• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.61-67
• /
• 2021

Since ancient times, various herbal medicines have been used in folk medicine to treat a variety of diseases. While the majority of drugs belong to the Kingdom of Plantae, some drugs from the Kingdom of Animalia are listed in various Materia medica of alternative medicines. Animal-derived drugs are mentioned in the Unani system of Medicine (USM) and have been used successfully to treat a variety of diseases. Marjān (Corallium rubrum) is a vital marine drug of animal origin that has been used in USM since ancient times and continues to be used today. It possesses a variety of beneficial pharmacological properties, including tonic effects on the heart, brain, stomach, and eyes, pregnancy protection, expectorant, and hemostyptic properties. It is used to treat hemoptysis, palpitation, bleeding piles, hemiplegia, heart failure, and general weakness. It is also an ingredient in a variety of Unani formulations with pharmacological significance. Unani physicians expanded the uses of Marjan and successfully used it to treat a variety of new diseases. There is a dearth of scientific research on its pharmacological and medicinal properties. The urgent need is to validate the Unani claims about its beneficial cardiac and nervine actions, as well as other significant actions mentioned in the Unani literature.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.4.1-4.7
• /
• 2016

Dysmenorrhoea is the most important under diagnosed and undertreated gynaecologic disorder of all menstrual complaints. It affects 50% women of childbearing age and has a major impact on health and societal costs worldwideespecially in developing countries. Therefore, a literary exploration of traditional sources for aetiopathogenesis and clinical features of usr-i-tamth (dysmenorrhoea) were reviewed to correlate with contemporary knowledge.The traditional Unani sources viz., Al Hawi fi'l Tibb (Continens Liber),Tarjuma Kamil al-Sana'a al-Tibbiyya, Al-Qanun fi'l Tibb (Canon of Medicine), Dhakhira Khawarizam Shahi, Tibb-i-Akbar, Iksir-i-A'zam, Kitab al-Kulliyyat, and Kulliyyat-i-Qanun were reviewed. Further, recent studies in the contemporary era were also browsed on the website. The causes of usre-i-tamth as per classical sources are distemperament, uterine diseases (atresia, inflammation, amenorrhoea, cancer, prolapse, ulcer, tenuous morbid matter, and cervical obstruction), psychological disturbances, environmental factors, menstrual irregularities, obesity and young age. Recent studies also prove that obesity, psychological disturbance, menstrual irregularities, environmental factors, uterine diseases and young age lead to dysmenorrhea.Unani classical sources are very much enriched with the informative knowledge related to menstruation and uterine pain/dysmenorrhoea and recent studies in contemporary proves the same. Hence, implementation of the traditional system of medicines in present-day era may play a vital role to restore health in a holistic way.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.20.1-20.6
• /
• 2020

The Karafs is a dried herb of whole plant of Apium graveolens L. from Apiaceae (carrot family). The seeds (fruits) of Apium graveolens are known as Tukhm-e- Karafs in Unani Medicine. Karafs is known as Celeri in French, Apio in Spanish, Selderiji in Dutch, Syelderey in Russian and Chin in Chinese. It is cultivated in different parts of the world for its seeds as spice and green leaves and root as salad crop. Its seeds are also used for medicinal purposes in complementary and alternative medicines. In Unani it is used as a single drug or as an ingredient in compound formulations used for management in various ailments. The seeds have various pharmacological actions like hepatoprotective, diuretic and lithotriptic etc. It is commonly found in Western Asia, Europe, North Africa and various parts of India like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh etc. In Unani its actions are described as Mudirr-i-Bawl (Diuretic), Mufattit-i-Hasāh (Lithotriptic), Dafi'-i-Tashannuj (Antispasmodic) and Kāsir-i-Riyāh (Carminative). It is used for the treatment of Hasah al-Kulya (Nephrolithiasis), Nafkh al-Mi'da (Flatulence), Istisqā' (Oedema) and Ihtibās al-Bawl (Retention of urine) etc.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.23.1-23.5
• /
• 2020

Hasāh al-kuliya (Nephrolithiasis) is a common disease with a worldwide prevalence of about 12%. A 64 years old male patient, who visited the outpatient department of National Research Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin Disorder (NRIUMSD), Hyderabad, presented with complaints of mild dull pain in right flank region and burning micturition for one month. The ultrasonography of whole abdomen confirmed that there was one stone of 5 mm in calyceal region of each kidney. The patient was treated with the Unani regimen comprising of three formulations Majoon, Hajrul Yahood (5 gm), Jawarish Zarooni Sada (5 gm) and Habb-i-Mudir (1000 mg) for 6 months. The patient did not report any acute pain during the therapy. After 6 months of treatment the ultrasonography of whole abdomen showed absence of the stone from each kidney, ureters and bladder. There was no recurrence of the disease during next 6 months of post treatment follow up. This case report documented the successful medical treatment and prevention of recurrence of bilateral nephrolithiasis through Unani medicines. It concluded that the Unani regimen was effective and safe in the management of bilateral nephrolithiasis.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.2.1-2.3
• /
• 2017

World health organization has recently published a strategic plan for the development and promotion of traditional system of medicine. Herbal pathies especially Unani and Ayurvedic systems of medicines have great scope in this aspect. But, there are several problems with these pathies in the current era, as the way of research and identification is still on classical system. The correct identification of medicinal plant is one of the major problems in both the system. This should be corrected with the modern tools and techniques. The various types of data including recent discoveries, economical growth, ethnobotanical literature and extremely rapid increase in herbal journals and books have emerged great scope for these pathies. At the same time several challenges and threats are present including herb-drug interaction, false reports, toxicity studies etc. In this review paper, opportunities, threats, and researches to be focused will be discussed.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.20.1-20.23
• /
• 2021

Background: The pandemic COVID-19 caused by a novel coronavirus SARS-COV-2 has spread like a forest fire. This disease may have serious consequences for pregnant women. Presently, no specific drugs or vaccines exist to battle this disease and researches are underway. Unani medicine has a unique role in prevention and management during epidemics. Here, we reviewed the overview of COVID-19 infection and pregnancy, concept and practices in Unani medicine for flu-like epidemics in general and pregnancy, and safety of Unani drugs for the prevention and treatment of mild symptomatic cases of COVID-19 during pregnancy. Methodology: Unani classical texts and pharmacopoeia were meticulously explored for concepts and practices for flu-like epidemic diseases. Further, we browsed scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus and others for an overview, epidemics and Unani medicine, effectiveness and safety of Unani drugs in COVID-19 and pregnancy. Results: Unani medicine includes prevention and management of flu-like epidemic include quarantine and isolation, aromatic herbal drugs fumigation and spraying for environmental disinfection, ilaj bid tadbir for health promotion and use of health-protecting drugs and symptom-specific drugs in general and related to pregnancy. Lahsun, asalussus, behidana, banafsha, zanjabeel, unnab, etc are in use since antiquity for the prevention and treatment of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic pregnant women during infectious and epidemic diseases. Conclusion: Currently, the aforementioned plants are proven for antiviral, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities, probably useful in the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, scientific studies have provided new insight into the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of Unani medicines that are safe in pregnancy.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.3.1-3.6
• /
• 2021

Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, and it is generally allied with liver disease like cirrhosis of the liver. The ascites is commonly associated with liver cirrhosis, malignancy, or cardiovascular disease today. The liver cirrhosis is the most significant cause of ascites in developed countries as per the available data. In the modern medicine system, the treatment includes the restriction of sodium intake, use of diuretics, and paracentesis done in severe cases. There are many side effects of synthetic chemical diuretics, and their long-term use is not recommended. The alternative medicine like Unani system of medicine provides natural diuretics and drugs which also have protective effects on kidney, liver and other internal organs. It is well known in all drug systems that the prognosis is poor in ascites, but the use of Unani herbal medicines can minimize the side effects caused by synthetic chemical diuretics. The natural herbs used for the management of ascites have fewer side effects as compared to synthetic drugs. The natural drugs can be used for longer duration and provide some dietary supplement which improves the quality of life. This review addressed the thorough treatment of ascites by natural diet and medications.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.7.1-7.6
• /
• 2020

Plants produce a wide range of active principles, making them a rich source of different types of medicines. Without any knowledge of the phytoconstituents or active principles the medicinal plants itself or in the form of polyherbal formulations, were used by all society of human being from ancient times for prevention and cure of disease, but most of the traditional formulations including the formulation of Ayurveda and Unani have not been scientifically validated in order to establish the pharmacopoeial standards to improve the efficacy. Globally, the people become conscious that uses of synthetic drugs for a long period is not safe; the trend of medical society at large is looking at alternatives from natural, safe sources to combat diseases. Due to this comprehension, it has been increased the demand for plant-derived medicine, and on the other side, it is extremely important to standardize the polyherbal formulations and validate them scientifically to improve their safety and efficacy. The polyherbal Unani formulation Safuf-e-Muallif is widely used and recommended in Unani system of medicine (USM) as a spermatogenic agent, semen thickening agent, etc. to treat sexual disorders viz. premature ejaculation, nocturnal emission, etc. The study mainly deals with phytochemical screening for the detection of nature of phytoconstituents and analytical technique like High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) for developing fingerprint of Safuf-e-Muallif revealing specific identities of the drug. The phytochemical screening and HPTLC fingerprint profile for SM reported here may be used as a reference standard for quality control purpose in future.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.13 no.14
• /
• pp.17.1-17.23
• /
• 2023

Menopause is a physiological phase experienced by all women as part of normal aging known as menopause. Per se, menopause is not a disease, but hormonal imbalance may lead to menopausal symptoms in some women. The unani physician described that in Sinn-i-Inḥiṭāṭ/ Sinn al-Yās, Burūdat (coldness) increases lead to Ihtibās al-Tamth (amenorrhea) that can occur naturally. Besides, Khilt Dam (blood) production decreases from the liver, slight production occurs, tends towards Burūdat. Therefore, at this age, Ihtibās al-Tamth is associated with Alāmāt Sinn al-Yās(menopausalsymptoms) including weight gain, loss of appetite, hirsutism, fatigue, headache, backache, arthralgia, neck pain, general myalgia, nervousness, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The traditional Unani manuscripts are enriched with knowledge for the management of Alāmāt Sinn al-Yās. Consequently, an extensive exploration of classical texts concerning the management of Alāmāt Sinn al-Yās was undertaken. Moreover, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and other indexing databases were thoroughly explored for evidence-based approaches to managing menopausalsymptoms. The principle management as per Unani texts is to treat the cause of Alāmāt Sinn al-Yās. Unani medicines with emmenagogue, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective properties are beneficial for the amelioration of Alāmāt Sinn al-Yās. Unani Herbs such as Asgandh, Aslusūs, Khārkhasak, Tagar, Shuneez, Ustukhuddus, Zafran, and Majūn Najāh possess properties and are proven scientifically for their efficacy in Alāmāt Sinn al-Yās. Hence, the substantiation and preservation of traditional knowledge assume paramount importance in facilitating prospective research and proving invaluable in the modern era. Moreover, the conduct of randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses becomes imperative.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.4.1-4.5
• /
• 2019

The medicinal plants are extensively used for curing variegated malady in day to day life. There is an emergent demand for plant based medicines, food supplements, health products, pharmaceuticals etc. Mochrus (Bombax ceiba Linn.) is one of the valuable medicinal plants used in Unani system of medicine since relic belongs to family Bombacaceae. It is a tall tree and widely distributed through India, Africa, Australia and tropical Asia. Many parts of the plant (root, stem bark, gum, leaf, prickles, flower, fruit, seed and heartwood) are used for the treatment of a variety of ailments. It is reported to possess nafe sailanur reham (beneficial in leucorrhea), mujaffif (siccative), muqawwi reham (uterine tonic), qabiz (constipative), muallide mani (production of semen), mumsik wa mughalliz mani (increase consistency of semen), dafe fasaad khoon wa safra (purifies blood and bile) etc. It is used in asthma, diarrhoea, wound, leprosy, boils and many other skin diseases. Also possess some important pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, analgesic, antipyretic, antibacterial, diuretic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, hypoglycaemic and hypotensive etc. It is reported to contain phytoconstituents like polysaccharides, naphthoquinones, anthocyanins, lupeol and naphthol etc. This paper provides a compendium review on pharmacological, phytochemical properties and therapeutic benefits of the plant.