Abstract

STUDY OF A CONTROVERSIAL UNANI DRUG GAOZABAN- A REVIEW

*Mohd. Nafees Khan, Mohd. Tariq, Jamal Akhtar and Maqbool Ahmad Khan

Abstract

Gaozaban is one of the most controversial drug in Unani system of medicine. It has been first described by Greek Physician Dioscorides from whom it was adopted by Arabs and subsequently redescribed by Avicenna by its Arabic name Lissanussaur. Litrature survey reveals that several species are used by the name Gaozaban, these are Anchusa strigosa J Labill, Anisomeles malabarica R. Br., Borago officinalis Linn, Onosma hispidum Wall. ex D. Don, Caccinia glauca Savi, Echium emoenum Fish, Heliotropium ophioglossum Stocks, Onosma bracteatum wall, Macrotomia benthami DC R Br, Trichodesma zeylanicum R. Br and Trichodesma indicum R. Br. Plants which are used as Gaozaban, their substitutes, chemical constituents, pharmacological activity, therapeutic actions and uses will be discussed. The paper will be of sufficient interest to justify further investigations on those plants which are not taken up with a view to identify the active principles and correlate the biological activity with the activity mentioned in Unani Text.

Keywords: Gaozaban is one of the most Trichodesma indicum in Unani Text.