title: Bioprospecting Rumphius's Ambonese Herbal: Volume I.
abstract: Collaborating with traditional healers remains a valid method for the identification of potential lead compounds for novel pharmaceuticals. However, the knowledge of these traditional healers is rapidly being lost. Historic herbal texts provide a unique window to identify plants whose specific uses are no longer known. We have identified nine plants in the 17th century Ambonese Herbal: Volume I which were documented as having medicinal properties but which have not been examined in the current literature. We demonstrate that by evaluating plant and herb efficacy reports from historic texts, in the context of comprehensive modern databases such as NAPRALERT, we can ultimately identify candidate specimens deserving further pharmacological study.
authors.affiliation: Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program, Mayo College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, 200 First Street NW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. buenz.eric@mayo.edu
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Buenz
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Beekman
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Motley
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D019448:Ethnobotany / Q000266:history; D029001:Herbal Medicine / Q000266:history; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D008374:Manuscripts, Medical as Topic; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000266:history; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000266:history; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000266:history / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts