Plants used in dermal affections - part I: a survey of Unani literature

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants are still used in therapeutics despite the progress in biochemistry and pharmacology in producing effective drugs. WHO has recently been promoting research into the use of medicinal plants, their conservation, growth and harvesting. It is therefore, important to know which plant yields medicines of proven value. In developing countries medicinal plants are widely used by the traditional practitioners but many potential and useful plants are still to be discovered. Keeping in view this fact, a survey of Unani literature was conducted to find out the medicinal plants used in skin affections. The paper deals with a large number of medicinal plants used in various skin diseases such as scabies, leucoderma, leprosy, parasitic eruptions etc