Gabigaj: A Persian Herb for Protecting Manuscripts against Fungies and Insects from Safavid Era (1501-1722AD)

• Main Authors: Kamran Mahlooji, Mahsima Abdoli, Arman Zargaran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2020-02-01
• Series: Journal of Research on History of Medicine
• Subjects: traditional medicine; persian medicine; herbal medicine; industrial fungicides
• Online Access: http://rhm.sums.ac.ir/article_46469_c2f0837990dee4d072aeb5cdf7b1b540.pdf

Keeping old documents from damage is of considerable points in protecting national resources. Recently, some studies performed to find out ways of protecting manuscripts from defecting of some biologic or chemical factors. Searching through the Iranian manuscripts remain from 15th century (AD) until about the second decade of 17th century (AD), which was Contemporary with the rule of Safavid government, demonstrate a word written frequently by the writer in several parts of documents and in different forms, as “Gabigaj”, which is the name of a Persian plant belonging to Ranunculaceae family.<br />Historical studies show ta prevalence of magic in different aspects of life through Safavid era in Iran, especially in the case of the magic usage of some plants. In this study we discuss about the magic usage of the name of the plant of “Gabigaj” in Safavid era, to protect manuscripts against fungies and insects.