should be Abortifacient, Anthelmintic, Astragalus arbusculinus applied in combination - Anzarut Carminative, Purgative/ Bornm. & Gauba* with acacia gum and Scabies, Sciatic pain almond oil Papilionaceae It may not be appropriate Analgesic, General tonic, in colon disorders unless Astragalus spp* Tragacanth Katira Laxative/ Cough, Lip fissures in accompanying with Anise seeds

Anti-hemorrhoid/ Chronic It may be useful in Pinaceae Populus alba L.* Abele Ratianaj Cough, Common cold, accompanying with Scabies olive oil

Cerasus avium (L.) Anti-hemorrhoid, Astringent, Adjuvant therapy with GI Wild cherry Ozdu Moench GI tonic/ GI ulcers medicine is needed Rosaceae Cough, Renal stone, Wound Prunus domestica L. Plum Ejjas Archive ofhealing SID Abortifacient, Dysmenorrhea, Rutaceae Ruta graveolens L. Common rue Sodab Maximum dose is 2g/day Inflammation, Wound healing

Styrax officinalis (Torr.) Laxative/ Common cold, Styracaceae Styrax Estarak It may be abortifacient Thorne* Cough

Among those medicaments, only Tragacanth As it is remarked by current experimental in- was mentioned to have nutritional aspects vestigations, some of the mentioned applica- other than pharmacological properties. It was tions for gummy exudates may have potentials widely administered as a weight gain agent for further studies. The anti-inflammatory and while accompanying with sugar and almond analgesic activities of the oleoresin part of At- seeds.(10) las mastic and Terebinth have been proved in

www.SID.ir GMJ. 2012;1(2):78-83 81 www.gmj.ir Zarshenas MM, et al Application of Herbal Exudates in Traditional Persian Medicine

animal models.(20-21) The in vivo analgesic ef- conceptual subjects regarding such work. Ap- fects of the different extracts of Gum myrrh as plication of ethnobotanical findings on simple well as the anti-inflammatory effect of Gug- remedies offers rational criteria to estimate the gal petroleum extract have been evaluated potential therapeutic properties of medicinal and supported the traditional reports.(22-23) The plant. Although some ethnopharmacological anti-influenza effect of Asafoetida may sup- studies have reported that the use of medicinal port the similar report from traditional manu- herbs exudates in contemporary medicine are scripts.(24) The thrombin inhibitory effect of being decreased(17) scientific researchers have Dragon’s Blood has been proved(25) and cor- revealed that a large portion of exudates’ clin- responds to the traditional findings. Although ical and pharmacological potentialities have some bioscientific data exist and confirm the yet not been studied. Therefore, more compre- validity of therapeutic pathway of traditional hensive and effective investigations should be knowledge, there is much information from carried out on such traditional heritages. ancient and medieval period that needs a rational proof.

Conclusion

The current paper offers a brief historical approach from the traditional medical manuscripts of Persia and partly highlights some

References

1. Mashour NH, Lin GI, Frishman and historical aspects of complementary, WH. Herbal medicine for the treat- alternative, unconventional, and integra- ment of cardiovascular disease: clini- tive medicine in the Old World. Arch cal considerations. Arch Intern Med. Dermatol. 1998;134(11):1373-86. 1998;158(20):2225-34. 7. Khaleghi Ghadiri M, Gorji A. Natural 2. Rezaeizadeh H, M Alizadeh, M Naseri, remedies for impotence in medieval Per- Ardakani MS. The traditional Ira- sia. Int J Impot Res. 2004;16(1):80-3. nian medicine point of view on health 8. Mirhosseini H, Amid BT. A review study and disease. Iranian J Publ Health. on chemical composition and molecular 2009;38(1):169-72. structure of newly plant gum exudates 3. Saad B, Azaizeh H, Said O. Tradition and and seed gums. Food Research Interna- perspectives Archiveof arab herbal medicine: a tional.of 2012;46(1):387-98. SID review. Evid Based Complement Alternat 9. Avicenna. Al Qanun Fil Tibb. In: vol. Med. 2005;2(4):475-9. 2. English translation by Hameed HA. 4. Lee K-H. Current developments in New Delhi, S.Waris Nawab, Senior Press the discovery and design of new drug Superintendent, Jamia Hamdard Printing candidates from plant natural product Press; 1024/1998. leads. Journal of Natural Products. 10. Tonekaboni H. Tohfat ol momenin. 2003;67(2):273-83. Tehran, Research center of traditional 5. Mazzuca SA. Does patient education medicine, Shahid Beheshti university of in chronic disease have therapeutic medical sciences & Nashre shahr Press; value? Journal of Chronic Diseases. 2007. 1982;35(7):521-9. 11. Rhazes. Al Havi (Liber Continent). 6. Oumeish OY. The philosophical, cultural, Tehran, Academy of Medical Sciences;

www.SID.ir 82 GMJ. 2012;1(2):78-83 www.gmj.ir Application of Herbal Exudates in Traditional Persian Medicine Zarshenas MM, et al

2005. 21. Giner-Larza EM, Manez S, Giner RM, 12. Shirazi MAK. Makhzan ol Advieh. Recio MC, Prieto JM, Cerda-Nicolas M, Tehran, Intisharat va Amoozesh enghelab et al. Anti-inflammatory triterpenes from Islami Press; 1992. Pistacia terebinthus galls. Planta Med. 13. Amin G. Popular Medicinal Plants of 2002;68(4):311-5. Iran. Tehran, Tehran University Press; 22. Su S, Wang T, Duan J-A, Zhou W, Hua 2005. Y-Q, Tang Y-P, et al. Anti-inflammatory 14. Soltani A. Dictionary of Medicinal and analgesic activity of different ex- Plants. Tehran, Arjmand Press; 2004. tracts of Commiphora myrrha. J Ethnop- 15. Dymook W, Warden CJH, D H. Pharma- harmacol. 2011;134(2):251-8. cographica Indica. London, Kegan Paul; 23. Tariq M, Ageel AM, Al-Yahya MA, 1893. Mossa JS, Al-Said MS, Parmar NS. Anti- 16. Khare C. Indian Medicinal Plants. US, inflammatory activity of Commiphora Springer; 2007. molmol. Agents Actions. 1986;17(3- 17. Lardos A, Prieto-Garcia J, Heinrich M. 4):381-2. Resins and gums in historical iatroso- 24. Lee CL, Chiang LC, Cheng LH, Liaw phia texts from cyprus - a botanical and CC, Abd El-Razek MH, Chang FR, et al. medico-pharmacological approach. Front Influenza A (H(1)N(1)) Antiviral and Cy- Pharmacol. 2011;2:32. totoxic Agents from Ferula assa-foetida. 18. BeMiller JN. Plant Gums. John Wiley & J Nat Prod. 2009;72(9):1568-72. Sons, Ltd; 2001. 25. Zhu Y, Zhang P, Yu H, Li J, Wang 19. Langenheim JH. Plant Resins : Chemis- M-W, Zhao W. Anti-Helicobacter py- try, Evolution, Ecology, and Ethnobota- lori and Thrombin Inhibitory Compo- ny. Portland, Timber Press; 2003. nents from Chinese Dragon’s Blood, 20. Orhan I, Küpeli E, Aslan M, Kartal M, Dracaena cochinchinensis. J Nat Prod. Yesilada E. Bioassay-guided evaluation 2007,70(10):1570-7. of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of pistachio, Pistacia vera L. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;105(1–2):235-40.

Archive of SID