Open Journal of Ecology, 2019, 9, 35-42

http://www.scirp.org/journal/oje
ISSN Online: 2162-1993
ISSN Print: 2162-1985

The Evolution of Botanical and Herbal

Medicine in Islamic Civilization

Gholam Reza Montazeri, Yaddollah Sepehri

Islamic Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Golestan Province, Iran

How to cite this paper: Montazeri, G.R. Abstract

and Sepehri, Y. (2019) The Evolution of
Botanical and Herbal Medicine in Islamic Botanical science and medicinal plants are shaped by the translation move-
Civilization. Open Journal of Ecology, 9, ment in Islamic civilization and in the fifth century (AH), through the devel-
35-42.
https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2019.93004
opment of specialized media and the commencement of scientific and re-
search trips, its foundations are strengthened. In the sixth and seventh centu-
Received: February 14, 2019 ries (AH), the development of the first botanical encyclopedias, the introduc-
Accepted: March 16, 2019
tion of objective observations and practical experiences on theoretical issues,
Published: March 19, 2019
the prosperity of this science was provided by writing comprehensive books
Copyright © 2019 by author(s) and on medicinal plants and in the eighth century (AH). Like other intellectual
Scientific Research Publishing Inc. and transcendental sciences, the loss of the past lost due to the decline of the
This work is licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution International
writings and led to a recession. The Muslims played a role in preserving and
License (CC BY 4.0). building the body of knowledge of the Greek, Roman times. In fact, they
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ gained this science from the distant paths. In the history of medicine, Islamic
Open Access medicine is the science of medicine developed in the Islamic Golden Age, and
written in Arabic, the lingua franca of Islamic civilization. In this article, we
try to investigate the effect of Islamic scholars on the dynamics of medicinal
herbs and the continuation of Muslim researches and innovations in the field
of botany and medicinal herbs.

Keywords
Islamic Civilization, Evolution, Botanical, Medicinal Herbs

1. Introduction
In Islamic culture, efforts have been emphasized for the study of science in
particular, thinking, and exploration in the natural landscape of the earth with
the aim of studying the wonders of creation and divine verses. Accordingly,
Muslim scholars have tried to get curiosity and the desire to understand natu-

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G. R. Montazeri, Y. Sepehri

ral resources and vegetation, to observe the divine verses, and they have facili-
tated the suffering of scientific adventures in the Islamic world [1].
Muslim scholars commissioned botanical studies due to the need for research
on medicinal plants with the aim of responding to medical needs and contribut-
ing to the physical and mental health of the community and they created the
context of the advent of pharmacology in Islamic civilization. In the knowledge
that its English equivalent is pharmacology, it was expressed from the recognition
of plants and the determination of the geographical area of these species of Chi-
nese, Hindi, Roman, Iranian, as well as from the growing season of the plants.
They learned how to make mineral chemicals from the Chinese and then in-
troduced it to the West. The most important source of Muslims in the field of
medical materials is the text of Jami bin Biaar (dated 1248 AD), which lists more
than 2000 materials, including many plants. In fact, the doctors who participated
in the Crusades introduced Islamic medicine to Europeans. Also, in the Middle
Ages, plant trade was a huge international trade [2].
The encouragement of the leaders of Islam from medicine and the recruit-
ment of Christian and Jewish doctors in the caliphate system, on the one hand,
and the need of the Islamic community, on the other hand, led the Muslims to
come to medicine and they would work in this field and after the translation
stage, to compile medical books and they wrote their innovations [3].
With another subject in Islamic history and civilization, we can mention that
Muslims are the leading advocates in pharmaceutical science with strong rea-
sons; because they had a lot of attention to the recognition of medicinal plants
and they were careful to look like one of the branches of medical science, and,
finally, they were able to create the important scientific development in this field
and provide valuable services by recognizing the plants .They identified medi-
cinal herbs from India and elsewhere in the United States in the treatment of ill-
nesses and because of the need for botanicals for the syrups and potions and
spices [4].
The intellectual heritage of the ancient generation of Islamic scholars is rich in
diversity. But those works of interest can be divided into two parts, divided into
a general category [5].

1.1. General Resources

The purpose of these sources is the works that are not devoted to the natural
history, but in terms of necessity, along with other topics of interest to the au-
thors, of natural resources, vegetation or properties of herbal medicines, includ-
ing: General history such as: Tabari’s history, works by Ibn Maskouyeh, works in
which history is interwoven with natural history, such as the works of Abu Ri-
han Bironi, Siouti, and geographic texts such as Nazeh al-Mushtaqh Edrisi’s
book and …

1.2. Exclusive Books

Appendices refer to a specific subject of natural history and botany. Among

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 G. R. Montazeri, Y. Sepehri

them: al-Fahlah al-Nahtatiyah, Ibn Wahshieh, book al-Fahla ibn Awam, Advieh
Mufrada Ghobagh, Advieh Mofradh, Ibn Beatar …
The evolution and stages
In this study, we will introduce a comprehensive introduction of outstanding
works based on the historical and evolutionary stages to provide a clear picture
of the evolution of botanical sciences and medicinal plants in Islamic civilization
and to learn more about the contribution and role of the creators of this work in
the development and development of the realm knowledge.

2. Third and Fourth Grade (AH). Foundation Period and

Scientific Prosperity
The beginning of the scientific and technological evolution of botanical and me-
dicinal plants can be sought in the golden age of the flowering of Islamic civiliza-
tion, the period of the Abbasid caliphate and the influence of Rijal with Iranian
culture in their political and social realms.
The period that formed with the translation of the sciences from various
Greek, Syriac, Hindi to Arabic, and thinkers gave rise to the growth and devel-
opment of various branches of intellectual science, especially natural history,
botanical studies with the longstanding efforts of the Islamic thinkers. One can
refer to the very effective role of Hunan ibn Isaac in the translation of Dassfor
Yiddis and Galenos in Syriac [6].
The significance of Hunin’s translations in this transformation is such that, in
Leclerc’s opinion, if Hunin had not created this scientific movement in the East,
there would be no one to do this or to be so sure and so active. As a result of this
scientific movement, a new window opened up to Muslim thinkers and provided
background to botanical studies and research in Islamic civilization.
The important thing is that the botanists and natural history enthusiasts were
not convinced that the present situation, while benefiting from valuable scientif-
ic experiences and other civilizations, eventually turned into a reference point
for other nations, by expanding the scientific domain of this knowledge and En-
hancement, and the pioneering of a more complete solution [7].
In the words of one of the foreign writers who had numerous studies in the
field of pharmacy, he placed Muslims among the first founders of pharmacy
science, the first providers of pharmaceutical practices and initiated the creation
of a pharmacy in today’s fashion [8].
Among the other benefits of botanical research and the properties and
functions of medicinal herbs among Muslims, we can mention the crucial role
of medicinal herbs in the health and physical and mental health of the people.
Muslim scholars oversaw the phases of production and testing of pharmacists
in order to ensure their ability and firmness to professional ethics, as during
the caliphate of Rashid, the pharmacists and physicians, they were able to
carry out this mission, and they presented the reports of investigations your
own [9].

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G. R. Montazeri, Y. Sepehri

3. The Fifth Century (AH). The Period of Development and

Promotion of This Botanical Science
The fifth century can be considered the beginning of the growth and flourishing
of botanical science, especially in Andalusia. The period provided was the foun-
dation of outstanding scientific scholarship in Islamic civilization and had a
profound effect on the effects of Evadar on the advent of scholars and scholars
on scientific trips and on the acquisition of objective experiences and observa-
tions. During this period, the researchers and authors of Andalusia enjoyed a
high status, and the case attention was drawn to the outstanding professors in
these techniques, due to the writing of a series of related works on agriculture
and botany.
During this period, the Muslims put up on their agenda the establishment of
excellent water networks, the construction of Iranian-style gardens in Spain.
Benefit from the varied Andalusian and Moroccan plants, along with the exis-
tence of excellent irrigation networks that have remained in some areas up to
now, provided a ground for the compilation of botanical work [1] [4].

4. Sixth and Seventh Centuries (AH). Flourishing and Peak

Botanical science and medicinal herbs reached the peak of the scientific flou-
rishing in their evolution, in these two centuries, and due to numerous botanical
science innovations and achievements, many scientists became interested in the
botanical field. One of the achievements of this period and the prevailing
attributes of the preceding period is the expansion of scientific trips, the writing
of the most basic and strongest treatises related to botanical and medicinal
plants, the development of the first encyclopedias of medicinal plants, illustra-
tion and drawing of different stages of plant growth with research goals and op-
timal use of the results of personal experiences and observations in describing
and describing the plants.

5. The Eighth Century (AH). Period of Depression and Death

Although books were published in botany, books, however, declined in this pe-
riod, especially in science and natural history. Accordingly, this century can be
considered a record period of scientific efforts of Muslims in various fields, in-
cluding botanicals, and medicinal plants.

5.1. Researches and Featured Books

However, there are translations from Islamic scholars that clearly show the im-
pact of medical work in European countries. For example, Razi’s books and Abu
Ali Sinai’s law. So, given the importance of the subject, we are dealing with the
evolution of Islamic medicine and herbs by mentioning famous books in that
particular period.
These books deal with the introduction of plants and the use of their judg-
ment, and it is determined that each scientist has introduced the number of

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 G. R. Montazeri, Y. Sepehri

plants and the new plants in Islamic medicine were the result of which scientists
in which period.
Stage 1: Third and fourth grade (AH):
1) The Book of Al-Nabat, Abu Hanifa Dinvari (282 AH)
The author of this great and valuable work has compiled everything in the
Arabic language about the plants. Most often, these terms and botanical terms
are described in a lexical manner, but sometimes also introduces a variety of
plants in a scientific manner.
The work has a lexical aspect, but because of its importance, attention has al-
ways been paid to the attention of doctors and botanists.
2) Ferdos al-Hikmah. Abolhassan Ali ibn Rabbn al-Beri (around 112 AH):
This book is among the first comprehensive medical works and also contains
important articles on pharmacology, and spice.
3) Al-Havi (al-Havi fi al-Talab) Abu Bakr Muhammad ebn. Zakaria Razi Razi,
(123 AH):
This valuable medical effect has examined about 366 plants.
4) Al-Fahla al-Nabteyah. Ibn Wahshieh (Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Ali Bin Qays):
Al-Fahlah’s book has world renown due to its importance, and many of its
topics are devoted to plants, planting practices, irrigation, maintenance, pest
control, root and stem properties, leaf and fruit, and related agricultural issues.
The author used the first Arabic name of the Arabic names of plants and, in
many cases, Greek, Nepothean, and Persian names.
5) Cidane. Abu Rayhan Exterior (162 AH):
Cidane is a book written by Abou Rihān in pharmacology. This effect is due to
the categorization of drugs and the way in which they are used. The differences
between the properties of each plant and the Greek, Syriac, Arabic and Iranian
names of drugs, Introduction the book is a cidny with five chapters, each dedi-
cated chapter. It is a specific topic of the herbs. The main body of the book con-
sists of about 366 medications based on the alphabetical list and the writer’s ef-
fort to provide Arabic, Greek, Persian, Hindi and Hebrew names along with
their synonyms.
6) Law Abu Ali Hussein bin Abdullah bin Sina (428 AH):
The law of Ibn Sina has put all the medical books in its domination, for centu-
ries and centuries, both in Islamic lands and in Middle Eastern Europe.The va-
lidity of this work was so great that in the medical circles of the Islamic world,
which the military system says: If Hippocrates and Galenus were alive, it was
possible to prostrate before this book.
Stage 2: Sixth and seventh centuries (AH):
1) Al-adwei Al-Mafrud Book. Abu Ja’far Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Ghafqi
The book can be named as one of the best and most accurate compilations
and botanical samples in terms of the combination of botany and medicine and
the significant relationship between botanical and medicinal plants [1].
2) The Book of Al-Fahlah, Ibn al-Awam Andalus (583 AH)

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G. R. Montazeri, Y. Sepehri

The Book of Al-Fahlah is one of the most important medieval treatises that
this book is about agriculture and in thirty-four chapters. This book deals with
agriculture and animal husbandry.
The comprehensiveness and practical aspects of this book has improved its
technical and scholarly value and it has become a privileged book on agriculture.
Ibn Awam had a keen interest in agriculture and its issues and often used his
personal experiences in cultivation. He paid for such topics as explaining and
explaining the types of soil, types of fertilizers, types of transplantation, various
types of water and methods of plowing and their irrigation practices. One of the
main goals of Ibn Awam’s writing of this work has been through the training of
farmers, the ground for raising the value of land.
3) Al-Nakhl’s book. Abdul Latif Baghdadi:
Baghdadi was among the scholars who have more than 100 treatises on all
subjects, including botanicals. Including the Book of Al-Nahl, the book of the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard, published in Egypt, which includes the observa-
tions of the author on botanical matters [6].
4) Aladwei Al-Mafrud Book. Rashid alDin Abu Mansur ibn Abi al-Fazl ibn Ali
Suri (616 AH):
Ibn Suri (botanist and physician) enjoyed great value in botanical field due to
his efforts and his book was considered and used as a reference in pharmacology
among European and Muslim scholars. Accordingly, a number of researchers
named him the founder of a new scientific botanist. In his scientific career, he is
more concerned with his exact experimental approach to the study of medicinal
herbs.
According to Ibn Abi Ishiya, he included a two-step general approach: the
search and identification of medicinal and medicinal herbs traveling to different
regions of Jebel-Lebanon, Iraq, Armenia, Antakya and Anatolia, and recording
the stages Different plant growth. This book is exquisite and in the Encyclopedia
of Medicinal Plants that has provided a great service to enthusiasts and re-
searchers in recognizing plants because of colorful and accurate images.
5) Book of Al-Jame lesefat Ashtat AL-Nabat. Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn
Abdullah bin Idrisi (646 AH)
He is known as Sharif Idrisi, a geographer, historian, botanist and adelist of
Andalusia whose reputation is for the book of Naseh al-Mushtaq. The book was
written with the purpose of identifying seven climates and within fifteen. Nev-
ertheless, his valuable work is reminiscent of medieval and botanical medicine.

5.2. The History of Medicine and Herbal Plants in Iran

In Iran, as one of the seven Asian countries, there are the most medicinal herbs,
and this tendency to medicinal plants and we are witnessing a growing trend in
the use of these herbal medicines and the revival of traditional medicine. Ac-
cording to available statistics there are more than 130 herbal remedies in Iran.
For a very long time, plants have played an important role in the treatment of

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 G. R. Montazeri, Y. Sepehri

many diseases especially in the East region countries [10].

Iran is an ancient country in usage of herbal plants and there are documents
showing Persians were pioneers in applying plants for medicinal purposes [11].
Evidence in many European countries show herbal medicine is very popular. In
Iran, some continuous projects are being performed to achieve its real position
of herbal medicine and herbal plants [12].
The era of the development of Islamic medicine in Iran can be traced back to
the time when the book “zakhireh Kharazm Shahi” By Seyed Esmaeel Jorjani.
This Iranian scientist created an enormous movement in the publication of
medical texts in the Islamic civilization of the time and wrote his book in Farsi
[13].
Iranian medical scientists had two distinct stages in participation in advance-
ment of medical sciences: 1) the age of translation, from 750-900 AD, when
many graduates of Gondi Sapur translated the corpus of Galenic and Hippocrat-
ic works; and 2) The golden age of creativity, from 900-1100 AD, that was the
era of Iranian world stars in pharmacology and pharmacy such as Rhazes
(850-932) and Avicenna (980-1037). In their period about forty different phar-
maceutical dosage forms were used and different kinds of extraction and pre-
paring herbal medicines were developed [10] [13].

6. Results
The results of the research indicate that Islamic thinkers, using the results of re-
search by scientists of natural and botanical sciences of other nations, especially
Greece, founded the botanical sciences and herbal medicine in Islamic civiliza-
tion. But they did not stop at this stage, with self-belief and innovation, they
were interested in the growth and development of this science in different fields,
and in some fields, due to outstanding scientific achievements, they were the
bearers of overtaking others and turned into references for European scholars.
Historical evidence shows that Muslims have been trying to teach botany and
compile books on medicinal herbs. They initially translated the translations of
Dysfrides and Jalinus, and Indian books, and then converted them to research
and compilation of the work in this field. For example, Mohammad bin Zakaria
Razi not only had studies on medicinal herbs, but also about the famous phar-
macology, and he introduced about 630 medicinal herbs in the twenty-first vo-
lume of his al-Hawaii book.
Among them are the following:
1) Writing a comprehensive botanical treatise and mentioning new species
beyond the findings of the Uninean, along with the synonyms of each plant in
various Arabic, Greek, Syriac, Hebrew languages …
2) Compilation of the first botanical encyclopedia in Islamic civilization and
superior to Greek examples.
3) Painting and imaging of plant growth stages on scientific trips.
4) Measuring the amount of drug adherence to professional ethics.

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G. R. Montazeri, Y. Sepehri

5) Creating diverse vegetation gardens and farms for research purposes.

6) Pioneering the foundation of pharmacology and pharmacy in the modern
way.

Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

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