مجله طب سنتی اسلام و ایران
سال هفتم شماره 4 (پیاپی 28، زمستان 1395)

Āvishan, a genus from the family of Labiatae, has been identified in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) with different names such as “Sa‘tar”, “Ābshan”, and “Kahlik oti”. Three kinds of this plant, “Barri”, “Bostāni” and “Jabali”, have been considered in the ITM. In this paper, we tried to determine the scientific names of these three kinds, according to their characteristics mentioned in the ITM resources and also propose appropriate Persian names for these scientific names.  It was concluded that the characteristics of “Barri” in ITM are matched with the two species of Thymus including T. daenensis and T. pubescens, those for “Bostāni” seems to be corresponding to T. kotschyanus and “Jabali” is matched to Zataria multiflora. The suggested Persian names for these species are “Āvishan Denāī” for T. daenensis, “Āvishan korkdār” for T. pubescens, “Āzorbeh” for T. kotschyanus, and “Āvishan Shirāzi” for Zataria multiflora.

“Esparzeh”, is a genus from the Plantaginaceae family, which has been identified in traditional Iranian medicine as a plant with different seed colors including white, red and, black, and different names like “Esfarzeh”, “Aspghul”, “Asphiush”, “Ghatouna” and “Bangou”. In this paper, we attempted to determine the suitable scientific name(s) for Esparzeh according to its characteristics described in traditional manuscripts. Results showed that characteristics mentioned in traditional manuscripts for Esparzeh match with two endemic and prevalent species of Plantago in Iran, P. ovata Forssk. and P. psyllium L., and can be individualized by the suggested names, “Esparzeh” for P. ovata Forssk. and “Esparzeh barhangi” for P. psyllium L..

Oqhovan is a major plant used in Iranian Traditional Medicine, which is identified as a type of Babouneh. Different pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, vasodilator, diuretic, emmenagogue, and sudorific have been reported for the plant. Other names used in traditional publications for this plant are babouneh gav, babouneh gav-chashm, and kafourieh. Oqhovan can be identified from other types of babouneh by its flower and fruit and its characteristics. Considering its botanical description in traditional medicinal and pharmaceutical tests, Oqhovan complied with Tanacetum parthenium, a plant from Compositae family.
 

Eucalyptus consists of various species from the genus Eucalyptus which are endemic to Australia and have been taken from this region to other part of the world like Iran. Among these species, Eucalyptus globulus is the important medicinal species described in all of medicinal plants reference books. It is received much attention because of containing acceptable amount of 1,8- cineol or eucalyptol (more than 70%). Eucalyptus has a hot and dry temperament and it has been used by Australian natives for treatment of wounds. In other regions, it has been claimed to be locally beneficial for catarrh and respiratory disorders, gingivitis and headache. E.globulus has been suggested as the important medicinal species corresponding to Eucalyptus.

Different names have been used for Babooneh in ancient medical books. Also, different varieties of the plants grow and are in market in Iran. In the current study, the descriptions of the plant in the traditional medicine books are compared with the textbooks of botany. It is concluded that the available varieties of chamomile are Matricaria chamomilla var. chamomilla (Shirazi Babooneh), M. chamomilla var. recutita (Flavored Babooneh), Tripleurospermum disciforme (Dashti Babooneh), and Anthemis nobilis (Rumi Babooneh). The results can be helpful for researchers of the traditional medicine textbooks.

“Barhang”, a genus from the family of Plantaginaceae, has been identified in Iranian traditional medicine with different names such as “Lessan-al-hamal”, “Bartang”, and “Khargooshak”. Two kinds of this plant, major and minor, has been considered in the Iranian traditional manuscripts. In this paper, we tried to determine the scientific names of these two species, according to their characteristics mentioned in the Iranian traditional manuscripts and also propose appropriate Persian names for these scientific names. It was concluded that the characteristics of the two species of “Barhang” in the traditional medicine are completely matched with the two species of Plantago “major” with P. major and “minor” with P. lanceolata. The suggested Persian names for the species are “Barhang-e-kabir” for P. major and “Barhang-e-sarneizehee” for P. lanceolata.

Panirak is an annual or perennial herb from the family Malvaceae. In Iranian traditional medicine (ITM), it is mentioned by entry of Khobbazi. Other names mentioned for it in ITM are Malukhia, Malukhie and Malukie. It has cold and moist temperament and is laxative, diuretic, opener of constrictions, and galactogogue. Its seed due to high content of mucilage is appropriate for dry cough, hoarseness and peptic ulcer. Evaluations demonstrate that Panirak is similar to Khobbazi barri saghir and the mentioned botanical descriptions for it in traditional medicine literatures is corresponding to two Malva species including Malva sylvestris L. with Persian name of “Panirak Pa boland” and Malva neglecta Wallr. with Persian name of “Panirak Ravandeh”.

Khārshotor, also known as Oshtorkhār, Hāj, Āqūl and Davatikāni in Iranian traditional literatures, is a perennial thory herb which produces manna named Taranjebin based on activity of a kind of Larinous or Pophilus species in some regions of Iran (especially south of Khorasan). There are some reports of this plant inIranian traditional medicine such as restraint, detergent, apertive agent, and antidote of poisons. It is useful for hemorrhoids both internally and externally. Its distilled water is diuretic and beneficial for treatment of kidney stones. Also, Taranjebin is nominated as laxative and expulsive agent for yellow bile. Here, it is tried to determine names of the plant and related manna according to characteristics mentioned in traditional Iranian literatures. Characteristics of “Kharshotor” and its related manna in traditional medicine are completely matched with Alhagi persarumBoiss. Buhse. Syn: Alhagi camelorum L. from the family Papillionaceae.

Sabr is a popular plant in Traditional Iranian Medicine, recognized with different names such as Sabara, Fiqara, and Alwa. The leaf dried latex has been identified as Sabr-e-Saqoutari, Sabr-e-Arabi, and Sabr-e-Semenjani. In Traditional Iranian Medicine, Sabr is used as the cathartic of humors of different organs especially head, stomach, and joints. Considering the botanical description of the plant in traditional medicinal and pharmaceutical resources, Sabr can be complied with Aloe vera L., from the Liliaceae family.

Black pepper with more than 4000 years history of culture and consumption in India is a shrub which spherical fruits are considered as an important spice in all over the world. From the view of Iranian traditional medicine, it has hot and dry temperament and is used for phlegmatic diseases from different organs such as respiratory tract, gastrointestinal system, muscles, and joints. This plant does not exist in Iran and it is imported to Iran from India and Pakistan every year. Evaluation of traditional medicine and botany literatures shows that black pepper is corresponding to Piper nigrum L.

Karchak known as Khervae and Bidanjir in Iranian traditional medicine is an annual or perennial glabrous herb with green to red color and 1 to 4 meter height. The stems are thick, hollow and the leaves are palmate with long petioles. Fruit is covered with soft spines and seeds look like bean seed and are fatty with dark lines. In Iranian traditional medicine, it is known as a potent purgative of cold humors and used in conditions caused by cold humors and also for strengthening viscera. The characteristics mentioned in Iranian traditional medicine literatures are corresponding to the characteristics of Ricinus communis L.

Mentha (Mint) is a genus of flowering plants in the Labiatae (Lamiaceae) family. Mints are aromatic, almost exclusively perennial, and rarely annual. Mint and its medicinal uses have been cited in many traditional manuscripts and since Mentha species have different medical properties and recognition of these species considering the characteristics mentioned in traditional manuscripts is difficult, we decided to elaborate the corresponding names in traditional medicine and characteristics of 4 native and one hybrid common species of Mentha in Iran including M. spicata, M. longifolia, M. pulegium, M. aquatica and M. × piperita. The results of this work help the traditional medicine researchers to recognize themedicinal properties specified in traditional manuscripts for each Mentha species.