title: Medicinal herbs and methodologies for their pharmaceutical compounding in the West Bank/Palestine.
abstract: This study focused on herbalists, herbal shops and people currently using traditional Arabic medicine. Informants were asked to list plants and methods for obtaining plant herbal extracts used to manage a range of illnesses. A total of 109 plants were identified, of these, principle plant elements included, leaves (47.3%), fruits (18.5%) and seeds (18.0%) were most commonly utilized. Extraction methods included decoction (boiling) 51%, and infusion 17% and prepared as creams, powders, syrups, food or cooked. Many plant species are used by herbalists for treating a range of ailments. This study suggests that a lack of methodological standardization during herbal extraction could compromise herbal stability. There is also a need to monitor for potential adverse drug interactions when used concurrently with prescribed medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine. Electronic address: rawa_ramahi@najah.edu.
authors.forename: Rowa'
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al-Ramahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
authors.forename: Nidal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jaradat
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
authors.forename: Abdel Naser
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Zaid
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Florence Polo Scientifico dell'Università, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco Francesco
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Vincieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
authors.forename: Mays
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asmaa
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008877:Middle East; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000145:classification* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Extraction; Medicinal plants; Stability