Efficacy of herbal anti-microbial soap in Tinea corporis: A randomized controlled study.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Curcuma longa L., Azadirachta indica A Juss. Cassia tora L. has been used in Unani medicine for various skin ailments. Several researches have been conducted on these plants which have shown anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral, anti-oxidant, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, and immune modulation activities. Skin diseases and the use of these drugs are mentioned in classical Unani literature like The Canon of medicine, Continens Liber, Hippocratic treatments, The Complete Book of the Medical Art etc. AIM: The aim of the study was to formulate anti-microbial soap and to evaluate its clinical efficacy of in the management of Tinea corporis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-microbial soap was prepared by hydroalcholic extracts of Curcuma longa L., Azadirachta indica A Juss. and Cassia tora L. The prepared soap was evaluated for various physicochemical parameters, microbiological evaluation, stability study, skin irritation, In-vitro anti-microbial activity, GCMS analysis, and a clinical trial was carried out to evaluate its efficacy. A Single Blind Randomized Placebo Controlled trail on 30 patients aged between 18 and 60 years of either gender was carried out. The participants were randomly allocated to receive either anti-microbial soap or Placebo soap for 4 weeks. Subjective parameters including erythema, pruritis and desquamation were assessed weekly while as objective parameter including Photograph of lesion, Total Symptom Score (TSS) and KOH mount was assessed at baseline and at the end of the trial. RESULTS: The improvement in subjective parameters was found significant in test group. Erythema, scaling, and desquamation was completely relieved by 70%, 80% and 25% patients respectively in test group while as none of the patients got complete relief in control group. There was statistically significant reduction in average TSS 8.65 ± 0.6708 to 3.05 ± 1.35 p < 0.001. KOH mount turned negative in 80% patients in test group while as only 20% turned negative in control group. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that Unani drugs can be utilized in better way by modifying into a convenient dosage form. Anti-microbial soap was formulated by adding minimal additives to achieve effectiveness, with cost effective benefits and less or no side effects. Anti-microbial soap was effective in management of management of Tinea corporis. Moreover further studies on large sample size are required to fine-tune these observations.

Documentation of 'Plant Drugs' dispensed via local weekly shanties of Madurai City, India.

BACKGROUND: The Valaiyar (Moopanar) communities of Tamil Nadu are traditionally known for catching rats and snakes from the agricultural fields. Prior to independence, some of these families have faced socio-economic changes and chosen to become herbalists in Madurai city. They are mainly engaged in collecting and dispensing fresh and dried plant drugs in its 'natural form' at Tilagar tidal market of Madurai city. Their business is unique, because customers receive 'prescriptions' and 'plant drugs', unlike the conventional dispensaries. Their world view is: 'to cure the ailing in natural way'. OBJECTIVES: To document plant drugs collected and dispensed by some of the families belonging to Valaiyar (Moopanar) community in the Tilagar tidal market. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethnobotanical tools were employed to document various aspects of the practices including resource and knowledge base, medicinal uses, dosage, collection of herbarium and raw drug specimens. Integrative approach was adapted to document the trade dynamics. RESULTS: During the study, 133 medicinal plant species belonging to 50 families were documented. 71% of species were sourced from wild and non-forest areas. 272 simple and compound remedies were recorded. CONCLUSION: Local markets/shanties like these are 'Traditional Medicine (TM) health care services at door step'. They cater to local health care needs along with conventional system in a synergistic manner and provide adaptable, local solutions using local resources.

Design and development of Unani anti-inflammatory cream.

Inflammation is the symptom of many diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Many side effects are associated with the Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) used as conventional treatment for these conditions. In Unani, there are large number of single and compound drugs for inflammatory conditions. One dosage form of Unani system of medicine is named as Zimad in which paste is formed by mixing powder in oil, water, herbal extract. Zimadat is prepared just before application and used in many disease conditions as resolving, styptic, astringent, and antiseptic. As the pre-application procedure is difficult and also complicated for patients, hence, the present study attempted to modify the form of Zimad into cream. Various batches of cream of Zimad Mohallil were prepared by using extracts of the formulation and by adding additives. Various physicochemical parameters of prepared cream were carried and compared with market cream. The optimized cream of Zimad Mohallil (F4) was selected after preliminary tests and evaluated further. The optimized cream showed good results in physicochemical parameters equivalent to market sample. Zimad Mohallil was converted into convenient cream form by adding minimum additives and benefits could be achieved without any hassle and cumbersome work, which is encountered in crude or paste form. The optimized cream was equivalent to standard market cream.

Preliminary physicochemical evaluation of Kushta tutia: A Unani Formulation.

BACKGROUND: Kushta is an important solid dosage form of Unani system of medicine used to treat various ailments. Very small particle size of kushta is responsible for its rapid absorption in body leading to instant therapeutic actions. Kushta tutia (KT) is one such renowned formulation used by hakims for successful management of various disorders. However, there is lack of scientific work on KT. OBJECTIVES: The present study was performed to evaluate KT physicochemically by testifying it on classical tests along with modern scientific techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tutia was first detoxified as per classical literature. It was triturated with water and dried, afterwards subjected to calcination in furnace rather than cow dung cakes due to isolation of material being heated and better temperature control. Finished product was evaluated for physicochemical characteristics including preliminary tests mentioned in classical literature. RESULTS: Floating and finger test were positive. Curd test showed no discoloration after 48 h. These findings indicate correct preparation of KT according to classical literature. Bulk density (0.96 ± 0.00 g/ml); tapped density (1.53 ± 0.00 g/ml); Hausner ratio (0.62 ± 0.00), compressibility index (37.52 ± 0.19%); loss of weight on drying (0.08 ± 0.00%); pH of 1 and 10% (5.20 ± 0.00) and 5.62 ± 0.00, respectively); total ash, acid insoluble ash, and water soluble ash values 95.75 ± 0.09, 6.57 ± 0.02, and 45.02 ± 0.20%, respectively; and extractive values 0.85 ± 0.02% were reported in KT. CONCLUSION: Since this work has not been reported earlier, the results obtained could be considered as the standard for KT for future studies.

Development of standard operating procedures of Habbe Shifa: A polyherbal Unani formulation.

BACKGROUND: Unani medicines are being used since antiquity. However, in spite of their efficacy, they have been widely criticized due to lack of standardization and poor quality presentation. For this reason, application of good manufacturing practices and development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the manufacture of herbal medicines became an essential tool to assure their quality. OBJECTIVES: Therefore, the objective of the study was to develop the SOP of Habbe Shifa (HS) regarding the particle size (PS), binder, temperature of drying, and duration of drying. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 24 batches of HS were prepared according to the instructions given in formulary to develop SOP. Three particle sizes (i.e., 80, 100, and 120 No. Mesh sieve), were taken for preparation of pills. Water and Samaghe Arabi (Gum Acacia mucilage [GAM]) were used as binder for preparing the lubdi (mass) in different batches. Different temperature and duration of drying were used to dry the pills in hot air oven to get satisfactory results. All the batches were assessed three times for hardness, friability, and disintegration time and mean regarded as standard parameter value. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The batch with 150 µm PS (100 mesh sieve), 5% w/w GAM used as a binder, dried at 90°C for 120 min showed hardness 3.50 ± 0.00 kg/cm, friability 0.02 ± 0.003%, and disintegration time 25.00 ± 0.57 min, which showed most appropriate result among all batches and considered as final batch. Its SOP may be used for future reference which can help in setting up regulatory limit to assure the quality of Unani medicines.

The In vitro anti-acne activity of two unani drugs.

BACKGROUND: Acne is the most common disorder treated by dermatologists. As many as 80-90% of all adolescents have some type of acne and 30% of them require medical treatment. It is an inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit characterized by the formation of open and closed comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. AIMS: The present study was conducted to investigate the in vitro anti-acne activity of two Unani single drugs Darchini (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Bl.) and Tukhm Khashkhash (Papaver somniferum L. seeds). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antibacterial activity of aqueous, ethanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts of both drugs were investigated against two acne causing bacteria, i.e., Propionibacterium acne and Staphylococcus epidermidis using well diffusion method. RESULTS: The result showed that both drugs were active against the two bacteria. Against P. acne aqueous and ethanolic extract of Darchini and Tukhm Khashkhash showed the zone of inhibition of 18 ± 1.02 mm and 18 ± 1.6 mm and 13 ± 1.04 mm and 14 ± 1.8 mm, respectively. Against S. epidermidis aqueous, hydroalcoholic and ethanolic extracts of Darchini showed 22 ± 1.7 mm, 22 ± 1.2 mm and 15 ± 1.8 mm zone of inhibition respectively. Hydroalcoholic and ethanolic extracts of Tukhm Khashkhash showed 15 ± 1.09 mm and 13 ± 1.6 mm zone of inhibition respectively. CONCLUSION: This suggests that C. zeylanicum and P. somniferum have potential against acne causing bacteria and hence they can be used in topical anti-acne preparations and may address the antibiotic resistance of the bacteria.