• Preservation of Traditional Knowledge
• Cultivation of Medicinal Plants
• Research into Medicinal Plants
• Development of Medicinal Plants

Israel, at the junction of 3 continents is unique in its geology and climate and also in its remarkable range of flora and fauna. With alpine, Mediterranean, subtropical and desert climates, Israel possesses almost 3000 species of plants, of which at least one third are considered to be medicinal.

Historically the Bible, as well as later works in Hebrew and Arabic, including those by physicians Maimonedes and Avicena, have layed the basis for the scholarly as well as folk traditions of medicinal plants while thousands of years of trade along ancient caravan routes and a history of frequent conquest, have introduced into the region many exotic species originally native to Europe, Asia, Africa and India.

Today in a country characterized by the diversity of its ethnic groups, folk healers are still to be found amongst Jewish and Arab communities, drawing on a rich tradition that extends back to earliest times.

This fascinating legacy of medicinal plant use, is however to, unlikely  survive into the 21st century as traditional healers are failing to pass on their knowledge to the next generation, while increasing urbanization, climatic changes and destruction of natural habitat, has resulted in the decline and increasing rarity of many species in Israel. The result is that a unique tradition of medicinal plant use, extending back over 3000 years, is rapidly being lost.

THE MIDDLE-EASTERN MEDICINAL

PLANT PROJECT (MEMP)

 “The fruit shall be food, the leaf for medicine” (Ezekiel 42:12)

The Middle-Eastern Medicinal Plant Project (MEMP) was established by NMRC in 1995 in order to safeguard this precious legacy and to research and develop its potential.

The aims of MEMP are to:

1. PRESERVE a unique and valuable tradition of medicinal plant use common to both Jewish and Arab communities in Israel.

2. CULTIVATE medicinal plants particularly those classified as endangered or rare species. (see conservation program).

3. RE-INTRODUCE "lost species" considered locally extinct, including species mentioned in the Bible.

4. RESEARCH selected medical plants by assessing their biological activity in focused scientific screening models.

5. DEVELOP medicinal plants commercially as natural products or as the basis of new drugs. 

6. ESTABLISH a "Plants for Peace" initiative as a regional program.

RESEARCH INTO MEDICINAL PLANTS

The focused scientific screening of local medicinal plants for bioactivity.

During 2000-2001 NMRU initiated a program to scientifically investigate local medicinal plants particularly those from the Arava, southern desert region of Israel and the Dead Sea and focusing specifically on rare and endangered species.

Bio-activity was evaluated at the Hadassah Hospital,using raw plant material derived from cultivated seed sources (see CULTIVATION) and based on in-vitro (non-animal) screening models for anti-bacterial and immunological effect.

Extracts of each species screened were prepared in both petroleum ether and ethyl acetate by the Dept. of Chemistry at Tel Aviv University

Consruction of Traditional Ecological Knowledge-  profile

Initially a Traditional Ecological  Knowledge (TEK) profile was constructed for selected plants, using the MEMP database and including every aspect of the plant’s historical use.

This type of ethnobotanical approach to screening has been shown to offer a much greater potential for discovering a plants’ bioactivity than the mass screening methods, often favored by pharmaceutical companies.

Anti-infective activity of local medicinal plants

Currently extracts of13 medicinal plants domesticated and cultivated at Kibbutzim Ein Gedi and Ketura (see CONSERVATION) have now been assessed for anti-infective activity against a number of common pathogenic bacteria, yeasts, moulds and other fungal infections, in the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, at HMO.

Results show significant effect against several gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

In addition, Anti-Leishmoniasis activity, a protozoal infection found in the Dead Sea Rift valley area of Israel, causing an ulcerated sores, and in developing countries, a serious tropical disease is also being investigated by NMRU.

Immuno-regulatory activity of plants used traditionally as tonics

NMRU has also identified a number of medicinal species from the MEMP database, traditionally used as tonics, cleansing agents, strengtheners, etc., ethnobotanical information, which may imply potential immune boosting bio-activity.

Extracts of several of these species cultivated at Ketura and Ein Gedi, have now been evaluated in the Laboratory for Immunology and Tumor Diagnosis (HMO) for cytokine activity, important markers of the immune response,  with initial results demonstrating significant activity for several of these markers..

Anti-aging activity

A number of plant species found in Israel have been traditionally used for “rejuvenation” purposes, to increase virility and as aphrodisiacs. Selected plants currently under cultivation will  in the future be examined for “anti-aging” activity, by assessing their effect on cell viability, following oxidative stress and apoptosis (cell death) .

The screening and scientific investigation of all medicinal plants by NMRU in conjunction with laboratories at HMO and The School Of Medicine, is performed on an in-vitro basis only using selected cell lines, and does not include animal experiments

DEVELOPMENT OF

MEDICINAL PLANTS

Data obtained from NMRU studies is of great importance, since it provides scientific evidence substantiating the traditional uses of medicinal plants and significantly increasing their value as commercial natural products.

Such studies also provide a basis for the further research and development of medicinal plants as new pharmaceutical drugs

In the future MEMP will focus on the sustainable commercial development of several medicinal plants historically used as teas, but with evidence from focused screening programs of verified bio-activity.

The possibility of upscaling cultivation sites into larger scale sustainable commercial plantations for the production of teas, neutraceuticals and other herbal products using organic methods of agriculture, will be evaluated at Kibbutz Ein Gedi and Kibbutz Ketura, as well as other Kibbutzim and Moshavim in the area.

For further information on commercial applications of NMRU's Middle East Medicinal Plant project – contact NMRU directly (see CONTACT US)