Abstract:

This study compiled fragmented published literature on anti-dermatophytic activities of the Himalayan medicinal plants, their ethnobotany and phytochemistry and gathered information on the nature of dermatophytic infections and their resistance to antibiotics. The study showed that the Himalayan region contains a large number of medicinal plants, of which only 19 plants have been tested against dermatophytes. The knowledge of medicinal plants in the Himalayan region has great potential to cure skin infections. Activity of plant species were reported against eight selected dermatophytes of Trichophyton and Microsporum genera. Root extract of Coleus forskohlii has shown potent inhibition zones (10–25 mm) against Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum gypseum. Phytochemical investigation of these plants showed a variety of secondary metabolites, such as saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids and iridoid.