An Evidence-Based Review of Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Vaginitis by Avicenna in “the Canon of Medicine”

Abstract

Vaginitis is one of the most common gynecological problems in reproductive age. Because of the limitations of the conventional drugs, identification of new pharmacological interventions for this disease seems to be necessary. The purpose of this article is to review the medicinal herbs mentioned for the treatment of vaginitis by the great Iranian scientist, Avicenna, in his book “the Canon of Medicine” to scientifically demonstrate their effects and their potential to be used as complementary therapies. The medicinal plants listed for vaginitis treatment in “the Canon of Medicine” were extracted. The scientific name and English common name of the given medicinal plants were searched in databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library until December 2017 to obtain any in vitro, animal, and clinical evidence related to vaginitis. Various pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antimicrobial, antifungal, analgesic, and anti-prostaglandin E2, have been demonstrated for medicinal plants emphasized by Avicenna for vaginitis. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on Myrtus reported an improvement in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. Four RCTs on pomegranate indicated a reduction in inflammatory factors in the patients. Medicinal herbs offered in Herbal Medicine are valuable sources for the treatment of various diseases. Effects and pharmacodynamics having been proved by conventional medicine confirm the effectiveness of these herbs. Therefore, these plants can be used in the treatment of vaginitis thanks to further clinical studies. [GMJ.2019;8:e1270]

Efficacy of a vaginal tablet as a Persian medicine product on vulvovaginal candidiasis: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

“…It is believed that the prostaglandins are also involved in the development of vaginitis (Khalilzadeh et al 2019). The antiinflammatory effect of the 'ward' vaginal tablet could be ascribed to its inhibitory activity on prostaglandin E2 (Pankevich et al 2017).…”

“…In reliable Old Persian medicine references, such as the Canon of Medicine by medicine, the search for Iranian medical texts that have been used for centuries is a reasonable way to find new drugs, because the use of traditional experiences increases the likelihood of discovering effective drug substances by up to 40 times; this figure is only 1% by random research (Naseri et al 2012). The antiinflammatory, antifungal, and antimicrobial effects of these herbs and anti-Candida effect of Rosa damascena, Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae), and Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae) have been confirmed in numerous articles regarding conventional medicine (Kaur et al 2004;Hayder et al 2008;Boskabady et al 2011;Hosseinzadeh et al 2011;Shema-Didi et al 2012;Anibal et al 2013;Shin et al 2015;Hosseini et al 2016;Masoudi et al 2017;Liu et al 2018;Khalilzadeh et al 2019). It is also recommended to use astringent and aromatic herbs in the treatment of vaginitis in Persian medicine resources (Azamkhan 2008).…”

“…(Khalilzadeh et al 2019) and most studies have focussed on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of plants we have used.…”

Untargeted metabolomics uncovers prime pathways linked to antibacterial action of citral against bacterial vaginosis-causing Gardnerella vaginalis: An in vitro and in vivo study

“…Due to its broad-spectrum biological activity and low toxicity, the use of plants as medicine is one of the oldest forms of medical practices and is now acknowledged as a viable strategy for battling diseases caused by bacteria that have developed a resistance to common antibiotics [ 15 ]. Traditionally, a variety of drugs and extracts derived from plants has been used to treat vaginal infections, either in combination or on their own [ 16 ]. For instance, Avicenna, a renowned Iranian scientist who lived from 980 to 1037 AD, claimed that lemongrass had therapeutic characteristics and can be used to treat vaginitis [ 16 ].…”

“…Traditionally, a variety of drugs and extracts derived from plants has been used to treat vaginal infections, either in combination or on their own [ 16 ]. For instance, Avicenna, a renowned Iranian scientist who lived from 980 to 1037 AD, claimed that lemongrass had therapeutic characteristics and can be used to treat vaginitis [ 16 ].…”