Avicenna’s Concept of Cardiovascular Drug Targeting in Medicamenta Cordialia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Research Office for the history of Persian Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Traditional Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Avicenna (980 – 1037 AD) known as the prince of physicians in the west was one of the most prominent Persian thinkers, philosophers, and physicians. Owing to his interests in cardiology, he authored considerable works on different aspects of cardiology. “Resaley-e-Ragshenasi” (Book on Pulsology) and”Kitab al-Adviyt- ol-Qalbiye” (the book on drugs for cardiovascular diseases) are Avicenna’s great dedication to the field of cardiology. In the field of drug therapy, an important concept which Avicenna touched on was the approach of drug achievement to the site of action in an easier and more efficient way. The mentioned concept is now recognized as “drug targeting” in current medicinal sciences and is an important challenge and field of research in pharmacy. Drug targeting has its starting point just a few decades ago. whereas Avicenna considered the strategy 1000 year ago.

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