Appraisal into Phytochemistry and Taxonomy of an Old Plant Collection from The Middle East

Abstract

The English traveller Richard Pococke (1704 -1765) visited the Middle East during the period 1737-1740 and collected medicinal plants from localities in Egypt and Arabia. This collection gave a description of the Middle East flora long before the Danish and Fench expeditions, and shed light on herbal medicine practiced in the region 250 years ago. Based on their use, medicinal plant in the collection fell into twelve categories that are applicable to contemporary herbal medicine. These plants were assigned their current scientific names, and were referred to their respective families. The history of Arabian herbal medicine have been dicussed, and the value of these plants has been assessed in terms of their important chemical components.