In remote villages of Kurdistan-Iraq, such as in those on Safeen Mountain, decoctions, potions, and oils from the local herbal tradition have provided the only medicinal remedies for centuries, up to today. A variety of diseases are treated with different plant preparations, ranging from simple rheumatism to diarrhea, skin diseases, and highly complicated kidney and heart problems. This survey describes, for the first time, the mostly used medicinal plants, resulting from several interviews with local herbal healers. The bioactivity of some isolated compounds is, indeed, strictly related to traditional uses of plants in Safeen Mountain Province. We also report the preliminary results of our ongoing research project on the constituents of the still uninvestigated plant Pterocephalus nestorianus Nab., which is traditionally used against inflammation and oral diseases. Luteolin-7-O-glucoside, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and loganic acid were isolated.

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<p>Este artículo es una revisión actualizada sobre los metabolitos secundarios de la familia de las Gentianaceae. Estas plantas se emplean en la medicina tradicional de numerosos países y presentan actividad biológica interesante. Después de haber detallado botánicamente esta familia de plantas, que ha sido y que sigue siendo muy estudiada, se recogen los estudios toquímicos sobre numerosas especies. Los metabolitos característicos son los xantonas, una clase de compuestos no muy difundidos en el mundo vegetal. Son característicos también derivados de los seco-iridoides, y algunos alcaloides.</p>

The composition of the essential oil of Aframomum giganteum was investigated by GC-MS. Forty seven terpenes were identified, the oil contained a high percentage of linalool and linalyl acetate which are mainly responsible for the smell of the A. giganteum stems. Fatty acids, paraffins, n-octanol, n-nonanol and guaiacol were also identified.