Studies on the anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial activities of unani drug mastagi [pistacia lentiscus linn.] a review

ABSTRACT

The Unani drug Mastagi [Mastic] is used in Unani System of Medicine since very long. It is a resin or more correctly an oleoresin containing little oil, obtained from a cultivated variety of Pistascia lentiscus. The plant is an evergreen dioecious shrub and native to the Mediterranean region [France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey] and also found in North Africa. Mostly mastic is produced on the Greek Island of Chios, some is also produced in Algeria, Morocco and the Canary Island. Mastic is used in the Unani System of Medicine since long and its actions are mentioned in Unani classical literature as attenuant, resolvent, tonic for vital organ, liver tonic, internal body tonic and appetizer etc. Recently some studies have shown its activities as anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti microbial