Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE IRAQI BETA VULGARIS LEAVES AND ITS CLINICAL APPLICATIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF DIFFERENT DERMATOLOGICAL DISEASES

Nidhal K. Maraie, Thukaa Z. Abdul-Jalil*, Anas T. Alhamdany, and Hassan A. Janabi

ABSTRACT

In view of increasing resistance to existing anti-microbial agents, side effects and sometimes high cost of treatment, interest in medicinal herbs has been progressively increased. Beta vulgaris var.cicla belong to the family Chenopodiaceae locally known in Iraq as salk is ranked among the ten most powerful vegetables with respect to antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and anti-tumor properties. It contains a significant amount of phenolics, catechin hydrate, epica-techin, ferulic, protocatechuic, vanillic, p-coumaric, phydroxybenzoic, caffeic and syringic acids. The plant extract suggested that they might be used as an important natural antioxidant source due to its high levels of phenolics, flavonoids and proline. Beta vulgaris species is an herbaceous biennial leafy vegetable cultivated in many parts of the world for its year round availability, low cost and wide use in many traditional dishes. The leaves can be used in salads or cooked like spinach, and the stems are usually chopped and cooked like celery. Beta vulgaris L. species are used as a popular folk remedy for liver and kidney diseases, for stimulation of the immune and hematopoietic systems, and as a special diet in the treatment of cancer. Literature survey revealed that there was very little research on the health benefit of perpetual Spinach in the world while no study concerned in its flavonoids in Iraq. In this study fresh and dried leaves were extracted using aqueous and methanolic extracts, both extracts were investigated for its phytochemical contents, and it was found that the Iraqi species is rich with flavonoids specially querectin and kaempeferol , in addition to phenolic compounds. From both extracts solutions and ointments were prepared with different concentrations and their clinical effects for the treatment of Acne and psoriasis were evaluated using 360 patients. The clinical study showed that the plant extract gave significant healing effect for the treatment of Acne within two weeks using aqueous solutions prepared from extracts of fresh and dried leaves with more predominant effect for the fresh leaves. And the solution dosage form is better than ointment in the treatment of Acne. Same results obtained for psoriasis but ointment dosage form was much more effective, these results related to the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the plant extracts which can be applied clinically for treatment of many topical diseases.

Keywords: phytochemicals, topical preparations , Iraqi Beta vulgaris.