An Inquiry into the Nature of Farfiyun Based on the Medical Writings of Islamic Civilization
Tārīkh-i pizishkī i.e., Medical History,
Vol. 17 (1404),
6 May 2025
,
Page 1-12
https://doi.org/10.22037/mhj.v17i.46117
Abstract
Background and Aim: Farfiyun (Euphorbia) is considered one of the important and widely used plants in traditional medical texts, for which numerous therapeutic properties have been mentioned. However, different sources disagree on determining the exact nature of this plant. This study aims to propose a suitable scientific name for Farfiyun based on the characteristics and descriptions found in ancient texts.
Methods: The present research is a qualitative study of content analysis, focusing on the medical texts of Islamic civilization. This research was conducted in several stages: identifying and extracting keywords, searching traditional medical texts with the keywords "Farfiyun", "Farbiyun", "Owfarbiyun", "Afrfiyun", "Afarbiyun" and "Forbiyun", as well as searching Persian and Latin databases with the keywords "Farfiyun", "Euphorbia", "Zaggûm", "Euphorbia" and "Tikiut", followed by categorizing, sorting, comparing, and analyzing the collected data.
Ethical Considerations: The principles of integrity and honesty in citing the texts used, the authenticity of sources and avoidance of bias in referring to texts or analyses were observed.
Results: Farfiyun is described as a gray-colored gum, in the fourth degree of hot and dry. This plant is beneficial for treating spleen and joint diseases, as well as countering toxins. Its habitat is primarily reported as Sudan, Morocco and Barbary. However, there is noticeable inconsistency and disagreement in the texts regarding the nature of Farfiyun; some have considered it the gum of the Mazariyun plant, while others have described it as the sap of the Zaqqum plant. Furthermore, in describing its appearance, some have introduced it as resembling lettuce and being thorny, whereas others have described it as a plant with a square-shaped stem and no leaves.
Conclusion: Today, there is no single viewpoint regarding the nature of Farfiyun. However, it seems that by considering the botanical characteristics mentioned for this plant in some texts and comparing it with species of the genus Euphorbia (approximately 2000 species), it can be considered equivalent to the species 'Takout' with the scientific name Euphorbia resinifera Berg.
- Farfiyun
- Zaggûm
- Tikiut
- Medicinal Plants
- Euphorbia resinifera
How to Cite
References
1. Maver T, Maver U, Stana Kleinschek K, Smrke DM, Kreft S. A review of herbal medicines in wound healing. International Journal of Dermatology. 2015; 54(7): 51-740.
2. Nasiri E, Hosseinimehr SJ, Azadbakht M, Madani SA. Survey of the burn wound healing by Iranian traditional medicine from the herbalists or herbal medicine vendors in the Mazandaran province. Journal of Medicinal Plants. 2013; 12(48): 49-136. [Persian]
3. Abbasi Gharacheh Narloo M, pahlavan Sharif M. Anthropological Study in Traditional Herbal Medicine In Markazi provice (Case study: Mahallat city). Journal of Islamic and Iranian Traditional Medicine. 2017; 8(2): 96-283. [Persian]
4. Afshar M, Sattari Fard H, Shadi M, Ghaderi R. Repairing effects of Iran flora on wound healing. Journal of Birjand University of Medical Sciences. 2015; 22(1): 1-18. [Persian]
5. Attar M, Ashrafzadeh F. Scientific challenges of using medicinal plants. Tehran: Iranian Traditional Medicine; 2019. [Persian]
6. Najem M, Nassiri L, Ibijbijen J. Vernacular names of plants between diversity and potential risks of confusion: Case of toxic plants used in medication in the central Middle Atlas, Morocco. J Pharm Pharmacogn Res. 2021; 9(2): 50-222.
7. Aqīlī Alawī Šīrāzī MH. Maḫzan al-Adwīyah. Edited by Kabir A, Ajib A, Maulvi GH-H, Maulvi QA. India: Calcutta; 1844. p.144-145. [Persian]
8. Aqīlī Alawī Šīrāzī MH. Qarābādīn Kabīr. Tehran: Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services. Institute of Medical History, Islamic Medicine and Complementary Studies; 2014. p.642. [Persian]
9. Amtaghri S, Akdad M, Slaoui M, Eddouks M. Traditional uses, pharmacological and phytochemical studies of Euphorbia: A review. Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry. 2022; 22(19): 70-1553.
10. Benjamaa R, Moujanni A, Kaushik N, Choi EH, Essamadi AK, Kaushik NK. Euphorbia species latex: A comprehensive review on phytochemistry and biological activities. Frontiers in plant Science. 2022; 13: 1008881.
11. Ibn Bītār A. Al-Ğami li-mufradāt al-adwīyah va al-Aġḏīyah, Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-Ilmīyah; 1991. [Arabic]
12. Ibn Miymūn M. Šarḥ asmā al-ʿiqār. Edited by Meyerhoff M. Cairo: Maktab al-ṯiqāfah al-dīnīyah; 1998. [Arabic]
13. Ašbīlī M. Umdat al-Ṭabīb fī Ma rifat al-Nabāt. Beirut: Dar al-Gharb al-Islami; 1995. Vol.1 p.279. [Arabic]
14. Ġassānī A. Ḥadīqat al-azhār fī māhīyat al-Išab va al-Iqār. Beirut: Dar al-Gharb al-Islami; 1985. p.224. [Arabic]
15. Ibn ğazzār qayrawānī A. Al- Iʿtimād fi al-adwīyah al-mufradah. Beirut: Al-maṭbūāt liltūzi va al-Našr; p.192. [Arabic]
16. Abū Riyḥān Bīrūnī M. Al-Ṣydanah fi ṭibb (Pharmacology in Medicine). Translated by Mozafarzadeh B. Tehran: Language and Literature Academy, Works Publishing Group; 2013. p.769. [Persian]
17. Ḥakīm Muʾmin SM. Tuḥfa al-Muminīn. Qom: Noor Vahy; 2011. Vol.1 p.628-629. [Persian]
18. Alī Ḥān MṢ. Maḫḏan al-Taʿālīm. Delhi: Farooqi Publishers;1905. p.124. [Persian]
19. Šams al-Dīn A. Ḥazāin al-Mulūk. Tehran: Iran University of Medical Sciences; 2008. Vol.1 p.229. [Persian]
20. Ġassānī Turkamānī M. Al-Muʿtamid fi al-Adwīyah al-mufardah. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Elamiya; 2000. Vol.2 p.263. [Arabic]
21. Yūsifī Harawī Y. Rīyāẓ al-Adwīyah. Tehran: Al-Ma'i; 2011. p.133-134. [Persian]
22. Šīrāzī M. Ẓīā al-Uyūn. Tehran: Iran University of Medical Sciences; 2008. p.46. [Arabic]
23. Baġdādī A. Al-Muĥtārāt fī Ṭibb. Hyderabad: Ottoman Encyclopedia; 1943. Vol.2 p.160-163. [Arabic]
24. Harawī M. Baḥr al-ğawāhir (Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine). Qom: Jalal al-Din; 2008. p.291. [Arabic]
25. Ibn Sīnā Ḥ. Al-Qānūn fī al-Ṭibb. Beirut: Dar Ihiya al-Tarath al-Arabi; 2005. Vol.2 p.87. [Arabic]
26. Ibn Quf. Al-Umdat fi al-Jarāḥah. Hyderabad: Majlis of the Islamic Encyclopedia of the Ottoman Empire; 1937. Vol.1 p.252-253. [Arabic]
27. Ibn Nafīs Qarašī A. Al-Šāmil fi Ṣanā at Ṭibbīyah. Edited by ZiedanY. Tehran: Institute of Medical History Studies, Islamic and Complementary Medicine-Iran University of Medical Sciences; 2008. Vol.21 p.167. [Arabic]
28. Diskurīdis P. Al-Ḥašāyiš (Materia Medica). Translated by Mehran Bin Mansour. Edited by Tabatabai SM. Tehran: Tehran university of medical sciences; 2012 Vol.3 p.108. [Arabic]
29. Nafīsī A. Piziškī nāmi (Medical letter). Tehran: Institute of Medical History Studies, Islamic and Complementary Medicine-Iran University of Medical Sciences; 2013. p.412. [Persian]
30. Qalānsī Samarqandī M. Aqrābādīn al-qalānsī. Edited by Bābā M Z. Aleppo: Ma'had al-Torāṯ al-ʿilmī al-Arabī; 1982. p.93, 182, 272. [Arabic]
31. Attār Isrāīlī D. Minhāğ al-Dukkān va Dastūr al-Aʿyān fī aʿmāl va tarākīb al-adwīya al-Nāfiʿa lilabdān. Tehran: Iran University of Medical Sciences; 2013. p.180. [Arabic]
32. Bahā al-Duwlah B. Ḫulāṣat al-Tağārub (Summary of experiences). Tehran: Tehran University of Medical Sciences; 2008. p.564. [Persian]
33. Anṣarī Šīrāzī A. Iḫtīārāt Badīʿī. Edited by Shams Ardakani M, Ramazani F. Tehran: Chogan; 2014. p.388-389. [Persian]
34. Harawi M. Al-Abnīyat an ḥaqāyiq al-Adwīyah. Tehran: University of Tehran; 1960. [Persian]
35. Zahrāwī Ḫ.al-Taṣrīf liman ʿağiza ʿan al-taʾlīf. Edited by Ḥamāmī ṢM. Kuwait: Muʾassisih al-kuwiyt liltaqaddum al-ilmī,ʾidāra al-ṯaqāfa al-ʿilmīya; 2004. [Arabic]
36. Anṭākī D. Taḏkarah ūlī al-Bāb al-ğāmiʿ lilʿağab al-Ağāb. Beirut: Al-Alamī Institute for Press; p.273. [Arabic]
37. Idrīsī M. Al-Ğami liṣifāt aštāt al-Nabāt va ḍurūb anwā al-Mufradāt. Tehran: Manshur-e-Samir 2015. [Arabic]
38. Šarḥ likitāb Disqurīdis fī hayūlī al-Ṭibb. Written by an unknown author from the 12th century. Göttingen: Göttingen; 1988. [Arabic]
39. Šīrāzī N. Alfāẓ al-adwīyah. Tehran: Safir-e Ardahal; 2003. [Persian]
40. Chaštī M. Asmā al-Adwīyah. Tehran: Iran University of Medical Sciences: No Year. [Persian]
41. Hmidouche O, Bouftini K, Chafik A, Khouri S, Rchid H, Rahimi A, et al. Ethnomedicinal use, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Euphorbia resinifera O. Berg.(B): a review. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens. 2023; 4(2): 95-364.
42. https://www.plantarium.ru/page/view/item/89375.html42.
43. Khabiri M, Ghasemlou F, M Ahmadian Attari M, Piraati A, Mosaddegh M. Botanical authored and translated works of seventh century AH in the territory of Islamic civilization. Journal of Islamic and Iranian Traditional Medicine. 2018; 8(4): 37-423. [Persian].
44. Mohammadi F, Kasiri M, Rahimi R. Investigating the books of material medicas from Al-Hashaish (3 AH) to the Mohit Azam (13 AH) relying on index books in the areas ruled by Islam. Journal of Islamic and Iranian Traditional Medicine. 2019; 10(3): 90-269. [Persian]
45. Issa Bak A. Tarikh al nabat inda al-Arab. Tehran: Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Institute of Medical History, Islamic Medicine and Complementary Studies; 2008. [Arabic]
46. Mohammadifar Sh. Al-Hashaish; the most influential pharmacology book of the Islamic period. Scientific heritage of Islam and Iran. 2010; (1)2. p. 35-47. [Persian]
47. Diskurīdis P. Al-Ḥašāyiš (Materia Medica). Translated by Alhoseyni A. Edited by Shams Ardakani M, et al. Tehran: Chogan; 2004. p.37, 38, 239. [Persian]
48. Diskurīdis P. Al-Ḥašāyiš (Materia Medica). Translated to arabic by Mehran Bin Mansour. Transleted to persian and Edited by Tabatabai SM. Tehran: Tehran University of Medical Sciences; 2012. Vol.1 p.48; Vol.3 p.136. [Persian]
49. Karamati, Y. Entry by Abul-Khair Eshbili, Encyclopedia of Islamic and Iranian Medicine, Tehran: Amir Kabir Publications; 2011. Vol.1 p.453. [Persian]
50. Rafiei M, Ahmad Nejad A, Samdanian M. Finding instances of the word Zaqqum in the Quran with emphasis on spiritual and botanical sources. Two quarterly scientific research journals Quran Linguistic Studies; 2018; 7(2): 155-170. [Persian]
51. Ghahreman A, Okhovvat A. Matction the old medicinal plant names with scientific terminology. 2015. Vol.1 p.163, 224-225. [Persian]
52. Soltani A. Encyclopaedia of Traditional Medicine (Medicinal Plants). Tehran: University of Medical Sciences and Medical Services; 1994. Vol.2 p.465, 542. [Persian]
53. Ibn Bītīr ʿA. Tafsīr kitāb Disqurīdis. Beirut: Dār al-Qarb al-islāmī; 1989. [Arabic]
54. Ghahreman A, Okhovvat A. Comparative description of ancient medicinal plants. Tehran: Tehran University Publishing Institute; 2008. Vol.2 p.400, 476. [Persian]
55. Mozaffarian V. Knowing the medicinal and aromatic plants of Iran. Tehran: Farhang-e- Moaser; 2002. p.1124. [Persian]
56. Dymock W, Warden CJH, Hooper D. Pharmacographia Indica. Tehran: Institute of Medical History, Islamic Medicine and Complementary Studies; 2003. Vol.3 p.257-259.
57. Abdul wahid Siddiqui H. A survey of drugs.Tehran: Iran University of Medical Sciences; 2004. p.164. [Persian]
58. Karamati Y. Substitute Drugs in the Pharmaceutical/Pharmacological Tradition with a critical edition, commentary and comprative study of the oldest extant arabic treatises on Abdal. PhD Thesis in History of Science.Tehran: Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies; 2013. [Persian]
- Abstract Viewed: 76 times
- pdf Downloaded: 38 times