Astragalus sarcocolla

Astragalus sarcocolla, also known as Persian gum, is a shrub or tree from Persia historically famed for its balsam, which was used to create ancient and medieval paint and in traditional medicines. Although its identity was uncertain to Europeans after it fell from use in the medieval period, it has since been identified with a species of Astragalus .

Name

Sarcocolla is the latinized form of Greek , from sárx and kólla. It is variously known in Arabic as or, as Persian gum, and as Kerman gum and in Persian as, as or, and as. The medieval Latin name of the product was acarud from corruption of the Andalusian Arabic form of or, probably via Old Spanish.

History

reports the use of sarcocolla in creating paints and as a medicine and Dioscorides and Galenus mention its power of healing wounds.
The 8th century philosopher Al-Kindi used sarcocolla for leprosy in his medical formulary Akrabadhin.
According to the c. 13th-century Liber Ignium of Marcus Graecus, sarcocolla was an ingredient of Greek Fire.
The 16th-century surgeon Brunus of Calabria recommended a plaster for skull fractures consisting of sarcocolla, bitter vetch meal, dragon's blood, and myrrh.