De Materia Medica Research Articles

Some Plants Described by Dioscorides for the Treatment of Renal Diseases

The original De Materia Medica of Dioscorides has been lost, but several copies remain. Unlike the original, these contain an alphabetical listing of plants and color plates. The source for the plants described in this paper is a 16th century translation into vernacular Italian and the Codex Neapolitanus. In all, 12 plants listed by Dioscorides for treatment of renal diseases can be positively identified.

Dioscorides on Pharmacy and Medicine

The first steps toward scientific medicine were taken around 2000 years ago when the stock of folklore about the curative properties of various substances and rituals was gradually classified. One of the earliest pharmacopoeias (ie, catalogs of medicines) was compiled by the Greek physician, pharmacist, and pharmacologist Dioscorides (ca AD 40-80). Dioscorides' classic pharmacopoeia,<i>De Materia Medica</i>, included detailed descriptions of and information on the preparation, specific indications, doses, and administration of medicines derived from plant, animal, and mineral sources during his and earlier centuries. The impact of this volume was so great that Dioscorides remained the leading authority on drugs through ensuing centuries until the dawning of "scientific" medicine and pharmacology in the 1700s and 1800s. John Riddle, the author of<i>Dioscorides on Pharmacy and Medicine</i>, is an eminent medical historian who provides what the reader might expect from the title of this book: a detailed accounting of the

Notes on the Introduction and Colophon of the Leiden Manuscript of Dioscorides' ‘De Materia Medica’

In the course of studying all surviving copies of Arabic Dioscorides manuscripts I have come across some interesting statements in the introduction and colophon of a Leiden manuscript of De Materia Medica. This manuscript belongs to the Warner Collection or Legatum Warnerium of the Library of the University of Leiden, Cod. Or. 289. This vast and valuable collection of oriental manuscripts was acquired by Levinus Warner in the early seventeenth century during his term of appointment as Dutch ambassador to the Ottoman court in Istanbul. The collection was given to the university upon the death of Mr. Warner in 1665.

Trachoma

Trachoma affects about one‐sixth of the world's population. It is prevalent among the Australian Aboriginals and is becoming more frequent among the white population, particularly school children.The incidence. clinical characteristics, pathology and treatment of trachoma are reviewed.Trachoma was given its name by the first centry Greek physician Dioscorides in his famous De Materia Medica. The name comes from the Greek word ‘trachys' meaning rough and this describes the most obvious feature of the disease, viz., a roughening of the conjunctiva.

BOTANY AND MEDICINE

American Journal of BotanyVolume 43, Issue 10 p. 862-869 Article BOTANY AND MEDICINE H. W. Youngken Jr., H. W. Youngken Jr.New address: Dean and Professor of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island.Search for more papers by this author H. W. Youngken Jr., H. W. Youngken Jr.New address: Dean and Professor of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island.Search for more papers by this author First published: 01 December 1956 https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1537-2197.1956.tb11179.xCitations: 1 AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume43, Issue10December 1956Pages 862-869 RelatedInformation