Article used in skin diseases of animals

M C Sharma* and Chinmay Joshi National Fellow Laboratory Division of Medicine Indian Veterinary Research Institute Izatnagar-243122, UP, *Correspondent author possibility of getting treatment of skin Abstract diseases with a cost-effective drug preparation, which an average Indian Skin diseases in animals comprise scabies bacterial and fungal infections, farmer can afford, is yet to be explored. ulcers, bruises and sprains, inflammation, burns, sore feet, ringworm, eczema, Many of the allopathic drugs used are skin eruptions, urticaria and infestation of tick, mite, lice and maggots. Though a advocated to be costly, have problems of lot of allopathic medicines are available for the treatment of these problems, drug resistance, many are toxic at certain herbal formulations are preferred for the safety of both animal and owner of the concentration, may be harmful to humans animal. The paper presents a compilation of information on plants used for the handling them and may contaminate the skin diseases of animals. environment as well. Keywords: Plants, skin diseases, animals As against the scenario with IPC code; Int. cl.7⎯ A61K35/78, A61L15/00 allopathic drugs, we have the other side with herbal medicines, which are these Introduction impetigo, superficial folliculitis, pruritic days gaining significance due to their superficial folliculitis and dermatophilus reduced costs, ease of use and The proliferation of opportunistic infection. Fungal skin diseases are mainly are proposed to be free from risk pathogens on skin resulting in bacterial, of superficial mycosis (dermatophytosis- of harming human handling them parasitic, fungal and non-specific ringworm), subcutaneous mycosis as well as they hardly contaminate the dermatitis occurs mainly due to change (histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, environment. in local resistance. The dermatological protomycosis, etc.) and systemic mycosis This paper is a compilation of concern develops when the dermatitis (blastomycoses). information on plants, used for the produced by these organisms living in or Apart from these infections there treatment of various skin diseases on the skin produce irritation and are various allergic conditions, which of animals. In addition to detailed sensitization. External skin diseases attacks the skin. These include eczema of discussion of 20 major plants and comprises of parasites viz., tick, mite and various kinds, scabies, etc., which not only one herbal formulation developed by IVRI, lice. The genus Demodex is a group of compromise the health of the animal but a list of 82 plants including their mites, which live in the hair follicle and also are of the zoonotic importance. common names and uses has been given sebaceous gland causing demodicosis. Amongst the drugs, which are in Table1. Hopefully it will be helpful The bacteria Staphylococcus being tried for skin disease, some have to encourage further research and intermedius is an important pathogen indicated drug resistance. Also in spite of evaluate or revalidate the efficacy of these involved in pyoderma. Superficial a lot of effective drugs against skin plants in controlling skin diseases of pyoderma is bacterial infections causing diseases, coming in the market, the animals.

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Some major plants used ulcers, eczema and skin diseases like gigantea R. Br. against skin diseases ringworm, scabies and mange in dogs. As (Hindi - Ak or Madar) ⎯ The insecticide it is used for the destruction of physiologically active substance is found precatorius Linn. lice. Dry are used for killing pediculi in the milky juice of the . Flowers are (Hindi - Ratti) ⎯ warmed with and powdered kernel for washing of hair. digestive, tonic and have powerful action mustard oil give relief to the painful areas. Leaves are boiled with water to form a on the skin. An oily preparation (Arka Juice mixed with Plumbago zeylanica Linn. paste and mixed with honey can be applied taila) made by boiling together 8 parts roots (chitraka) is applied to the to pustules boils, ulcers and other skin sesamum oil, 16 parts Calotropis juice and leucodermatic spots. It is also applied to diseases. Toddy or fermented sap of leaves one part turmeric is useful in eczema and the bare skin in alopecia, stiffness of is also useful valuable in skin diseases. skin diseases. In scorpion and insect bites shoulder joint and paralysis. A preparation called Pancha tikta it relieves pain and burning. It is also ghrita made from boiling 800g each of useful in ringworm infection. Equal part Acacia nilotica (Linn.) neem bark, leaves of Momordica of branches, leaves, milky juice and flower Delile subsp. indica (Benth.) Brenan dioica Roxb. ex Willd. ( Hindi- Jangli are taken to prepare pills and given every (Hindi -Babul) ⎯ Powdered gum mixed karela), Solanum surattense Burm. morning to treat various kinds of skin with egg white is applied with burns and f. (Hindi–Kateli), Tinospora diseases. A powder of dried leaves, mixed scalds. cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook.f. and boiled with sweet oil and turmeric is & Thoms. (Hindi – Gulancha) and applied to eczema and other skin ailments Allium cepa Linn. (Hindi - bark of Adhatoda vasica Nees (Hindi with high efficacy. Piyaz) ⎯ The bulb and seeds are locally –Adusa), in 5-6 litre of water, till it is used in irritation of insect or scorpion reduced to quarter and then adding Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) bites and also in skin diseases. Mixed with 3.5litre of butter and about 3 kg Loud. (Hindi - Deodara) ⎯ Its wood mustard oil it is highly effective in myrobalans is recommended as one yields an oleoresin known as Kelanka inflammatory swellings. tablespoonful with little hot milk tel. Which is applied to ulcers and other internally twice daily in chronic skin skin diseases especially in mange in horses Allium sativum Linn. (Hindi diseases. and sore feet of cattle. - Lahsun) ⎯ Mustard or coconut oil in which garlic has been fried is an excellent Beta vulgaris Linn. (Hindi - Cinnamomum camphora antiseptic application for scabies and Chukander) ⎯ Infusion or decoction (Linn.) Nees & Eberm. (Hindi - maggots infesting ulcers, ulcerated of the root when applied to the it Kapur) ⎯ In pruritus and eczema surfaces and wounds. Its juice mixed with stops inflammation of eyes and in burns it camphor ointment is very useful. Its strong salt is applied to bruises and sprains and is used in combination of oil and Alum. odour protects animals from the menace also to relieve neuralgia and earache. of insects. Garlic is applied externally for deafness Brassica juncea (Linn.) and pain. Garlic juice mixed with 3 or 4 Czern. & Coss. (Hindi−Sarson) ⎯ Citrus limon (Linn.) Burm. parts of ordinary or distilled water is used Mustard seeds and oil have a cleansing f. (Hindi - Nimbu) ⎯ Lime juice is as a lotion for washing wounds and foul effect on the skin make soft, remove the applied externally for relieving irritation ulcers. grease and are useful in general pustular of insect bites. A local application made condition. Mustard oil is used as a base up of lime juice, potassium carbonate and Azadirachta indica A. Juss. for many herbal preparations and in copper sulphate is useful for warts and (Hindi - Neem) ⎯ and oil combination with several other medicinal other skin eruptions. Lemon oil mixed possess insecticidal and antiseptic plants is used in skin ailments of various with glycerine is applied to pruritus properties. It is used as a dressing for foul degrees. of vulva and scrotum. Lemon oil with

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Eucalyptus globulus Labill. inophyllum Linn. is also applied in The dried leaves, gum exudation from the orchitis. stem and oil distilled from the fresh leaves are used against skin diseases. Externally Ocimum sanctum Linn. fresh young leaves are applied as local (Hindi -Tulsi) ⎯ The leaves made into stimulant in small wounds. The leaf paste are used to cure parasitical diseases extract suitably diluted is used as of the skin, especially the ringworm. A disinfectant lotion and antiseptic lotion 12% decoction of the plant acts as a in certain chronic skin diseases and in parasiticide and antiseptic and makes the erysipelas of the face, leg and scrotum. larvae inactive. Piper nigrum Linn. (Hindi - Jatropha curcas Linn. Kalimirch) ⎯ In the form of paste (Hindi-Jangli-erandi) ⎯ Seed oil is it is applied externally to the boils, highly effective for itches, ringworm, alopecia and other skin diseases. scabies, herpes and eczema and it is a Massage with pepper and onions makes cleansing agent for wounds, sores and hair growth on bald patches left after ulcers. ringworm. camphor is also used in various skin diseases. Mentha piperita Linn. Pongamia pinnata Pierre emend. Huds. (Hindi-Peppermint) ⎯ (Hindi-Karanj) ⎯ Seed oil is applied Curcuma longa Linn. Locally the oil is used as a powerful to scabies, sores and eczema. A paste (Hindi-Haldi) ⎯ Juice of the fresh anaesthetic, antiseptic and germicide and prepared with karanj seeds, Cassia rhizome is applied to recent wounds, is very useful in pruritus. tora Linn. seeds and the root of bruises and leech bites. A paste of Saussurea hypoleuca Spreng. is turmeric and leaves of Adhatoda vasica Momordica charantia Linn. mixed with cow urine and applied in Nees with cow urine is rubbed on the (Hindi - Karela) ⎯ The juice of whole various kinds of skin diseases with high skin affected with prurigo and eczema. plant is mixed with Cinnamon, Long success. When mixed with ginger oil and applied pepper, Rice and Chaulmogra oil to forms to the skin it prevents skin eruptions. A a good ointment for psoriasis, scabies and Ollinall ⎯ It is the product of paste of turmeric along with the pulp of other skin diseases. Externally it is applied IVRI and an outcome of several years of neem leaves is used in ringworm to scalp in the burns and boils. research and trial on thousands of animals. infection, itching, eczema and other In a study conducted in whole of Uttar parasitic diseases of the skin. In chronic Nicotiana tabacum Linn. Pradesh and Uttaranchal on the skin eczema and itches ointment made of (Hindi - Tambaku) ⎯ Nicotine diseases in dog, sheep and goats, Ollinall, turmeric, hemp leaves, onion and warm salycylate found in the plant is the remedy a new herbal formula contains Vetiveria mustard oil gives immediate and for certain skin ailments. Decoction of zizanioides (Linn.) Nash, Annona immense relief. In chronic skin ailment tobacco is applied locally to relieve pain, squamosa Linn., Argemone turmeric 640g, clarified butter 500g, milk irritation in swellings, syphilitic nodes, mexicana Linn., Butea 1.5 litre, sugar 120g are boiled and black other skin diseases and to reduce orchitis. monosperma (Lam.) Kuntze and pepper, ginger, cinnamon are mixed to In orchitis the upper surface of the leaf Azadirachta indica A. Juss. in specific it. The dose includes 10ml every morning painted with silarasa is applied to the proportions. In mange in dogs, fungal in prurigo, boils, urticaria and chronic painful swollen part. A paste made with infections of skin in sheep, pyoderma of skin eruptions. snuff, lime and bark of Calophyllum goats, ollinall gave promising results.

Natural Product Radiance Vol 3(4) July-August 2004 295 Article Table 1 : List of plants used against skin diseases in veterinary practices

Botanical name of Plant Local name Part used Ailment

Adansonia digitata Linn. Gorakh amli Seed Skin diseases Anamirta cocculus Wight & Arn. Kakamari Ringworm or lice and obstinate parasitic skin diseases Altingia excelsa Noronha Silaras Resin Skin diseases Ananas comosus (Linn.f.) Merrill Ananas Fruit Vermicide Andropogon citratus DC. Haree chana Oil Ringworm Annona reticulata Linn. Lona Leaves Lice Annona squamosa Linn. Sharifa Leaves seeds Vermicide, insecticides Artemisia absinthium Linn. Vilayati afsanthin Leaves Skin diseases Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. Katahara Tender leaves Skin diseases Barringtonia racemosa Roxb. Norvishee Skin diseases Bauhinia macrostachya Wall. Gundawall Leaves Skin diseases Bauhinia variegata Linn. Kachnar Bark Skin diseases Brassica campestris Hook.f. & Thoms. Shulgam Oil Skin diseases Buchanania lanzan Spreng. Piyar-chironji Fruits, seed, gum Skin diseases Butea monosperma (Lam.) Kuntze Palas Gum, seeds, flower, Ringworm and bark and leaves erysipelatous inflammation Calophyllum inophyllum Linn. Sultanachampa seeds Oil Skin diseases Cassia absus Linn. Chaksu Seeds Ringworm infection Cassia fistula Linn. Amaltas Leaves Ringworm Cassia sophera Linn. Bas-ki-kasunda Seeds Ringworm Cassia tora Linn. Chakunda Leaves Pruritus, Ringworm Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban Khulakhudi Whole plant Skin disease Cinchona officinalis Linn. Cinchona Bark Antiseptic Coccinia cordifolia Cogn. Kanduriki-bel Leaves Ringworm and itch Cocos nucifera Linn. Nariyal Oil Ringworm Cordia latifolia Roxb. Bara-lasora Fruit, bark Ringworm

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Botanical name of Plant Local name Part used Ailment

Crotalaria spectabilis Roxb. Jhunjhunia Leaves Scabies Crotalaria verrucosa Linn. Jhunjhunia Leaves Scabies Cuminum cyminum Linn. Safed jeera Oil Skin diseases Eclipta prostrata (Linn) Linn. Bhringraj Root, leaves Scabies Embelia ribes Burm.f. Baberang Fruits Ringworm and other skin diseases Euphorbia thymifolia Linn. Nigachuni Whole plant Ringworm and other skin diseases Ferula assafoetida Linn. Hingras Gum Antiseptic Ficus religiosa Linn. Pipal Root bark Eczema Garcinia indica Choisy Kokam Oil Skin disease Glinus oppositifolius (Linn.) A. DC. Jima Resin Skin disease Grangea maderaspatana Poir Mustaru Leaves Skin disease Gymnosporia montana (Roth.) Benth. Vingar Bark Pediculi Hydnocarpus kurzii (King) Warb. Chaulmogra Seed Skin disease Hydnocarpus laurifolia (Dennst.) Chaulmogra Seeds, oil Scabies, obstinate skin Sleumer diseases Indigofera tinctoria Linn. Seed Skin diseases Iris foetidissima Linn. Dadmari Oil Ringworm Jasminum angustifolium Vahl Ban-mallika Root Ringworm Jasminum rottlerianum Wall. ex DC. Leaves Ringworm Jatropha glandulifera Roxb. Lal-bhranda Oil Ringworm Leea microphylla Roxb. Samboodraka Root Ringworm Leonotis nepetaefolia R. Br. Flower Ringworm Leucas aspera Spreng. Chota-kalkusha Leaves Scabies, insecticides Leucas zeylanica R. Br. Chota-kalkusha Leaves Scabies Mallotus philippinensis Muell.-Arg. Kamala Fruit Ringworm Mangifera sylvatica Roxb. Amb Oil Insecticide, parasiticide Melaleuca leucadendron Linn. Kayaputi Oil Externally parasitical Melanorrhoea usitata Wall. Resin Ectoparasiticidal

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Botanical name of Plant Local name Part used Ailment

Melia azedarach Linn. Bakayan Flower Lice Meriandra bengalensis Benth. Kafur-ka-pat Leaves Skin disease Mesua ferrea Linn. Naga-kesara Flower Scabies Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Kanwal Whole plant Erysepelus Nerium indicum Mill. Kaner Root Ringworm Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus Dalz. Whole plant Ringworm Picrasma quassioides Bennett Bharangi Wood Insecticide Pistia stratiotes var. cuneata Engl. Jal-kumbhi Leaves, root Ringworm Plumbago zeylanica Linn. Chitraka Root Scabies Portulaca quadrifida Linn. Nunisak Leaves Skin disease Quercus infectoria Olivier Majuphal Bark Eczema Remusatia vivipara Schott Root Itch Rhinacanthus nasuta Kurz Palak-juli Root Ringworm and eczema Ruta graveolens Linn. Satap Leaves Paracitidal Santalum album Linn. Safed chandan Wood/oil Pruritus and inflammation Saussurea lappa C. B. Clarke Kuth Root Insecticidal Semecarpus anacardium Linn. f. Bhela Oil Antiseptic Sesamum indicum Linn. Til Oil/seeds Skin disease Solanum nigrum Linn. Makoi Fruits Skin disease Terminalia catappa Linn. Jangli-badam Seed Scabies Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) Merrill Pila-kaner Oil Skin disease Thymus serpyllum Linn. Ipar Leaves Itch Ventilago madraspatana Gaertn. Pitti Root Itch and skin eruptions Vernonia anthelmintica Willd. Bakali Seeds Pediculi Wagatea spicata Dalz. Wagoti Bark Skin disease Zingiber officinale Rosc. Sonth Rhizome Skin disease Zingiber zerumbet Rosc. ex Sm. Mahabari-bach Rhizome Skin disease

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Special Report Series No. 30, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, 1955.

2. Chopra R N, Chopra IC, Handa KL and Kapur LD, Indigenous Drugs of India, UN Dhur & Sons Private Ltd., Calcutta, 2nd edition, 1958.

3. Dwivedi SK and Sharma MC, Therapeutic Evaluation of an Indigenous Drug Formulation against Pongamia pinnata pods Scabies in Pigs, Indian J Vet Med, 1985, 5, 97-100. Anamirta cocculus 4. Dwivedi SK and Sharma MC, Studies on the Herbal Preparation against Scabies in pigs, Ind J Vet Med, 1986, 6, 51-53.

5. Giller RM and Matthews K, Natural Prescriptions, Pavilion Books Limited, London, England, 1995.

Pongamia pinnata seeds 6. Kiritikar KR and Basu BD, Indian Melia azedarach Medicinal Plants, Lalit Mohan Basu, Allahabad, 2nd Edition, Vol. III, 1933. Conclusion 7. Nadkarni K M, Indian Materia Medica This compilation will prove to be Popular Book Depot, Bombay and useful to promote further studies on safe Dhoottapapeshwar Prakashan Ltd, and cost effective herbal formulations for Panvel, Vol. I & II, 1954, reprint 2000. various types of skin diseases of animals. Cultivation of some of these plants may be 8. Sharma MC and Dwivedi SK, Efficacy taken up near the villages. Traditional of a herbal preparation against practices adopted by herbal healers in the dermatomycosis in cattle and dogs, villages should be revalidated with proper Indian Vet J, 1990, 67(3), 269. pharmacological and clinical studies. 9. Sivarajan VV and Balachandran I, References Ayurvedic Drugs and Their Plant Source, Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. 1. Chopra RN and Chopra I C, A Review Ltd. Daryaganj, New Delhi, 1994. Plumbago zeylanica of Work on Indian Medicinal Plants,

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