mucilage compounds are pharmaceutically important polysaccharides that have an extensive range of applications , including binding agents , thickeners , water retention agents , emulsion stabilizers , suspending agents , disintegrates , film formers , and gelling agents . a historical approach to medical science written by iranian scholars could help in identifying excellent ideas and provide valuable information in this field for proper application . the aim of the current study was to introduce some mucilage uses derived from traditional persian medicine ( tpm ) . in this literature review , we assessed a few main traditional manuscripts of iranian medicine , including the books al havi , canon of medicine , qarabadine - kabir , zakhireh - ye khwarazm shahi , tuhfat ul - momineen and makhzan - ul - adwiah . the word  loab  in the aforementioned books were searched and all data about mucilage compounds were collected . the use of medicinal plants containing mucilage in iran dates back to ancient times . in traditional persian manuscripts , mucilage is one of the most cited applications of medicinal plants for therapeutic objectives . there are various mucilage - producing plants in tpm such as malva silvestris , linum usitissimum , althaea officinalis , plantago psyllium , descureania sophia and ziziphus vulgaris . they have been used traditionally via oral or topical routes for respiratory , gastrointestinal , urinary , musculoskeletal , and genital systems as well as skin disorders . a scientific assessment of these valuable manuscripts would provide a better insight into the thoughts of the past sages and applicable for clinical use of the mucilage compounds .
background : mucilage compounds are pharmaceutically important polysaccharides that have an extensive range of applications , including binding agents , thickeners , water retention agents , emulsion stabilizers , suspending agents , disintegrates , film formers , and gelling agents . a historical approach to medical science written by iranian scholars could help in identifying excellent ideas and provide valuable information in this field for proper application . 
 the aim of the current study was to introduce some mucilage uses derived from traditional persian medicine ( tpm).methods : in this literature review , we assessed a few main traditional manuscripts of iranian medicine , including the books al havi , canon of medicine , qarabadine - kabir , zakhireh - ye khwarazm shahi , tuhfat ul - momineen and makhzan - ul - adwiah . 
 the word 
 loab  in the aforementioned books were searched and all data about mucilage compounds were collected.results:the use of medicinal plants containing mucilage in iran dates back to ancient times . in traditional persian manuscripts , mucilage is one of the most cited applications of medicinal plants for therapeutic objectives . 
 there are various mucilage - producing plants in tpm such as malva silvestris , linum usitissimum , althaea officinalis , plantago psyllium , descureania sophia and ziziphus vulgaris . 
 they have been used traditionally via oral or topical routes for respiratory , gastrointestinal , urinary , musculoskeletal , and genital systems as well as skin disorders . 
 certain applications are unique and promising for today s chronic ailments.conclusion:a scientific assessment of these valuable manuscripts would provide a better insight into the thoughts of the past sages and applicable for clinical use of the mucilage compounds . 
 this may lead to research opportunities in the future .