Treatment of memory disorders in historical texts – A potential source for new memory drugs

Ethnopharmacology may shorten drastically the time needed for pharmacological discovery by using the collective experience of traditional healers throughout generations. Such exploration traditionally occupies itself with contemporary non-Western medical traditions, using the local experts as the source of information. The new methods developed by Buenz [1,2] and Paavilainen [3] make possible also the utilization of written historical sources as guides for medicinal plant research.

This paper discusses historical drug therapies for loss of memory. The material has been taken from 20 relevant ancient and medieval herbals and therapeutic guides, covering the geographical area from Iran to Spain and Western Europe. The potential medical effect of the plants against memory disorders has been evaluated by considering the frequencies and historical continuity of use for each drug included. The results were then compared with modern data. The plants claimed by the ancient authors as effective but not yet correlated by the results of modern research, such as species from the genera Boswellia, Cyperus, Piper, Ruta, Semecarpus and Terminalia, represent potential sources for new memory drugs.

Acknowledgements: Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters, Finnish Cultural Foundation.

References: 1. Buenz, E.J. et al. (2005)J. Ethnopharmacol. 96:57–70

2. Buenz, E.J. et al. (2004) Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 25:494–498.

3. Paavilainen, H.M. (forthcoming): Treating Diseases from the Middle Ages through the Early Modern Period. Brill. Leiden.