Efficacy of Unani formulation in Busoore Labaniya (Acne vulgaris): An open labelled single arm clinical study

Busoore Labaniya also known as “Acne vulgaris†is one of the most common dermatosesof teenagers and young adults. The permissive factor for the expression of the disease is the increase in sebum production by sebaceous glands after puberty. The clinical hallmark of acne vulgaris is the comedone, which may be closed (whitehead) or open (blackhead)

***Busoore Labaniya (***Acne vulgaris) is sufficiently common and often heralds the onset of puberty. The prevalence hits its peak during the middle-to-late teenaged period with more than 85% of adolescents affected. A prevalence of acne in women between ages 26 and 44yrs is to be 14%.It is characterized by seborrhea, open and closed comedones, erythematous papules, pustules and in more severe cases nodules, deep  pustules and pseudocysts.According to the Global Burden disease (GBD) study it affects 85% of young adult aged 12-25 years. Acne consistently represents  the top three most prevalent skin condition in the general population, as found in large  studies with in the UK,   FRANCE and the USA. It leads to significant morbidity associated with residual scarring and psychological disturbances such as poor self – image, depression, and anxiety, which leads to a negative impact on quality of life.

In conventional therapies, Busoore Labaniya is treated either pharmacologically or surgically. Pharmacological therapy includes topical application of retinoids or oral administration of antibiotics and anti-androgens, while surgical intervention includes incision and curettage of cysts.The long term use of these treatment modalities are often associated with certain side effects like erythema, irritation, peeling, burning, drying and bleaching of skin; use of isotretinoin has teratogenic effects and tetracycline causes gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea, etc.Therefore, there is a dire need to develop a safe and effective regimen for the management of Busoore Labaniya.

In view of high prevalence, side effect of drugs of conventional medicine, present study has been designed to validate the effect of paste in Busoore Labaniya (Acne Vulgaris). The ingredients of formulations are  Murdarsang, Bora Armani and Roghan gul. Function of Murdarsang is Jali (detergent), Akkal (corrosive), Mujaffif (desiccative), Muhallil (resolvent), Qabiz (astringent), Mukhrij balgham (expectorant). The function of Bora Armani is Jali (detergent), Mujaffif (desiccative), Muhallil (resolvent), Mukhrij belgham (expectorant), Gussal (lavage), Dafa-Taffun(antiseptic), Qabiz (astringent). The function of Roghan gul is Radah (derivative), Qabiz (astringent), Muhallil (resolvent), Mufattih (deobstruent), Musakkin (analgesics).