Volume 175, 4 December 2015, Pages 407–411
Central European medicinal bryophytes in the 16th-century work by Caspar Schwenckfeld, and their ethnopharmacological origin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Ostrogórska 30, 41–200 Sosnowiec, Poland
- Received 23 June 2015, Revised 25 September 2015, Accepted 28 September 2015, Available online 30 September 2015
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance
Ubiquitous
bryophyte species are reported from European, American and Asian
ethnopharmacies. Some of their traditional medicinal uses are similar in
distant and isolated cultures, and moreover, medicinal properties of
some bryophytes are currently confirmed as justified by their chemical
constituents. Aims of the work: we identify bryophytes listed in a
medicinal and botanical work from 1600, and compare their medicinal
applications (known in Europe between 1530–1600) with other
ethnopharmacological data about these species and with modern
pharmacological knowledge. This way we attempt to display origins of
medicinal usage of bryophytes in Central Europe.
Materials and methods
Bryophyte species in bibliographical sources printed in Central Europe (starting from O. Brunfels’ Herbarum vivae Eicones…
Argentorati, 1530) were identified according to old and recent
taxonomical references. Caspar Schwenckfeld’s scientific output from
1600 was treated here as a summary of 16th-century knowledge about
medicinal bryophytes.
Results
Central European pharmacy about the year 1600 was familiar with the following bryophytes: Marchantia polymorpha L., Polytrichum commune Hedw., P. formosum Hedw. and Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.
Conclusions
Between 1530–1600 in Central Europe the number of medicinal bryophytes increased from 2 (Lichen sive Hepatica and Polytrichon) to 4. Pharmaceutical usage of them was similar as in other, distant ethnopharmacies. Further 2–4 mosses (Rhytidiadelphus loreus and Rh. squarrosus; Thuidium tamariscinum and Th. delicatulum) were recognised as non-medicinal.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- 16th century;
- Central Europe;
- Bryophytes;
- Flora;
- Medicine
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