Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Traditional Uses of Pistacia lentiscus in Veterinary and Human Medicine

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the Middle-East

Part of the book series: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World ((MAPW,volume 2))

Abstract

Pistacia lentiscus L. is an evergreen shrub or tree of the Anacardiaceae family that is ubiquitous in Mediterranean areas under 1,100 m above sea level. The essential oil obtained from the gum/resin is commonly called mastic oil, whereas the oil obtained from the leaves is termed lentisk oil. Mastic, foliage, and fruit essential oils have served in traditional human medicine for millennia. In human medicine, aqueous extracts of leaves and young twigs are prepared as infusions or decoctions. Leaves and young twigs are used “as is” in veterinary medicine. Extracts exhibit a high concentration of phenolics and terpenes of varying composition. In addition to the traditional use of mastic resin in human medicine against stomach ulcers, evidences for anti-bacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, hepato-protective, and anti-carcinogenic properties of products sourcing from P. lentiscus, some of them controversial, are accumulating. The anthelmintic and anticoccidial properties of P. lentiscus foliage have been recently demonstrated in small ruminants. Metabolomics, encompassing new analytical procedures will probably help in elucidating the rationale of traditional medicine in using P. lentiscus for therapies or prevention. It can be expected that new cultivars will be cultivated on the basis of bio-activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aksoy A, Duran N, Koksal F (2006) In vitro and in vivo antimicrobial effects of mastic chewing gum against Streptococcus mutans and mutans streptococci. Arch Oral Biol 51:476–481

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ali-Shtayeh MS, Abu-Ghdeib SI (1999) Antifungal activity of plant extracts against dermatophytes. Mycoses 42:665–672

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Said MS, Ageel AM, Parmar NS, Tariq M (1986) Evaluation of mastic, a crude drug obtained from Pistacia lentiscus for gastric and duodenal anti-ulcer activity. J Ethnopharmacol 15:271–278

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Assimopoulou AN, Papageorgiou VP (2005) GC-MS analysis of penta- and tetra-cyclic triterpenes from resins of Pistacia species Part I Pistacia lentiscus var Chia. Biomed Chromatogr 19:285–311

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Azaizeh H, Halahleh F, Abbas N, Markovics A, Muklada H, Ungar ED, Landau SY (2012) Polyphenols from Pistacia lentiscus and Phillyrea latifolia impair the exsheathment of gastro-intestinal nematode larvae. Vet Parasitol 191:44–50

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barazani O, Golan-Goldhirsch A (2009) Salt-driven interactions between Pistacia lentiscus and Salsola inermis. Environ Sci Pollut Res 16:855–861

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barazani O, Dudai N, Golan-Goldhirsh A (2003) Comparison of Mediterranean Pistacia lentiscus genotypes by random amplified polymorphic DNA, chemical, and morphological analyses. J Chem Ecol 29:1939–1952

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bebb JR, Bailey-Flitter N, Ala’Aldeen D, Atherton JC (2003) Mastic gum has no effect on Helicobacter pylori load in vivo. J Antimicrob Chemother 52:522–523

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ben Douissa F, Hayder N, Chekir-Ghedira L, Hammami M, Ghedira K, Mariotte AM, Dijoux-Franca MG (2005) New study of the essential oil from leaves of Pistacia lentiscus L. (Anacardiaceae) from Tunisia. Flavour Fragr J 20:410–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhouri W, Derbel S, Skandrani I, Boubaker J, Bouhlel I, Sghaier MB, Kilani S, Mariotte AM, Dijoux-Franca MG, Ghedira K, Chekir-Ghedira L (2010) Study of genotoxic, antigenotoxic and antioxidant activities of the digallic acid isolated from Pistacia lentiscus fruits. Toxicol In Vitro 24:509–515

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bhouri W, Skandrani I, Ben Sghair M, Dijoux- Franca MG, Ghedira K, Chekir Ghedira L (2012) Digallic acid from Pistacia lentiscus fruits induces apoptosis and enhances antioxidant activities. Phytother Res 26:387–391

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bullitta S, Piluzza G, Viegi L (2007) Plant resources used for traditional ethnoveterinary phytotherapy in Sardinia. Genet Resour Crop Evol 54:1447–1464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castola V, Bighelli A, Casanova G (2000) Intraspecific chemical variability of the essential oil of Pistacia lentiscus L. from Corsica. Biochem Syst Ecol 28:79–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Charef M, Yousfi M, Saidi M, Stocker P (2008) Determination of the fatty acid composition of Acorn (Quercus), Pistacia lentiscus seeds growing in Algeria. J Am Oil Chem Soc 85:921–924

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dabos KJ, Sfika E, Vlatta LJ, Giannikopoulos G (2010) The effect of mastic gum on Helicobacter pylori: a randomized pilot study. Phytomed 17:296–299

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Decandia M, Sitzia M, Cabiddu A, Kababya D, Molle G (2000) The use of polyethylene glycol to reduce the anti-nutritional effects of tannins in goats fed woody species. Small Rumin Res 38:157–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dhifi W, Jelali N, Chaabani E, Beji M, Fatnassi S, Omri S, Mnif W (2013) Chemical composition of lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus L.) seed oil. Afr J Agric Res 8:1395–1400

    Google Scholar 

  • Filella I, Llusia J, Pinol J, Penuelas J (1998) Leaf gas exchange and fluorescence of Phillyrea latifolia, Pistacia lentiscus and Quercus ilex saplings in severe drought and high temperature conditions. Environ Exp Biol 39:213–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardeli C, Papageorgiou V, Mallouchos A, Theodosis K, Komaitis M (2008) Essential oil composition of Pistacia lentiscus L. and Myrtus communis L.: evaluation of antioxidant capacity of methanolic extracts. Food Chem 107:1120–1130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guarrera PG, Salerno G, Caneva G (2005) Folk phytotherapeutical plants from Maratea area (Basilicata, Italy). J Ethnopharmacol 99:367–378

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hagidimitriou M (2009) The resin of chios mastic tree: an old product with modern use. wwwunipait/arbor/varie/Presentation_MHagidimitriou_2pdf. Accessed 27 July 2013

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanovice-Ziony M, Gollop N, Landau SY, Ungar ED, Muklada H, Glasser TA, Perevolotsky A, Walker JW (2010) No major role for binding by salivary proteins as a defense against dietary tannins in Mediterranean goats. J Ecol Chem 36:736–742

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holland P (1601) Pliny the elder, natural history, vol VI, books 20–23. Harvard University Press, 1999,532 pages

    Google Scholar 

  • Huwez FU, Thirlwell D, Cockayne A, Ala’Aldeen DA (1998) Mastic gum kills Helicobacter pylori. N Engl J Med 339:1946–1951

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Inbar M (2008) Systematics of Pistacia: insights from specialist parasitic aphids. Taxon 57:238–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Janakat S, Al-Merie H (2002) Evaluation of hepato-protective effect of Pistacia lentiscus, phillyrea latifolia, and Nicotiana glauca. J Ethnopharmacol 83:135–138

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jaric S, Mitrovic M, Djurdjevic L, Galic G, Pavlovic D, Pavlovic P (2011) Phytotherapy in medieval Serbian medicine according to the pharmacological manuscripts of the Chilandar Medical Codex (15–16th centuries). J Ethnopharmacol 137:601–619

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jordano P (1989) Pre-dispersal biology of Pistacia lentiscus (Anacardiaceae): cumulative effects on seed removal by birds. Oikos 55:375–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kafkas S, Perl-Treeves R (2002) Interspecific relationships in Pistacia based on RAPD fingerprinting. HortSci 37:168–171

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaliora AC, Mylona A, Chiou A, Petsios DG, Andrikopoulos NK (2005) Detection and identification of simple phenolics in Pistacia lentiscus resin. J Liq Chromatogr Relat Technol 27:289–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koutsoudaki C, Krsek M, Rodger A (2005) Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil and the gum of Pistacia lentiscus Var “chia”. J Agric Food Chem 53:7681–7685

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Landau SY, Perevolotsky A, Kababya D, Silanikove N, Nitzan R, Baram H, Provenza FD (2002) Polyethylene-glycol increases the intake of tannin-rich Mediterranean browse by ranging goats. J Range Manag 55:598–603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landau S, Dvash L, Decandia M, Cabiddu A, Shapiro F, Molle G, Silanikove N (2004) Determination of poly(ethylene glycol)-binding to browse foliage, as an assay of tannin, by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. J Agric Food Chem 52:638–642

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Landau S, Azaizeh H, Muklada H, Glasser T, Ungar ED, Baram H, Abbas N, Markovics A (2010) Anthelmintic activity of Pistacia lentiscus foliage in two Middle Eastern breeds of goats differing in their propensity to consume tannin-rich browse. Vet Parasitol 173:280–286

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leonti M, Casu L, Sanna F, Bonsignore L (2009) A comparison of medicinal plant use in Sardinia and Sicily – de Materia Medica revisited? J Ethnopharmacol 121:255–267

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lev E, Amar Z (2000) Ethnopharmacological survey of traditional drugs sold in Israel at the end of the 20th century. J Ethnopharmacol 72:191–205

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ljubuncic P, Azaizeh H, Portnaya I, Cogan U, Said O, Abu-Saleh K, Bomzon A (2005a) Antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of eight plants used in traditional Arab medicine in Israel. J Ethnopharmacol 99:43–47

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ljubuncic P, Sing H, Cogan U, Azaizeh H, Bomzon A (2005b) The effects of aqueous extracts prepared from the leaves of Pistacia lentiscus in experimental liver disease. J Ethnopharmacol 100:198–204

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Llusià J, Peñuelas J, Alessio GA, Estiarte M (2006) Seasonal contrasting changes of foliar concentrations of terpenes and other volatile organic compound in four dominant species of a Mediterranean shrubland submitted to a field experimental drought and warming. Physiol Plant 127:632–649

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loughlin MF, Ala’Aldeen DA, Jenks PJ (2003) Monotherapy with mastic does not eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection from mice. J Antimicrob Chemother 51:367–371

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Loutrari H, Magkouta S, Pyriochou A, Koika V, Kolisis FN, Papapetropoulos A, Roussos C (2006) Mastic oil from Pistacia lentiscus var chia inhibits growth and survival of human K562 leukemia cells and attenuates angiogenesis. Nutr Cancer 55:86–93

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mabberley D (1997) The plant book. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Manolaraki F, Sotiraki S, Stefanakis A, Skampardonis V, Volanis M, Hoste H (2009) Anthelmintic activity of some Mediterranean browse plants against parasitic nematodes. Parasitol 7:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Markovics A, Cohen I, Muklada H, Glasser T, Dvash L, Ungar ED, Azaizeh H, Landau SY (2012) Consumption of Pistacia lentiscus foliage alleviates coccidiosis in young goats. Vet Parasitol 186:165–169

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muklada H, Azaizeh H, Abu-Rabia A, Kaadan S, Landau SY (2013) Pistacia lentiscus. In: Muklada H (ed) Veterinary uses of Israel plants. Agricultural Research Organization and the Galilee Society Publication, Shefa-Amr, pp 8–9 (Hebrew)

    Google Scholar 

  • Palacio S, Milla R, Montserrat-Marti G (2005) A phenological hypothesis on the thermophilous distribution of Pistacia lentiscus L. Flora 200:527–534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paraschos S, Magiatis P, Mitakou S (2007) In vitro and in vivo activities of Chios mastic gum extracts and constituents against Helicobacter pylori. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 51:551–559

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Parfitt DE, Badenes ML (1997) Phylogeny of the genus Pistacia as determined from analysis of the chloroplast genome. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 94:7987–7992

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pieroni A, Giusati ME, de Pasquale C, Lenzarini C, Censorii E, Gonzales-Tejero MR, Sanchez-Rojas CP, Ramiro-Gutierrez JM, Skoula M, Johnson C, Sarpaki A, Della A, Paraskeva-Hadjichambi D, Hadjichambis A, Hmamouchi M, El-Johri S, El-Demerdash M, El-Zayat M, Al-Shahaby O, Houmani Z, Scherazed M (2006) Circum Mediterraneum cultural heritage and medicinal plant uses in traditional animal healthcare: a field survey in eight selected areas within the RUBIA project. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 24:2–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Pérez C, Quirantes-Piné R, Amessis-Ouchemouk NH, Madani K, Segura-Carretero A, Fernández-Gutierrez A (2013) A metabolite-profiling approach allows the identification of new compounds from Pistacia lentiscus leaves. J Pharm Biomed Anal 77:167–174

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Romani A, Pinelli P, Galardi C, Mulinacci N, Tattini A (2002) Identification and quantification of galloyl derivatives, flavonoid glycosides and anthocyanins in leaves of Pistacia lentiscus. Phytochem Anal 13:79–86

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saad B, Dakwar S, Said O, Abu-Hijleh G, Battah FA, Kmeel A, Azaizeh H (2006) Evaluation of medicinal plant hepatotoxicity in co-cultures of hepatocytes and monocytes. J Evid Complement Altern Med 3:93–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Said O, Khalil K, Fulder S, Azaizeh H (2002) Ethno-pharmacological survey of medicinal herbs in Israel, the Golan Heights and the West Bank region. J Ethnopharmacol 83:251–265

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shifman A, Orenbuch S, Rosenberg M (2002) Bad breath – a major disability according to the Talmud. Isr Med Assoc J 4:843–847

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silanikove N, Gilboa N, Nir I, Perevolotsky A, Nitsan Z (1996a) Effect of a daily supplementation of polyethylene glycol on intake and digestion of tannin-containing leaves (Quercus calliprinos, Pistacia lentiscus, and Ceratonia siliqua) by goats. J Agric Food Chem 44:199–205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silanikove N, Gilboa N, Perevolotsky A, Nitsan Z (1996b) Goats fed tannin-containing leaves do not exhibit toxic syndromes. Small Rumin Res 21:195–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Triantafyllou A, Chaviaras N, Sergentanis TN, Protopapa E, Tsaknis J (2007) Chios mastic gum modulates serum biochemical parameters in a human population. J Ethnopharmacol 111:43–49

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yi T, Wen J, Golan-Goldhirsch A, Parfitt DE (2008) Phylogenetics and reticulate evolution in Pistacia (Anacardiacae). Am J Bot 95:241–251

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zohary D (1952) A monographical study of the genus Pistacia Palestine. J Bot (Jerus Ser) 5:187–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Zrira S, Elamrani A, Benjilali B (2003) Chemical composition of the essential oil of Pistacia lentiscus L. from Morocco – a seasonal variation. Flavour Fragr J 18:475–480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy and Natural Resources, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, 6, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel

    S. Landau & H. Muklada

  2. Department of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel

    A. Markovics

  3. The Regional Research and Development Center, The Galilee Society, Shefa-Amr, 20200, Israel

    H. Azaizeh

Authors
  1. S. Landau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Muklada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Markovics
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. Azaizeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Landau .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Introduction and Seed Research Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organisation, Bet-Dagan, Israel

    Zohara Yaniv

  2. The Aromatic, Medicinal and Spice Crops Unit Newe Ya’ar Research Centre, Agricultural Research Organization, Ramat Yishay, Israel

    Nativ Dudai

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Landau, S., Muklada, H., Markovics, A., Azaizeh, H. (2014). Traditional Uses of Pistacia lentiscus in Veterinary and Human Medicine. In: Yaniv, Z., Dudai, N. (eds) Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the Middle-East. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9276-9_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation