Pharmaceutical Terminology in Ancient and Medieval Time – "Andrachne", "Chrysocolla" and Others

Barbara Zipser; Andrew C. Scott; Robert Allkin; Peretz Gan; Andreas Lardos; Rebecca Lazarou; Efraim Lev; Mark Nesbitt; Kristina Patmore

doi:10.18778/2084-140X.13.49

Authors

Barbara Zipser Royal Holloway, University of London https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1600-1257
Andrew C. Scott Royal Holloway, University of London https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1998-3508
Robert Allkin Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Peretz Gan Al Alim Medicinal Herb Center, Israel
Andreas Lardos Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Switzerland
Rebecca Lazarou Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Efraim Lev University of Haifa
Mark Nesbitt Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Kristina Patmore Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/2084-140X.13.49

Keywords:

pharmacognosy, Byzantine medicine, medicinal plants, medicinal minerals, medical history, Greek medicine, 'materia medica'

Abstract

Ancient and medieval pharmacological and medical texts contain a substantial amount of plant and mineral names. In some cases, the identification is straightforward. But for the majority of the data, we are unable to identify these ingredients with high certainty. In this paper, we discuss a selection of plant and mineral names both from a humanities and sciences point of view. In one case, the scientists were even able to examine a plant in situ. The conclusion of our paper is that a close collaboration between sciences and humanities is essential to avoid mistakes in the identification of materia medica.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alhazmi A., Aldairi A.F., Alghamdi A., Alomery A., Mujalli A., Obaid A.A., Farrash W.F., Allahyani M., Halawani I., Aljuaid A., Alharbi S.A., Almehmadi M., Alharbi M.S., Khan A.A., Jastaniah M.A., Alghamdi A., Antibacterial Effects of Commiphora gileadensis Methanolic Extract on Wound Healing, “Molecules” 27(10), 2022, p. 3320, https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27103320
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27103320

Allkin B., Patmore K., Botanical Nomenclature for Herbal Medicines and Natural Products: its Significance for Pharmacovigilance, [in:] Pharmacovigilance for Herbal and Traditional Medicines, ed. J. Barnes, Cham 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07275-8_8
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07275-8_8

Amar Z., Iluz D., Balsam: the Most Expensive Perfume Plant in the Ancient World, [in:] The Paths of Daniel. Studies in Judaism and Jewish Culture in Honor of Rabbi Professor Daniel Sperber, ed. A.S. Ferziger, Ramat Gan 2017, p. 15–27.
Google Scholar

Amiel E., Ofir R., Dudai N., Soloway E., Rabinsky T., Rachmilevitch S., β-Caryophyllene, a Compound Isolated from the Biblical Balm of Gilead (Commiphora gileadensis), Is a Selective Apoptosis Inducer for Tumor Cell Lines, “Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine” 2012, https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/872394
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/872394

André J., Les noms de plantes dans la Rome antique, Paris 1985.
Google Scholar

Anecdota Atheniensia et alia, vol. II, ed. A. Delatte, Paris 1939.
Google Scholar

Antivachis N., The Geology of the Northern Part of the Apliki Cyprus-type Ore Deposit, “Bulletin of the Geological Society of Greece” 49, 2015, p. 4–28, https://doi.org/10.12681/bgsg.11047
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/bgsg.11047

Antivachis D.N., Chatzitheodoridis E., Skarpelis N., Komnitsas K., Secondary Sulphate Minerals in a Cyprus-Type Ore Deposit, Apliki, Cyprus: Mineralogy and Its Implications Regarding the Chemistry of Pit Lake Waters, “Mine Water and the Environment” 36, 2017, p. 226–238, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-016-0398-0
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-016-0398-0

Arabisches Woerterbuch fuer die Schriftsprache der Gegenwart, ed. H. Wehr, 5Wiesbaden 1985.
Google Scholar

Bauer J., A Field Guide in Colour to Minerals, Rocks and Precious Stones, London 1974.
Google Scholar

Besnard G., Khadari B., Navascués M., Fernández-Mazuecos M., El Bakkali A., Arrigo N., Baali-Cherif D., Brunini-Bronzini de Caraffa V., Santoni S., Vargas P., Savolainen V., The Complex History of the Olive Tree: From Late Quaternary Diversification of Mediterranean Lineages to Primary Domestication in the Northern Levant, “Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences” 280(1756), 2013, p. 1–7, https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.2833
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.2833

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, ed. K. Ellinger, W. Rudolph, Stuttgart 1977.
Google Scholar

Biblia Sacra iuxta Vulgatam Versionem, ed. R. Weber, R. Gryson, Stuttgart 2007.
Google Scholar

Borkow G., Gabbay J., Copper, An Ancient Remedy Returning to Fight Microbial, Fungal and Viral Infections, “Current Chemical Biology” 3, 2009, p. 272–278.
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/187231309789054887

Bouslama L., Kouidhi B., Alqurashi Y.M., Chaieb K., Papetti A., Virucidal Effect of Guggulsterone Isolated from Commiphora gileadensis, “Planta Medica” 85(16), 2019, p. 1225–1232, https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1014-3303
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1014-3303

Brempt L. van, Kassianidou V., Facing the Complexity of Copper-sulphide Ore Smelting and Assessing the Role of Copper in South-central Cyprus: A Comparative Study of the Slag Assemblage from Late Bronze Age Kalavasos-Ayios Dhimitrios, “Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports” 7, 2016, p. 539–553, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2015.08.022
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2015.08.022

Breton C., Tersac M., Bervillé A., Genetic Diversity and Gene Flow between the Wild Olive (Oleaster, Olea europaea L.) and the Olive: Several Plio-Pleistocene Refuge Zones in the Mediterranean Basin Suggested by Simple Sequence Repeats Analysis, “Journal of Biogeography” 33, 2006, p. 1916–1928, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2006.01544.x
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2006.01544.x

Brochant de Villiers A.-J. F.-M., Traité élémentaire de mineralogique, vol. I–II, 2Paris 1808.
Google Scholar

C. Plinii Secundi Naturalis Historiae libri XXXVII, vol. I, ed. I. Sillig, Hamburgi–Gothae 1851.
Google Scholar

Christou A., Christodoulos P., Theologides C.P., Costa C., Ioannis K., Kalavrouziotis I.K., Soterios P., Varnavas S.P., Assessment of Toxic Heavy Metals Concentrations in Soils and Wild and Cultivated Plant Species in Limni Abandoned Copper Mining Site, Cyprus, “Journal of Geochemical Exploration” 178, 2017, p. 16–22, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2017.03.012
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2017.03.012

Cleintuar M.R., Knox G.J., Ealey P.J., The Geology of Cyprus and its Place in the East-Mediterranean Framework, “Geologie en Mijnbouw” 56, 1977, p. 66–82.
Google Scholar

Constantinou G., Govett J.S., Geology, Geochemistry, and Genesis of Cyprus Sulfide Deposits, “Economic Geology” 68, 1973, p. 843–858, https://doi.org/10.2113/gsecongeo.68.6.843
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.2113/gsecongeo.68.6.843

Corpus hippiatricorum Graecorum, vol. I, ed. E. Oder, C. Hoppe, Leipzig 1924 [repr. 1971].
Google Scholar

Dafni A., Böck B., Medicinal Plants of the Bible – Revisited, “Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine” 15.1, 2019, p. 57, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-019-0338-8
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-019-0338-8

Davies O., The Copper Mines of Cyprus, “The Annual of the British School at Athens” 30, 1928/1929 – 1929/1930, p. 74–85, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0068245400011497
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0068245400011497

Deer W.A., Howie R.A., Zussmann J., An Introduction to the Rock-forming Minerals, 3London 2013, https://doi.org/10.1180/DHZ
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1180/DHZ

Dolwett H.H.A., Sorenson J.R.J., Historic Uses of Copper Compounds in Medicine, “Trace Elements in Medicine” 2.2, 1985, p. 80–87.
Google Scholar

Dritss V.A., Zviagina B.B., McCarty D.K., Salyn A.L., Factors Responsible for Crystal-chemical Variations in the Solid Solutions from Illite to Aluminoceladonite from Glauconite to Celadonite, Sample 69, “American Mineralogist” 95, 2010, p. 348–361, https://doi.org/10.2138/am.2010.3300
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.2138/am.2010.3300

Edwards S. et al., Classic Geology in Europe. Cyprus, Edinburgh 2010.
Google Scholar

Eliopoulos D.G., Economou-Eliopoulos M., Economou G., Skounakis V., Mineralogical and Geochemical Constraints on the Origin of Mafic–Ultramafic-Hosted Sulphides: The Pindos Ophiolite Complex, “Minerals” 10, 2020, p. 454, https://doi.org/10.3390/min10050454
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/min10050454

Ernst W.G., Earth Materials and Human Health, “International Geology Review” 48, 2006, p. 191–208, https://doi.org/10.2747/0020-6814.48.3.191
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.2747/0020-6814.48.3.191

Essentials of Medical Geology, ed. O. Selinus, B. Alloway, J.A. Centeno, R.B. Finkelman, R. Fuge, U. Lindh, P. Smedley, New York 2005.
Google Scholar

Finkelman R.B., Skinner H.C.W., Plumlee G.S., Bunnell J.E., Medical Geology, “Geotimes” 46, 2001, p. 20–23.
Google Scholar

Flavii Iosephi opera, ed. B. Niese, Berlin 1892.
Google Scholar

Flavius Josèphe, Les Antiquités Juives, vol. IV, ed. É. Nodet, Paris 2005.
Google Scholar

Greensmith T., Southern Cyprus. Geologist’s Association Guide No 50, London 1994.
Google Scholar

Hajdu S.I., Pathfinders in Oncology from Ancient Times to the End of the Middle Ages, “Cancer” 122, 2016, p. 1638–1646, https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.29955
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.29955

Hardy G., Totelin L., Ancient Botany, London–New York 2015, https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203458358
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203458358

Hazen R.M., Morrison S.M., On the Paragenetic Modes of Minerals: A Mineral Evolution Perspective, “American Mineralogist” 107, 2022, p. 1262–1287, https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2022-8099
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2022-8099

Hazen R.M., Morrison S.M., Krivovichev S.V., Downs R.T., Lumping and Splitting: Toward a Classification of Mineral Natural Kinds, “American Mineralogist” 107, 2022, p. 1288–1301, https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2022-8105
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2022-8105

Hebräisches und aramäisches Handwörterbuch über das Alte Testament, ed. W. Gesenius, F. Buhl, 17Berlin–Göttingen–Heidelberg 1962.
Google Scholar

Iluz D., Hoffman M., Gilboa-Garber N., Amar Z., Medicinal Properties of Commiphora gileadensis, “African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology” 4, 2010, p. 516–520.
Google Scholar

John the Physician’s Therapeutics. A Medical Handbook in Vernacular Greek, ed. B. Zipser, Leiden 2009.
Google Scholar

Knapp A.B., Kassianidou V., Donnelly M., Copper Smelting in Late Bronze Age Cyprus: The Excavations at Politiko Phorades, “Near Eastern Archaeology” 64.4, 2001, p. 204–210, https://doi.org/10.2307/3210830
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3210830

Lev E., Healing with Minerals and Inorganic Substances: A Review of Levantine Practice from the Middle Ages to the Present, “International Geology Review” 52.7–8, 2010, p. 700–725, https://doi.org/10.1080/00206811003679661
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00206811003679661

Lev E., Amar Z., Practical Materia Medica of the Medieval Eastern Mediterranean According to the Cairo Genizah, Leiden 2008, https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004161207.i-621
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004161207.i-621

Léxiko tēs mesaiōnikēs Ellēnikēs dimōdous grammateías 1100–1669, ed. E. Kriaras, Thessalonike 1968–2022.
Google Scholar

Liddell H.G., Scott R., Jones H.S. et al., A Greek-English Lexicon, 9Oxford 1996.
Google Scholar

Limpitlaw U.G., Ingestion of Earth Materials for Health by Humans and Animals, “International Geology Review” 52.7–8, 2010, p. 726–744, https://doi.org/10.1080/00206811003679695
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00206811003679695

Linder M.C., Hazegh-Azam M., Copper Bio-chemistry and Molecular Biology, “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” 63, 1996, p. 797S–811S.
Google Scholar

Lu A., Mineral Evolution Heralds a New Era for Mineralogy, “American Mineralogist” 107, 2022, p. 1217–1218, https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2022-8414
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2022-8414

Mason K.E., A Conspectus of Research on Copper Metabolism and Requirements of Man, “Journal of Nutrition” 109, 1979, p. 1079–2066, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/109.11.1979
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/109.11.1979

Miller J., The Spice Trade of the Roman Empire 29 B.C. to A.D. 641, Oxford 1969.
Google Scholar

Oribasii Collectionum Medicarum Reliquiae, vol. II, ed. I. Raeder, Lipsiae–Berolini 1929.
Google Scholar

Osbaldeston T.A., Wood R.P., Dioscorides De Materia Medica. Being an Herbal with Many Other Medicinal Materials Written in Greek in the First Century of the Common Era, Johannesburg 2000.
Google Scholar

Oxford Latin Dictionary, ed. P.G.W. Glare, Oxford 2005.
Google Scholar

Pedanii Dioscuridis Anazarbei de materia medica libri quinque, vol. I–III, ed. M. Wellmann, Berolini 1907–1914.
Google Scholar

Pedanios Dioscorides of Anazarbus De Materia Medica, trans. L. Beck, Zürich–New York 2005.
Google Scholar

Pline l’Ancient Historire Naturelle, livre XIII, ed. et trans. A. Ernout, Paris 1956.
Google Scholar

Schumann W., Gemstones of the World, London 1977.
Google Scholar

Septuaginta id est Vetus Testamentum graece iuxta LXX interpretes, ed. A. Rahlfs, Stuttgart 1979.
Google Scholar

Staub P.O., Geck M.S., Weckerle C.S., Casu L., Leonti M., Classifying Diseases and Remedies in Ethnomedicine and Ethnopharmacology, “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” 174, 2015, p. 514–519, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.08.051
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.08.051

Theophrastus On Stones, ed. et trans. E. Caley, J. Richards, Columbus Ohio 1956.
Google Scholar

Touwaide A., Pharmaceutical Literature, [in:] Handbook of Medieval Studies. Terms, Methods, Trends, vol. I–III, ed. A. Classen, Berlin 2010, p. 1979–2000, https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110215588.1979
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110215588.1979

Turland N.J., Wiersema J.H., Barrie F.R., Greuter W., Hawksworth D.L., Herendeen P.S., Knapp S., Kusber W.-H., Li D.-Z., Marhold K., May T.W., McNeill J., Monro A.M., Prado J., Price M.J., Smith G.F., International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code) Adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017, Glashütten 2018, https://doi.org/10.12705/Code.2018
Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.12705/Code.2018

Vitruvii de architectura libri decem, ed. V. Rose, Lipsiae 1899.
Google Scholar