The use of different foods, herbs, and spices to treat or prevent disease has been recorded for thousands of years. Egyptian papyrus, hieroglyphics and ancient texts from the Middle East have described the cultivation and preparations of herbs and botanicals to cure the sick. There are even older records from China and India. Some ancient scripts describe the use of medicinal plants which have never been seen within European cultures. Indeed, all ancient civilizations have pictorial records of different foods, herbs, and spices being used for medical purposes. However, there are fundamental questions and issues pertaining to the scientific evidence for the use of these agents or their extracts in modern medicine. These issues are explored in Ancient and Traditional Foods, Plants, Herbs and Spices used in the Middle East.

Features

- Describes uses and applications of plant-based materials from different countries of the Middle East.

- Each chapter has unique cross references to foods, herbs, spices and botanicals

- Bridges molecular biology, physiology and medical sciences

- Coverage includes herbal medicines, supplements, lifestyle patterns, nutrition, and plant-based diets

- Each chapter describes usage and applications of traditional foods and botanicals; historical background; toxicity; cautionary notes; and summary points

There have been considerable advances in scientific techniques over the last few decades. These have been used to examine the composition and applications of traditional cures. Modern science has also seen the investigation of herbs, spices and botanicals beyond their traditional usage. Written by international experts, this is an essential read for food researchers, food scientists, and nutritionists, researchers and health professionals with an interest in the potential therapeutic value of Middle Eastern food components. The book will also be of relevance to physicians and pharmacologists.

1. Grains and Pulses in Diets of the Middle East with a Focus on Buckwheat

Haci Ömer YILMAZ, Çagdas Salih MERIÇ

2. Dietary Patterns in the Middle East and Fatty Liver Disease

Makan Pourmasoumi, Farahnaz Joukar, Fariborz Mansour-Ghanaei

3. Fatty Acids in Different Foods of Middle Eastern Diets: Implications for Health

Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh, Lara Nasreddine

4. The Link of Lifestyle Patterns and Nutrition in Iran with Health and Traditional Diets

Mahdieh Abbasalizad Farhangi, Negin Nikrad

5. Traditional Medicinal Foods in Persian Medicine: An Overview of Current Evidence

Mahboubeh Bozorgi, Roodabeh Bahramsoltani, Roja Rahimi

6. Traditional Dietary Patterns in the Elderly: Iranian Aspects

Sakineh Shab-Bidar, Amin Mirrafiei

7. Syrian Herbs in Health and Disease

Husam Abazid, Nour Alabbas, Manar Al Hamed

8. Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Usage in the Middle East: Applications for Gastroesophageal Reflux

Mohaddese Mahboubi

9. Arta (Calligonum Comosum) in the Middle East and Biomedical Applications

Muna A. Ali, Naglaa S. Ashmawy, Kareem Mousa, Mohamed D. Al-Shamsi, Ali A. El-Keblawy, Sameh S. M. Soliman

10. Conehead Thyme/Thymus Capitatus (Thymus Capitatus) and Evidence-Based Usage in Eradicating Helicobacter Pylori

Meryem Güvenir

11. Cumin (Cuminum Cyminum) Usage in the Middle East and Biological Basis of its Actions

Amir Hossein Faghfouri, Mahdiyeh Khabbaz Koche Ghazi

12. Frankincense (Boswellia Sacra Flueck.) and its Usage in the Middle East: Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Aspects

Ian Edwin Cock, Victor Akpe, Matthew James Cheesman

13. Khella (Ammi Visnaga), Molecular and Cellular Aspects and Potential in Biomedicine

Samar Thiab, Rana Abutaima, Muna Barakat, Safa Daoud, May Abu-Taha

14. French Marigold (Tagetes Patula L.): Phytochemical and Bioactive Targets of Secondary Metabolites

Ausama Abdulwahab Safar

15. Oak Gall (Quercus Infectoria G. Olivier Gall): Pharmaceutical Usage and Cellular Targets

Parmis Badr, Fatemeh Etemadpour

16. Pelargonium Species and their Usage in the Middle East as Medicinal Herbs

Mohammad H. El-Dakdouki, Lina Fayoumi

17. Saffron (Crocus Sativus) as a Middle East Herb: Traditional and Modern Medicinal Applications

Mehrnaz Shojaei, Mohammad Bagherniya, Gholamreza Askari, Babak Alikiaei, Seyed Ahmad Emami, Eric Gumpricht, Amirhossein Sahebkar

18. Sage Plants (Salvia sp.; Lamiaceae) in the Middle East: Phytochemistry, Ethnopharmacology and Traditional use

Salar Hafez Ghoran, Fatemeh Taktaz, Ali Akbar Mozafari, Armin Saed-Moucheshi, Ali Hosseini

19. Paronychia Argentea L. Usage in the Middle East (Jordan) and its Biomedical Profiles

Mohamad Shatnawi, Rida Shibli, Sobhia Saifan, Ashok K. Shakya, Tamara Al Qudah, Rajashri R. Naik

20. Taily Weed (Ochradenus Baccatus Delile) as a Middle Eastern Herbal: Biological Activities and Profiles

Hamdoon A. Mohammed, Ehab A. Ragab, Riaz A. Khan

21. Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum Miller) from Egypt and Phytochemical Usage; Phenolics and Flavonoids

Manal Mahmoud Sabry, Fify Ibrahim Fathy, Sabah Hussein El Gayed

22. Turmeric (Curcuma Longa L.) Usage in the Middle East: A Comprehensive Review

Sepide Amini, Zahra Kiani, Mohammad Bagherniya, Gholamreza Askari, Zahra Tayarani-Najaran, Muhammed Majeed, Amirhossein Sahebkar

23. Veined Dock (Rumex Pictus Forssk.) Usage in the Middle East, Phytochemical Constituents, and Biological Effects of the Extracts

Enaam AbouZeid, Lamiaa Abou El-Kassem, Nagwa Ammar

24. Recommended Resources for the Scientific Study of Foods, Plants, Herbs, and Spices Used in the Middle East

Rajkumar Rajendram, Daniel Gyamfi, Vinood B. Patel, Victor R. Preedy