Phytomedicine Plus (Nov 2021)
Dyslipidemia from Unani prospective and its management with Safoof e Muhazzil: An update
Abstract
Background: To gain an insight on dyslipidemia from ancient and contemporary viewpoint and to study the modus operandi of a classical Unani anti-obesity pharmacopeial formulation SM (Safoof e Muhazzil) in its management. Hypothesis/Purpose: In Unani medicine as all kinds of excessive fats whether lipids or body fats accumulated in obesity are linked together through the concept of Baroodat (excessive coldness) of Liver, leading to deranged metabolism of fats and their abnormal accumulation. Hence same type of management should perhaps work in both the conditions. Study design: The literature was collected from electronic resources such as databases of Science direct, Web of Science, Google, PubMed, Google Scholar, Research gate, EMBASE and Elsevier along with main resource libraries having collection of Unani books and manuscripts were searched for the relevant material available on the topic. Methods: Studies evaluating either pharmacological or therapeutic potential of Safoof e Muhazzil were admitted whether in vivo or in vitro. No restrain of time period of the studies conducted was observed during the research. Results: Dyslipidemia, a disorder of lipoprotein roots from errant metabolism and lifestyle which causes an increase in the oily substance in the blood leading to dyslipidemic plethora. The Unani scholars advise the use of desiccant regimens together with lifestyle management. SM is the drug of choice for obesity. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies have proved it to be highly significant (p < 0.001) in decreasing weight, BP, total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL. Its phyto-constituents are anti-inflammatory within 30 min, anti-oxidant and lipolytic within 5 days. Its constituents are also attributed to enhancing excretion, increasing the innate heat and toning the liver. Working at multifaceted level Safoof e Muhazzil targets all the different pathologies of dyslipidemia. Conclusion: Though the drug SM is listed as an anti-obesity formulation in pharmacopeia, but its remarkable action in treating dyslipidemia and curbing high blood pressure paves way for research in obesity related co-morbidities like atherosclerosis, hypertension and other cerebrovascular disease too. This also raises the speculation for developing a single drug or formulation effective in curbing all metabolic risk factors.
