The iatrosophia of Cyprus: a valid resource in the search for new drugs? The example of resins, gums and balms

The iatrosophia are defined as medical notebooks and therapeutic compendia written in Greek and have their roots in the hospital tradition of the Byzantium [1]. Most of the research dealing with this literature has focused on medicinal historical questions and research on the documents' potential as a source for drug discovery is practically inexistent. In the present study we investigate the medicinal knowledge of this historical literature as a basis for further pharmacological-phytochemical investigations. By applying a defined protocol for bioprospecting historical texts, representatives of the iatrosophia of Cyprus from the Ottoman era [2] were screened for formulas containing resins, gums or balms. No less than nineteen species are recorded as potential sources for medicines from genera such as Boswellia, Cedrus, Cinnamomum, Cistus, Commiphora, Ferula, Larix, Liquidambar, Olea, Pinus, Pistacia, Prunus and Styrax as well as amber (fossilised resin of undefined taxa). Some of them are well known and have been focus of intense investigation, like Boswellia, Commiphora, Pistacia and Styrax resins. These resins often were and in some cases still are important elements of Western and Oriental medical systems. However, various of the other species are less known and many of their uses not yet investigated. Therefore, we suggest that this historical literature is a useful resource for developing novel drug leads especially for new herbal medicinal products.

References: 1. Lardos, A. (2006)J Ethnopharmacol 104: 387–406. 2. E.g.: Filaretos (1924–1925) Iatrosophikon, Synakhthen ypo tou skefophylakos tis en Kypro Ieras Monis Makhaira, Mitrophanus 1790–1867. Ekdosis Ieras Monis Makhaira. Lefkosia/Nicosia.