Comparative studies for phytochemical analysis and anti-dermatophyte activities of henna (lawsonia inermis l.) In nigeria and Egypt / Nasir Hassan Wagini ; Supervised Elsaady Mohamed Badawy , Amira Shawky Soliman , Mohamed Said Abbas

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Institute of African Research and Studies - Department of Natural Resources

Lawsonia inermis L (Lythraceae) commonly called Henna is known for its cosmetic and medicinal properties. Therefore, an effort to compile all the information reported on its phytochemical and pharmacological activities was made, so that interest could be diverted towards this dye herb, for the treatment and relief from various ailments and diseases. The obtained extracts were analyzed by thin layer chromatography (TLC), column chromatography, Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques. In the African countries, fungal infections are common causing skin diseases. The chemical (synthetic) drugs used against dermatophytosis show several side effects, in addition to the limited efficacy. There is; therefore, a distinct need for discovering of new, safer and more effective antifungal agents from the medicinal plants used in traditional folk medicine to overcome the growing problem of resistance to antifungal drugs and also their relative toxicity. This research confirmed Henna to be an important source of phytochemicals of immense medicinal and pharmaceutical significance such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, naphthoquinone derivatives, aliphatic components, phenolic derivatives, coumarins, xanthones, etc

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