TRADITIONAL HERBAL MEDICINES USED FOR ANALGESIC PURPOSES

IN EASTERN ANATOLIA

Oruc Allahverdiyev 1, Muzaffer Mukemre 2, Abdullah Dalar 3

1 Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Van, 65090, Turkey
2 Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Van, 65090, Turkey
3 Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Van, 65090, Turkey

Commercially available analgesic drugs used in pain conditions such as low-back pain, headache, arthritis pain, pain from nerve damage, cancer pain, and other conditions have several
limitations including restricted long-term efficacy, tolerance problems and other adverse effects 1. There is a high demand in natural pharmaceuticals worldwide and plant-based
pharmaceuticals are seen as complementary medicine or an alternative to conventional medicine with fewer side effects. Several medicinal plants have been investigated for their analgesic
properties and some of them including Aconiti tuber, Acorus calamus, Cannabis sativa, Nigella sativa, Ocimum sanctum and Ginkgo biloba were reported to be useful in the management
and treatment of various pain-related conditions 2. Local people of Eastern Anatolia have a comprehensive knowledge of traditional medicinal plants and use these endemic and common
medicinal plants in their daily life. Among these herbal medicines, analgesic preparations have been used as valuable alternative and/or complementary analgesic agents to conventional
medicines. We have observed many traditional medicinal plants used for analgesic purposes in this region such as Diplotaenia cachrydifolia Boiss., Eryngium bornmuelleri Nab., Ferula
orientalis L. and Artemisia absinthium L..

1. Interview with local people for registering ethnobotanic knowledge of analgesic herbal medicines
2. Analgesic herbal medicines in wild
3. Collection
4. Identification
5. Traditional air-drying
6. Grinding
7. Infusion prepared from analgesic herbal medicine

Scientific Name Chenopodium botrys L. Pistacia terebinthus L. Diplotaenia cachrydifolia Scientific Name Berberis sp. Alkanna froedinii Rech. F. Nasturtium officinale R. Br.
Boiss.
Familia Berberidaceae Boraginaceae Brassicaceae
Familia Amaranthaceae Anacardiaceae Apiaceae
Vernacular Trre, em Mejmejok Tuzik
Vernacular Rihan Bittim, kizvan, menengi Syabo Name(s)
Name(s)
Part(s) used Fruit Root Aerial parts
Part(s) used Aerial parts Stem (gum) Root
Preparation Infusion (Int.) Infusion (Int.) Infusion (Int.)
Preparation Infusion (Int.) Eaten Decoction (Int.) method
method
Analgesic purpose Headache Stomaache Headache
Analgesic purpose Headache Rheumatism Rheumatism

Scientific Name Eryngium sp. Ferula sp. Nerium oleander L. Scientific Name Hypericum scabrum L. Scutelleria sp. Teucrium sp.
Familia Apiaceae Apiaceae Apocynaceae Familia Hypericaceae Lamiaceae Lamiaceae
Vernacular Tus Heliz, kerkor Ru, zakkum Vernacular Sic Tehli, keselmehmud Neman
Name(s) Name(s)
Part(s) used Aerial parts Aerial parts Leaf and flower Part(s) used Aerial parts Leaf and flower Aerial parts
Preparation Infusion (Int.) Eaten Infusion (Int.)
Preparation Infusion (Int.) Infusion (Int.), maceration Infusion (Int.)
method
method
Analgesic purpose Headache Headache, stomaache Stomaache
Analgesic purpose Stomaache, tootache Stomaache, wound ache Headache

Scientific Name Achillea sp. Artemisia sp. Helicrysum sp. Scientific Name Thymus sp. Malva neglecta Wallr. Plantago sp.
Familia Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Familia Lamiaceae Malvaceae Plantaginaceae
Vernacular Bovjan Granguruh, tahli, Giyazerk Vernacular Catir Tolik Giyamambel, belghevizar,
Name(s) bevjanakuv Name(s) sinir otu, ilan dili
Part(s) used Aerial parts Leaf Aerial parts
Part(s) used Flower Aerial parts Aerial parts
Preparation Infusion (Int.) Decoction (Int.) Infusion (Int.)
Preparation Decoction (Int.) Eaten Infusion (Int.) method
method
Analgesic purpose Stomaache Stoamaache Stomaache
Analgesic purpose Stoamaache Stomaache Nephralgia

Traditional utilization of natural sources as analgesic preparations in Eastern Anatolia has a long history and is
based on experience of local inhabitants over centuries. Analgesic folk remedies used in this region may
provide valuable leads for the identification of new pharmaceutical agents and therefore dedicated
experimental studies should be carried out in order to obtain pharmaceutical agents from these local
medicines.
References:

1 Sreekeesoon DP, Mahomoodally MF (2014) Ethnopharmacological analysis of medicinal plants and animals used in the treatment and management of pain in
Mauritius. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 157: 181-200.
2 Gagnier JJ (2008) Evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain with herbal, vitamin, mineral, and homeopathic supplements. The Spine Journal 8: 70