Abstract
Background: Spinach is a widely cultivated dark leafy vegetable highly regarded for its
medicinal properties in traditional Persian medicine. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, carotenoids,
and other bioactive compounds, and this review aims to explore the historical applications
of spinach in Persian medicine and juxtapose them with current scientific evidence. Despite its historical
significance, there remains a need to comprehensively evaluate and integrate traditional
knowledge with modern research on the therapeutic benefits of spinach.
Methods: To achieve this, a comprehensive search was conducted in Persian medicine references and
scientific databases to gather information on the traditional uses, chemical composition, and pharmacological
effects of spinach. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were meticulously categorized,
and relevant data were analyzed to draw insightful comparisons.
Results: Persian medicine describes spinach as a nutrient-rich, laxative, and fast-digesting agent with
therapeutic effects on inflammation, lung diseases, back pain, sore throats, jaundice, urinary disorders,
joint pain, eye inflammation, insomnia, dementia, and more. Modern studies have substantially
corroborated these traditional uses, revealing that spinach possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,
anti-cancer, blood sugar-lowering, lipid-lowering, anti-obesity, neurological, ocular, and musculoskeletal
effects.
Conclusion: Spinach exhibits a wide range of beneficial effects on various health conditions. Its
widespread availability, low cost, and exceptional nutritional richness position it as a promising candidate
for further investigation. Future studies should explore the clinical effectiveness of spinach in
various diseases, while taking into consideration the principles emphasized in Persian medicine to
guide research and inform therapeutic strategies.
Graphical Abstract
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