Ethnopharmacology in the work of Melville William Hilton-Simpson (1881-1938)--historical analysis and current research opportunities.
Abstract
In
the early 20th century, the British anthropologist Melville William
Hilton-Simpson (1881-1938) did explorations in Africa, mainly the Congo
region and the Aurès region in Algeria. He showed considerable interest
in local medicinal practices and plants used by the natives, mainly the
Algerian Berbers. He left notes, letters and publications about
traditional medicine which were screened for relevant information about
medicinal plant use. His reports were compared with current knowledge
and recent study results. Many plants described by Hilton-Simpson as
therapeutically relevant could prove their efficacy in current studies
which again shows that historical sources may exert some reliability.
The study, however, unveiled a couple of plants reported as
traditionally used, but neglected by modern science so far. These,
including Marrubium supinum, Cynoglossum pictum (= C. creticum), Sonchus
maritimus, and two Erodium species, are strongly recommended to be
further studied. Foresightedly, this approach was already intended by
Hilton-Simpson himself.
