Classical and Medieval Era(500-1500 CE)

Theophrastus (c. 371–287 BCE):

• A Greek philosopher and student of Aristotle, Theophrastus is often regarded as the Father of Botany. He wrote “Enquiry into Plants,” a treatise on the medicinal uses of plants, which is considered one of the first works in pharmacology.
• He identified the medical properties of several plants, and his writings served as a foundation for later works in pharmacology.

Galen (c. 129 – 200 CE):

• A Greek physician in the Roman Empire, Galen made significant contributions to medical pharmacology. He believed in the use of natural substances for healing and refined many herbal remedies.
• Galenic medicine, named after him, became the standard for medical practice in the Western world for over 1,500 years. His ideas about humoral theory (the balance of bodily fluids) influenced pharmacology and medicine throughout the Middle Ages.

Arab Scholars (8th – 13th Century):

• The Islamic Golden Age saw major advances in pharmacology and medicine. Scholars like Avicenna (Ibn Sina) and Al-Razi (Rhazes) compiled vast knowledge of medicinal plants, substances, and pharmacological preparations.
• Avicenna’s “Canon of Medicine” (1025 CE) was a highly influential medical text that described many pharmaceutical preparations and their uses.
• Al-Razi worked with alcohol and other chemicals, and his work laid the groundwork for the study of alchemical pharmacology

• Arabic Scholars and the Golden Age of Islam (8th–14th centuries): During the Islamic Golden Age, scholars like Avicenna (Ibn Sina) (980–1037 CE) contributed significantly to pharmacology. His famous work “The Canon of Medicine” incorporated much of Galen’s knowledge and expanded on it, including the use of herbal remedies and the importance of dosage in medicine. Avicenna’s theories influenced both the Islamic world and Europe for centuries.
• Alchemy and Early Chemistry (12th–16th centuries): Alchemists, while often focused on turning base metals into gold, made significant contributions to pharmacology. The quest for the “elixir of life” or philosopher’s stone led to the discovery of various chemical substances that would later be used in medicinal preparations, including alcohol, mercury, and sulfur.