Therapeutic efficacy of a topical unani formulation containing Sirka and Samgh-i-Arabi in the management of Quba Khabith (Tinea Corporis): An open labeled, randomised clinical trial with standard control

Tinea corporis is variously named ringworm, dermatophytosis, favus, or daad.It is a clinical condition caused by a fungal infection of the skin, hair, and nails. The fungus is keratophyllic affecting the outer layer of the skin to produce ring-shaped lesions with a papulo-vesicular margin and central clear area.  According to WHO estimates, tinea corporis infects between 20 to 25% of the world population. It occurs most frequently in post-pubertal children and young adults with no sex differentiation. Climate conditions all around the world have influenced the incidence variability. Many effective synthetic antifungal drugs have been discovered for the treatment of tinea corporis, but their use has remained limited due to various side effects. Unani herbal medicine, whether a single herb, compound formulations, or regimental therapy, has also been used for this purpose since ancient times. However, only a few of them have been evaluated on scientific grounds for their efficacy. The need of the hour is to validate the herbal preparations mentioned in our classical texts, which are otherwise safe, fairly available, and easily affordable by the general public, on scientific parameters. In this context, we selected a trial to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of a topical unani formulation containing Sirka andSamgh -i-Arabi in the management of Quba Khabith (Tinea corporis), which is a randomized study with standard control.