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This study explores the significance of the gum-arabic tree (Acacia senegal), locally known as “Tur” (/θur/) in Dhofar, the only region in the Arabian Peninsula where it naturally grows. Its gum, called “Malukh” (/məlɔx/), holds exceptional medicinal and nutritional value. Traditionally, both the bark and gum have been used to treat wounds, infections, respiratory and digestive disorders, joint pain, kidney failure, and eye diseases. It is also valued for enhancing immunity, fertility, and overall vitality. Secondary products such as camel milk and honey derived from trees’ nectar further contribute to its health benefits. The dark red gum considered the highest quality, is rich in carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. Its solubility, lack of taste or color, and low caloric content make it suitable for therapeutic use, weight management, and cholesterol reduction. Furthermore, it plays a role in skincare, cosmetic products, and pharmaceutical formulations. Despite its proven properties, its use remains largely confined to older generations. This study highlights the urgent need to scientifically document, preserve, and promote this underutilized national resource, recognizing its potential in both medical applications and sustainable economic development.

Gangrene is a serious condition, which is characterised by tissue death. It results from restricted blood flow and anoxic conditions and is frequently caused by atherosclerosis, tissue damage, diabetes mellitus and some pathogen infections. Gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis), a common class of gangrene, results from bacterial (particularly Clostridium perfringens) infections following tissue injury. Woodfordia uniflora is used in traditional Arabian healing systems to treat gangrene ulcers and skin sores. However, despite its well-documented uses, W. uniflora has not yet been rigorously tested against bacterial causes of gangrene ulcers and skin sores. Additionally, W. uniflora extracts are yet to be tested for therapeutic potential against other aspects of ulcer/wound healing, including inflammation and tissue regeneration. Solvent extracts prepared from W. uniflora leaves were tested against C. perfringens as well as a panel of epidermal bacteria. Antimicrobial activity was quantified by MIC determination. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was evaluated using COX-2 and PGE2 ELISA assays. Toxicity was evaluated using ALA and HDF cell viability bioassays. The methanolic, ethanolic and aqueous extracts displayed noteworthy inhibitory activity (≤875µg/mL) against C. perfringens. The ethanol extract was particularly good, with an MIC of 250µg/mL. The extracts also had noteworthy inhibitory activity against several antibiotic-resistant epidermal bacteria, including MRSA (MICs 250-650µg/mL). Additionally, the W. uniflora extracts (1.25mg/mL) significantly inhibited COX-2 activity and PGE2 secretion. The ethanol extract was particularly promising, decreasing COX-2 enzymatic activity and PGE2 secretion by approximately 60% and 73% respectively. All W. uniflora extracts were non-toxic in the ALA and HDF cell viability assays, indicating their safety for therapeutic use. Taken together, these results indicate that W. uniflora extracts have therapeutic potential in the treatment of gas gangrene by inhibiting C. perfringens (and several skin bacteria), as well as inhibiting COX-2 mediated inflammation. Further studies are required to determine whether the extracts also affect extracellular matrix formation and tissue remodeling, and to identify the extract components responsible for those activities.

This presentation highlights the innovative integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) aromatherapy into chronic disease management, centered on Oman’s unique medicinal resource—frankincense (Boswellia sacra). We explore the systematic development of its compound formulations and multidimensional therapeutic applications. Guided by the TCM theory of “meridian attribution based on fragrance and flavor properties, we synergize modern extraction techniques (e.g., supercritical CO₂ extraction) with advanced formulation technologies (nano-carriers, targeted delivery systems) to develop a synergistic frankincense-myrrh compound system. This approach effectively enhances the bioavailability and stability of bioactive components. Industrial-scale production of aromatherapy transdermal patches and aerosol formulations has demonstrated preliminary success in community-based health interventions, particularly in regulating emotional states and improving sleep quality among hypertensive patients. Furthermore, this speech proposes a China-Oman collaborative initiative to advance the sustainable utilization of frankincense resources and facilitate the joint establishment of international quality standards. By integrating the TCM philosophy of “preventive treatment of disease” with Omani traditional therapies, we aim to build an interdisciplinary cooperation network. This framework seeks to address global health challenges in aging societies through culturally informed, evidence-based innovations.

‫يختلف‬‫ الناس‬ ‫في‬ ‫كون‬ ‫ما‬ ‫يتكلّم‬ ‫به‬ ‫التّونسيون‬ ‫لغة‬ ‫أو‬ ‫لھجة‬ ‫‪.‬‬‫وقد‬‫تح‬‫ّم‬‫س ‬‫الكثير‬ ‫من‬ ‫األكاديميين‬ ‫‪‬‬‫منذ‬ ‫أوائل‬ ‫سبعينيات‬ ‫القرن‬ ‫الماضي‬ ‫إلى‬‫كونھا ‬‫لغة‬ ‫وعملوا‬ ‫على‬ ‫استجالء‬ ‫قواعدھا‬ ‫كما‬ ‫اعتمدھا‬ ‫الكثير‬ ‫من‬‫الكتّاب ‬‬‫في‬ ‫كتاباتھم‪،‬‬ ‫غير‬ ‫أنّھم‬ ‫لم‬ ‫يختلفوا‬ ‫جميعا‬ ‫على‬ ‫ثراء‬ ‫ھذه‬ ‫اللّغة‬ ‫‪/‬‬‫اللّھجة‬‫وعلى‬ ‫حضور‬ ‫مؤ‬‫ثرات‬‫ و موروثات‬ ‫لغوية‬ ‫عديدة‬ ‫فيھا‬ .

The article traces the multifaceted path of the Sultanate of Oman: it analyzes the evolution of the Sultanate's role: from a British possession focused on domestic politics and the resolution of internecine wars to an influential player in the region and a mediator in resolving conflicts on an international scale. The article shows how Oman combines a traditional but unique foreign policy with active participation in solving global problems, and neutral, as a peacemaker and mediator in terms of escalating conflicts.

Discover this 2026 paper in Journal of Babylon Center for Humanities Studies by ماجد مزهر حسين focusing on: NETHERLANDS; OMAN; MARITIME shipping; INTERNATIONAL alliances; COMMERCIAL markets; INTERNATIONAL economic relations; MARITIME history Abstract: Trade played a major role in the development of trade relations between the Netherlands and Oman, principally when the Netherlands was considered as one of the major maritime countries in the world in that time. So, it was in deep need to this commercial markets to sell its trade and Oman was considered as the most remarkable country in the Arabian Gulf region at that time. Also, it had significant control over the seas and rivers in the Arabian region . Oman’s control extended to many areas in East Africa. Therefore, the Netherlands found in Oman a strong ally and with this ally it can enter into an alliance, and the Omani markets would become the most important markets for selling Dutch products. Oman welcomed this alliance, through which it found an important way to stand up to the European countries and Persia . The Netherlands used trade as a means to gain a foothold in Oman, both to unload its goods and to secure access to the seas and rivers bordering Oman. The Dutch believed Omani markets were important for selling their merchandise, particularly from their Asian colonies. However, Omani markets were not as large as the Dutch had imagined, as they were not significant enough to purchase Dutch goods.

This paper presents the integrated study of a distinctive bleach-decorated (bleached or etched) carnelian bead (S3074) discovered at the South Arabian port of Sumhuram (Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman), a Hadrami trading outpost active within regional and transoceanic trade networks between 100 BCE and 400 CE. Originating from a technology developed in the Greater Indus Valley during the 3rd millennium BCE, bleached carnelian beads remained markers of long-distance trade in the Early Historic and Medieval periods. Stylistic comparisons and SEM-based drilling diagnostics revealed that the Sumhuram specimen, the first securely identified example of this bead type in South-western Arabia, is consistent with production in north-western India. Its discovery in an urban context rather than a funerary assemblage raises interpretive questions about its circulation and meaning. While it may reflect structured trade flows linking Gujarat with South-eastern Arabia, the possibility that it was the personal possession of a South Asian individual temporarily residing in Sumhuram is equally plausible. This case ultimately exemplifies the entanglement of material culture, mobility, and identity in a cosmopolitan port city. Beyond economic exchange, the bead provides insight into personal histories and cross-cultural interactions across the Western Indian Ocean during the Late Iron Age.

The site of Halban, located 35 km to the west of the capital city Muscat (Sultanate of Oman), was first mentioned in 1998. The site comprises 33 well-preserved monumental stone funerary structures situated on a limestone terrace between the Al-Batinah coastal plain and the Al-Hajar Al-Gharbi mountains. Most of these tombs date back to the 3rd millennium BCE and are characterized by their substantial diameter, considerable remaining height, and noticeable variability in construction techniques and external polishing. This contribu- tion presents the preliminary results of the excavations carried out in 2023 and 2024, which reveal a complex palimpsest of continuity and reuse at a strategic location. This position enabled the connection of inland oases with coastal communities and allowed for the interception of major short- and long-distance trade routes during the 3rd millennium BCE.

Soils in Oman are still out of the optics within geoheritage disciplines, absent from national conservation programs despite their significant yet intangible ecosystem services, including cultural, aesthetic, religious, and historical values important to Arab nations. While Oman’s geological assets are recognized, particularly among petroleum geologists, this paper addresses this lacuna by highlighting: a) the unique pedodiversity across Omani regions; b) historical use of soils and sediments (as components of e.g. mortar or plaster) in traditional structural, geotechnical, and domestic engineering during pre-industrial epochs; c) the rapidly growing international tourism and local recreational sectors attracted by ancient monuments and technologies, integrating Omani landscapes and geographical peculiarities (ophiolite outcrops, wadis, terraced orchards in arid/hyperarid climates); and d) educational dimensions of pedoheritage, including a pioneering survey assessing local perceptions of soils beyond agronomic value. Five northern Omani sites—Wadi Bani Kharus falaj (Al-Awabi), Misfat Al-Abrien village (Al-Hamra), Harat Al-Yemen (Izki), Nizwa Fort, and Bahla’s porcelain factory - were studied through satellite-photographic imaging and physicochemical characterization of geomaterials (soil, gravel, cobbles, boulders). These components form traditional structures and artifacts (falaj liners, adobe-sarooj walls, mud-bricks, pottery). Laboratory analyses indicated distinct material properties linked to each site's topography, geomorphology, pedology, and hydrology. This research emphasizes preservation, enhances touristic value, and underscores valuable lessons for modern engineering: rediscovering ancestral building techniques for sustainable, zero-electricity thermal insulation, erosion-resistant construction, and efficient water storage-distribution systems - practices essential in addressing environmental challenges posed by strong winds and sporadic flash floods.

Background: Hyperlipidemia (HL) constitutes a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This lipid disorder has become a primary focus for researchers because of its high prevalence worldwide, prompting increased efforts to discover new treatment options originating from natural alternatives to synthetic medications that can have serious adverse effects. Ethnopharmacological and ethnobotanical approaches have played a key role in documenting and identifying medicinal and aromatic plants. This survey aims to document Algerian medicinal plants (MPs) reported by local populations in the Ghardaïa region (Southern Algeria) as effective for the management of HL.

This article examines the East African experience of the 1875–1876 Egyptian invasion of part of the Sultanate of Zanzibar and its interpretation as preserved in written sources. The key part of this article's argument addresses important questions posed by global history, namely: what was the image of the modernizing world from its peripheries? How was the information upon which it was built spread, hierarchized, and interpreted?, The author analyzes the traces of the invasion left in Zanzibar's later historical memory, which he compares with the known facts concerning the course and reception of the Egyptian actions. The article strives to embed the conclusions thus reached in its diachronic analysis. It also uses explanatory models (referred to as conspiracy theories) to understand the population's political mood and its access to information about the international situation. The initial premise for creating conspiracy theories, the author argues, was the contradiction between the image of Egypt as a strong Muslim state and a potential anti-imperial ally, rooted in the minds of the Sultan of Zanzibar's Muslim subjects and in the practices of the occupying forces.

At the dawn of the modern era, the Islamic world faced an overwhelming wave of colonial expansion, as European powers sought to dominate vital maritime routes and commercial hubs across the East, aiming to control global trade and natural resources. The western Indian Ocean—comprising the coasts of the Arabian Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula, western India, and eastern Africa—became a major theatre of this imperial contest, as vast areas fell under Portuguese domination for more than a century. Yet, divine providence granted this region enlightened leadership embodied in the Imams of Oman from the Yaʿrubi dynasty, who confronted the colonial advance with a comprehensive liberation project that reshaped the geopolitical balance in the western Indian Ocean and inaugurated a new era of regional stability, prosperity, and sovereignty. This study examines Oman’s foreign policy during the reign of Imam Saif bin Sultan al-Yaʿrubi (1692–1711 CE) as a distinguished model of Islamic leadership that successfully employed naval and diplomatic power to achieve regional peace and security while consolidating Oman’s independence in the face of European expansionism. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology, drawing upon historical documents, maps, and primary and secondary sources to uncover the intellectual and strategic foundations of Omani foreign policy during this pivotal period and to assess its political, military, and economic outcomes across the broader Indian Ocean region. The first section explores Imam Saif bin Sultan’s policy of consolidating security and promoting peace throughout the western Indian Ocean through a comprehensive strategic vision grounded in the unification of the Omani interior and the enhancement of the state’s maritime and commercial capabilities. The second section analyzes the outcomes of this policy, which combined firmness and pragmatism in confronting colonial powers, as the Imam pursued a systematic offensive strategy aimed at liberating Portuguese strongholds and securing international navigation and free trade. The study concludes that the era of Imam Saif bin Sultan marked a strategic turning point in Omani foreign policy, transforming the state from a defensive actor into a proactive regional power. His leadership institutionalized the principles of maritime sovereignty, preventive diplomacy, and regional balance in an era marked by intense global competition. Furthermore, this Omani experience provides valuable insights into the enduring concept of peace through strength and exemplifies an early form of ethical realism in Arab-Islamic political thought and practice. Keywords: Imam Saif bin Sultan al-Yaʿrubi, foreign policy, the Portuguese, western Indian Ocean, Omani naval power.

While the close relationship between the British state and Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman (reigned 1970–2020) is widely recognised in the scholarship, the present article explores an aspect of the relationship that has hitherto attracted limited attention: the British role in Qaboos’s education and development from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s. Using a range of largely unexamined primary sources generated by the Arabian Department of the UK Foreign Office, it reveals what a ‘British education’ consisted of and implied in the case of Qaboos bid Said. It concludes that the British state understood the potential value of exerting an influence over the only son of Sultan Said bin Taymour, and strove to capitalise on its access to Qaboos during a formative period in his life. However, it is argued that the British state’s handling of Qaboos’s education reveals a lack of power, cohesion, and sometimes of interest. The article shows that the overwhelming influence over Qaboos’s education was his father, the sultan. At crucial moments, the Foreign Office failed to cooperate smoothly with other interested institutions, including the Shell oil company. Moreover, the Foreign Office’s commitment to the project of educating Qaboos oscillated in intensity and by the time Qaboos returned to Oman in 1964, British attitudes regarding their achievements with the would-be ruler were, at best, ambivalent.