Testing Dioscorides' medicinal clays for their antibacterial properties: the case of Samian Earth

Photos-Jones, Effie; Keane, Chloe; Jones, Alexander M.; Stamatakis, Michael G.; Robertson, P. C.; Hall, Anthony; Leanord, Alistair

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2015.01.020

Cited by 24 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…3). In experiments 3 and 8 white bentonite clay was rubbed into the skin, because this material is well known in medicine for its antiseptic, cicatrizing, anti-inflammatory, emollient and refrigerant properties and it has been valued by many traditional societies (Carretero, 2002, Haydel et al, 2008Photos-Jones et al, 2015). The clay powder was mixed with water to form a homogeneous paste.…”

Section: Characteristics Of the Worked Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detecting early tattooing in the Pacific region through experimental usewear and residue analyses of obsidian tools

Kononenko

Torrence

Sheppard

2016

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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Section: Characteristics Of the Worked Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detecting early tattooing in the Pacific region through experimental usewear and residue analyses of obsidian tools

Kononenko

Torrence

Sheppard

2016

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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“…This is because as archaeological artefacts they have a long history of use and associated efficacy. Our work over the last few years has been dedicated to the investigation of the antibacterial properties of some medicinal earths of the Aegean, like Samian Earth [33] and Lemnian Earth [15,16]; also clay-iron oxides composites (miltos) [26], as well as alunogen and alunite with kaolinite minerals [34]. For example, we demonstrated that antibacterial properties of Samian Earth may have been attributed to its smectite being naturally enriched in Boron [33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…), which would be detrimental to bacterial cells, and thus be in themselves the key drivers of bioactivity, are in the level of a few ppb. Only when the clay is doped or is naturally enriched in one or more of these elements could they be the drivers of bioactivity [15,16,33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bridging the Gaps: Bole and Terra Sigillata as Artefacts, as Simples and as Antibacterial Clays

et al. 2020

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Medicinal earths are an important and yet, so far, little scientifically explored archaeological resource. They are almost always identified by their source locality. Our work over the last few years has focused on their chemical and mineralogical characterization and their testing as anti-bacterials. This paper presents the results of the mineralogical analysis and antibacterial testing of six medicinal earths, bole or Terra Sigillata (stamped earth) of unknown date and provenance in the Pharmacy Museum of the University of Basel. Only one of them, a red (Armenian?) ‘bole’, was found to be antibacterial against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A yellow powder of Terra Tripolitania was mildly antibacterial and against one pathogen only. We argue that medicinal earths are in a pivotal place to bridge the gap between currently dispersed pieces of information. This information relates to: (a) their nature, attributes, and applications as described in the texts of different periods, (b) the source of their clays and how best to locate them in the field today, and (c) the methods employed for their beneficiation, if known. We propose that work should be focused primarily onto those medicinal earths whose clay sources can be re-discovered, sampled and assessed. From then on, a parallel investigation should be initiated involving both earths and their natural clays (mineralogy at bulk and nano-sized levels, bio-geochemistry, microbiological testing). We argue that the combined study can shed light into the parameters driving antibacterial action in clays and assist in the elucidation of the mechanisms involved.

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“…Also, the bactericide character has been reported in the case of the so-called French green clays (Williams et al 2004(Williams et al , 2008(Williams et al , 2011Williams and Haydel 2010;Otto and Haydel 2013), being attributed to their specific mineralogical/chemical composition. In a very recent and interesting article, Photos-Jones et al (2015) have tested the antibacterial properties attributed to the Samian Earth, a Greek traditional medicinal earth now identified as a boron/boric acid rich smectitic clay, whose medicinal properties (eye salve) were reported by Dioscorides (c.41-90 AD) in his book ''De Materia Medica''.…”

Section: Clay/clay Minerals and Human Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Healing and edible clays: a review of basic concepts, benefits and risks

Gomes

2017

Environ Geochem Health

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The use of clay by humans for medicinal and wellness purposes is most probably as old as mankind. Within minerals, due to its ubiquitous occurrence in nature and easy availability, clay was the first to be used and is still used worldwide. Healing clays have been traditionally used by man for therapeutic, nutritional and skin care purposes, but they could impart some important health and skin care risks. For instance, clay particles could adsorb and make available for elimination or excretion any potential toxic elements or toxins being ingested or produced, but they could adsorb and make available for incorporation, through ingestion or through dermal absorption, toxic elements, e.g. heavy metals. Edible clays, a particular case of healing clays, have been traditionally used by man for nutritional and therapeutic purposes. Geophagy, the deliberate soil eating, earth eating, clay eating and pica (medical condition or eating disorder shown by individuals addicted to eat earth substances), has been observed in all parts of the world since antiquity, reflecting cultural practice, religious belief and physiological needs, be they nutritional (dietary supplementation) or as a remedy for disease. This paper pretends to review historical data, basic concepts and functions, as well as benefits and risks of the use of healing clays, in general, for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes, and of edible clays, in particular, for therapeutic purposes.

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Testing Dioscorides' medicinal clays for their antibacterial properties: the case of Samian Earth

Cited by 24 publications

References 29 publications

Detecting early tattooing in the Pacific region through experimental usewear and residue analyses of obsidian tools

Detecting early tattooing in the Pacific region through experimental usewear and residue analyses of obsidian tools

Bridging the Gaps: Bole and Terra Sigillata as Artefacts, as Simples and as Antibacterial Clays

Healing and edible clays: a review of basic concepts, benefits and risks

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