Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, Belgrade, Serbia
Abstract
This ethnobotanical
and pharmacological study presents the results of an analysis of
manuscripts from the Chilandar Medical Codex (CMC) on the usage and
origin of medical substances in Serbian medieval medicine compared to
contemporary studies on medical ethnobotany conducted in the Western
Balkans. Based on CMC pharmacological manuscripts, with chapters on
simple and compound medicines (oils, ointments, pills, poultices,
syrups, and electuaries), analysis focused on the types of drugs, the
substances used most frequently in their preparation, their origin, and
medical use. The results obtained show that most ingredients used were
of plant origin, while the contribution of minerals and substances of animal
origin was considerably smaller. Most medicines were named according to
the main ingredient’s botanical name; thus, the chapter on simple
medicine contains 119 medicines whereas the chapter on compound
medicines has 15 medicines named after a certain plant species, pointing
to a high level of knowledge of their botanical and pharmacological
properties. Out of 125 plant resources, 90 are native species and 52
(60.5 %) are still used today in traditional medicine in the Western
Balkans, including Serbia. Therefore, the ethnobotanical data recorded
provides an interesting basis for further phytotherapeutical research,
for fostering sustainable uses of plant resources and also for promoting
local biocultural diversity. It is also important for studies on plant
genetic resources since most of the medicinal plants available on the
European and world markets today come from south-eastern Europe, meaning conservation of this genetic heritage is crucial for the future of the herbal market. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
Author keywords
Chilandar Medical Codex; Ethnobotany; Medicinal plants; Medieval Serbian medicine; Pharmacological manuscripts
ISSN: 09259864
CODEN: GRCEESource Type: Journal
Original language: English
DOI: 10.1007/s10722-014-0118-1Document Type: Article
Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers
