Tag: Mithridates

Mithridates VI Eupathor of Pontus, the first experimental toxicologist, and his creation, universal antidote to poisons and toxins, called Mithridatium, minuscule doses of deadly poisons with antidotes. The most dangerous and relentless enemy of the late Roman Republic in decades-long conflict known as the Mithridatic Wars.

After Pompey defeated him in Pontus, Mithridates VI fled to the lands north of the Black Sea in the winter of 66 BC in the hope that he could raise a new army and carry on the war through invading Italy by way of the Danube. His preparations proved to be too harsh on the local nobles and populace, and they rebelled against his rule. He reportedly attempted suicide by poison. This attempt failed because of his immunity to the poison. According to Appians’s Roman History, he then requested his Galic friend, Leonora, to kill him by the sword.

Plants Used in Mithridatium

Scientific Name

Plant Family

Common Name

Part Useda

Bioactive Ingredient

Chemical Category

Mechanismb

Acacia arabica Willd.

Fabaceae

Acacia

Gum from branches (18)

Fisetinc

flavonoid

inhibits cytokine expression (19)

Acorus calamus L.

Acoraceae

Sweet flag

Root

Acorus calamus L.

Acoraceae

Sweet flag

Root (20)

Asarone

phenylpropanoid

antioxidant in vivo (21)

Athamanta cretensis L.

Apiaceae

Cretan carrot

Seed (18)

Imperatorind

furanocoumarin

inhibits NFAT binding to DNA (22)

Boswellia carterii Birdw.

Burseraceae

Frankin cense

Gum resin (23)

Acetyl 11-keto-beta- boswellic acid

triterpene

inhibits leukotriene synthesis (24)

Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik

Brassicaceae

Shepherd’s purse

Herb (25)

Fumaric acid

dicarboxylic acid

protects against toxic chemicals in vitro (25)

Centaurium erythraea Raf.

Gentianaceae

Lesser centaury

Herb (26)

Swertiamarin

monoterpene

antioxidant (26)

Cinnamomum cassia Bl.

Lauraceae

Cassia

Bark, leaf (27)

2-Hydroxy cinnamaldehyde

phenolic

inhibits NF-κB activation (27)

Cinnamomum zelanicum Bl.

Lauraceae

Cinnamon

Bark (28)

Coniferyl aldehydee, eugenol

phenylpropanoids

antioxidants (28, 29)

Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl.

Burseraceae

Myrrh

Gum resin (20)

Furanodiene

sesquiterpene

inhibits lipopolysaccharide–induced NO production (30)

Commiphora opobalsmum (L.) Engl.

Burseraceae

Balm of Gilead

Gum resin (31)

Extract

–

protects against gastric ulcers (31)

Crocus sativus L.

Iridaceae

Saffron

Herb and flower (32)

Crocin

crocetin digentobiose ester

ester and plant extract are antioxidants (33)

Cyperus rotundus L.

Cyperaceae

Sweet rush

Rhizome (34)

Isocurcumenol

sesquiterpene

inhibits NO production (30)

Cytinus hypocistis L.

Rafflesiaceae

Hypocistis

Juice of herb (35)

Gallic acidf

phenolic acid

antioxidant (36)

Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton

Zingiberaceae

Cardamom

Seed capsule (36)

Extract

–

Extract inhibits platelet aggregation and lipid peroxidation (37)

Ferula assafoetida L.

Apiaceae

Assafoetida

Gum (38)

Ferulic acidg

phenolic acid

antioxidant (39)

Ferula gummosa Boiss.

Apiaceae

Galbanum

Gum (40)

Alpha and beta-pinene

monoterpenes

may act in dyspepsia (40)

Ferula persica Willd.

Apiaceae

Sagapenum

Gum (41)

Extract

Hypericum perforatum L.

Hyperiaceae

St John’s wort

Herb (42)

Hyperforin

phloroglucinol

multiple effects on gene expression (42)

Liquidambar orientalis Mill.

Hamamelidaceae

Storax

Bark resin (18)

Casuarinin

ellagitannin

antioxidant (43)

Nardostachys jatamansi (G.Don) DC.

Valerianaceae

Indian nard

Herb (44)

Extract

–

Extract protects against lipid peroxidation (44)

Opopanax chironium Koch.

Apiaceae

Opopanax

Gum resin (45)

Imperatorin

furanocoumarin

antiplatelet aggregation activity (46)

Papaver rhoeas L.

Papaveraceae

Wild poppy

Juice from herb (47)

Extract

–

Antioxidant properties (48)

Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym.

Apiaceae

Parsley

Leaf, seed (11)

Apigenin and fisetin

flavonoids

inhibit production of IL-4 and IL-13 (49)

Pimpinella anisum L.

Apiaceae

Anise

Seed (11)

Anethole

furanocoumarin

anti-inflammatory activity (50)

Piper longum L.

Piperaceae

Long pepper

Fruit, seed (51)

Extract

–

Fruit extract reduces lipid peroxidation (51)

Pistachia terebinthus L.

Anacardiaceae

Terebinith

Resin (52)

Masticadi– enonic acid

triterpene

inhibits leukotriene B4 production (53)

Rosa gallica L.

Rosaceae

Gallic rose

Leaves, flowers (13)

Gallic acid

phenolic acid

antioxidant (54)

Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch

Asteraceae

Costus

Root (55)

Costunolide

sesquiterpene lactone

blocks NO and NF-κB activation (56)

Seseli libanotis

Apiaceae

Hartwort

Root (57)

Pteryxin

coumarin

shows strong antiplatelet aggregation activity (46)

Valeriana celtica L.

Valerianaceae

Celtic nard

Root (58)

Valerenic acid

sesquiterpene

soporific activity (59)

Zingiber officinale Rosc.

Zingiberaceae

Ginger

Rhizome (60)

6-Gingerol

phenyl propane ketone

suppresses NF–κB binding (16)