Medicinal Plants in the Holy Quran and their Therapeutic Benefits

There are many plants with medicinal applications that have been mentioned in the Holy Book of Muslims, the “Quran”. This discussion may point to their pharmaceutical importance in different illnesses due to either their nutritional or phytotherapeutical properties. The objective of this research is the identification of medicinal plants enumerated in the Quran and exploring their purported phytotherapeutical benefits.

A search of the Quran for any enumeration of medicinal plants was conducted. A subsequent search for any documentation or publication of their therapeutical benefits was carried out using the scientific literature and internet websites for well referenced publications.

At least nineteen medicinal plants have been identified in the Quran. They include: Camphor, Date palm, Fig, Ginger, Grape, Garlic, Lentil, Olive, Onion, Pomegranate, Summer squash, Sweet basil, Athel tamarisk, Tooth-Brush Tree, Arak, Mustard, Acacia, Cucumber, leek, and Cedrus. Five of these plants were selected because of their numerous therapeutic properties revealed in the medical literature. Pomegranate showed hypotensive, antimicrobial, and cancer-preventive activities. Grapes and grape seeds showed abundant benefits in cardiovascular problems. Several studies proved the effectiveness of ginger for the relief of nausea and vomiting. Clinical and animal studies illustrated the medicinal benefits of olive oil and leaves as hypoglycemic, hypotensive, hypocholesterolemic, antiviral, antimicrobial and immunostimulant agents.

The phytotherapeutical benefits of some of the nineteen medicinal plants identified from the Quran were supported by numerous scientific publications, both traditional as well as evidence-based. In order to explore the therapeutical benefits of the other medicinal plants found in the Quran, further research is required.