Turkish Literature Contributions to MedPlants4Vet Database

From 15 August to 12 September 2025, the Virtual Mobility Project "Integration of Turkish Historical and Ethnobotanical Literature into the MedPlants4Vet Database" was successfully completed. It provided valuable contribution to Working Group 3 and laid the foundation for a systematic screening of historical and ethnobotanical sources.

Cover of “Şifalı Otlar ve Lokman Hekim” (1955) by Osman Bayatlı, one of the key ethnobotanical sources integrated into the MedPlants4Vet database.

Illustration from "Müellifi Bilinmeyen Bir Baytarname Örneği: Hazâ Kitâbu Bâytarnâme" (Bars, Mehmet Emin, 2023), published in Hikmet - Akademik Edebiyat Dergisi. Used as a visual reference for the historical sources integrated into the MedPlants4Vet database.

The initiative, led by Dr Çiğdem Bilgi, focused on incorporating Turkish historical veterinary and ethnobotanical literature into the MedPlants4Vet database. Drawing on a scientific book review of the Baytarnames and Osman Bayatlı’s ethnobotanical work, structured data entries were systematically extracted and added to WG3’s shared dataset.

In parallel, the project advanced work on Open-Source Literature (OSL). For Grey Literature (GL), optimized keyword strategies were developed to identify relevant Turkish publications, thus creating a solid basis for future systematic screenings.

The results were presented at the Turkish Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology Conference 2025 in Ankara under the joint title “Searching for future solutions in the past.” This dissemination activity ensured that the outcomes reached both national and international scientific communities.

The next steps will include a final validation of OSL data extraction, systematic screening of GL, and exploring joint publications with subgroup leaders, building on the momentum and collaboration established during the grant period.