Vergleichende quantitative Bestimmungen der Ursolsäure und des ätherischen Öls in pharmazeutisch- und lebensmittelchemisch-wichtigen Labiaten

Plants used as remedies antirheumatic and antineuralgic in the traditional medicine of Lebanon

AIM OF THE STUDY

In the present investigation, ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological research of the traditional use of plants to cure antirheumatic and antineuralgic diseases was carried out in Lebanon.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The information was collected from different cities and villages of the twenty-six districts "aqdya or qadaa" of the six governorates "mohaafazah" of Lebanon. The knowledge on the medicinal use of plants has been recorded directly on the basis of a detailed survey on herbalists "Attarin or dabbous", folk healers, on older experienced people and midwives "daye". This research was carried out for 5 years (2002-2007).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

In this survey, 231 species of which 5 are endemic, distributed in 79 botanical families, currently used as antirheumatic herbal remedies, were collected and identified. Among them 53.3% are indigenous, 19.2% are cultivated and 17.5% are imported. Their latin names, local names, local medicinal uses, the used parts of the plant and the preparations and the ways of administration are described. The anti-inflammatory properties due to the plant compounds have been demonstrated and discussed.

External antirheumatic and antineuralgic herbal remedies in the traditional medicine of north-eastern Italy

The utilization of more than 90 plant species as folk external remedies to treat rheumatic and arthritic diseases is reported, and their possible effectiveness is discussed according to present phytochemical and pharmacological knowledge. Some of the plant species used exhibit skin-irritant properties (protoanemonin, isothiocyanate or allicine yielding plants and species containing capsaicin, oleoresins, volatile oils, resinous principles, alkaloids). The effectiveness of other herbal remedies depends on their content of salicyl derivatives. A considerable number of the plant species utilized contain chemical products (triterpenoid or steroid compounds, alkaloids) for which anti-inflammatory properties have been demonstrated.