Sabigh a cosmeceutical concept in traditional Iranian medicine and pharmacy.

Erfanfar, Fatemeh; Montaseri, Hashem; Mohagheghzadeh, Abdolali; Hosseinkhani, Ayda

Objectives: Today the term cosmeceutical refers to substances that possess cosmetic and therapeutic benefits. This concept was introduced hundreds of years ago in 'Baab e zinat', the last chapter of traditional Iranian medicine (TIM) treatises. One class of preparations which were designed specifically to cover scars and pigmentation problems of the skin was called 'Sabgh'. In this study we investigated Sabgh formulations in TIM and the possibility of their utilization by modern industries. Materials and Methods: The terms Sabgh and Sabigh (plural form) were searched in twelve of the famous TIM books. The ingredients were identified through the descriptions in the traditional Iranian treatises. Their cosmeceutical effects were searched in traditional books and electronic databases. The possibility of the industrial use of these ingredients was further investigated based on their availability and safety. Results: A total of 43 formulations were found. There were 52 herbal, 18 mineral and 10 animal-derived ingredients. Some of these ingredients could be used today by cosmeceutical industries. However there are components with known toxicities which have limitations in dermatological use. Conclusion: In the skin-care market, cosmeceuticals are the fastest growing segment. However this concept is not new in TIM. 'Baab e zinat' represents hundreds of preparations which were formulated for their therapeutic and cosmetic effects by ancient scholars. The availability and safety of these ingredients according to today's standards should be investigated. TIM books could be a valuable source for natural cosmeceutical formulations and or ingredients.

PIGMENTATION disorders; SCARS; PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of cosmetics

Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, 2015, Vol 5, p35

2228-7930

Academic Journal