Acta Pharm. 69 (2019) 525-531

Mini-review

Application of medicinal plants in several dermatovenerological entities

ŽELJAN MALEŠ, DANIELA LEDIĆ DRVAR, IVAN DUKA and KRISTINA ŽUŽUL

¹ University of Zagreb Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

² Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, School of Medicine University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

³ Private Dermatology and Venereology Clinic “Dr. Nada Videnić”, 47000 Karlovac, Croatia

Accepted June 6, 2019

Published online July 8, 2019

Treatment of skin conditions with medicinal plants has been an ongoing human activity lasting over thousands of years. The use of specific plant species developed regionally, based on local flora. Commonly used medicinal plants for dermatological complaints are: Phlebodium aureum (L.) J. Sm., Ginkgo biloba L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Panax ginseng C.A.Mey., Allium cepa L., Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., Capsicum annuum L., Berberis aquifolium Pursh, Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze, and Podophyllum peltatum L.

The demand for complementary therapeutics is an emerging trend due to the awareness of potential side effects that synthetic drugs might cause. More scientific evidence and better documentation are needed before advising dermatologic patients on herbal medicinal treatment. Standardised extracts and formulations with proven clinical efficacy should be developed for this cause. Here provided review entails the use of herbal medicinal products in the treatment of frequent chronic skin diseases, such as vitiligo, alopecia, psoriasis and genital warts.

Keywords: medicinal plants, vitiligo, alopecia, psoriasis, genital warts