The Data Base of Ethno-medicines in the world (ETHMEDmmm)

Crude drug sample data base

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Crude drug name	Market name	Mehndi
	Urudu name	Mehndi
	Arabic name / Persian name	Hinna aswad / Hinna
	English name	Henna
Original plant name		Lawsonia inermis Linn., Henna
Family name		Lythraceae
Used part	Classification	Plant origin
Used part	Sub classification	leaf
Collection information		Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Karachi [Karachi], Sind, Amjad Unani Medicine (Pvt.) Ltd.
Collection date		1994/1/22
Collector		Tsuneo Namba
Identifier		Javed Ahmad
Description		Features: Branches four angled, usually ending in a sharp point. Leaves opposite, short petioled, oblong, pointed at both ends. Flowers greenish-white, very fragrant. The fruit is round.
TMPW No.		14589

The capital city, provincial capital city or the representative　　
location of its administrative area is indicated.　　

Production area information

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25.0700428

67.2847875

Collection information

Islamic Republic of Pakistan,Karachi [Karachi], Sind

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Scientific information data base

Crude drug name

Urudu name,
English name

Mehndi, Henna

Arabic name / Persian name

Hinna aswad / Hinna

crude drug image

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Original plant name

Lawsonia inermis Linn.

Family name

Lythraceae

Used part

Leaves

Distribution area

A middle sized, much branched shrub or small tree, native to Arabia and Persia and is now cultivated mainly in Haryana and Gujrat and to small extent in M.P. and Rajasthan (India).

Description

Henna is well known. Its leaves resemble with the olive leaves. Its flowers are white, odorous like those of rock moss. Ladies apply the paste of its leaves on their palms and soles of feet. The palms turn red and look beautiful.

Function and properties

Cosmetics, Head, Skin, Swellings, Ulcers, Joints, Chest, Excretion.

Aromatic, diuretic, blood purifier, sedative (externally), resolvent, astringent, detergent, deodorant, refrigerant, soporific and alterative.
Its oil is warming and laxative.

Specific actions

Refrigerant, alterative, detergent, sedative and astringent.

Frequency in use

Widely cultivated in India and Pakistan.

Common uses

Cosmetics: Leaves have the reputation of promoting healthy growth of hairs and nails. When its paste is applied, it reddens hair.

Head: Paste of leaves added with rose oil is useful in headaches.

Skin: Decoction of the henna leaves and their paste is useful in skin disorders, pruritis, leprosy and syphilis.

Swellings: Paste of the leaves is effective against inflammations and swellings when applied on boils and in burning of hands and soles. Its decoction is useful in hot, phlegmatic and inguinal swellings due to its desiccant action.

Ulcers: Its ointment is effective for curing wounds and ulcers.

Joints: Its use is suitable in neuralgia. Its oil removes fatigue, relaxes nerves and is useful for treating fractures. It is also applied in case of bone fracture as such.

Chest: It is suitable for use in pleurisy of the false ribs and also in ointments for diphtheria. Its decoction is useful in jaundice.

Excretion: It is useful in uteralgia. It acts as diuretic.

Side effect

Extensive use locally or systemically is not advised for persons with cold temperament or having disorders of throat and lungs.

Medical system

Unani

Traditional concept

Temperament

Henna is cold in the first degree and dry in the second degree (Avicenna).
The drug is cold and dry in the second degree (Kabiruddin).

Drug effect

It is beneficial in purifying the blood and for removing skin disorders.

Dosage

1 to 3gm. (approximately).

Substitute

Mundi (Sphaeranthus indicus Linn.), globethistle and Shahtarah (Fumaria indica (Haussk) Pugsley), fumitory.

Corrigent (corrective)

Katira (Cochlospermum religiosum (L.) Alston), tragacanth and Isapghol (Plantago ovata Forssk.), plantain.

Important compound preparations

Roghan Juzam, Roghan Amla Khas, Roghan Henna and Safuf Bars.

References

Reference book　

Tips！

Indian Materia Medica, Vols. 1-2, 1976 (Repr. 1989). Nadkarni, A.K., Popular Prakashan Pvt. Ltd., Bombay
Vol. 1, pp 730-732.

Makhzanul-Mufradat (Khawasul Adviyah), Hakeem Kabiruddin, Daftar Al-Masih, Qarol Bagh, Delhi.
pp 552-553.

A Survey of Drugs, 1961 (2nd edi.). Wahid, A. K. and Siddiqui, H. H. Institute of History of Medicine and Medical Research, Delhi.
pp 55-58.

Dictionary of Economic Plants in India, 1996 (2nd Rep.). Singh, U; Wadhwani, A. M. and Johri B.M. Indian council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.
pp 119-120.

Al-Qanun Fil-Tibb. Avicenna. (English translation of the critical Arabic text), Book 2, 1998. Hameed, H. A. (editor), Dept. of Islamic Studies, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi.
pp 175-176.

Al-Jamili Mufradt Al Adwiya Wal Aghziya (1197-1248 A.D.). Ibn al-Baytar. Vols. 1-3, 1985-1999. Central council for Research in Unani Medicine, Janakpuri, New Delhi.
Vol. 2, pp 75-77.

Hamdard Pharmcopoeia of Eastern medicine, 1969. Said, H. M. (editor), The Times Press, Sadar Karachi.
pp 140, 144, 153.

Indusyunic Medicine, 1997. Usmanghani, K., Saeed, A. and Alam, M. T. Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi.
pp 275-275.

Remarks

The drug is described by Arabic, Persian and Indian writers. The drug has been included in the list of vegetable drugs used exclusively in Unani Medicine. This plant is held in particularly high esteem by Muslim physicians.

Leaves are reported to have antibiotic activity against a wide variety of microorganisms.
Its flowers, seeds and bark are also used medicinally. Seeds are sometime used as substitute for Peganum harmala Linn. (Ispand). It is regarded in medicine as the best of herbs and used at large for colouring hairs, hands and feet. Flowers yield an essential oil "Hinna attar" which is used in perfumery.

Last renewal date

2024/02/28

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